How is Franconian Conquest possible for Brandenburg?

[Comrade Maethor]

I really don't see how this mission is possible. How do I conquer six provinces in the HRE as Brandenburg before the Reformation in 5 years? Without conquering the Free Cities, which would be suicide against Austria, I'd have to go to annex Bamberg, almost annex Wurzburg, take a province off of Thuringia, a Saxon PU, and then go to war with Mainz. Two of which are electors with allies. And I'm early game Brandenburg. I don't see how this mission is possible in the slightest.

[RCMidas]

Aim for at least three of Poland+Lithuania, Bohemia, Venice, and Hungary-Croatia as allies. Alternatively, ally Austria yourself and drag them into a war before going ham on some of your targets - they won't declare war on you when they are allied in a war WITH you.

[Comrade Maethor]

Originally posted by RCMidas:

Aim for at least three of Poland+Lithuania, Bohemia, Venice, and Hungary-Croatia as allies. Alternatively, ally Austria yourself and drag them into a war before going ham on some of your targets - they won't declare war on you when they are allied in a war WITH you.

My favorite strat in EU4. . . relying on the AI to fight wars competently :)

[RCMidas]

Competence is irrelevant. Their ability to serve as distractions is paramount. Their armies dissuade attacks on you and mitigate coalitions, their territories make it harder for enemies to build up warscore than against you alone, and on the off-chance they do well, they are doing well somewhere you don't want right now and can therefore freely ignore.

What's that Bohemia? You occupied all Austria whilst I want just little Bamberg? Bravo. You won't take any of that land, though, because right now you have no claims on it and are terrified of overextending such that your vassals get rebellious. What a shame you lost 50K men in that bloodbath...oh and my Prestige is so much higher than yours now. Interesting that this puts you at risk of falling under a PU with me due to that convenient Royal Marriage as your rulers go through more changes than an epileptic chameleon in a discotheque.

[grognardgary]

Originally posted by RCMidas:

Competence is irrelevant. Their ability to serve as distractions is paramount. Their armies dissuade attacks on you and mitigate coalitions, their territories make it harder for enemies to build up warscore than against you alone, and on the off-chance they do well, they are doing well somewhere you don't want right now and can therefore freely ignore.

What's that Bohemia? You occupied all Austria whilst I want just little Bamberg? Bravo. You won't take any of that land, though, because right now you have no claims on it and are terrified of overextending such that your vassals get rebellious. What a shame you lost 50K men in that bloodbath...oh and my Prestige is so much higher than yours now. Interesting that this puts you at risk of falling under a PU with me due to that convenient Royal Marriage as your rulers go through more changes than an epileptic chameleon in a discotheque.

Now that last bit is funny.

[fingerneun]

budgetmonk made a youtube video on this topic. His advice was something like ally Ansbach at start and feed them any needed provinces you can. Via claim on Saxony you can get them at least a province from Thuringia. When the Ansbach sucession hits you need then only 6 - Ansbachs provinces.