Rex Germania - A Brandenburg to Prussia Strategy AAR

[Historywhiz]

Oh you could take out burgher loans! Perfect! That’s a wonderful opportunity for you to refinance your debts and make your interest better…

One of these was the Brandenburg Gate – our Great Project in Berlin. It required an investment of something like 2500 ducats just to get the damned thing under construction to its 2nd status level, and that seemed like a lot. But I desired it, and I saw an opportunity.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….

 

[HistoryDude]

Congrats on improving your debt situation!

Who is Wurzburg allied with, and when are you declaring war on them?

I suppose keeping Protestant provinces in reserve will allow you to form Prussia later if you lose the imperial throne...

 

[Midnite Duke]

Staying at peace must be nerve wracking. It is about time for France to try to snipe more HRE provinces. Thanks

 

[jak7139]

In 1522 MilTech advanced to 9, which is probably a little slow. Especially for an aspiring great power. In 1523 Diplo Tech reached level 9, which also is probably a little behind. Then in 1525 Admin Tech reached level 6, which (Hey, why are you clutching your heart? Maybe you should sit down…) is QUITE behind.

Diplo Tech 9 is really helpful if you want to catch up on tech. If you build a Spy Network in nations with better technology than you, you'll get a discount (the larger your network, the higher the discount). You can check everybody's technology levels in the Ledger.

Hesse voluntarily became a vassal in 1527.

Another vassal: great!

Another relation-slot used: not so great.

Another thing I’ve not mentioned in detail is how I’m earning ducats.

Both of those methods are tried and true strategies.

we chose to add Quality Ideas to the Economic Ideas we’d chosen previously.

Quality-Econmic has a good military policy if I remember right. You're going all in on Prussian army quality!

Austria absorbed Frankfurt, in 1531.

Isn't Frankfurt a free city? Shouldn't you have gotten a CtA since you're Emperor?

It makes the point that once we accept the Franconian Hohenzollern “event” the 5 years begins.

If the event never fired for you, then the timer probably also won't trigger. But I've never had this happen before so who knows.

NEVER, EVER Debase your Currency!!!! Good Gosh I had no idea how bad it would affect me. Now I know.

Agreed. It should be an absolute last resort to prevent bankruptcy.

Out of all the CoTs, Brandenburg’s chief playground was Saxony

What are your merchants doing by the way?

Brandenburg’s Mercantilism seems low – I’ve not spent much effort changing ours, and so it’s basically just drifted by random event. This is probably something I should change, but I just haven’t.

That's what I do as well. Just let it tick up passively from events and you'll be fine. Later, when you have an excess of diplo points, you can increase it a bit.

 

[Hootieleece]

I like to get extra mercantilism from the pope using papal favor mana.

 

[mackwolfe]

I like to get extra mercantilism from the pope using papal favor mana.

My preferred way is by granting monopolies to the estates. The advance payment is like an interest free mini loan. This balances any loss from increased production while the monopoly lasts. And you keep the estates happier.

 

[coz1]

Indeed, eventually you will have to decide which is more important - remaining HRE or becoming Prussia. So likely smart to let things just flow for a time on the religious front. Personally, I would go for Prussia as the HRE title is not all that important despite some of the perks it gives you (at least I have found in the past.)

 

[Rensslaer]

Hey @Rensslaer. Just letting you know I'm still reading, and just caught up. Looking forward to the next instalment.

@Lord Durham thanks for following along! Thanks for your comments! I posted an update just after you posted, just in case you missed it.

I desired it and I saw an opportunity should be the motto of this AAR!

Brandenburg has done a lot of recovery and now looks less like a country on sitting down and panting from her exertions and more like a country crouching ready to spring... a short, cheap war with lots of gold taken in the peace settlement from your main foe's allies could help pay off the last of the loans. That is assuming you don't decide it is time to go for Austria... there would be nothing short or cheap about that confrontation...

lol @Cromwell I have a vision for how Brandenburg might turn out. But mostly it's a desire that Brandenburg be safe, and I worry that if I allow my enemies to grow faster than myself I won't be safe.

