The screenshot topic

[Monk]

Using this, I plan to play a single game spanned over EUIII and into Vicky:Rev. The converter doesn't seem entirely reliable but it will give me an excuse to make it to the end of an EUIII game for once.

So enjoy the first (of many) intended screenshot updates Of Hesse's attempts to unify Germany, played on Hard with High AI aggression.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Unfortunately, It looks like i've went a little too fast for my own good. Through peaceful annexations, bribes, out right conquest and well crafted guarantees of independence, Hesse has grown by leaps and bounds. All but defeating Burgundy and a handful of other HRE members in a series of wars that has really taken it's toll, both on Hesse and Europe abroad. The members of the Holy Roman Empire are tired of war and nearly everyone hates my kingdom.

After a century of internal warfare and strife, order has nearly completely broken down within the Empire. Due to Hesse's (my) continued wars of aggression, the member states began to look outside the empire for someone who could restore some semblance of order to the many fiefs. That power was found in Poland, for a time, but with the Golden Horde resurgent Poland's eyes are elsewhere and the minor states of Germany are without a cause to unite them or a strong leader to protect them. Infighting, not just of my doing, is at an all time high.

I've been forced to end my long time alliance with France, who was instrumental in defeating Burgundy, in favor of guaranteeing the independence of nearly every southern German state. My hope is that such a move will end France's rapid expansion, they've close to doubled in size in the last 20 years. In truth I really don't want to fight France, but if they keep interfering in my affairs by annexing states within the HRE i may be forced to.

The big blue has an even worse reputation than I do (which is hard to imagine!) and one more war will send them spiraling into BadBoy status. If I can force a major conflict onto them they'll collapse, it's just a matter of doing so. Sadly is i'm so close to hitting my BB limit I may end up in the same spot if I so much as think about war, so we're both in a bit of a cold war. Both seek to establish dominance over the scattered Empire, both neither can really make it happen just yet.

Meanwhile.. Austria has been quite busi solidifying their power in the south. I went head to head with them during my wars to subjugate a few new vassals thrity years ago, but that was long ago. Both of us have grown since then, and I'm not sure I want to bash my head against that particular wall. If things don't change soon, there won't be a Holy Roman Empire, there will just be France, Hesse, and Austria.