suggestions for a new playthrough

[wingzero890]

I've taken a break from EU4 single player for a while and was trying to think of a new playthrough to start. I really enjoy starting as small tags, like Holland or Brandenburg and building my way up to getting an achievement I set out for; but I feel like I've played through most of the flavorful small tags in Europe by now and I'm not really keen to play elsewhere at this time; also not really interested in starting as one of the gimmicky tags like Dithmarschen. Anyone have any suggestions?

edit: can't believe I never played as Sweden apparently... apart from the 2 Sweden-centric achievements what else can Sweden go for?

 

[Bouchart]

Bohemia

 

[Viktor Vaughn]

i just did a fun game where i started as bohemia, culture shifted to saxon by annexing all of brandenburg, then went to form prussia and germany. i think my next europe game will be naples going for the pizza achievement, and i don't do much in italy anyway so i don't feel burnt out there. another one i was thinking was doing livonian order to kurland and become a trade/colony empire thing.

sweden is a fun game. aside from lion and not op, there aren't any other sweden specific achievements, but that doesn't stop you from getting the more general ones.

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

Karabakh. Only Armenian nation in 1444, form Armenia. Good luck

 

[wingzero890]

Side question, how important are the last two DLC (Mandate of Heaven, Cradle of Civ) for the game right now?

 

[El_Cid_]

Hamburg for their achievement, before Interest per Annum modifier gets nerfed

 

[Psychian]

play as an opm and make no alliances the entire game. go for WC from there.

 

[Bouchart]

Side question, how important are the last two DLC (Mandate of Heaven, Cradle of Civ) for the game right now?

I don't have either and the game is perfectly playable without them. MoH has a focus on East Asia and CoC is more for Central Asia/Persia region. A lot of both DLC are niche mechanics you don't truly need.

 

[Incompetent]

Side question, how important are the last two DLC (Mandate of Heaven, Cradle of Civ) for the game right now?

The game is perfectly playable without them, but they both have some significant global effects (i.e. not just confined to the focus area) that shift the balance somewhat. With Mandate, you have Age abilities and artillery barrage (also state edicts + prosperity, which both make states somewhat more valuable than without MoH); with Cradle, you have army professionalism (if you prefer not to spam mercs later in the game, it can offer a viable alternative) and advisor promotion (more opportunity to turn ducats into mana).

On the specifics, Muslim conversion strength got hit with the nerf bat in 1.23. It's not unplayable, but if you don't have Cradle and you want to play as a Muslim country, it might be better to revert to 1.22, because unlike Cradle players you're taking a hit and getting nothing in return.

 

[freedavebrown]

Hamburg is really fun. I'd second that. You can basically have 6-6-6 rulers for most of the game with their republican tradition idea and 5-5-5 advisors with the silly amount of money they can make from trade

 

[Sian]

Why is Dithmarschen specially gimmicky?

 

[henzington]

The 1 million casualties dovetails nice with lion of the north just makes sure you personally have 1 million. I recommend many mercs

 

[wingzero890]

Why is Dithmarschen specially gimmicky?

Triggered Dithmarschen fan spotted

In seriousness though I prefer playing tags with lots of DHE in single player (Najd-> Jihad was one of the most boring achievements I ever got..) and there's not many for them.

 

[Sian]

Triggered Dithmarschen fan spotted

Overly self-concious person spotted ...

I've never played Dithmarschen and frankly doubt I will, but I'm honestly interested in why you think they're gimmicky

 

[DarthDanMan]

Florence > Egypt?

 

[Amadeu of Savoy]

Overly self-concious person spotted ...

I've never played Dithmarschen and frankly doubt I will, but I'm honestly interested in why you think they're gimmicky

They were a unique peasants' republic: https://eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Dithmarschen

 

[cuendillar]

If you have a rough idea about what you're looking for, there's always the country selection tool. Here's the forum thread about it, too.

It has really helped me out in picking starts, some of which I hadn't even heard of before.

 

[BoomKidneyShot]

Aztec HRE run?