The Ultimate Guide To Tagging Cologne In Eu4

Cologne is a selectable nation in the grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV. It is a theocracy located in western Germany and starts as an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. Cologne's provinces are split and surrounded by enemies, so it is important to get a large ally early in the game. The country tag for Cologne is KOL.

Cologne's starting position

Cologne is a selectable nation in Europa Universalis IV at the beginning in 1444. Its government is a theocracy, and it starts as an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. Cologne is at a disadvantage due to its provinces being split and surrounded by enemies. To survive, Cologne must quickly ally with a larger power and expand under their protection.

Cologne is unable to form royal marriages at the beginning of the game, which affects its diplomacy. It is also surrounded by rival nations, so it is important to gain a powerful ally early on. One strategy is to immediately ally with Trier and Mainz, as they are likely to be rivals with each other. Improving stability will also help to gain devotion and increase papal influence, which is important as the reformation is likely to turn your country Protestant or Reformed.

Expanding into neighbouring territories is crucial for Cologne's survival and accessing its missions, which provide various buffs. The first target could be Berg, which holds a province that can be taken to unite Cologne's capital with its other territories. Completing the territorial missions will also provide access to the first national idea, which reduces aggressive expansion and helps to acquire more provinces without provoking wars with other German states or Austria.

After completing the territorial missions, it is advisable to ignore the religious missions, as Trier or Mainz may no longer be Catholic. Instead, focus on forming Westphalia, which offers a larger mission tree and buffs for Cologne's capital. Becoming a monarchy is also important, as it prevents other nations from stealing the imperial throne. With Westphalia's extra accepted culture slot, Cologne can easily form Germany or play as a unique Holy Roman Empire nation.

Diplomacy and disadvantages

Cologne starts as a theocracy and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. One significant disadvantage is that Cologne cannot form royal marriages at the beginning of the game, which limits its diplomatic options. To compensate for this, Cologne must focus on finding a large ally early on and securing land under their protection. This strategy is crucial for Cologne's survival, as its provinces are split and surrounded by enemies. By forming an alliance with Trier and Mainz, improving stability, and increasing papal influence, Cologne can gain devotion and enhance its position.

Additionally, Cologne should take advantage of its espionage ideas, which offer a -30% AE reduction, allowing for rapid expansion into Westphalia. With easy access to the lowlands and the English Channel, Cologne can become a powerhouse. However, it is important to be cautious and not expand too aggressively, as this may lead to a war with numerous tiny German states and potentially Austria. Completing territorial missions and forming Westphalia can provide enhanced missions, economic ideas, and a larger mission tree.

Another disadvantage for Cologne is the potential religious shift during the game. As the Reformation takes place, Cologne's country may turn Protestant or Reformed. It is recommended to secularize early and form Westphalia to maintain control over your nation's religion. Additionally, becoming a monarchy is crucial, as failing to do so may result in another nation stealing the imperial throne.

Overall, diplomacy plays a vital role in Cologne's survival and expansion. By forming strategic alliances, exploiting espionage ideas, and navigating religious shifts, players can overcome Cologne's initial disadvantages and establish a strong presence in the region.

Forming Westphalia

To form Westphalia in Europa Universalis IV, you must meet several requirements. Firstly, your country must not be Hanover, the Papal State, Germany, Prussia, or Switzerland. It should have Westphalian or Rhenish as its primary culture or have its capital in the Westphalia area. You need to reach an administrative technology level of at least 10 and be either an elector or not a member of the Holy Roman Empire (HRE).

Additionally, you must own the following core provinces: Magdeburg (52), Westfalen (82), Hanover (1758), Kassel (1762), and Paderborn (2972). Alternatively, you can own either Köln, Trier, Mainz, or Münster instead of Paderborn. If you are playing with normal or historical nations, you must also own at least 12 core provinces in the North Germany region with Westphalian or Rhenish culture.

One strategy is to start as Cologne and choose influence ideas first. Cologne has easy access to most of the required provinces, and as an elector, you won't need to worry about becoming one. Playing as a theocracy can also offer a nice change of pace. Another option is to play as Munster, which starts fairly large for its part of the HRE in 1444. You can then conquer nearby nations like Friesland, Gelre, or East Frisia, ensuring a solid economic base and a powerful army.

It's worth noting that forming Westphalia early in the game (around 1500-1550) can be advantageous, as the major powers in Europe are still rising, and the Reformation can provide an opportunity to seize Northwest Germany while your neighbours struggle.

Mission strategies

Another strategy is to focus on the espionage ideas, which can give you a -30% AE reduction, allowing you to quickly form Westphalia. You can also rival many OPMs and get up to 3 shows of strength in the first 5 years. Combining this with innovative ideas could make Cologne the technological centre of the world. With espionage and innovative ideas, your advisors will also be cheaper. You can also easily expand into the lowlands and gain access to the English Channel and its trade ducats, helping you become a powerhouse.

As Cologne is a minor nation in the HRE, you can also easily humiliate your many rivals. However, you will need to be careful about converting to Protestant or Reformed, as this will cancel your existing alliances. You can also try to become the Papal Controller and make use of your powers of excommunication. It is also important to be aware of cascading alliances when declaring war. The nation you declare war on will call their allies, and the guarantee-r will often become the leader of the opposing block and call in their own allies.

To expand, you can also keep an eye on HRE provinces that are being taken over by non-HRE owners. When you take these back, you will gain instant cores. You can also try to rise to the top trader, which will give you enough troops to expand wisely.

Becoming a monarchy

To become a monarchy in EU4 when playing as Cologne, there are several steps you should take. Firstly, it is important to remember that Cologne starts as a theocracy and cannot form royal marriages at the beginning of the game, which limits its diplomatic options. To counter this, Cologne should focus on securing a large ally early on and use this alliance to protect itself and expand its territory. This can be achieved by improving relations and forming an alliance with Trier and Mainz, which can be done through the use of the 'Papal Influence' interaction.

The next step is to expand your territory, with a focus on completing the territorial missions unique to Cologne. This will help you unite your capital, Koln, with your other territories and give you access to additional missions and bonuses. It is also important to note that you should try to become a monarchy quickly, as other nations may steal the imperial throne if you do not act fast enough.

To facilitate this expansion, you should take advantage of Cologne's espionage ideas, which provide a -30% aggressive expansion reduction. This will allow you to expand into Westphalia and other neighbouring regions without incurring excessive aggressive expansion penalties, which can lead to costly wars with other German states and Austria. Innovative ideas can also be paired with espionage ideas to make your advisors cheaper and further enhance your expansion.

As you continue to expand, you should focus on forming Westphalia, which provides a larger mission tree and additional bonuses for your new capital, Koln. Secularising early in the game can also be beneficial, providing you with additional advantages. By following these steps, you will be well on your way to establishing a powerful monarchy in EU4 as Cologne.

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