After very enjoyable game with Siena I decided to play Urbino. The goal is of course to unite Italy, I also want to create decent colonial empire and widen Italy a little bit - but I will decide about direction later. It depends on how strong would be France, Austria or Ottomans later in the game.
First priority was to strengthen my country by taking some neighboring provinces. I sent my barque to protect trade and set army and fleet maintenance to lowest possible level.
On the diplomatic front I started to improve relation with Austria (I wanted to be a part of HRE for technology bonus) and send another diplomat to claim Romagna. I choose Papal State as rival. After 6 months I decided to build decent army - I added 6000 infantry to my army of 2000 infantry and 1000 cavalry. After I claimed Romagna I sent diplomat to clamRome. In the meantime I was able to ally Tuscany.
When army was ready I decided to start a war. Unfortunately, Papal State was allied with Savoy so the war was risky. I ordered my ships to port. I recruited decent general.
Here is the brilliant military strategy - I attack with armies with low morale, immediately after taking maintenance to the highest level. This works miracles especially when my army has higher morale (technology, ideas, advisor, event). This time was event - the last tournament. My 9000 men army destroyed Papal State forces of 7000, literally destroyed. Without significant casualties. Of course, It works only when your enemy just changed his army maintenance level!
I split the army and started sieges. I decided that I will take Romagna and money and try to vassalize Papal State in the next war. War was quick and easy. I conquered Romagn and receive some 40 ducats. Savoy did not intervene. I ordered harsh treatment and coring of Romagna. That's what I usually do and the beginning of the conquest when I don't want to risk rebels.
Another useful trick - after completely destroying enemy's army you can move army maintenance back to lowest level. It's risky in case of rebels or DOW by another country but at least in the beginning of the game it can save a lot of money. I took only 2 loans in this game.
At some point I was able to add Ancona to the HRE.
During the war I claimed Ferrara. After I conquered Romagna I claimed Modena too. Even before the last claim was ready I declared war on Ferrara. Choosing countries as rivals before claiming and starting war is important.
Another easy war. I took Modena and vassalized Ferrara. It cost me precious 100 diplomatic points. I conquered Modena because of claiming opportunities it gave me. I cored it anddid not get unlawful territory demand from Austria - probably because Austria was busy waging two wars, one with Castile. I think this is a dirty little secret of doing conquest in HRE - busy emperor when you core new provinces.
At that point Genua, Savoy, Mantua and Siena entered coalition against me. Worrisome? Not really. I added Milan and Austria to my network of allies.
I made my first mistake when I decided to attack Siena (I claimed it first). I had a truce with Savoy (after Papal State war) and I did not expect Savoy would enter the war. But coalitions are strong instruments. Although Austria declined call to arms (CTA) Milan and Tuscany entered the war on my side. We were fighting against Savoy (leader), Mantua, Genua and Sienia. After few victorious battles and after capturing Sienia and Mantua I signed peace treaty giving me Siena.
I had very low manpower - so low that during the war I recruited 6 mercenary infantry regiments.
Tuscany wasn't particularly happy with my latest conquest and broke our alliance. I decided to add France to my diplomatic network - Milan was not enough.
But low manpower is not a reason to let religious fundamentalists live in peace. I immediately DOW Papal State - I wanted to use mercenaries before I sent them home.
There was no Papal State army in Rome. Siege was easy and then Provence declared war on Papal State. And here I made another mistake. I vassalize Papal State instead of doing it after Provence would take Avignon. So, of course I found myself in a war against Provence (and Lorraine) with both France and Milan dishonoring CTA.
I could not fight Provence because I had no land access to Provence territory. There was no way Savoy would allow my army to pass through. So I ordered fleet to blockade Provence and waited.
Bad thing happened. Tuscany started war against me and I missed the time they were building their morale. I almost lost my entire army but strong leader saved my forces. I regrouped, destroyed Tuscany army and started sieges. I vassalized Tuscany.
Good thing happened. France declared war on Provence and my enemy was happy to sign white peace.
It's 1459. I have 4 provinces: Ancona, Modena, Romagna and Siena, 5 vassal provinces, 15 regiments army (6 mercenaries) and 3 barques, 6 galleys, 3 cogs fleet. My only ally is Austria now. But I'm happy with that.
My goal is Lombardy now. That's obvious. But Milan is allied with both Austria and Burgundy so I may wait for my chance. Plenty of other conquest opportunities.
