How do you form Italy in 1.7?

[Sparky]

I don't ever see the AI in my games form Italy, and I've done 1 run as Sardinia Piedmont and while I did become the highest GDP country in italy, and eventually after trying different things went democratic through the revolt, still couldn't ever unite italy through any events or diplomatically. I also could not do it militarily because even with france as my ally, one way or another austria & russia would be too much and sometimes even GB or Prussia would join enemy side. This is also with improving relations with basically everyone and doing only one state conquer not a whole bunch. I also tried as Papal State and even though everyone can read, I am quickly becoming the strongest gdp nation in italy, I am not a great power and no one else seems to be making any progress in uniting italy and once again I am in grid lock where even trying to do a protectorate on one of the other italian states multiple great powers are 100% going to join against me.

[Razorblade]

I haven't been having any major issues with foreign powers in my Tuscany games lately. As such, a few questions:

1. Were you always call France into your wars? The other GPs may be joining just to fight them.
2. When you're about to declare a Diplomatic Play, what are the reasons listed for the other GPs having a greater than +30 acceptance score for your enemies?
3. Have you tried attacking your enemies' allies instead of them directly? Sardinia-Piedmont generally allies itself solely to weak North African states, and the Papacy will often jump to the defense of Lucca.
4. Are you keeping your infamy under 25 during your Diplomatic Plays? Going over that could be enough to get the GPs to join when they otherwise wouldn't.
5. Have you tried ignoring Italy and conquering the South African republics and Madagascar instead? That generally solves most problems in Victoria 3, if you don't mind metagaming.

Other than that, just being generally opportunistic has been enough for me. If a state is guaranteed by Austria, for example, you just have to rush in and take them while Austria is losing in another war. As well, you can pretty easily get Obligations from France and Britain, as well as land from the Ottomans, by joining their constant civil wars.

Moreover, in my experience, most of the small Italian states inevitably collapse through Radicals, allowing me to annex them, or join Two Sicilies in an ill-fated Unification play, which then allows you to easily annex them after Two Sicilies is Cut Down to Size. Although I suppose the later requires playing suboptimally enough that Two Sicilies is the only Unification Candidate.

[Sparky]

1. Each time I'd save scum to see if the whole world will get involved yes, otherwise I sat and did nothing and got a gdp way higher than two sicilies, and a military while not as big as theirs I had way better quality so my army power projection was way better.
2. They just have a preference/sympathy for the small italian minor states, no great power hated me ecept spain and they didn't even join against me.
3. I can't fight any of the italian minors again because they'd 100% of the time be joined by Austria & Russia without fail. Even when I would call in France when they aren't busy fighting 3 other wars they would never be enough to beat austria, let alone Austria & Russia putting basically everything on Sardinia Piedmon/Lombardia border area.
4. Yes, even trying to do protectorate and it says 2 or 3 infamy isn't small enough for the world to get involved.
5. No I didn't do that because I generally don't like to metagame.
I never really see everyone fall to radicals either, when I did one run as Austria to get the Hapsburg Resurgence achivement which I got earlier today. In the begining of that campagin I released Lombardia and gave them Venice and kept them as a puppet and happy until one day they got annexed by Sardinia-Piedmont despite no war had to be fought, and they were stronger GDP and pop wise than Sardina, other then that I did see papal state become roman republic and sardinia piedmont took tuscany area but thats all they did. They never got anything more past that point even in late 1887.

[John Hadley]

Maybe you could think outside the box and try to ally with the United States and perhaps get a defensive pact with Russia then when Austria, France, Prussia, Britain, all get involved in a war in North Germany you get United States to come bust up Austria from the south with your help. Russia is always mad at Ottoman Empire so get good relations with Russia then when they have a rivalry with Ottoman declare you own rivalry and that will boost Russia's love for you and they would likely give you a defensive pact, maybe in exchange for an obligation.

[SIX]

I always just rush nationalism and get friendly with all minors so they choose me as unification candidates. The only war I wage is to steal Lombardi and Venetia from the Austrian when they go to war with Prussia. I usually call France in.

[3of5]

Tried it myself just now, since i had an older Risorgimento save lying around that wasn't compatible after the patch. Prior to 1.7 it was easy as you only needed a customs union and Italian States would join you.

Now they are all in Austrias power block, which also acts as customs union. I managed to snatch Florence and Lucca at game start via military intervention, but from then it becomes harder. I Can't form my own power block and Austria guarantees all off them.

But thats just like it was in history, where italy had to be conquered whenever Austria was occupied elsewhere. So i'm going to try that now.

[[Linux] Arczi]

I did that trophy 2 days ago and unite all contries into Italy is fuc...ng stupid. All you need to do is research Nationalism and then make many as you can radicalist into your country. Try it. Easy as fu...k.

[Leo]

At start, invade states without
gp guarantee . While waiting for Austria busy, go to se Asia to take more colonies. Later , if your technology is fast enough, u can overtake Austria military tech and invade more states. I used Piedmont and defeated Russia and Austria. Also, maintain good relation with Prussia and France. Join their wars if Austria is involved.

[Ole "Slim Jolo" the Hobo Hero]

Originally posted by Sparky:

1. Each time I'd save scum to see if the whole world will get involved yes, otherwise I sat and did nothing and got a gdp way higher than two sicilies, and a military while not as big as theirs I had way better quality so my army power projection was way better.

Thats one of my biggest gripes with games AI. The AI is truly random when it comes to what diplo plays they get involved in (besides when there are actual alliances or defensive pacts).

You can save an reload the same game and sometimes get different AI entries / support for the exact same play, lol. I wish there were harder more defined rules besides just being a great power with an 'interest' in the region that limited what kind of plays other AI can intervene or involve themselves in.