Prussia

[Eusebius86]

Well. I just finished my first ETW short campaign, N/H. I was passive the first 15 years, focusing just on trade and technology. Poland ended up being a major thorn in my side as they took over half of Austria, and took out all but 2 of Sweden's territories. By 1725 I had all the major military techs I wanted, so I basically steamrolled through Saxony, Courland, several of Polands territories, and even a couples of Austria's (which put me at odds with a couple of my major trade partners). I never once faced any rebellions, thanks to dragoons, and a couple well placed missionaries. I won't bore you with the details of my conquerings, as I was mainly focused on testing the gameplay and campaign/battle ai. Here are some of my observances however:

- Campaign AI. Poland is very aggressive and will expand if given the opportunity. Deal with her early and do not let her gain power. She is very difficult to deal with later, and will raid your territories non-stop if given the chance. Austria should be viewed as an ally early on and not as an enemy, pursue friendly relations with them early on. Also, Sweden, though enemies with Poland will NOT ally with you no matter what. I offered them everything from techs to teritory. However, if you sell them techs it can help them deal with Poland and Russia early on...

- Naval campaign AI. Enemy factions were quick to raid my trade routs, but never once tried to remove my ships raiding theirs. Kind of odd.

- Economy. Trade is a must. Marathas and the trade nodes (Africa) were my best means of income. By 1725, I was averaging $9k a turn from trade alone. Modest, but very helpful. Also, get the first couple farming techs, this is very helpful in the long run (thanks Monk!).

- Techs. The two most important techs are bayonet and the first firing drill. You will absolutely own Poland (and everyone else for that matter) once you get the first firing drill.

I never once lost a battle on hard. On the open field the AI generally came straight at me, and was predictable, but not stupid. When evenly matched (manpower) I normally lost around 30/35% of my forces. In RTW I almost never lost more than 15% of my forces. That rarely happens to me in ETW unless I vastly outnumber the enemy. They just don't rout as quickly...

I think I might try Austria next. I'm just don't feel ready to deal with OP'd galleons and pirates right now...

[clikarbar]

I choose the long campaign.

I started of by deciding who to ally with to take Saxony and Poland. I decided that I should choose Austria since Austria can keep Poland busy while I fend off Saxony and rush to Warsaw. My desire was to ally with Russia as my goals are not that Far East and my intentions are to invade west and Italy, however Russia is busy with Sweden and ally to Poland and hate Austria. I allied with Hannover as well to help with any surprise attack from the west and Scandinavia.

I planed my research and converted Potsdam and another town in East Prussia to schools to have 3 schools in total. I targeted Military and farming. I secured trade with my friendly neighbors through land trade. Seeing that GB was the best at that time and had allot of American soil I started to trade as well with Ottoman and Martha for luxury trade. I also secured good relations with Sweden for later use. Built up that 2 armies for 2 turns and upgraded the farms. Tax policy is set on 4/5 for nobility and 2/5 for worker.

So let the game begin....

I attacked Saxony and as expected Austria and Hannover are at war with Poland and Saxony. I took Dresden in 1 turn that Hannover did not have a chance to attack it. In the meantime the army in East Prussia was still defending Konigsberg as the army in the fort in Lithuania will attack. Austria will be busy defending its lands rather than attacking Poland as Poland concentrates more on Austria as it feels that it’s a bigger threat. Russia will not even interfere as it is busy destroying Sweden and defending it land from the Ottomans.

I slowly built up the army to a full stack to attack Lithuania while moving the army that took Dresden to West Prussia and then Warsaw. I took Warsaw in 4 turns and had to stay there for some time to stabilize the population while recruiting a small militia with a general to garrison it while moving to Galicia as the polish made it as the new capital(in my game). Meanwhile I moved the army in East Prussia on offensive and take Lithuania.

I had to secure Courland as I felt it was increasingly turning unfriendly and tried to improve relations by making a trade agreement with 3k payment. With Galicia and Lithuania secured Poland was left with Minsk. I decided that I should secure Courland as it was still not that friendly and building up forces so I took the forces that took Lithuania and attacked their capital which I had to stabilize for 2 turns, while the forces that attacked Galicia attacked Minsk. Poland was history.

Guess what! In My game while I was doing all this Russia was defending itself from the Ottomans and attacking Sweden that it annihilated Sweden. Courland took Riga as well that I had to take it from them after I secured Courland itself. Austria did not gain any lands from this war as it was busy defending from surprise attack from Poland and constant Ottoman attempts. By 1718 I had all of Poland, Lithuania, Courland, Riga and Saxony. By 1720 Sweden had been taken back by the Swedish rebellion and secured it. Russia has been busy trying to retake Sweden now with the help of Denmark.

While all this was going on I decided that Hannover is no longer needed so I attacked with a new army that I built in Berlin and Dresden while securing Poland and Courland in the east. France is at war with me for attacking Hannover but till now there was no threat as I have Austria as an ally and GB is also attacking France. I made allies with 2 minor nations for future use in mind that is Bavaria and Portugal, to help me fight the French and Austria later on, while making good relations with Spain. Russia is very friendly but as yet does not want to ally since I destroyed Poland and still an ally with their enemy, Austria!

I then decide to do the unexpected from any nation...I attack Sweden by transporting the army that took Minsk leaving the 2nd east army in the fort in Lithuania to make sure Austria or Russia stay within their borders, while leaving the army that secured Hannover in a fort in Hannover as to the west the German nations, as well as the Dutch are getting influenced by the French to attack me. Preparing for war while researching like crazy. I am sieging Stockholm and Denmark is raiding towns in the south and Russia raiding in the north of Sweden.

The situation so far....

Its 1725 I have taken just Hannover since 1718 (7 years - 14 turns), however I am 650 prestige at moment while GB is 350. 16k per turn income. Trade with everyone you can. I have 3 commercial basins and 1 drydock. My final goal is to destroy the Danish, Dutch, German States, Austria and France. France is hated by GB and Austria. Austria is hated by GB and Russia and France. Ultimately I need Russia to be an ally and I know they need Sweden so my plan is...

I will take Sweden, cancel alliance with Austria, and ally with Russia with an offering for Sweden (hopefully they will not rebel again). Get friendlier with France. With Bavaria and Portugal as allies and getting Spain as ally I can fight the Dutch and Danish at the same time with the army at Hannover and with the 2nd rate naval fleet I have to help in the sea battles against the Dutch and GB as it is an ally with Holland. However I would have Portugal and Spain on my side. While I can move 2 armies to attack Austria with the help of Russia and Bavaria. I have to keep up and monitor the German states as I will move in slowly.

After Austria, the two D nations, German States are dealt with I will have an empire from Copenhagen to the Alps, From Minsk too Amsterdam. If time permits my extended goal is all the way to Sicily, Malta, Barbary States and France itself and maybe who knows GB as well. While making good relations with the Ottomans since they always wanted to expand westward.

N.B:
Build a church school in every province that you take from Poland during the invasion it will help you. Also build coaching inns at least till the population is no longer under protest. Invest in Farming and Philosophy and obviously in military and naval technology. Your navy can be one stack but make sure its 1st or 2nd rate.