I need some tips for starting off with very small empires. I really want to play as Ireland in XL mod but I cant get a formidable stack before going bankrupt, and the English always get Wales first which is my only option for easy conquest. I'll take any general small empire advice you got along with XL players' advice who've played Ireland. I'd love to hear from Patron who modded Ireland and seemed to do real well.

I think this is really where the trade restrictions in XL start to not make sense, even though I like them generally. There is just nothing to do as Ireland when all you have is one province of farm income.