Cosmopoli-Taint; A Blue Within Blue World - France AAR

GregoryTheBruce said:

Hm...I can understand wanting to limit GB's number of coastal provinces right away, but I'd think if you had held on long enough for some more defections and they'd gone bankrupt a few more times, they woudn't be much of a threat right away. Was it more dangerous to allow three new nations, in terms of BB for you? Or were you hoping one of the revolters would annex GB?

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I have to admit there's precious little planning going on in this game - for Great Britain, the goal was to push them into a bankruptcy-spiral, easily helped by their huge navy, to secure East Anglia to prevent a future Great Britain should this one disappear, and to free Scotland. I actually didn't want to take land, since every single BadBoy point I gained now, would keep me away from enacting the Anti-Piracy Act that much longer, and before 1650 I ought to instead 'invest' my BadBoy limit on heathen lands.

When the Lancastrian rebels emerged, I saw it as an opportunity to cull forward another 'Scotland' type nation - one that doesn't have Conquest of the New World on their list of possible national ideas.

The appearance of those Pretender rebels in Wessex basically threw a wrench in my plans. Given what small holdings Great Britain had left, I figured Lancaster and Scotland could eat up the remainder... and I was right... sorta. You'll see eventually.

Macknull said:

Integrated GB = less BB for future annexation
Present GB = another competitor in the "Most Messed Up England" contest help at "Strange Screenshot"
What is your colonist "income"?



GUNPOWDER!

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Oh, it gets worse...

If I'd have known there was a contest, I'd have saved the game a little down the road. Though it's somewhat spoilerish for the next part, here's a screenshot from a few years down the line:
What we don't see, is that Orkney is back in Norwegian hands. We have Scotland, Lancaster, Great Britain, England, Cornwall and France. As a bonus, I think I could have freed Wales and Northumberland as vassals for the full set...

For once, a Border Dispute France has no need of. Our Union Partner is left alone; we'll get the core through inheritance, and we can do without the Prestige loss in the meantime, thank you very much.


One thing I forgot to check with Great Britain, was if there were any Protestant provinces left (which would be BadBoy-free).... Nevertheless, upon seeing Protestant rebels loyal to France rise up in Northumberland, we rejoice.


Tech advancement allows for Bailiffs. A massive building program including a couple of years of full minting is set in motion - and French income skyrockets.


The Lancastrians insist on fighting the Cornish pixies rather than head to London. Luckily, the pixies are very hardy.


With bailiffs in place, the Judiciary Act opens up, and we pass it. Reduced revolt risk is a boon.


After Osterbotten turns Reformed, Finland converts to Protestantism.... and promptly becomes a much less tempting target. Only the cored Stockholm would be 'free' now... and they also shift their allies, adding more vinegar to the deal.


Having liberated Northumberand and Cumbria, those Protestant rebels move on Lancashire. The Lancastrians are still busy fighting the Cornish pixies in the south.


Limousin assimilates. Though this has no direct effect, we're now one step closer of assimilating Iberians.


A candidate that survives until re-election? How unusual... Of course, we want a new, better guy in office.


Our new ruler is certainly an improvement. Now, to see how long he'll last...


After three force-conversions, the rebels move on Yorkshire. The Cornish rebels have annihilated the Lancastrian army.


...and what do you know? Northumberland joins France, free of charge.


With both countries troubled by rebels, Lancaster and Great Britain makes a truce.


Soon after, English rebels emerge in Wessex, fed up with the Scottish overlords of Great Britain.


Great Britain shortly after collapses. Cornwall and England goes independent, and Great Britain converts to Protestantism. London remains Catholic.


Connaught's days are finally numbered.


Poland, not having learned from Lithuania's mistake, declares war on Prussia. Austria is stirred from their long slumber, and with Austrian choices of National Ideas, tech advantage and considerable army, Poland should find itself in a fair bit of trouble now.

sprites said:

hmm ... you have more luck than me , as i've seen religious zealots defect to castille , but they had my flag

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For religious and patriot rebels, I thought the flag always represented who they'd defect to.

I know that any type of rebel with a flag like that won't fight that particular enemy, though.

Enewald said:

Wow, now on the British isles shall know that inviting the French, or refusing to invite them has always bad consequences.

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If Great Britain hadn't adopted Conquest of the New World, I'd have happily left them alone until much later. They brought this onto themselves.

Najs said:

That is a messed up GB you have there. Strange though that the scottish would leave their own union. :rofl:

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I find it amusing - but then again, if I had high enough warscore, I could have forced Great Britain to free England instead.

The Polish two-front war.


The Austrian two-front war is less woeful.


Prussia is overrun quickly.


English patriots make a stir in Yorkshire, and are evicted to Cumbria.


Sensing an opportunity, Count Dracula seeks Polish blood.


The new Emperor is bowed to... and snickered at as soon as his back is turned. A bit later, a small peasant group rises up, falls below a thousand men... and keep the Emperor under guard for a good couple of decades.


Poland catches a break, as Austria backs off... for now.


Lithuania, however, is much less merciful. Prussia returns, greater than ever - as does Krakow.


Savoy finally accepts diploannexation,


Our new mission - possible, but very expensive. With a little extra minting, we start construction.


