Formable nations as Provence

[Sorefist]

I want to make a Provence playthrough in which I'll form as many nations as possible. Since I play only ironman I need some help to avoid making a critical mistake. I'm thinking Jerusalem, Two Sicilies, Tuscany, Sardinia Piedmont, Italy, SPQR.

1. Which nations can I add to my list without REALLY going out of my way?
2. What is the optimal order of forming those nations?
3. How to handle cultural shifts best? I know about converting, destating and incresing/decreasing dev but which is cheapest manawise?
4. Is changing religion after Jerusalem a good idea or should I keep catholicism all the way?
5. Are there any traps I should watch out for along the way? I know about imperium government rank vs cultral shifts.

[Marquoz]

Personally, I'd just form Italy and call it done. Italy has what is arguably the best national idea set in the entire game, much better than everything else on your list. 25% CCR is great all by itself, but there's so much more. The unique 50% Improve Relations modifier is incredible, and the other ideas are very solid as well.

[grotaclas]

One amazing thing which you can do with a Provence start is to get -100% diplomatic annexation cost. With this you can integrate your subjects for 0.1 dip per dev. But unless 1.31 gave diplomatic annexation cost as a permanent mission reward to new formable countries, you have to form a country which has it in its ideas and keep that idea set. In my provence run in 1.30 I got -20% diplomatic annexation cost from Provence missions, -10% Sardinia Piedmont mission, -15% austrian idea, -15% parliament debate, -25% influence ideas, -20% influence-admin policy(I also formed jersualem, spain for achievements and France for an achievement and more admin efficiency, but that was not really needed in the late game for me).

As for other formable countries, I think Tuscany is not really useful, because you won't get new missions(not all formable countries give you their missions). And you could form Prussia for 5% more admin efficiency, but the mission which gives that requires you to own 100 provinces in Germany. Be aware though that Austria can form Prussia, but you can't form Austria if you ever were Prussia(see German regional tags[eu4.paradoxwikis.com] for details). And I assume you are aware that end-game tags like Italy can't form other countries except the Roman Empire

[Sorefist]

Originally posted by grotaclas:

One amazing thing which you can do with a Provence start is to get -100% diplomatic annexation cost. With this you can integrate your subjects for 0.1 dip per dev. But unless 1.31 gave diplomatic annexation cost as a permanent mission reward to new formable countries, you have to form a country which has it in its ideas and keep that idea set. In my provence run in 1.30 I got -20% diplomatic annexation cost from Provence missions, -10% Sardinia Piedmont mission, -15% austrian idea, -15% parliament debate, -25% influence ideas, -20% influence-admin policy(I also formed jersualem, spain for achievements and France for an achievement and more admin efficiency, but that was not really needed in the late game for me).

As for other formable countries, I think Tuscany is not really useful, because you won't get new missions(not all formable countries give you their missions). And you could form Prussia for 5% more admin efficiency, but the mission which gives that requires you to own 100 provinces in Germany. Be aware though that Austria can form Prussia, but you can't form Austria if you ever were Prussia(see German regional tags[eu4.paradoxwikis.com] for details). And I assume you are aware that end-game tags like Italy can't form other countries except the Roman Empire

Wow thanks I wasn't considering those nations. I think I won't go far outside what SPQR requires so Prussia is not an option, but Austria, France and Spain seem reasonable. I'll look into Tuscany with a custom nation just to be sure they have nothing going for them.

Which religion did you have during your run?