I have seen some GIANT empires and other weird happenings spring up across the continent in my first game ever, playing England (Hard / Aggressive) with 1.07b. Get ready for them:
It's 1613.
1) Poland has built a giant empire, stretching from the Rhineland to the Black Sea. They managed to annex Alsace and Lorraine, as well as two other provinces on the Rhine with the effect that there is now a Poland (sorry, PLC) divided by a number of uncharacteristically strong German / HRE states. Sap's wet dream for the AI; they probably have 35 provinces (a guess) and are third in VPs (after Spain and England).
2) Bohemia has doubled or tripled in size. A central European nightmare whose only merit is the fact that she counterbalances Poland and...
3) Austria, which has incorporated, in one way or another, the whole of Hungary, Helvetia, Genoa, and Papal States. She's a MONSTER, with Max II sitting comfortably on the throne of the HRE. At one stage she controlled Picardy as well, having won it from a mysterious war with France (later recovered).
4) Oh, and forget France. She's scared stiff. PLC and Austria border her in the West. A strong colonial England to the north (even invaded France myself, just to obtain a Level 4 Colony in Connecticut). Despite her resurgence after a successful war vs. England (the AI bested me in 1550's), reclaiming Calais from Eng. and Picardy from Austria while Teutonic allies burned Ireland from rocky cliff to rocky cliff.
5) Denmark is finished. Though once well protected by her allies, she suffered heavily from a number of random events. My German isn't very good, but basically Norway declared independence, and immediately handed over the crown through an inheritance event to...
6) Russia. The third MONSTER of the East. Russian Norway. Russian Iceland. Still struggles against Poland, but that's really a non-issue because they don't go at it much anymore. There are easier pickings...
7) Like Sweden. Completely trapped between Poland and Russia. Just WAITING to be dismembered.
8) Powerful Persia. Ottomans can't handle the Mams or the Persians. Spanish alliance with those Islamic nations (!!!) keeps the Ottomans wondering from which direction the knife will stab. Jiyhad on Jerusalem successful, though.
9) Other minor things. Crimean colony in Sao Tome, West Africa. Polish in West Africa (why not? They're everywhere else!).
Nelson
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Ey. Surly only looks out for one guy -- Surly.
It's 1613.
1) Poland has built a giant empire, stretching from the Rhineland to the Black Sea. They managed to annex Alsace and Lorraine, as well as two other provinces on the Rhine with the effect that there is now a Poland (sorry, PLC) divided by a number of uncharacteristically strong German / HRE states. Sap's wet dream for the AI; they probably have 35 provinces (a guess) and are third in VPs (after Spain and England).
2) Bohemia has doubled or tripled in size. A central European nightmare whose only merit is the fact that she counterbalances Poland and...
3) Austria, which has incorporated, in one way or another, the whole of Hungary, Helvetia, Genoa, and Papal States. She's a MONSTER, with Max II sitting comfortably on the throne of the HRE. At one stage she controlled Picardy as well, having won it from a mysterious war with France (later recovered).
4) Oh, and forget France. She's scared stiff. PLC and Austria border her in the West. A strong colonial England to the north (even invaded France myself, just to obtain a Level 4 Colony in Connecticut). Despite her resurgence after a successful war vs. England (the AI bested me in 1550's), reclaiming Calais from Eng. and Picardy from Austria while Teutonic allies burned Ireland from rocky cliff to rocky cliff.
5) Denmark is finished. Though once well protected by her allies, she suffered heavily from a number of random events. My German isn't very good, but basically Norway declared independence, and immediately handed over the crown through an inheritance event to...
6) Russia. The third MONSTER of the East. Russian Norway. Russian Iceland. Still struggles against Poland, but that's really a non-issue because they don't go at it much anymore. There are easier pickings...
7) Like Sweden. Completely trapped between Poland and Russia. Just WAITING to be dismembered.
8) Powerful Persia. Ottomans can't handle the Mams or the Persians. Spanish alliance with those Islamic nations (!!!) keeps the Ottomans wondering from which direction the knife will stab. Jiyhad on Jerusalem successful, though.
9) Other minor things. Crimean colony in Sao Tome, West Africa. Polish in West Africa (why not? They're everywhere else!).
Nelson
------------------
Ey. Surly only looks out for one guy -- Surly.