I have noticed a reoccuring theme in the vast majority of games played under the conditions of the Grand Campaign and that of ACGEEP. This being, at around 1750 or so, the human player has reached their zenith and is virtually incomparable to that of the AI. Also at about roughly the same time, research automatically goes to minting as one has maxed out all other relevant research areas; consequently, a process which promotes the spawning of manufactories, etc, and further enhances the human player way beyond that relative to the AI. Additionally, with such tech advantage, numerical force advantage coupled with excess cash reserves, stream-rolling your adversaries to vassalize then diplo-annex is simply a matter of course. I have noticed the same fundamental issue in EUIII. Put simply, how does one make the end game situation as competitive as earlier centuries?
PS: I play Very Hard/ Aggressive
PS: I play Very Hard/ Aggressive