by SW_Cygnus
Will W wrote:
In my OP I said "The short-game powers can still win a long game, their diplomatic advantages don't go away over time." It is good that you had experience with that. My point is that the early game should be about the long-game powers collaborating to ensure it will be a long-game (one in which they have a shot at winning) vs. the short-game powers trying for an early knockout. (France and the HRE can also try flying under the radar for a long-game win, but there is substantial overlap between the two strategies.)
Although you make a good point, I think the “long-term powers” will find it difficult to all join together to prevent France and the HRE from winning from the get go. I don’t see much cooperation beyond, “let’s not let one of these powers run away with the game”, because everyone else needs to directly challenge each other to some extent to gain position at the beginning of the game. To make matters worse eventually in the long-term cards such as The Dutch Revolt, or the Enterprise in England add more incentive for these powers to not give the other side(Spain vs. Protestants, or England vs. Spain) too much power.
Not to mention that most of the time Spain is going to want to make deals with France and the HRE, because of some of the unique abilities they have (the HRE's mercs and the Spanish-French betrothal). Other powers should be perusing the HRE noble too.
Maybe a little more clarification needs to be made on what you think collaboration is? Not throwing the game to France, or the HRE? Keeping a wary eye on them? Joining up in an unholy alliance to keep them in check?