I finally got a computer that can play EU 3, so guess I have been doing the last 3 days
This is my Brandenburg - Prussia- (and I hope) Germany. It took ages to form Prussia because I had a string of 4-5 kings who all sucked hard. I know my borders are ugly but I have been leading a personal union with Mazovia for 150 years and when the game said it would be inherited on monarch death nothing happened, is that a bug?
My only uncored province is Leipzig which I just annexed, with its sweet CoT

I have been working on balkanizing eastern europe, which has made Austria (and the Ottomans) quite strong, but I have good(200) relations with them and the rest of the empire since I am emperor and that bestow imperial grace option is a godsend regarding getting good relations with large nations.
GB has conquored all of France, which I have been at war with lots of times, and I am winning every war I have been at with, but my WE keeps forcing me to sign white peace with them and even then I have to occupy almost all of France to do that.
The religious map of europe has become awesomely split between protestants, reformed and catholics. I force converted Scandinavia so even though it is hard to tell on the map they are part of the reformed block.
Why havent you gobbled up all the rich north german minors yet? because unlawful imperial territory is so annoying and I spend a lot of the first 100 years learning that the hard way with me annexing Pomerannia and Meissen. but here are how this looks in reality. I have been emperor since forever because all the electors are my vassals.
and finally a world map
I am getting close to be able to build my first colony in new foundland, not that I really need it, but I want to have colonies as well, and forming my own little colonial empire in Quebec would be nice.
Damn I had forgot how much I love this game. but losing all the provincial decisions I made when forming Prussia sucks, is that working as intended? because I felt a bit cheated when I realized that.
Sorry about the long post but I am so excited over being able to play this game again
Owen Glyndwr: gratz on forming Germany, regarding cores. Do you get them on all germanic cultured provinces?