Possible game over?

[StrayCat]

Playing as Hungary, the ruler had previously married the heiress to crown of Poland from which a son came - she passed away - and then her father, the king of Poland passed, making the son the King of Poland, but he's also the heir to Hungry.

He is now in Poland ruling so does that mean when his father, the King of Hungary passes it's game over because a Union will be formed or will the son move back to Hungary so I can keep playing Hungary?

[eaerion]

In EU5 you don't play as a king. You play as a State. A king is only a tool.

[StrayCat]

I realize that....however.....you can't do much as the junior in a union.

Croatia, for example, is in a union with Hungary, and I'm playing as Hungary, and even thought the ruler is the same for Croatia and Hungary, I have no agency with Croatia. So, I assume being on the other end of playing a junior partner nation wouldn't be too fun.

[mikemonger]

You 'll form a PU, and depending in which country is stronger, either Poland or Hungary will be the senior member.

But even if Hungary becomes the junior member, it's not game over. You'll have the option to declare independence, or tweaking your inheritance laws enough to make Poland and Hungary have different heirs, which breaks the union in the next generation.

It's not over until you get fully annexed.

Also, depending on the integration level and the union laws passed, you can pretty much ignore a PU entirely. It only really becomes and issue after you pass establish seniority and various integration laws. If it's a brand new PU there's really no impact.

[tonypa]

PU partners have no option to "declare independece", you are not a subject, you are in Personal Union and there is no way out of it. You could sometimes change succession laws, but the result depends on which laws are available to you and if different laws even change the potential heir. If Codified Inheritance is passed (after 10 years in Union), you can not change heirs anymore.

There is always some chance for randomness. Characters like heirs and rulers may die suddenly. Revolts or wars may change power balance.

In case of Hungary vs Poland, easiest way out of junior partner status is to have higher Great Power Score. Union Member with higher score will automatically become senior member and can pass laws, force diplomacy and eventually integrate other members.

In the end, it is not worth the trouble. You can always reload some earlier save or start new campaign as being in PU as junior partner simply makes your game worse.

I am not sure if they have fixed this, but you were able to have wars where your ruler was fighting on both sides same time, basically warring yourself.