Hey there.
I usually play as Austria and I was wondering about literacy, clergymen, consciousness, etc. in eastern empires (Austria, Russia, Ottomans). I usually encourage clergymen with NFs until 2% in every provinces, but what to do after that? Which worth more?
1. I keep education slider at 100% and clergymen will eventually increase almost to 4% in decades. The results are faster literacy increase, but less consciousness and therefore less plurality (which is essential for Research points) and tons of "wasted" money on clergymen. Only a few political (and no social) reforms until 1900. From that time, because of the last social thought - tech, consciousness starts to increase and I can enact reforms fast.
2. I keep number of clergymen at 2%, I save tons of money, the events in the first 2 decades will give many consciousness (with Austria), so it will be a less "zombie" population with a good research speed because of higher plurality. I may even use the Liberal Party only not to get the authoritarianism invention (-0.02 CON) from Ideological Thought tech at least until I leave the Absoulute Monarchy gov. form behind. This is a more cost-efficient and interesting way with more research points till 1870 than the 1st option. However, it results in more problematic nationalist movements and a little bit more revolt risk because of unliked gov. type (non-conservative) as well as a seriously lower literacy rate (which causes less research points in the late game, I think?). However, I am saving money, so I may be satisfied with less industry and commerce techs.
I think doing the 2nd option with conservative party brings no real benefits, as the -0.02 CON invention comes in, eventually CON goes down, so no CON and no literacy has no benefits.
I think the 2nd option is only doable with Austria but not with Russia and the Ottomans because the 2 others don't have so many CON increasing historical events at beginning, and russian liberal party is Laissez Faire which is disastrous in early game, while the Ottoman liberal party is pacifist which is suicidal.
What do you think?
Edit: I am also wondering about that 2% clergymen rate with all countries. If there is an event which gives CON to pops, it will decrease slowly, so it may result in more plurality and faster reforms maybe even school and health care reforms.
I would like to try that some day, if I'll have enough time. Now, before that, thank you for help, any experience?
