necro, but
I'm playing as Italy after forming it in 1520s, starting as Tuscany. I managed to eat Genoa, half Venice, Nice and Cuneo provinces of Savoy, vassalized what was left of them and integrated Corsica. I was going to make good use of 25 year claims I got after forming Italy, but after getting Genoa and Savoy I didn't risk overexpansion and aggresive expansion, as well as Great Britain(yes, they formed as well) joining the war on Venice's side. I went around building things for about 20 years, savescumming after failed wars with Naples and Venetians. Then, Venice declared war on me, 'coalition' their CB. Guess what?
Spain(yep, they formed too) joined. I shat my pants at that moment, as my navy could barely compare to their 12 carracks and 40+ caravels. Fortunately, Hungary honored the alliance and I got a few moments of breath, and I focused on getting Sicily and Sardinia. I managed to somehow scramble 10 galleys and caravels, join up with Hungary's fleet and beat combined Venetian-Ferrarian naval forces, fixed my ships, then I saw the Ottomans in a 70v41 battle, them being the former number. I quickly joined in and together with them crushed the Spaniards - after that battle everything went a lot easier. I occupied Venice and Ferrara, got Sicily and the 14 reg garrison that was there, went to Sardinia, blocked all of their ports, went for Madrid, went back to destroy what remained of their army, went back and I'm in progress of occupying entire Spain.
My question is:
Which religion should I convert to?
I'm obviously not gonna stay Catholic, but I don't know if I should go Reformed or Protestant. Protestant sounds awesome for me, because tax modifier is always good, and I'm planning on leaving HRE soon. Reformed isn't bad either though, as I'm controlling trade in Genoa and Venice, and trade income makes up 1/4th of my overall income. What do you guys think?