Beginner friendly Portugal? Doubt it!

[FWIII]

First of all let me say, I just recently acquired EU IV with subscriptions and so far I love it. I played other Paradox-titles, but the complexity of EU IV is unparalleled. So I figured, I should play a nation recommenden for beginners. My choice war Portugal, as I wanted to play a Western nation which was not too much of a power yet.

In order to mess up morocco, I allied Spain and the first war for Tanger was a breeze. Then, everything changed when the Iberian Wedding hit just after a fear years (I think it was around 1460) and Spain stabbed me in the back. I wasn't prepared at all (How should I, not expecting an ally with best relations to attack me), so I stood no chance and spain blitzkrieged me before England has even arrived.

I thought, well give it another go and prepare for it hoping that the event would be delayed as much as possible. Indeed, I was able to play deep into the 1480s and gained a fair amount of power. So,I prepared for the worst and in fact the Iberian Wedding hit. I built some forts and built up my army as much as my finances allowed me. I knew I could't face Castile alone which is why I was allied to England, Scotland and Naples. This should hold up Castile, right? Well WRONG! They allied France in the meantime, which kicked England's ass out of Europe earlier and in a blink of an eye I was junior partner of Spain.

This is an extremely unsatisfying experience for a beginner. I just wanted to play an independent nation that has a fairly quiet start in order to understand the basic mechanics of the game and not be dragged into the cabal and love of Continental Europe.

I don't mean to wish for the event to change or anything, but don't lable Portugal as beginner friendly with this event coming out of nowhere for a noob.

Well, on to another start... Perhaps, I should give Castile a try.

 

[Destaloss]

I guess the behavior of Castille / Spain changed with recent updates quiet much, especially the aggression after Spain is formed.
Colonial management and management with Muslim religion doesn't seem beginner friendly as well.

Castille however is a really great nation to start as as a beginner. You have easy combats due to the +15% Morale of armies and later you get +2% Missionary strength to deal with Sunni provinces.

 

[Destaloss]

As soon as you progressed a bit gameplay-wise and like it a bit more challenging, you can play as Aragon, join the HRE, form Spain and become emperor of the HRE.
It gives the achievement Spain is the Emperor.

 

[Blackmoore]

Portugal is a pretty easy play, actually. EU4 is just a difficult game to master.

Ally Castile (later Spain) and keep relations high, create favor and trust. Castile/Spain does get a mission to force a Personal Union over you, but they will first have to break their Alliance with you to attack -- which should give you 5 years to prepare.

In that five years: Gather your armies, save your cash (in order to hire a bunch of mercs when war starts), upgrade your forts, ally France (or anyone else that either hates Castile/Spain or wants its clay). Portugal has crap armies compared to Spain, but Portugal can easily be the richest nation in the game and you can overwhelm Castile in Mercs and don't completely neglect taking a military idea group or two.