You're right - Brandenburg's recovery has been substantial, if not total. Not yet total. Yeah you're right about Austria. Not ready for that yet. But I have another preparatory conflict I need to get out of the way first...

Oh you could take out burgher loans! Perfect! That’s a wonderful opportunity for you to refinance your debts and make your interest better…



Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….

@Historywhiz I regret that my fiscal discipline is not up to your standards.

Congrats on improving your debt situation!

Who is Wurzburg allied with, and when are you declaring war on them?

I suppose keeping Protestant provinces in reserve will allow you to form Prussia later if you lose the imperial throne...

@HistoryDude thanks! You've pegged it! I'll reserve the answer to your question for the next update. It's not ready yet, but not too long here.

Staying at peace must be nerve wracking. It is about time for France to try to snipe more HRE provinces. Thanks

@Midnite Duke yes, well... France has been relatively quiet since I/we stood up to them. Though I think there's a war underway between France and Spain that I may or may not have mentioned. It remains peripheral to Brandenburg's immediate concerns, so I might have sidelined it.

Quality-Econmic has a good military policy if I remember right. You're going all in on Prussian army quality!

Isn't Frankfurt a free city? Shouldn't you have gotten a CtA since you're Emperor?

What are your merchants doing by the way?

That's what I do as well. Just let it tick up passively from events and you'll be fine. Later, when you have an excess of diplo points, you can increase it a bit.

@jak7139 I'm really hoping to increase to substantial professionalism/discipline standards in the Army.

And yes, Frankfurt is (was) a free city. It's possible I got a CB but wasn't prepared to do anything about it, and thereby skipped it in my update? Not sure. I don't actually recall getting such a CB. But you're right I should have.

W/re to merchants, I don't recall for sure exactly how many I had at this time or what they were doing. I do recall experimenting with some stuff, and I recall that at one point I set up a merchant in Novgorod to steer trade, but the results were less than impressive (perhaps because of the mechanics you mentioned in your AAR -- that if you steer trade to a node where someone else collects it, you're really helping them more than you). So I switched to collecting. My default has become collecting, because in my experience there aren't alot of nodes where I have a good trade presence that steer well into a node I have significant control over.

I like to get extra mercantilism from the pope using papal favor mana.

@Hootieleece interesting - not sure I've run into that. Course the Pope has never, in this AAR's history, been particularly happy with Brandenburg. Except for that short period -- maybe 3 years? -- when we were Papal Controller.

My preferred way is by granting monopolies to the estates. The advance payment is like an interest free mini loan. This balances any loss from increased production while the monopoly lasts. And you keep the estates happier.

@mackwolfe I'm sure you saw I tagged you in the update itself for anticipating my need to embrace the institution and the resulting boost in Great Power status.

I've experimented here and there with concessions to the Estates. But I've typically avoided anything that gives them more land. And I don't recall ever giving a monopoly -- there was something in that bargain that I didn't wish to concede, as I recall.

Indeed, eventually you will have to decide which is more important - remaining HRE or becoming Prussia. So likely smart to let things just flow for a time on the religious front. Personally, I would go for Prussia as the HRE title is not all that important despite some of the perks it gives you (at least I have found in the past.)

@coz1 you are correct! I am at a point where I'm feeling that pressure to decide, and debating with myself which way to go.



To All: I have not yet, in this thread, commemorated this AAR's victory in the Q2-2024 AARLand Choice AwAARds! Rex Germania came in first in the EU IV category, and I very much appreciate your support! Thank you to all of you who voted for this AAR!

No update ready just yet. I have the skeleton to build upon, but not to the point yet of adding the flesh to the update. I'm still a little out of sorts because I haven't gotten a job yet. I'm waiting for next week, when my first choice company is supposed to make their decision. I have other stuff in the works, but I'd actually prefer this one over others. It's nerve-wracking waiting for the news, and I have to admit I'm kind of depressed and therefore not very productive because of all the waiting.

