Orissa strategy

[edit] Orissa Strategy

Orissa is one of the smaller Hindu states in eastern India. It can be thought of as a smaller, poorer Vijayanagar.

Build cavalry as soon as the game starts, and build at least a regiment a year up to your support limit (a whole four regiments). Without troops, you won't be able to exploit opportunities and you will get targeted by aggressive nations.
Your best prospective ally is Gondwana. Allying with Bihar or Vijayanagar may give security, but they will be the leaders in any wars, and they have a bad habit of making peace on you as soon as you look like conquering something.
Deccan is usually attacked early by Vijayanagar and others. When this happens, declare war yourself and use your cavalry to grab as many of Deccan's unfortified provinces as you can.
If Bihar loses to Delhi, it may be possible to grab a province or two, or even the Bihar CoT.

Production will be the major component of your income, so take Smithian Economics as your first National Idea and prioritise production research.
Despite your starting location, you are actually in the Eastern Aryan culture group, not South Indian. This means that your culture-group provinces are north and east of you, rather than west or south.
Bengal is a good target, a smallish Muslim state in Hindu territory and it rarely has powerful friends.
Assam can be a good ally against Bengal.
Once you've expanded a bit, you can try to ally with Bihar. If they've expanded too you will eventually have to fight them. Try and wait until they're busy with someone else on the other side.
Vijayanagar is the local heavyweight. Try and stay on their good side (military access/royal marriage), and don't get between them and the rest of the map.