To HRE or not to HRE?

[ETAIPOS]

Playing Montferrat with a standard goal of unifying Italy and reclaiming Constantinople, I got a chance to become Emperor and took it. Now I am in a bigger mess than I wished for I never played too long within HRE so I am a bit lost.

1) Should I crush every reformation center possible, no matter stab cost and AE? Or let them convert and then fight league war?
2) How do I add countries to HRE for IA boost? Even my vassals are not eager to join
3) I managed to get 2nd reform, but third is refused by all but my closest allies what can I do to get it done?
or Should I maybe ignore HRE and just use Emperor power while it last to take juicy pieces of Spain and break up Austria?


I have Florence and Milan as vassals and France, Swiss, Pope and Austria (that got this big WITHOUT my help) as allies.

I DO NOT have Emperor DLC.

 

[ArtFart]

Up to you really. Do you want to carry on the HRE reforms? Or do you want to basically destroy it?

I can tell you one thing though, managing the HRE during the Age of Reformation is a huge pain. Might as well let it go ham until league war, and then force convert everyone again. Or, get on it ASAP, and I mean ASAPASAP. Take those centres out before they have even got a chance to move, if you let them claim a prince or 2, it's basically over.

 

[Terixis]

If I'm playing in the HRE but don't want to revoke or unite the HRE, I'll become Emperor and keep it but completely ignore all HRE mechanics. It lets me break up Austria so nobody can ever take it back and I don't have to worry about keeping the Emperor happy to not get unlawful territory maluses. I don't care about IA, the reformation, illegal territory, missing free cities or electors, etc. I'm only Emperor for the free empire rank, force limits, money, and the miscellaneous bonuses from the reforms Austria passed before I took it. Playing kindergarten cop and passing revoke is ultimately better but I can't be bothered most of the time, that's for playing as Austria and non-Hussite Bohemia.