Loki/Narwal--Given your increased experience, what would you suggest for a French player in this scenario? Is an aggressive move towards Albany prudent, or is it a dangerous gambit? Is Grandpre' key? I realize that Duquesne is highly important, but how does one successfully raid with the troops opened up by it?
A very early aggressive move toward Albany is very doable just after you receive Montcalm, but should be VERY wary that it will trigger massive reinforcements for the English (two medium-sized armies, really, one immediately, one a bit later), that can turn the balance off. In one of my PBEM (not vs Baris nor Loki), I was completely led by my opponent, who did not know of that event (neither did I), and the massive reinforcements I received allowed me to push back Montcalm and win the game. My advice is to push until New York immediately if you do this, while making sure to keep Albany French. This will massively disrupt the English. If you cannot push till New York, probably don't go for Albany either.
Keeping Grandpré is difficult as the French, especially if the English attack in the very first turn but it will be a thorn in the enemy side as long as you hold it, and more importantly if you resist the initial English onslaught you can decide to transfer troops there and try to reconquer New Scotia for the French (very doable against AI, and probably doable against an English player if he expects an attack along the Hudson). New Scotia in your hands is I believe a tremendous advantage, as it makes the Cap Breton very difficult to siege (as the English won't be able to "roll" the supply wagons like I did in my AAR.
Duquesne is good to restore the health of your raiders, but it is difficult to launch a full raid from there. One thing I did in PBEM is transfer a regular (that can conquer cities) there, and use it to take cities whose defenders were killed by a concentration of courriers / indians. It is EXTREMELY irritating for the English to see those cities far from the front change hands (and you get the VP) though, the funnest being that in the version I played those cities were then generating French militia (but not anymore I think).