Thanks for your readership and comments, and your support during my job search!

Rensslaer

 

[Historywhiz]

@Historywhiz I regret that my fiscal discipline is not up to your standards.

Rensselaer, I love you man, but you make the Greek and Zimbabwean governments look like models of fiscal management…

 

[El Pip]

Despite the inevitable ill-advised splurges of money that all seemed very positive, less debt, vassals and so on. Indeed by your own lofty standards spending thousands on the Brandenburg Gate is incredibly restrained.

That said the ominous power of the Burghers continues to grow, what will they do with all that influence? Outlaw the Bratwurst and force everyone to eat meat patties in bread?

a short, cheap war with lots of gold taken in the peace settlement from your main foe's allies could help pay off the last of the loans.

I instantly thought of this;

I suspect that would exactly describe any 'short and cheap' war that Brandenburg attempted to fight.

 

[VILenin]

Now, some of you veteran players may be aware of a dynamic that I didn’t understand until it came to bite me in the butt. I kept seeing references to the levels of “Influence” the Estates had, but wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. I could have looked it up, but I could have looked another 20 things up. I didn’t. The taking of these loans, added to other concessions I’d added for the Burghers, brought their influence up to 70%. Foreshadowing for the benefit of our dear readers. I remained oblivious.

What could go wrong? I'm also ignorant as to what calamities the Estates can inflict on you, but now I'm looking forward to find out.

In 1482 I’d acquired 10 Corruption because I decided to see what “Debase Currency” would do, so in 50 years I’ve reduced it by 7. NEVER, EVER Debase your Currency!!!! Good Gosh I had no idea how bad it would affect me. Now I know.

This is why I like "non-optimal" playthroughs. A grizzled veteran of the game might know to avoid all the various pitfalls out there, perhaps making a passing reference to "don't do X" as they go, but seeing the various mechanics in action (and their consequences!) I think makes the journey all the more interesting and informative.

Plus I'm getting a kick out of watching @Historywhiz 's soul slowly get crushed.

 

[Rensslaer]

All right… In the previous update I outlined what’s called the Franconian Conquest Mission, given to Brandenburg (and I assume Prussia, if Prussia forms). It’s a follow-on challenge to the Ansbach Succession Mission, which says that if Ansbach comes to be owned by the Hohenzollerns it sets a 5-year ticker to complete the Franconian Conquest mission. It’s a little more complicated than that – I vassalized them, and I kinda think it was a follow-on event that would have triggered the 5-year ticker. But I didn’t realize that at the time, so I went with the assumption that I had 5 years to make 6 out of 8 of the provinces within Upper and Lower Franconia into Brandenburg’s possessions (either owned outright, or as vassals).

Ansbach itself (the province of Ansbach, plus the inherited province of Beyreuth) counted as 2 of those 6 provinces we needed. We needed 4 more, 3 of which were owned by Wurzburg.

Hats off to @HistoryDude who correctly anticipated, asking “Who is Wurzburg allied with and when are you declaring war on them?” Not saying others of you didn’t know exactly where I was going…





But first, Brandenburg’s economy continues to improve. We’re building various buildings that assist with different things, such as Churches that improve tax revenue, and Workshops that improve Production income. The Barracks improve the local Manpower modifier (increasing my available pool/rate).

Our loan interest is down below 4 ducats a month, and income is up to 57 ducats a month in September of 1538. I’m bringing in a surplus of almost 9 ducats a month because of low Army Maintenance, and have typically been using that money either to pay off loans or pay for new buildings that should improve my economy or standing one way or another.

Meanwhile, Milan got itself into some trouble. First, France and its allies declared war in April 1539. Then in January 1540 Venice and its allies piled on. Milan was going to have a hard time getting out of this vice.

And, in a good sign, in 1540 the members of the Coalition against Brandenburg began to drop out of the Coalition. Our diplomatic efforts were having some success… That’s a good thing. It gives us a feel for how difficult it might be to weaken the next coalition…





In the bottom of the above screenshot is one of the weirder things I’ve noticed in Paradox games… That’s two rebel armies fighting each other in Strassburg! One must assume the Methodist Heretics crushed the peasants… Methodically.