Count Dracula secures a province full of Polish maidens.


A new National Idea slot opens up, and we pick National Trade Policy, to boost our income and to enable a couple of decisions. In retrospect, this was probably not the best move.


We pass the Importation Act...


...and establish a House of Trade.


The English rebels we sent to Cumbria ensures that the province leaves Great Britain in favor of England.


With our core on Algiers months away from expiration, it's time to act. They certainly have a fair group of friends...


We only have about twice their collected army size.


Protestants in Hainaut ensures we get a claim on the province.


Algiers is annexed.


Tunisia is evicted to a tiny province inland in Africa.


Haasa is completely demolished - the province of Najd goes to France, the rest of their lands goes to Najd.


Granada is annexed.


Oman is significantly reduced.


The Mamelukes are left a One Province Minor.


All of this has a cost in terms of BadBoy, though...

Macknull said:

BadBoy raped... o


ROFL XD

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My BadBoy score is steadily increasing, yes...

Eeep! Those poor, Polish maidens.

chefportnen said:

It looks as if England was spit out of a blender... :wacko:

Does the new Prussia only have those two provinces? How does that make them greater?

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A Great Britain with Scottish primary cultures opens som funny possibilities for Lancaster/Northumberland/England revolts.

The Teutons were eaten by Denmark long ago. When Prussia surfaced, it was a One Province Minor revolter out of Denmark. Poland ate that one... and was forced to release Prussia with that province, and one they had taken from Denmark much earlier. So, for this game, a Two Province Prussia is greater than ever before.

Enewald said:

Your BB is not even high!

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Really? I find it ridiculously high, for how little warmongering I've actually done this game... I should normally own all of Europe at this stage, and be at around two hundred points.

I've already made so many mistakes with regards to BadBoy management that I think it highly unlikely I'll achieve a World Conquest. Once I get up to 1599 with the AAR (I've already played there), I'll do some statistics/estimates/calculations on it.

Our Prince survives until re-election.


The manufactory in Kurland is finished. Our new mission is to annex Alsace.


Our greatest artist advisor comes through for us, and pushes us back to +3 stability. The artist is promptly awarded the sack.


His replacement quickly gives up the goods, but the timing is wrong, so prestige - and a new advisor - it is.


After securing most of the Ottoman islands, we cut a deal with the alliance leader in Africa.


Our BadBoy score is now much too high... The Anti-Piracy Act is beginning to seem unfeasible.


The Russian minors ends up in a twist with Poland.


Without even intervening, Poland wins.


A new Boundary Dispute we neglect. Wurttemberg must be inherited.


This is the sort of move that makes the AI look rather dumb. The Mamelukes are only a One Province Minor, certainly - but they're guaranteed by just about everyone in the region. Syria's only friend after this is France.


The timely death of a merchant fills French coffers.


Syria achieves their goal of becoming a One Province Minor.


A Boundary Dispute gives us a core on Castille.


Lithuania seeks to tidy their borders.


They succeed, after a fashion.


Our next slider move is towards Naval, to increase our income from tariffs and decrease our fleet costs. We gain an admiral we don't need.


We gain a core in Poland.


The grand Prince survives to his second re-election.


Aures is fully assimilated.


More than sixteen years is a good run for an elected official. Nature decides it is time for a renewal.


The new Prince isn't much to brag about, but he does bring a side benefit. Milan is inherited, at last.


A new core, this one on Yemen.


...this bit of news wasn't at all well received at the French court. Then again, this Castille isn't that much of a prize.

Enewald said:

No war during the update?
Strange... and scary.

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You're right... Oh, we have to do something about that...

Thing about not being allowed to cross the BadBoy limit means that I'll have to have cool-down periods. Hence, peace - and some planning.

Vesimir said:

*Looks at Syrian defeat... *Facepalm* *

Well, glad to see Milan finally inherited.

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Was quite thrilled to see the inheritance happen, myself. Only one Union to go.

The Ottomans attack and annex Dulkadir.


Lithuania gets a new challenge.


Since we opted not to fight Finland - and their many allies - we lose our core on Stockholm. Finland is now perfectly safe from French harm... at least for now.


Following many rebels, Great Britain collapses utterly - and all provinces become English.


Despite all the guarantees, Poland craves to reclaim Krakow.


Before Krakow's allies can intervene, they do.


The half-wit prince dies early, praise the lord.


And we add a 'halleluja'.


Lithuania has seen better days.


A core on Lubeck? We'll take that.


A core on Vendee is also accepted.


Lithuania gives up land for peace.


The Ottomans attack and soon annex Corfu.


Austria, ticked at Poland's assault on Krakow, declares war.


The Austrians first target Poland's Italian allies. Aquilea vanishes.


Ferrara will do the same soon enough.


The war is not going too well for Poland.


Our BadBoy score has at long last dropped below ten points again.


With Protestant rebels loyal to Lancaster rising up, we ask Military Access from England, to ensure that this valuable province belongs to them... when we finally choose to attack Catholic England.


Poland gets out of one war, but still fights Austria.


At long last, the massive French cavalry armies receive a much-needed modernization. The world trembles!