Best Way to Elevate the Bourbon Dynasty to the French Throne

[Stug_Life]

Hello,
I know that with the monarch competition in France in the beginning that a lot of it is RNG based. But i was wondering what things can I do to give the Bourbons the best change at getting put on the throne since they seem to have the hardest time.

 

[Shiny Dog]

So you can actually see what factors go into it by hovering over the number in the box... I... uh... here's a picture.

So the race is divided into 5 factors:

1. Popularity of supporting IG (Legitimist, Orleanist, or Bonapartist) leaders
2. Clout involved IGs (ones with aforementioned leaders).
3. IG-Specific Building Levels.
4. Government Legitimacy. (Higher helps the Orleanists, lower helps the Bonaparte/Legitimists)
5. Events.

So how do we tip the scales to the Legitimists? Well, it's a bit tricky. Advice in Blue Bold.

1. Your only IG supporter is the Clergy, who don't have much clout. The Landowners, meanwhile, have a lot of clout and an Orleanist leader. You can fix this by inviting Juan Lavalle in 1836, making him your Landowner leader, and brainwashing him swaying him to the Legitimists. You could also invite some other Landowner leader that's more popular, but that's RNG on whether they'll be there anytime soon.
2. Each IG has their own building type that gives them an edge. Unfortunately for you, the Legitimists have the worst.
   Legitimists get Agriculture. Orleanists get Industry. And the Bonapartists have the ARMY. France starts with 187 divisions and 100 ships. They both count and they both help Bonaparte.
   Either delete your army/navy, hold off on Industrializing (inviting Lavalle basically annihilates the Orleanists), or build some farms. I would recommend the last option. Since you'll probably eventually want to Industralize, Silk and Dye will help. You start off short on Tobacco too so that's a start. Alternatively, ignore this and build Universities for that sweet, sweet Innovation. If you feel the Bonapartists are getting too strong (an early Louis-Napoleon will do that), then you could try scaling back your navy.
3. Option 1 actually tanks your Legitimacy anyway so whatever. I would recommend not trying to tank it too much, because too many radicals will cause them to overthrow the monarchy.
4. Choose the right event options. Take every event that erodes the position of the other two sides.

 

[Five_X]

As far as I can tell, the option in some of the Divided Monarchists events that gives a certain dynasty -1 point per month is permanent. This adds up to a huge difference over time, and can singlehandedly sink one of the sides you don't want to get ahead.

 

[Shiny Dog]

I found out another, extremely stupid, way to do it.

1. Instead of supporting any side, trigger the 1848 Revolution. Unsuppress the Intelligenstia and then put them into the government, you'll have 0 Legitimacy so eventually (and especially after interring Charles X in France) the Republicans will overthrow the government.
2. Trigger a Revolution where the Landowners will be upset, like Universal Suffrage.
3. Resign and go "We are helpless against the coming storm" and then choose the Legitimists.

 

[Stug_Life]

So you can actually see what factors go into it by hovering over the number in the box... I... uh... here's a picture.
View attachment 1127393
So the race is divided into 5 factors:

1. Popularity of supporting IG (Legitimist, Orleanist, or Bonapartist) leaders
2. Clout involved IGs (ones with aforementioned leaders).
3. IG-Specific Building Levels.
4. Government Legitimacy. (Higher helps the Orleanists, lower helps the Bonaparte/Legitimists)
5. Events.

So how do we tip the scales to the Legitimists? Well, it's a bit tricky. Advice in Blue Bold.

1. Your only IG supporter is the Clergy, who don't have much clout. The Landowners, meanwhile, have a lot of clout and an Orleanist leader. You can fix this by inviting Juan Lavalle in 1836, making him your Landowner leader, and brainwashing him swaying him to the Legitimists. You could also invite some other Landowner leader that's more popular, but that's RNG on whether they'll be there anytime soon.
2. Each IG has their own building type that gives them an edge. Unfortunately for you, the Legitimists have the worst.
   Legitimists get Agriculture. Orleanists get Industry. And the Bonapartists have the ARMY. France starts with 187 divisions and 100 ships. They both count and they both help Bonaparte.
   Either delete your army/navy, hold off on Industrializing (inviting Lavalle basically annihilates the Orleanists), or build some farms. I would recommend the last option. Since you'll probably eventually want to Industralize, Silk and Dye will help. You start off short on Tobacco too so that's a start. Alternatively, ignore this and build Universities for that sweet, sweet Innovation. If you feel the Bonapartists are getting too strong (an early Louis-Napoleon will do that), then you could try scaling back your navy.
3. Option 1 actually tanks your Legitimacy anyway so whatever. I would recommend not trying to tank it too much, because too many radicals will cause them to overthrow the monarchy.
4. Choose the right event options. Take every event that erodes the position of the other two sides.

Oh this exactly what I was looking for with advice. I really appreciate the help!

 

[OnceSetCannotBeChanged]

It’s still mind-boggling that when the DLC dropped the answer was “click the ‘Support Legitimists’ button and wait”

 

[Stug_Life]

About the whole invite Juan Lavalle in 1836... is that an agitator or something? If so how do I elevate him to leading the landowners?

 

[Shiny Dog]

About the whole invite Juan Lavalle in 1836... is that an agitator or something? If so how do I elevate him to leading the landowners?

If an IG is in your government, you can right-click them and make them leader of that IG. I believe it's "Grant Leadership". It has a cooldown, but only two people are even Agitators in 1836.