Milan, of course, did not survive the two simultaneous dogpile wars well... In fact, they didn’t survive AT ALL! In June 1540 France annexed 3 of their provinces (including Milan). Then a year later Venice required the release of Parma and Savoy as sovereign states, with the last two provinces of Milan being annexed. That was the complete dismantling of a 7-province regional power in just 2 years!





I vaguely recall that France later sold those isolated provinces to their allies Savoy and Genoa.

In January of 1542 Oldenburg joined us in alliance (theoretically against Austria), and the small state of Coburg volunteered to be our vassal. This give us our 3rd Franconian province – 3 more to go.

And speaking of three… Some of you have asked how many Diplo Monarch Points I’m getting per month, now…. Three. That is, of course, reduced by one for every official “relationship” I have with another country. So Oldenburg and Coburg took me from 5 to 3 points per month. I’ll have to address that at some point. But not yet.

And so…

That same month Brandenburg and her vassals declared war upon Wurzburg, figuring to either annex 3 of her provinces or simply to make her a vassal. That was our wargoal, and really the whole purpose of the war. No outcome short of that would be acceptable.






This placed us at war, also, with Magdeburg, the Palatinate, Salzburg and Nassau. Magdeburg, in particular, was a welcome addition to the war because we wanted those provinces which caused Brandenburg’s borders to look so non-sensical.

Magdeburg includes those two crosshatched red and yellow provinces underneath the 21 January date. We already owned Goslar and Anhalt, on either side of Magdeburg. Snipping off that silly appendix would improve the look of the borders quite nicely.

Our vassal, Coburg, began this war inauspiciously, as they lost their entire army to Wurzburg in the opening days. I could have moved an army there before declaring war, to protect them, but no I did not think to do that.

At the end of February our armies clashed with those of nearby Magdeburg.





By mid-March the Battles of Leipzig and Halle had defeated them utterly, taking 6,000 of our opposing troops off the battle board for the loss of about 3,700 of ours.

At the end of March our armies engaged with the Salzburgers at Innbaiern and the Palatinates at Nurnburg, and these 2 battles became intertwined in a way, as they began and concluded around the same time, with similar results.

At Nurnburg the Palatinate army sought to destroy a smaller Brandenburger army. But a larger force was nearby, and came to their rescue.





The Innbaiern campaign concluded on 23 April with a significant victory for our side (the enemy sustained twice our casualties). And on 24 April Nurnburg was decided in Brandenburg’s favor, but not before practically every country in the war contributed troops! The Palatinate, Wurzburg and Nassau had soldiers present, as did Brandenburg’s vassals, Krakow, Luneburg (the campaign was managed, at the end, by Luneburger Oskar Martin), Coburg, Moravia, Ansbach, Opole and Hesse. Brandenburg and allies lost 7,500 to the opponents’ 10,500.

Together the battles added nearly 7 points to the Warscore.

The Palatinate army who had been beaten at Nurnburg was run to ground at Heidelburg on 10 May and surrendered in the face of a futile fight.





A day after the Palatinate surrender a Salzburger army arrived at Heidelburg and another battle ensued, this one not so decisive. But those soldiers who withdrew from Heidelburg were discovered recouping at Pfalz, and this army also was forced to surrender utterly at the end of May 1542.

By October of 1542 still six provinces were under siege by Brandenburg. Nassau was the closest to surrender. Three provinces had breaches in their walls.

The main Wurzburger army had not come to battle until Zweibrucken, in October, where they stood with the army of Nassau.





Emperor Friedrich himself led this effort, and performed magnificently, earning the trait Hardy Warrior (-20% land attrition). The enemy quit the field of battle 19 October, and retreated. The Emperor followed the enemy and met them again at Pfalz, where they surrendered 3 days after their initial defeat.

Nassau finally capitulated on Christmas Eve, 1542. They agreed to become vassals of the Emperor.





