-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
This guide was perfect for 1.18, and a lot of it is still very good in 1.19, for example taking one province off Scotland (but not coring it) so you can full vassalize Scotland and return that province after the second war, and inherit Scotland for free via the form Great Britain Diplomatically decision.
However in 1.19 the Maine event changes the opening conditions significantly. Given that you will have to accept a stab hit or be forced to fight France very early, you might as well start the war asap (before France makes any powerful allies) on your terms with the "Force Personal Union over France" mission, and hopefully stackwipe the French army in Paris with a surprise attack. Castille will join the war on your side with the promise of territory. In my game he didn't even want any French land post-war, so wasn't upset when I didn't give him any in the end.
However in 1.19 the Maine event changes the opening conditions significantly. Given that you will have to accept a stab hit or be forced to fight France very early, you might as well start the war asap (before France makes any powerful allies) on your terms with the "Force Personal Union over France" mission, and hopefully stackwipe the French army in Paris with a surprise attack. Castille will join the war on your side with the promise of territory. In my game he didn't even want any French land post-war, so wasn't upset when I didn't give him any in the end.
I just took the stab hit and bought it back up during the War of the Roses (which seems to end when you get it up to +1 and then pushes it to +3 for free).
I did this a little out of order (I took Ireland first and then vassalized Scotland afterwards) but managed to get everything done by around 1472. And it's not like you can actually form Britain until much much later anyway because of the tech 10 requirement.
The uselessness of France in the war is actually very silly. You have to see it to believe it. I left my heavies and transports parked outside their only port (which also blockaded the port that Brittany kept their fleet in) and was able to completely forget about them for the rest of the war even though I messed up a bit and it dragged on for years.
Sooo what do I do when Denmark Rivals Scotland AND me so Scotland just wanta to be friends
Scotland can ally one of the irish minors, if you attack that ally, but dont cobeligerent Scotlant, but take scottish land.. proxy war. Or did you mean something else?
I rerolled that game because things went badly anyway (couldn't get an heir in time so the War of the Roses event fired), but what happened was (in both games) that I was never allowed to rival Scotland, probably because Denmark made us both Rivals. So in that first game I tried to go the diplomatic route with Scotland, but obviously they're far too big to ever let themselves be vassalized without a war or some kind of scripted event. In the second game Denmark did the same thing, but I opted to ignore Scotland's diplomatic outreach and follow the guide (mostly) as closely as possible. Also had much better luck getting an heir in that game - so now useless Henry has died, and we're just entering the reign of glorious Charles Lancaster (6/4/6) as we've got Ireland and Scotland in hand. Meanwhile, France has been stymied by an alliance between Brittany and Burgundy, so I still have all my mainland holdings. I originally gave France back Maine, but then Britanny immediately took it in a war they somehow won. So now I'm going to go down there and take it. Again.
Other things of note - I allied and RM'd Austria, but towards the end of the session they actually lost their Great Power status. Going to be interesting to see what happens in Germany.
Other things of note - I allied and RM'd Austria, but towards the end of the session they actually lost their Great Power status. Going to be interesting to see what happens in Germany.
I personally completely disagree in strategy. I dont fight Scotland outside of perhaps a Humilation war or some other similar causus beli (for valuable power projection and prestige), and as a money farm. No need to sit on Scotland till you form GB- a wasted Diplo slot, as their armies wont make it to the mainland. Instead, I go about doing three things
1) I immediately vassalize one minor in Ireland. They can have all the Irish provinces so I dont deal with revolts-the Irish are usually nasty and not worth the unrest or accepting thwm till you have em all. If Scotland allies a minor, great- continually break their potential alliance with France and force them to relase the Gales- you can reconquest it for them later.
2) I support the Independence of Sweden. The reason is twofold- it allows you to weaken what is likely your 2nd or 3rd biggest rival and only comparable Naval power in the lategame (+50% naval force limit is damn strong) and allows you to take a provence in Scandinavia. From there, fabricate claims and use threaten war against Norway and Sweden as often as you can
3) Either vassalize or get a PU over Britianny (it happens suprisingly often) then do the same to Province (if they still have Anjou, its easy to do so). This gives you FAR more power on the continent, and enough troops from your vassals to actually fight France.
From there, the midgame strategy emerges- by then, you probably cant get a PU over France anymore (or you fought and won in the surrender of maine, or ended up with that mission I rarely get). Break up france unless you have a PU, only taking a few provinces from them directly. Either vassalize or threaten war against the minor states that emerge from a shattered France.
On to Spain, hope that it doesnt form. If it ever does, get a PU over Portugal. Or something. Anything. If you can actually fight spain, force them to disintegrate as much as you can. Until then, support rebels (especially those in Aragon/Catalonia) and build up economic power in Itally (by threatening war against Itallians after Shadow Kingdom, and vassalizing anyone you actually war, because annexing will get you a coalition). A no CB war to get into north Africa will help you in this cause- a strong vassal in the form of Tunis or Morroco can usually do a world of difference against Spain, who is the PRIMARY rival in the mid and lategame. Also, take Iceland. You need it to beat spain in the colonization game.
Your strategy works perfectly well, especially for begginers, but mine is probably the easiest way for a beginner to blob as England, instead of just play passive (which most beginners dont have the patience for. I didnt)
1) I immediately vassalize one minor in Ireland. They can have all the Irish provinces so I dont deal with revolts-the Irish are usually nasty and not worth the unrest or accepting thwm till you have em all. If Scotland allies a minor, great- continually break their potential alliance with France and force them to relase the Gales- you can reconquest it for them later.
2) I support the Independence of Sweden. The reason is twofold- it allows you to weaken what is likely your 2nd or 3rd biggest rival and only comparable Naval power in the lategame (+50% naval force limit is damn strong) and allows you to take a provence in Scandinavia. From there, fabricate claims and use threaten war against Norway and Sweden as often as you can
3) Either vassalize or get a PU over Britianny (it happens suprisingly often) then do the same to Province (if they still have Anjou, its easy to do so). This gives you FAR more power on the continent, and enough troops from your vassals to actually fight France.
From there, the midgame strategy emerges- by then, you probably cant get a PU over France anymore (or you fought and won in the surrender of maine, or ended up with that mission I rarely get). Break up france unless you have a PU, only taking a few provinces from them directly. Either vassalize or threaten war against the minor states that emerge from a shattered France.
On to Spain, hope that it doesnt form. If it ever does, get a PU over Portugal. Or something. Anything. If you can actually fight spain, force them to disintegrate as much as you can. Until then, support rebels (especially those in Aragon/Catalonia) and build up economic power in Itally (by threatening war against Itallians after Shadow Kingdom, and vassalizing anyone you actually war, because annexing will get you a coalition). A no CB war to get into north Africa will help you in this cause- a strong vassal in the form of Tunis or Morroco can usually do a world of difference against Spain, who is the PRIMARY rival in the mid and lategame. Also, take Iceland. You need it to beat spain in the colonization game.
Your strategy works perfectly well, especially for begginers, but mine is probably the easiest way for a beginner to blob as England, instead of just play passive (which most beginners dont have the patience for. I didnt)