The huge problem is war exhaustion at 10. This the effect of stupid idle war against Provence. It may be good idea to stay calm for few years or to take easy targets - like Sardinia.
First priority was to strengthen my country by taking some neighboring provinces. I sent my barque to protect trade and set army and fleet maintenance to lowest possible level.
On the diplomatic front I started to improve relation with Austria (I wanted to be a part of HRE for technology bonus) and send another diplomat to claim Romagna. I choose Papal State as rival. After 6 months I decided to build decent army - I added 6000 infantry to my army of 2000 infantry and 1000 cavalry. After I claimed Romagna I sent diplomat to clamRome. In the meantime I was able to ally Tuscany.
When army was ready I decided to start a war. Unfortunately, Papal State was allied with Savoy so the war was risky. I ordered my ships to port. I recruited decent general.
Here is the brilliant military strategy - I attack with armies with low morale, immediately after taking maintenance to the highest level. This works miracles especially when my army has higher morale (technology, ideas, advisor, event). This time was event - the last tournament. My 9000 men army destroyed Papal State forces of 7000, literally destroyed. Without significant casualties. Of course, It works only when your enemy just changed his army maintenance level!
I split the army and started sieges. I decided that I will take Romagna and money and try to vassalize Papal State in the next war. War was quick and easy. I conquered Romagn and receive some 40 ducats. Savoy did not intervene. I ordered harsh treatment and coring of Romagna. That's what I usually do and the beginning of the conquest when I don't want to risk rebels.
Another useful trick - after completely destroying enemy's army you can move army maintenance back to lowest level. It's risky in case of rebels or DOW by another country but at least in the beginning of the game it can save a lot of money. I took only 2 loans in this game.
At some point I was able to add Ancona to the HRE.
During the war I claimed Ferrara. After I conquered Romagna I claimed Modena too. Even before the last claim was ready I declared war on Ferrara. Choosing countries as rivals before claiming and starting war is important.
Another easy war. I took Modena and vassalized Ferrara. It cost me precious 100 diplomatic points. I conquered Modena because of claiming opportunities it gave me. I cored it anddid not get unlawful territory demand from Austria - probably because Austria was busy waging two wars, one with Castile. I think this is a dirty little secret of doing conquest in HRE - busy emperor when you core new provinces.
At that point Genua, Savoy, Mantua and Siena entered coalition against me. Worrisome? Not really. I added Milan and Austria to my network of allies.
I made my first mistake when I decided to attack Siena (I claimed it first). I had a truce with Savoy (after Papal State war) and I did not expect Savoy would enter the war. But coalitions are strong instruments. Although Austria declined call to arms (CTA) Milan and Tuscany entered the war on my side. We were fighting against Savoy (leader), Mantua, Genua and Sienia. After few victorious battles and after capturing Sienia and Mantua I signed peace treaty giving me Siena.
I had very low manpower - so low that during the war I recruited 6 mercenary infantry regiments.
Tuscany wasn't particularly happy with my latest conquest and broke our alliance. I decided to add France to my diplomatic network - Milan was not enough.
But low manpower is not a reason to let religious fundamentalists live in peace. I immediately DOW Papal State - I wanted to use mercenaries before I sent them home.
There was no Papal State army in Rome. Siege was easy and then Provence declared war on Papal State. And here I made another mistake. I vassalize Papal State instead of doing it after Provence would take Avignon. So, of course I found myself in a war against Provence (and Lorraine) with both France and Milan dishonoring CTA.
I could not fight Provence because I had no land access to Provence territory. There was no way Savoy would allow my army to pass through. So I ordered fleet to blockade Provence and waited.
Bad thing happened. Tuscany started war against me and I missed the time they were building their morale. I almost lost my entire army but strong leader saved my forces. I regrouped, destroyed Tuscany army and started sieges. I vassalized Tuscany.
Good thing happened. France declared war on Provence and my enemy was happy to sign white peace.
It's 1459. I have 4 provinces: Ancona, Modena, Romagna and Siena, 5 vassal provinces, 15 regiments army (6 mercenaries) and 3 barques, 6 galleys, 3 cogs fleet. My only ally is Austria now. But I'm happy with that.
My goal is Lombardy now. That's obvious. But Milan is allied with both Austria and Burgundy so I may wait for my chance. Plenty of other conquest opportunities.
The huge problem is war exhaustion at 10. This the effect of stupid idle war against Provence. It may be good idea to stay calm for few years or to take easy targets - like Sardinia.