In mid-February, Brandenburger armies were forced to battle rebels in Salzburg in order to take that city for our side. Magdeburg, at that time, continued to hold out, but it would only be a matter of time. And on the 1st of March the City of Wurzburg surrendered.

By the end of March both Salzburg and Magdeburg yielded. Salzburg was allowed to pay an indemnity of 120 ducats and reparative payments for 10 years. Magdeburg did not get off so lucky. Those two provinces were coveted by Emperor Friedrich as part of what should rightfully be Brandenburger land, and therefore was taken as such.




Brandenburg had started the war with about 60,000 Manpower reserves, and now was down to 37,000. Statistically it appeared Brandenburg and its allies (mostly Brandenburg) had lost 39,000 soldiers in combat, and another 12,000 to attrition.

That was, surely, a high price to pay. But this war was on its way to reshaping central Europe in Brandenburg’s favor. It was a blow against the campaign of conquest by Austria. Was the cost ultimately worth it?

A month later The Palatinate was allowed to bow out of the conflict for 70 ducats and a promise of continued payments for 10 years. When Wurzburg – the object of this whole enterprise – surrendered on 5 May, Emperor Friedrich knew his decision would not be a popular one. Much of Europe feared Austria. But many of those same countries now feared Brandenburg just as much. They were likely to build upon their coalition against the Emperor’s expansion.






But Friedrich had the prize which he had sought, and he took it. Wurzburg was forced to become a vassal.

It was time to rest and recuperate from this war. To rebuild Manpower reserves and military strength. To re-energize the economy. And to digest the conquests of war.

The diplomats immediately got busy attempting to mollify Brandenburg’s neighbors that we were not coming for them. It was a hard message to deliver with conviction.

 

[Cromwell]

Jesus Chirst that coaliton risk, and all those vassals taking you over the relations cap and dragging down your diplo power gain, you absolute madman! How long until you can start intergrating your oldest vassal? I'm loving this, either you will be rewarded for your audacity in a big way or we are about to see the largest coaliton war imaginable with you taking out so many loans to fight it that will dwarf anything you have done before as the the colossus of Rhodes would dwarf an ant!

 

[coz1]

Bravo! That was a well done conquest which hopefully did not kill the budget again. One other thing, have you considered investing a little to lessen your inflation?

 

[Historywhiz]

Plus I'm getting a kick out of watching @Historywhiz 's soul slowly get crushed.

likely to build upon their coalition against the Emperor’s expansion.






But Friedrich had the prize which he had sought, and he took it. Wurzburg was forced to become a vassal.

@VILenin My experience reading this TL in general and viewing the above image in particular:

Edit: and @Rensslaer , for future reference, all you had to do was hold off until making peace until January 1544, and France would have lost 2-3 aggressive expansion penalty from your previous actions and would not have been able to join the coalition against you now. Instead, unless you have a truce with them that lasts through them, I calmly expect your next chapter to be another story of gigantic European death war.

 

[mackwolfe]

That coalition. Oof!! I can't offer advice. I'll just offer prayers.

 

[Iwantdumplings]

The Magdeburg AE is the real killer there, since they inflicted co-belligerent AE. But, this is a Paradox game! What price too high to pay for pretty borders?

 

[jak7139]

That’s two rebel armies fighting each other in Strassburg! One must assume the Methodist Heretics crushed the peasants… Methodically.

This is what I imagine the interaction between these two rebel factions is like:

And on 24 April Nurnburg was decided in Brandenburg’s favor, but not before practically every country in the war contributed troops!

The power of the vassal swarm!

Nassau finally capitulated on Christmas Eve, 1542. They agreed to become vassals of the Emperor.

Another vassal, another monthly diplo point...Do you plan to annex any of them right now?

It was a blow against the campaign of conquest by Austria.

Brandenburg will defend Europe against Austrian aggression by making sure there are no nations left for them to eat.

