Tips for Bavaria?

[lolciokuba]

I think I am getting pretty experienced in EU IV by now, I have not played a HRE non Austria game yet however, but with the new expansion and focus on religious warfare I decided to give it ago.

Seeing as Brandenburg - Prussia is the most common choice, i have settled on Bavaria due to the fact that I really like their NI's. (was also thinking about palatinate, but Bavaria has slightly more flavor so went with that).

However having started the game I really struggle with planning what to do since my expansion options seem pretty limited. Any suggestions what are the good lands/strategies for HRE takeover?

Austria already got the Burgundian Inheritance while I vassalised salzburg. Now apart from expanding into another Bavarian cultural lands I am not sure what direction to take.

I think I will be opting for a Catholic play through (might even go Counter-Reformation) with an aim of forming germany or becoming a HRE (but with Austria's power this should be hard) and crushing Protenstantism if possible.

So to keep this short what are your suggestions for Bavaria game?

And which NI's are the most suited? I have thought about diplomatic, defensive, religious and administrative as first few.

 

[dav77-b]

diplomatic & influence. You will need every Diplomatic REP you can get.
Try to build good relations with France, Hungary and Bohemia. In best case you ally all 3 of them and build trust high as you can.
Try to become a "big" HRE nation + try to force release styria.

 

[lolciokuba]

Sounds like a good plan, France is definately going to be a key ally. Thanks

 

[FrosT37]

It has been a long since I played Bavaria.

You should definitely rival Austria and ally France. Your short term goal is basically to completely annex Austria and "replace" them as Emperor. When it's done, just play like you would play with Austria.

EDIT: good ideas (in no particular order): diplomatic, influence, religious OR humanism, administrative, offensive, defensive.

 

[Silver Viper]

i played bavaria a long time ago, some things have changed, but one didnt! dont go head to head with austria before u have the support of 1.France or 2.bohemia and hungry (both will be great but atleast one of those 2 options! i went into it with just bohemia and lost.) and crush it the first chance u get before it does it to u!