Funny enought, but I never ever got that situation in all mygames!
More funny, there are so many people here claiming to read a lot about history, naval science, or military science. And still, all we can read here is complain. Allow me to hurt your feelings, and demonstrate you simply know very little about thse subjects, and much more less about preparing a campaign. Not that I am smarter than any of you, IA being in my opinion an overrated data.
1) History teach us none for the last 1000 years have been able to invade succefully Great Britain, the last to have succeed being as everyone know a Frecnh noble (Duke of Normandy), adn it was a moment of great weakness. Great luck I would say.
2) As long as the RN is able to stand in the Channel, it is impossible for any forces to pass throught it (the Channel I mean) ergo land invasion is impossible.
3) UK do have a long history of pro active management of any potential forces that might (or might not) challenge their supremacy. Mers el Kebir being the last one of a very long list.
4) UK is a global power, spread around the world, and as many colonial power, is dependant of the colonies for necessary goods. Suez during WW2 being the closest exemple of that, did Rommel sucess, UK would have yield, while even an invasion of Mainland would have done such a thing.
5) UK, following the various defeats, heavy defeats, the RN got during the French and Indian war (Canada was won only by cheer luck), the Admirality implemented a set of reforms, and mad the RN an impressive force. At the opposite, the Marine Nationale, stayed in a lasp of time, believing they will always dominate the red coat on the seas (forgetting most of the victories were more the fact of the english bad luck, poor commandement, and also they had some of the best commanders of the time. But they became old and died).
6) Other europeans navies are outdated, with mostly average commanders, but for one exception that is in game : Latouche Treville, the only man who defeated Nelson 3 times in a row (historically he is dead, so we may assume there is a reason for him to be present).
7) If we assume the previous points, a strategy start to appear : the RN must be push out of the channel, French allies must regroup, occupy the channel long enought to allow the transport to invade. Easy to say, maybe harder to do.
8) The good thing, is such strategy has been formulated at that time, and if followed would have good chances of success (let say 51 /49, I let choose wich side is 51%!). Latouche Treville did wrote that strategy : move the mediteranean fleet to the Antilla, ravage english colonies there, when the main RN fleet will arrive sail at full speed back to France, collect spanish fleet + the 2 french fleet of atlantic, then take the Channel for 48 hours whatever the price.
9) The very same strategy is working with the game, Antilla are not here, but there is a week point close to 'land end' in corwall, and finistere cap in france, you can hammer the RN, and make it stay there, it is costly (if you do it normally) or it is gamey (with a strategy of hit and run). But it works , and soon you will see most of the RN, with Nelson and the others great admirals stay there. Futhermore, put the only corp you have in nothern Germany way to the south, if you are lucky the red coat will invade (dispersing more their fleet).
10) At this point, using the Dutch navy, you will be able to cross, and land at Dover. 4 month later UK is yours for the taking.
11) For those who will speak about trafalgar, fact is that battle was Villeneuve defeat and Nelson victory, but if Villeneuve did follow the plan, never Trafalgar would happend, Nelson arriving in the channel too late to be of some use.
Sorry to have been a bit Mr Smart Ass, but the topic is not new, and after 10 years or so to play Pdox games I have learn nothing is in the game without reason. France need only ONE admiral (more it would be too much), because there is oly one possible strategy, usually that can be implemented only at the start of the game, pass june or jully it is too late, and the RN will be able to have enought shipps to secure the channel , block your fleets in the Atlantic, and invade in nothern germany
