Yet another French AAR

[zwingli]

This is (I am still playing it) my very first game of EU. I chose normal/normal settings, though I am not really sure about the AI setting, could it really be aggressiv? I intend to play a historical game which I understand to include no Civ-like world conquering. I would like to 'adopt' a small group of allies (one of them the Iroquois) in order to make them prosper alongside me. This is also a test of the general AI, i.e. check if the ganging up on the human player really does not take place if that player is not an agressiv monster.

In colonial terms I would like to have 3 - 6 centers which I would like to take to a state where independence would be viable for them. Prime candidate regions for this are:

- West Africa
- South Africa
- India
- South East Asia
- Australia
- North America
- Caribean Islands

I do not think I'd try to muscle in on South / Central America as this would surely mean to kick Spain / Portugal out. I might reconsider if the Inkas / Aztecs survive long enough to enter an alliance with my chosen country. I chose France because it is in an interesting place geographically, meaning playing France I have all options open, unlike say Poland or Austria.

For the first century I did not keep notes, but I do have some saved games which serve as points of view on the game. I decided to write an AAR when I realised that I was actually not doing so bad despite of playing a relativly peaceful game, and that the progress just might be sufficiently different from others to deserve an AAR.

In this game I will persue three objectives:
- bring all french speaking regions under french control. This broadly includes all countries south and west of the river Rhine, and north of the pyrenees. I include Savoy in this francophone zone for good measure. No further expansion in Europe, strategic islands excepted (of course, if there is a juicy opportunity I might reconsider).
- build a small number of self sufficient colonies in various parts of the world
- try to maintain close relationships with a small group of allies throughout the game


1492

The primary threat is identified as Spain, sitting on two sides of France. Our military attention will be directed to north and south.

England is not high on our priorities list, we are content to let her hang on to Calais. We will pick that apple when the time is ripe.

The eastern flank we plan to secure with a belt of allies hopefully comprising Hesse, Palatine (Pfalz), Lorraine, Switzerland, and Savoy. All those countries are currently having positive attitudes towards France. Hesse and Palatine will take some pursuasion, though. We will also consider including Milano into our alliance so as to have good place to monitor developments in Italy, where Austria, Spain and Venice are expected to be active. After all, for some reason they really like us (relationship at +60).

We will strive to keep the country away from Central European wars and not ally with any of the large countries, which we consider dangerous because it will just create us enemies.

In fact, we feel very comfortable with the string of small countries from Denmark to Sicily and we will do our best to keep it that way.

We intend to make France strong in Europe, but stay on good terms with the German states.

1505

The years past have seen frantic activity by French diplomats. The have arranged for royal weddings with Milano, Savoy, Navarra, Switzerland, Lorraine, Venice, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Bohemia, Austria, Bavaria, Baden, and England.

They were successful in implementing our Southern strategy, having created an alliance between France, Milano, Savoy, Switzerland, and the Holy See. They have so far miserably failed with German countries. Lorraine is now allied with Spain, Palatine with Hesse and Cleves. Baden and Wurtemberg keep refusing our invitations.

Other alliances are:

- Spain, Lorraine, Poland, Napoli, Scotland, Cologne
- England, Sweden, Navarra
- Austria, Hungary
- Hansa, Portugal, Teutons, Brandenburg
- Denmark, Russia
- Venice, Mameluks, Algiers, Georgia, Irak
- Turkey, Tripoli, Krim

Most of the German mini states are not alligned or have mini alliances among themselves.

The main goal, however, has been achieved. We had a peaceful time to strengthen our country. With chancellors in most provinces and level 1 fortifications in the big ones we have achieved half of our infrastructure program.

We also found the means to build up our forces. France now has two armies (47/18/10 in Paris, and 66/11/50 in Provence). However we consider the Spanish alliance too close to Paris and other important centers of the empire to be relaxed. The next ten years must be spent to improve our position vis-a-vis Spain.

The Venetian alliance has been the most aggressive, being at war with Turkey almost constantly. This is how Irak ended up owning Bulgaria. Poland has also taken a bite at Turkey by swallowing Rumelia. In the near east, the Mameluks are slowly eating up Turkish possessions.

In terms of VP France comes 4th, after Spain (surprise), Portugal and Poland.

1515

The past decade has not brought many changes. France was able to continue its infrastructure building program unmolested and undisturbed. Every province with an external boarder now has level 2 fortifications and the main provinces are all employing marshals.

On the diplomatic front everything continues to proceed smoothly with France not directly threatened by anyone. Our corps diplomatique proved up to our expectations when they succeeded in tying Lorraine into our alliance when their previous one with Spain lapsed. Both Switzerland and Lorraine are on the best of terms with us (relationship 190 - 200). This was the result of lavish support programs established by the crown to help the development of our main allies. Milano and Savoy also received help, even if not as much (relationship around +100).

We were at that time discussing the possibilities of vasallising both Lorraine and Switzerland, as both countries appeared ready for the step. However we decided against it in the case of Switzerland because of its large German speaking population. In addition, we did not care for an immediate boarder with Austria, as we did not and do not trust these Viennese. And given the long history of very productive cooperation between our two countries we felt the French interests best served by an independent Switzerland.

