Tips for playing a small nation

[unmerged(45754)]

Alright, I've played two EU2 games, one as the Ottoman Empire and the other as Jodhpur, doing very well in both (winning in the first, coming in about 400 VPs below France in the other) however my main problem is that in both of these, I strove to become a very large nation. The Ottoman Empire was almost certainly the largest nation in the game, with the possible exception of China in my game, and Jodhpur held all of India.

However I have heard playing a small nation can be fun. I know tech costs are less, and that overall it can perhaps be a small experience. I also figure you have to worry about trade, something I never concerned myself with as either the Ottomans or as Jodhpur.

What are some tips for playing a small nation, other than conquer everything and become huge? I'm thinking perhaps playing as Portugal, Oman, or Denmark.

 

[unmerged(37350)]

Denmark isnt so small and weak when they get Norway and may get with some luck Sweden easy as breaking a nut with a atomic-bomb

 

[TheLoneTaco]

I think smaller nations are actually more fun. In my games I like to create progressive little pseudodemocracies with full pluto/free subjects. I go heavy on defense, infrastructure, and trade with a powerful navy (if applicable). I only use my military in limited warfare, or to help out small nations so I can turn them into vassals :^D

Generally by 1700, I begin making a small colony off somewhere (4-5 provinces) just to give myself something to do. In one game as Ireland I managed to control a whole lot of Africa, and had the best navy in the game.

-Matt

 

[LordLeto]

Well the only time I stayed small with a small nation is perhaps with Hellas(conqured DoA with Albania and released Hellas and played them). Restricted myself to taking the Greek Provinces. Got to say it was a fun game. But Venecian dominance of the Seas made sure I always had a goal to take(Crete/Corfu/Cyprus).

Also living vicariously through vassels can be rewarding. Armenia succeded in declaring indipendance(for a while) so I decided to help them(and re-establish them from the White Sheep). As did my grand alliance of Hellas, Austria, Russia, and Wallachia. All in all one of my favorite games. Colonized a bit of Africa and South America for entertainment in in the Peace Years(which were few given my alliance partners).

The end all war between my Eastern allaince and the Western of France, Spain, and Poland was ended by 1819 unfortuneatly.

So perhaps you should consider doing that. Taking a ethnic grouping or geographical area rather then a knock down drag out conqurefest. Perhaps one of the Burmese states, or Hyderabad(just taking the Dravidian provinces, no other India, leave that to Delhi/Mughals). The Romanian principalities are always fun. As is the Tuetonic Order.

Baluciastan would be the grand daddy as it revolts with all but one(iirc) province w/o a fort and generally the wrong religion from the surrounding powers(thus they have an eternal CB on ya). Even though the Timurds are crumbleing they are still a big threat given your position. Then theres Dehli to the east.

Or one of the Turkish Minors, just toppeling the Ottomans(or kicking them out of Asia) would be a feat in itself.

 

[unmerged(45766)]

Be careful, be patient, be opportunist, in a word : be machiavelian.

You have to be careful, because a badly planned war, an unexpected war or a severe battle disaster can mean the doom of your country. A downward spiral can quickly happen, and a minor doesn't have the stamina to endure prolonged punishments. Never be without strong allies, never let your relations with your allies drop too low, never let your BB rise to high.

You have to be patient, because patience is what makes for lack of strength. If conditions are not perfect for, say, a war, don't start it. If you're not sure you can manage an occasion, let it pass, because one step further than courage lies rashness.

You have to be opportunist, because you won't have so many occasions in fact, not as many as a major. As a major, you can arrange to wage a couple of useless wars just to get into a good starting point ; as a minor, every war, every move has to be significant. The balance between opportunism and patience is what is really hard to manage : too much of one, and you're on the brink of disaster.

To really play well a minor, you need to have a good understanding (and a practical one, not a theoretical one) of the principles of the game. Expecially how economics, diplomacy and wars work. You should have played several majors, and several intermediary powers, at very hard, and having overachieved (ie, achieving much greater successes than the same country in real history) in most occasions. That's my opinion, but feel free to have a try as a minor if you're so inclined.

 

[RossN]

I don't think Portugal really counts as a small nation, with the edge in exploration and colonisation they have...

Geldre can be suprisingly strong - it's relatively rich and in a good position. Try and side with France in the HWY as soon as possible - Burgundy garrisons it's wealthy Lowlands possessions lightly and unless France crumbles early you can do well here, and end up with the same territory as the historical United Provinces and more. After all of the Burgudian provinces in the Lowlands fall, ally with nearby German statelets (which you can vassalise and dipploannex with your new wealth and manpower).

