Prussia advice

[Pasta_Man]

It's been quite a long time since I played a Brandenburg > Prussia game so thought I'd fire one up with the new patch but I'm at a bit of a loss about how to actually survive now. I can't seem to form any significant alliances for early protection and expansion and then get swamped by Bohemia or Poland. Have things changed so much in the region? Have I just been getting bad luck, or do I need to follow some new strategy?

 

[True_Heir_of_Rome]

I haven't played them in a while but you should be able to re-roll until Bohemia isn't a rival. Poland shouldn't attack you as you're a member of the HRE.

 

[ElGranCapitan]

Earlier the strategy was ally Poland, claim Bohemias throne and call Poland in, but don't give them anything (if poland breaks the alliance it doesn't matter, Austria protects you and you want to blob into Poland anyway)

Then blob into Pomerania and Teuton land before the truce is up so you become stronger than bohemia (and thus they become loyal)

Also marry Burgundy in case the inheritance triggers

But I don't know if that works this patch, diplomacy has changed a little

 

[ecrurudesby]

I don't really have lofty goals myself when playing Prussia, but to survive, I ally Poland and Bohemia. Poland is crucial to allow you to occupy Teutonic land in the wars to prevent it falling into Polish hands. You will want to change allies if it's your intention to take Polish land, Russia is an obvious choice there. If you want Bohemian lands and thus can't ally them, then find allies in their enemies. Bavaria, Hungary, etc.

 

[Pasta_Man]

Got lucky enough last night on another start and got my alliance with Poland and was able to slap Pomerannia about a bit so hopefully be able to keep Bohemia at bay long enough now to start on the Teutonic Order.

Definitely seems a harder start than it used to be.

 

[Kergan]

FWIW my usual Brandenburg start from a few versions ago usually involves attacking the TO while promising of Poland and letting Poland beat them up while I siege everything down. More often than not TO will have an ally that's adjacent to you and the North Sea. Separate peace the latter for a cheap coastal province, and build your core while you finish off the TO. This will prevent Austria from requesting imperial territory (since you're at war) and 18 months latter you'll be able to peace out Prussia for land. Either give nothing to Poland, or give it land you don't care about (yet).

If you're a patient player, a slower start is to go Influence/Economic before grabbing your favorite military idea. From there just go inside the HRE, developing your lands when you've nothing better to do, and grab Prussian provinces when you feel you can wreck whoever owns them.

 

[schondetta]

I find it easier to Dow TO after Poland does you can cap the needed provinces to form Prussia while Poland cleans up the stacks .if you do it right you can tag most the provinces before Poland does effectivley cutting them from there war

 

[ThatRabidPotato]

My strat when I played Bburg was to attack Pomerania as soon as possible, take Greifswald off them and vassalize them, then use their claims to attack the TO for Danzig as soon as my AE had run down to where it was practical. Then annex Pom, then repeat the process for every nearby German prince. You won't be popular, but once you annex Pom you'll already be powerful enough to win against Bohemia or Austria 1v1 with a military idea set.
I recommend Innovative/Influence/Offensive/Quality/Economic.

 

[Pasta_Man]

Well, as I said, I got my Poland alliance and took the necessary provinces to form Prussia which I did very early in the 16th century. I've actually managed to expand into Bohemia a bit as well and have gobbled the rest of the Pomerania. Feels like a pretty solid situation right now as I've still got the alliance with Poland, Sweden and a well expanded Saxony so Bohemia is closed in on 3 sides. Saxony had lost a couple of cores to Bohemia at some stage which I somehow missed, but they're still a sizeable threat. Quite happy really.