Edit: and @Rensslaer , for future reference, all you had to do was hold off until making peace until January 1544, and France would have lost 2-3 aggressive expansion penalty from your previous actions and would not have been able to join the coalition against you now. Instead, unless you have a truce with them that lasts through them, I calmly expect your next chapter to be another story of gigantic European death war.

Agreed with @Historywhiz here. AE decreases every January, so if you have nations on the edge like France, it can be a good idea to wait for that year-tick. It's also good to improve relations with the potential coalition members before the peace to prevent them from joining.

At least you'll have truces with some of these nations, but you're living on the edge.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Where are the new loans and dead mercs? Psst, they are in the next chapter Austria/France/Alpha Centuri coalition war! Thanks

 

[Rensslaer]

Rensselaer, I love you man, but you make the Greek and Zimbabwean governments look like models of fiscal management…

@Historywhiz I think there is a consonance between my military strategy and economic strategy. It may seem undisciplined and chaotic. But I've got a habit of seeing what I can get away with. I did the devaluation thing and I guarantee I'll never do it again. But some of this other stuff I do it and it seems to work out. Say it doesn't take too long to get out of debt so if I want some things maybe I'll get them sooner instead of waiting. I had a huge coalition against me for several years and morning happened so I got away with that too. Will I do it again? Well...

Despite the inevitable ill-advised splurges of money that all seemed very positive, less debt, vassals and so on. Indeed by your own lofty standards spending thousands on the Brandenburg Gate is incredibly restrained.

That said the ominous power of the Burghers continues to grow, what will they do with all that influence? Outlaw the Bratwurst and force everyone to eat meat patties in bread?


I instantly thought of this;

I suspect that would exactly describe any 'short and cheap' war that Brandenburg attempted to fight.

Lol @El Pip that banner is hilarious!

You know you love my okay style! You can't believe it's for real!

Yeah it'll take a while for this burgher thing to manifest but it's coming and I had no idea.

What could go wrong? I'm also ignorant as to what calamities the Estates can inflict on you, but now I'm looking forward to find out.

This is why I like "non-optimal" playthroughs. A grizzled veteran of the game might know to avoid all the various pitfalls out there, perhaps making a passing reference to "don't do X" as they go, but seeing the various mechanics in action (and their consequences!) I think makes the journey all the more interesting and informative.

Plus I'm getting a kick out of watching @Historywhiz 's soul slowly get crushed.

Lol @VILenin. You remember more like this! All the fixes I got myself into with Fire Warms the Northern Lands (like almost losing Berlin to France). Then there was Sforza!!! where I'm just starting the game as Milan and suddenly I'm at war with France. Then shortly after I'm at war with the Spanish Emperor. Then I got that Milanese owned enclave in Bremen. Lol

Jesus Chirst that coaliton risk, and all those vassals taking you over the relations cap and dragging down your diplo power gain, you absolute madman! How long until you can start intergrating your oldest vassal? I'm loving this, either you will be rewarded for your audacity in a big way or we are about to see the largest coaliton war imaginable with you taking out so many loans to fight it that will dwarf anything you have done before as the the colossus of Rhodes would dwarf an ant!

@Cromwell I know I'm a madman. Lol The coalition I've faced off with o previously, and they didn't do anything. Yes, this time it includes France, so I need to step more carefully.

If anyone strikes a match we're toast, and yes you'll see that war you just imagined.

Bravo! That was a well done conquest which hopefully did not kill the budget again. One other thing, have you considered investing a little to lessen your inflation?

@coz1 thank you! I actually look at that inflation and think it's pretty well under control. I've been up at 5-7% inflation during my loan crisis and did the investment to reduce inflation. But now for to I've if these economic ideas I think it's controlling itself okay and I may just save my points.

Okay since @Lord Durham reminds us that only the first 5 tags get a notification I'm going to post this and reply to others in a second post. And I guess we can test this by seeing if LD gets the notification since he's the sixth.

It may be a couple hours before the next set.

Oh btw I didn't get the job I was hoping for. They did say they may create a position for me so they can hire me. But I have 2 interviews this week so I'm hoping I'll be employed sooner than that'll take.

Rensslaer