 

[unmerged(45754)]

I meant geographically small, throughout the whole game. Hell, I just took Jodhpur all the way from one province Indian state to second strongest state in the world, easily able to beat France in a war. I don't feel that difficulty will necessarily be a problem.

I am heavily leaning towards Oman. I just feel I will have problems taking too much of land and putting it in my color.

I dislike more powerful nations though. My favorite part of the game is taking an EXTREMELY minor nation and doing extremely well with it.

Granted all of my success have been on normal/normal so maybe that makes a huge difference.

 

[unmerged(50132)]

Alright, I've played two EU2 games, one as the Ottoman Empire and the other as Jodhpur, doing very well in both (winning in the first, coming in about 400 VPs below France in the other) however my main problem is that in both of these, I strove to become a very large nation. The Ottoman Empire was almost certainly the largest nation in the game, with the possible exception of China in my game, and Jodhpur held all of India.

However I have heard playing a small nation can be fun. I know tech costs are less, and that overall it can perhaps be a small experience. I also figure you have to worry about trade, something I never concerned myself with as either the Ottomans or as Jodhpur.

What are some tips for playing a small nation, other than conquer everything and become huge? I'm thinking perhaps playing as Portugal, Oman, or Denmark.

BEST NATIONS i inded become huge, however follow ambasador's advice, well thought.

my best one of all time in regular eu2 (no mods):in order of preferences
1---BARBANT (quick first war in alliance with france can make you a major instantlly(watch bb and be full aristocracy as a minor...barbant has a bad monarch later on, forever)
2---NAVARRA( 3 cultures, 2 major) ally spain and aragon dows you 3 out of times right at start) must ally castile do...grab a quick few provinces then try gascony).worse enemy is france and make sure you always have best relations with spain....once take paris(about 150-200later i would say, by choping france with the help of england and burgundy, you BECOME FRANCE and get to keep all the cultures, no cores , but get all france events with the capital in bearn...p)
3--the hardest for me is SAVOY due to its location and very beligerant france and austria
4--AK KONUYU..very fun starts with good money, some cores and 2 awsome leaders by 1500 and before...only major enmy is the ottomans wich can kill you at any time unless you kill them first...
5---papal states--excelent location and a few events....
6---BURGUNY----just awsome! kill left and right in oportunistic wars...no contest!

shall i go on?

 

[unmerged(50132)]

ah add byzanthum to that too.....with one bankuptcy no more ottos...if lucky with the navy byz can be a major quiet fast and no bankruptcy....
the key is the straights...

play on "very hard" and "coward"..that is the hardest eu2 settings you get...any nation above bb limit goes from civil war to civil war especially human.....until it desintegrates...
also bb decreases much slower and ai is more likelly to conserve its forces until she finds you "weak"
tell me how it goes...try barbant...within 5y you will know if any sense to continiu or not...

 

[unmerged(50166)]

ah add byzanthum to that too.....with one bankuptcy no more ottos...if lucky with the navy byz can be a major quiet fast and no bankruptcy....
the key is the straights...

play on "very hard" and "coward"..that is the hardest eu2 settings you get...any nation above bb limit goes from civil war to civil war especially human.....until it desintegrates...
also bb decreases much slower and ai is more likelly to conserve its forces until she finds you "weak"
tell me how it goes...try barbant...within 5y you will know if any sense to continiu or not...

I agree, try Barbant. *sighs* I remember waaaaay back in 1.00 Barbant was my favorite game and IMO the best minor in the game. Let's just say it had French, German, and Dutch cultures . . . well, you get the idea.

Fast forward to 1.08 and its still has potential just not an obscene amount. Anywho if you do play Barbant your going to have to cross swords with Burgundy which as a one prov minor is nasty. So, I would either wait for all their troops to be involved in France early in the game, or play it a little more dangerously and wait for them to attack you, which will happen if you survive for more than ten years. Either way, the key is do not engage in a pitched battle (unless you really outnumber them .) Just try to stay one step ahead of them in sieges and you'll do fine.

In more general terms for small nations just watch your BB, know your terrain, and know who your neighbors allies are. Also, I'd focus more on land and infrastructure as far as tech is concerned, the reason being trade can be very expensive for a small nation (but don't neglect your home COT) and naval (both Tech and ships) just isn't useful enough at that stage IMO (unless your in the Med so you can use galleys.) You can always catch up later (less so for trade than for naval.)

Anyway you play it, I think minors are the most rewarding games. Have Fun!

 

[unmerged(45766)]

Brabant is fine, but play it in AGCEEP (to become the Netherlands).

Or edit the monarchs file...