With Lorraine the situation is different. While it is true that she also has a large German speaking population, we primarily saw the French popuplation. In addition, the invasion path to the Isle of France from the east we felt we wanted to more fully control up to the river Rhine. In fact, we decided before vasallisation that we are aiming to make Lorraine an integral part of France. Last not least, the country has a standing army of nearly 100k which will be very welcome in the expected conflict with Spain.

In the year of 1515 we agreed that we would aim to have a go at Spain's possessions in Franche Compte (which clearly should be part of our glorious country) and one or the other of the Flamish provinces that sit so dangerously close to our capital. So a slow buildup of armies was started. In August 1520, our royal marriage with Spain will end. We are aiming to be ready by then.

1520

The past few years have seen Kosove taken over by Venice, and the Golden Horde eating into Russia. Otherwise, Europe was quiet.

Over the past decade or so we heard more and more stories about an Eldorado on the other side of the Atlantic. The court has always felt that it was in France's interest to at least know more about those new lands. But the Spanish and Protuguese guarded their secrets very well. Therefore we had started a program to encourage some people to explore the unknown in the king's service. We had all supplies ready for that brave group of citizens (i.e. were sitting on a lone colonist), but noone was willing to leave France. Not that we could not understand that, after all, I had not volunteered either.

So early this year we finally found a man willing to take on the task to widen our horizons: Gomeville. He was waiting for orders in Provence. So what should be our course? We had finalized the annexation of Lorraine, had integrated their troups and were quite ready to go on the offensive against Spain. The feeling grew that it might put our expeditions at an unnecessary risk if they had to sail in waters infested by hostile Spaniards. So the decision was taken to postpone the war in favour of the adventure.

Our infrastructure is the envy of all Europe what with full upgrades to marshals and bailiffs everywhere, with an unbroken chain of fortifications on our external borders. We even had found the cash to build two breweries. So with the war off for now, the decision was taken to build a Fine Arts Academie in Paris in the near future. Also, the armies would be expanded some.

1526

Rejoice. The example of Gomeville had inspired two other men to follow in his steps. By now we have maps of America's east coast down to Cuba, Iceland and Greenland. One of the men explored the west coast of Africa to find a passage to the fabulous lands where the Portuguese get their spices. This latter endevour proved however very costly in terms of ships so the plan was drawn up to found a settlement on the west coast of Afrika in order to have a place to rest the sailors and maintain the exploration fleets. Our aim is to find those portuguese places and - if possible - get direct access to the spices for France.

In a place the Indians call Manhattan we have founded the first French settlement overseas. Everyone at court was overjoyed when the news of the successful expedition arrived in Paris. The original settlers have already been reinforced (level 2 colony). And the king insisted on sending a small army (2/0/0) to guard the settlement. There were a few attempts to scout the immediate hinterland of the colony, but to no avail. We have to wait for a man of Gomeville's calibre to lead an expedition inland. Just as an aside and to show how foolish even kings can be sometime: Francois I had heard in reports from the colony how someone mentioned a place called Quebec. He took such a fancy in that name that he ordered me explicitly to find that place. If only I knew how!

Our preparations for war have taken the number of men to near half a million (240/55/190). We feel France is ready to take back Franche Compte and Flanders. We just hope that at least some of our allies will be at our side fighting the Spaniards. We have all reasons to believe that, as our relationships are exeedingly good (Switzerland 200, Milano 125, and Savoy 172). Unfortunatly, Spain was more successful with our German neighbors in Palatine and Cologne. Both countries are in alliance with Spain, Poland, Scotland, and Genoa. Our corps diplomatique has already received the plans to conclude a white peace with both Cologne and Palatine which in fact should not be difficult as their relationships with us stand at 92 and 171 respectively. Actually, looking at those numbers, I cannot help but think that our diplomats have seriously blundered in not securing both countries for our alliance. Poland and Scotland are too far removed to be a real threat, and Genoa we should be able to deal with. Scotland anyhow is under constant pressure from England, who have taken two Scottish provinces already. We do hope that our Royal Wedding with England will be sufficient to keep them out of the war, as they maintain a standing army in Calais of 30k, and right now they are working on further increasing that number.

Alliances at this time:

- Tuscany, Parma, Genoa, Knights (until 1699)
- Spain, Poland, Scotland, Cologne, Napoli, Palatine (1536)
- France, Savoy, Vatican, Switzerland, Milano, Hesse (1528)
- Irak, Mameluks, Venice, Algiers, Cyrenica (1536)
- Hansa, Teutons, Brandenburg, Portugal, England (1531)
- Russia, Denmark (1534)
- Tripoli, Turkey, Nubia, Krim (1536)
- Tunis, Oman, Aden (1530)
- Austria, Hungary, Wurtemberg, Saxony, Thuringia (1529)
- Navarra, Sweden, Prussia, Kurland (1527)

1532

Looking back the past five years or so I dare say that these years did not enhance my health.

