So I decided to play a new game with France on normal with a different approach. Of course the goal is always to fist**** whole Europe, but I have vassalised+alliance a lot after wins, and generally sought to weaken big powers (austria, bohemia).
I like vassalise + alliance because if you do it a lot, everytime you DOW anyone, you can just for the big stacks if it's a big country and relax, all the sieges being taken care of. Not sure what its worth though, but I like it thus far. Also I diplo annex the vassal with the best economy every 10 years.
Overall it worked pretty well, I managed to keep my infamy in control, but also to get a humongous alliance, ready to destroy basically any country in Europe. The only country which is powerful is castille (and a bit England but that's only cause I can't reach them), because I never got CBs to weaken them. I think next time I get a +2 stability bonus I will just DOW them and make them release a lot.
One question about personal unions, I have had a few, but I am not sure how it works exactly. I got them by claiming the throne + fighting a war, but is claiming the throne enough to luckbox/inherit ? Also sometimes it seems that you lose them when your king dies, but sometimes not ? I just managed to integrate Tirol this way, so I am not sure how efficient is.
If somebody (daer?) would be kind enough to take a look at my save here and tell me how it looks, I'd be most happy. Also I just became papal controller, so who would you excommunicate and why ?
Cheers
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OZ2TW7SD