The title of the thread tells you a lot, I've recently started playing the game on "Normal" difficulty (Finally!), I have no idea why I thought playing as a one-province minor would be a good idea for my first Normal game...
Dont worry, you're not alone. My first game was Ryukyu since I thought that there would be less micromanagement with an OPM and that it should be quite safe since as an Island, I don't border anyone by land. How very wrong I was...
Are there any specific CB I should be trying to get (and if so, how do I get them)?
The obvious ones are those from missions (conquer land etc) and events although this is really just dependent on luck. However, as an OPM in the HRE, you'll find that any offensive wars can be weighted quite heavily against you in favor due to webs of guarantees and cascading alliances.
A more active but still situational strategy is to ally with any neighbors (may take a few tries) who are currently in war against someone else and then use the alliance CB to declare a separate war on the target. If you're quick and lucky enough, you would let your ally do most of the work (fighting) while you chill and besiege one of the provinces on the side nonchalantly. Note that it helps to have some other allies involved in your war if possible. When using this tactic, do try to avoid getting called by your ally to their war since you would be made a minor participant even if it is on the defensive side due to your relative insignificance as an OPM.
Ideally, you will want to take every chance you can to annex and vassalize as much as your infamy allows it. Usually for the former, you'll want those lands to border you, while the latter can be anywhere really as long as you can beat them into submission (with the help of your allies of course). Of course, when annexing, you should always take into account of the unlawful imperial territory. Although as OPM, you shouldn't be too shy in taking one, two or even three unlawful territories... those modifiers will be gone in about 50 years time and... you gotta grow after all!
I was trying to go the diplomatic route, royal marriages and alliances and all that, but even though I keep getting told that diplomatic actions are "likely" or "very likely" I am always almost refused what I want (except when it comes to Saxe-Lauenburg).
Keep trying. Surely, they'll accept eventually! Although rejection results in minor decrease in relations, this can be partially rectified by military accesses and guarantees. Send gift only as the last resort, after all, money is hard to come by for a non free-trading OPM.
The leaders of Saxony, Anhalt, and Saxe-Lauenburg are all from the same dynasty, I thought this would give me an advantage when trying to unite this particular area of Germany, but while Saxe-Lauenburg generally does do what I want, Anhalt seems to pretty much always reject anything I suggest. Saxony is also an elector in the Holy Roman Empire, I figured this would give me an advantage when it comes to possibly uniting Germany.
Being from the same dynasty does confer some very minor advantages. There are events that show up where you can choose to help others of the same dynasty with a cash handout when they are broke. There is also a very, minor relationship increase for those of same dynasties. Personal unions are also more likely to occur naturally by chance.
However, the last part is still very much down to luck and it is entirely possible that you can play through the entire game without getting into a PU with others of the same dynasty. Not to mention that the reverse can happen where you become a junior partner in a PU (you essentially become someone else's vassal). Also, dynasties CAN change. Overall, most of the benefits is really just for the flavor rather than being practical
Note that if you have poor relations with the current emperor, it is very likely that you will lose your elector status... and good relations are hard to keep if you intend on expanding aggressively.
Also, I suspect I may not fully understand the whole inheritance thing, could someone explain it to me quickly?
This is as far as I understand it. Some of this may not be entirely correct and there may be more scenarios I haven't thought of so other more informed players, feel free to chip in!
Personal union by chance:
1. You marry someone. They die without heir. You have chance to get into PU with them.
2, You are in the same dynasty as someone. The other dynasty die off. You have a chance to PU them. (In past versions, I managed to instant inherit, not sure if that still happens now)
3. You marry someone. You claim their throne (you must have more prestige and the target must have low legitimacy or no heir). They die with no heir. You inherit or go into a succession war if someone else also claimed the throne.
Personal union by force:
1. You marry someone. You claim their throne. You declare war with claim throne cb and force the target into junior PU status.
2. You send a spy to fabricate claim on target. You declare war with claim throne cb and force the target into junior PU status.
Inheritance:
1. Maintain very good relations with the junior member (preferably max). Have low infamy. Have more regiments than they do (or else they will send you insults periodically). Wait forever. Eventually, the event will pop up and you take over all their land (if same culture group, or you are both in the HRE, instant free core on all their provinces).
2. Wait 50 years and try to take over through diplomatic option. No cores and 1 infamy for each provinces if successful.
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^Take your pick and decide which type of inheritance/union method you want at uniting the Saxons.
