An absolutely delightful Aq Qoyunlu run. One of the most fun runs I've had in a long time. Everything went wrong within the first fifty years: we were declared on by the Ottomans very early on, the Mamluks allied us but then attacked Qara Qoyunlu and blocked off our expansion into Iraq (and our mission tree!), the Timurids not only survived but became the Mughals and ate a big chunk of northern India - and with Russia in the north, that was it for easy expansion. We've been bankrupt twice, we've lost wars, we've had some hard hard times. But in 1734, the empire is finally thriving and at peace.
Oh, we're also Orthodox. This was originally for the interest of playing an isolated Christian nation surrounded by muslims, later for the fun of stacking all the bonuses of an Orthodox feudal theocracy.
Here's some other pictures from the world that's developed.
AQ's ruling house showing signs of inbreeding earlier in the game.
The Mughals in their prime in the 1600s. Bharat was formed by Vijayanagar.
The AI turning the tables on the chins (sadly not with the Hunyadi dynasty).
Europe at the end of the run. Interlocking networks of alliances have created a remarkably stable and historical-feeling Europe - there are wars, but they are rarely if ever decisive, and as a rule nations swap colonial possessions rather than their provinces on the continent. The Netherlands were formed by Gelre, and with colonies in North and South America have taken on something like their histroical importance. Ryazan has gone from strength to strength all game - despite losing its aliance with Russia due to dynastic squabbles. The Reformation was centred on former Teutonic territories: Poland went reformed, while Lithuania finally broke to Orthodox rebels after decades of internal religious termoil.
Despite being exiled from its homeland, Scotland has survived and thrived in the new world. They also have a solid chunk of East Africa, and colonies in the Carribbean and the Pacific. Also featured are the Iroquois, who have done well for themselves (they're the only big native nation) by playing the colonisers off against each other.
The spice islands are a highly contested mess where land changes hands constantly. As well as me, the French, Spanish, Russians, Mamluks, Portuguese, and various native empires all have stakes there. Portugal was the first to reach the islands, but France displaced them to become the big player in Indochina. Most of my territories there are former French provinces.
Overall, this game has been a testament to the fun of seeing what happens if you stick around to salvage a run which seems like it's gone irreperably wrong. Would recommend.