Soldato
Naples is pretty easy and if I hadn't screwed up I would have had Italy formed pretty swiftly. Most nations seem to default like Naples for some reason so you can get powerful allies. Apart from the Papacy who can excommunicate you and cause issues you have an easy expansion into Italy excepting perhaps Milan (who are only difficult with the right allies) or Venice but they can be handled if you can deal with their navy. You then have huge income streams as a lot of powerful nodes terminate in and around you so realistically you only have a real challenge once Italy is in the bag.
If it wasn't for my clanger it would have been a really successful and relatively easy game.
If it wasn't for my clanger it would have been a really successful and relatively easy game.