Difficulty of the HRE

[ferdi]

I've been playing most recently as the HRE. This is with "Gold", hard setting, and in the late period (I think, keep getting this confused - the middle one). Its listed as moderate difficulty but, so far, has been more difficult then any of those listed as hard in the early period. The lateness of being able to build fleets and an economy (even though I am the "richest" most of the time) not up to the number of troops needed to guard such a central position seems to be at fault. I'm think I'm on my fifth try now. I was perhaps going to win in the last try but, alas, even though all of my garrison and army leaders had at least five loyalty, the what should have been a very temporary loss of two territories put me in to civil war and that was that. So, I am wondering, do others also feel that "moderate difficulty" is a bit off or is perhaps my style of play just not a good match for the empire?

HRE is always harder then it seems. this is because of it is position. and so through the its history it is not unified up to 1871 so the loyaly is realy real (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco%...93Prussian_War). u have to be more and more careful in HRE, it is not like Ottoman, English or Spain.
Hre is hard because to expand u need to war with another kingdoms, and this all kingdomas are Catholic :) .Ususally when one attck probably next year others are do the same.
first position of your king is important. if your naval force is insufficient king must be in a central place so he can reach all territories in one or two move.
second your main army's position on the map is essential and loyaly of this garrison.
then u first pay attention on France. France is almost always attack u.
so your first army be in france border(Lorrain), second one is in Austria,
it has border with Venice and Hungry.
then third army in Pomerenia.
Pomerinia is your most valuable land. u start with port here and construct ships. so put a ship in queue on it is possible(i dont exactly rememember if it is avaible in start).
then Saxonia is valuable with its salt. so control Baltic and north see. it is at least.
if u do these things and be careul about excomminicaion after 20-30 years u could easily erase your rivals.
so first interior(dont lost any province and tech up) things then exterior ones(expanding).