HPM Sweden VS Russia & Forming Scandinavia Strategies

[Space Cadet]

I've been doing a few runs as Sweden in the Historical Project Mod so I can form Scandinavia, but I keep getting roadblocked by both Russia (And either Germany/Prussia or Austria-Hungary not wanting to be apart of any of my conflicts.) or the fact my soldier pop dramatically dips per war and in some areas does not come back after 2 wars. I also want to find a way to fast track my successor get military stability.

[ShinyCarman]

From what I have played of Sweden you can sometimes get Prussia as a ally

[Space Cadet]

Originally posted by ShinyCarman:

From what I have played of Sweden you can sometimes get Prussia as a ally

I just got them in my most recent attempt and they actually helped me conquer most of Morocco and Oman, but when I select ”Call Allies”, it says they will not accept.

[Empire_TW]

Is forming Scandinavia early important to you?

I haven't played much HPM but from what I've played and seen it seems like waiting for the scramble for Africa then just mass recruiting from there and using them to fight european wars would work. I've also seen Russia have rebel problems in the Mid to late game in HPM so that might help too.

[Space Cadet]

Originally posted by Empire_TW:

Is forming Scandinavia early important to you?

I haven't played much HPM but from what I've played and seen it seems like waiting for the scramble for Africa then just mass recruiting from there and using them to fight european wars would work. I've also seen Russia have rebel problems in the Mid to late game in HPM so that might help too.

It is to me. I plan on having Prussia/Germany as my ally, having control of Finland, the Baltic states (By my rule or by a puppet), and Karelia. I also want the extra manpower and resources that being Scandinavia would have.
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(Edit cause I forgot this and typed it right when I woke up.)
However, in HPM: it isn't a simple ”sphere or conquer all the countries to be Scandinavia.” you have to Reform the Kalmar union, first economically, then politically (In EU fashion). There are also some events tied to it, such as creating a single Scandinavian currency. Some of these events require you to research tech that may not be unlocked until the 1860s or 1870s. So I guess forming it super early is out of the question?

[Empire_TW]

Originally posted by Space Cadet:

Originally posted by Empire_TW:

Is forming Scandinavia early important to you?

I haven't played much HPM but from what I've played and seen it seems like waiting for the scramble for Africa then just mass recruiting from there and using them to fight european wars would work. I've also seen Russia have rebel problems in the Mid to late game in HPM so that might help too.

It is to me. I plan on having Prussia/Germany as my ally, having control of Finland, the Baltic states (By my rule or by a puppet), and Karelia. I also want the extra manpower and resources that being Scandinavia would have.
—————————————-
(Edit cause I forgot this and typed it right when I woke up.)
However, in HPM: it isn't a simple ”sphere or conquer all the countries to be Scandinavia.” you have to Reform the Kalmar union, first economically, then politically (In EU fashion). There are also some events tied to it, such as creating a single Scandinavian currency. Some of these events require you to research tech that may not be unlocked until the 1860s or 1870s. So I guess forming it super early is out of the question?

I believe the scramble for Africa starts in the 1880s in HPM so if have to wait for those events you mentioned then it might be best to wait for the scramble for Africa and get some colonies to get soldiers from. Waiting a bit might make it easier to get an alliance with Prussia/Germany because you would have been increasing relations with them and the general climate of europe will have changed to where they probably would find an alliance with you more favorable than at the beginning of the game.

I'm pretty sure HPM keeps the war leader mechanic from Vanilla so a risk with allying with Germany would be them completely disregarding your war goals for their own. So that's something to keep in mind also.

[Space Cadet]

Alright, thanks for the tip about the dates. I’ll keep trying with Germany for a little bit more but I don't have high hopes. I’ll do another save if that happens.

[Sword Stance]

To win the war I spent around 5 years encouraging solders in sweden to ~5% in all the states to get cream of the crop units, 5 guards 4 artillery and 1 hussar. 90 divisions in total. Rushed machine guns and steel breech-loaded artillery, placed my best generals in the units.

After I declared war I only had Norway actually accept the call to war, not even Denmark wanted part in it. Slaughtered tens of thousands of Russians and their allies by baiting them in with my conscripted farmers before they gave up Finland, including the one core.

So basically machine guns then war, you won't need any allies