We had gone to war with Spain. In quick succession we conquered Franche Compte, Artois, and Rousillon. Our allies did not enter the war at all, because in spite of the careful plan, our diplomats totally missed the opportunity to ask for their assistence. One result of this blunder that our allies thought that we had excluded them from the fun on purpose. Relationships dropped slightly, but it was nothing money could not fix. As it turned out, it was not needed. We concluded a peace with Spain and received Franche Compte and Artois. At last, Paris is no longer a boarder province. We did however succeed in getting Palatine into our alliance as they had refused to come to the aid of Spain when we declared war. The subsequent invitation to our alliance was a push over. We had some heated discussion over whether or not ask for Roussillion. The king was all for it, after all, that province we consider an integral part of our great country. I counseled against it, however, on the grounds that it will provide a perfect reason to go to war with Spain again in the near future, that time to secure the provinces of Flanders (with its juicy COT), Hinaul, and Luxembourg. I prevailed, of course.

Europe's face has changed in other places as well. Venice continues to astonish courts all over Europe with its agressive push against Turkey. Venice now controls both Albania and Macedonia and thus stands in front of Istanbul. Hungary has done nicely too, securing both Croatia and Serbia from Turkey.

Our colony in Manhattan will soon expand to a level 4 colony, while in next door Delaware, France has opened a trading center. That strange herb growing there proves very popular over here, netting us some nice profits. Our African venture is going slow, but at least it is going. The loss in ships is horrendous, however. We must soon establish a permanent presence on Africa's west coast. Our hero of yesteryear has died unceremonously on the high sea while exploring the seas about Cuba. He will be remembered.

In Germany, a man called Martin Luther has appeared preaching new and - I must say - interesting views on religion. Switzerland has produced its own version, a man called Huldreych Zwingli, whose arguments were apparently so powerful that the country adopted his view as state religion. Of course, now we have to make sure that Switzerland will rejoin our alliance. Palatine, along with a number of other German states has also converted. They have already become a member of the French alliance. At last.

We also see some attraction in that new religion. It should be in the interest of the French crown to bid good riddance to the pope and keep the money that disappears in the fat wallets of the Papa in Rome for purposes closer to the hearts of us Frenchmen. Politically also we see some advantages, as we expect to improve our relationships with the German minors considerably, thus helping our strategic goal of maintaining a security buffer betwenn France and Central Europe (meaning Austria primarily). The self reliance preached by Luther & Company should also encourage people to be readier to embark for distant shores, thus furthering another goal of ours.

To be able to even decide in this business, we need a lot more troops to be prepared for popular revolts. The war with Spain, while short and victorious, cost us near 70/3/130 soldiers. I can only attribute this to the poor state of our officer corps, since technology wise, France is with Europe's best. We have no idea, however, as to how we could improve that miserable state of things.

Economically the policies of the past 40 years are really paying off now. On revenues of some 1300, there are expenditures of barely 650. This gives us something to play with. The only policy that still does not work as intended is the colonial one. It is very slow going with a new party of colonists ready only when a new conquistador / explorer comes forward.

In terms of VPs, France comes now second after Spain, but before Portugal and England. Turkey is beaten lingering around zero VP.

[Vurbil]

Just curious, why would you want the Iroquois as your allies when they were the one major Indian group that was hostile to the French?

[This message has been edited by Vurbil (edited 16-11-2000).]

[Greywolf]

Originally posted by Vurbil:
Just curious, why would you want the Iroquois as your allies when they were the one major Indian group that was hostile to the French?

[This message has been edited by Vurbil (edited 16-11-2000).]

Perhaps because Hurons, Mohicans and so french friend are not displayed.

[pierre]

Reading your AAR, you seem to have good relationships with many german and italian states.
So it means, you could try to grab the HRE crown for France.
Switching to protestantism will hamper that at first but will give you a colonial dynamism you seem to want.

Important decision

------------------
Pierre
Retired EU Beta Tester

[zwingli]

Originally posted by pierre:
Reading your AAR, you seem to have good relationships with many german and italian states.
So it means, you could try to grab the HRE crown for France.
Switching to protestantism will hamper that at first but will give you a colonial dynamism you seem to want.

Important decision

Pierre,

Interesting comment. Never occured to me that I might have a go at the HRE title. It appears to me that this would be mainly an exercise in subsidising German minors. Is there any way to monitor my (as a candiate for emperor) performance? When I annex a part of the HRE, I am then part of the HRE?

Anyway, the game turned into a major colonisation effort for 'la gloire de la patrie'. Apart from North America I ended up with groups of colonial cities and surrounding trade posts in West and South Africa, South East Asia, Siberia, and all islands (Indian Ocean, Pacific, Atlantic) I could find.

I gave up on the game in around 1650 when I found that I was playing with the 'Forced Annexation' option turned OFF. This explaines why none of the minors ever disappeared. The reason I noticed was that I tried to annex my former ally Milano (with estates in Northern Spain) after it had become quite annoying.

Anyway, I started another game as France with forced annexation turn ON. The game so far developed VERY differently with Spain a real powerhouse (an army of nearly 800k in 1540). I am not sure that I'll write an AAR, though...

/zwingli