As the game can now officially start and plans can be made, I have a few important notes.
1. All the diplomacy you do is hot air without DP to back it up. Trade agreements, alliances, treaties of non-aggression all require DP to take effect. Secret arrangements (If Country A attacks Country B, Country C will attack A) will be difficult to follow through on and will lead to instability if you attempt to. Keep that in mind.
2. DP can be used internally, not just externally. A noble out of line? Heretics causing trouble? Well if you want to put a softer touch on your approach, use DP. Depending on how you approach the situation, you may defuse a crisis without firing a shot
3. Negative modifiers are not always a bad thing. Your countries are built upon careful compromises and the modifiers are there to reflect what some of those compromises are. Sometimes it's not spelled out in black and white, but a negative modifier in one area may be allowing a positive modifier in another area. Make reforms at your own risk.
4. Wikipedia is your friend.
5. Disbanding your military has consequences.
6. Sometimes politically, the best thing to do is keep the status quo