Beating France

[Chronicler]

I defeated France in two wars and got 5 of their provinces but now they are allied with burgundy and i cant defeat them both. So what should I do?

Never take provinces.

Make them release nations (Normandy, Champagne, Toulouse, Guyenne, Dauphine etc), and cancel their vassals. Much more effective.

Best would be if you found someone else for example Burgundy was allied with and declare on them, and then peaced out. And then declared on France. (Perhaps you could vassalize electors of HRE?....2 anyway, and offer vassalization to the monarchies)

 

[unmerged(326977)]

I would not do what tigerkid suggests and get Scotland later. Just force vassalize them right away, it's just 4 infamy points, and you have secured your island. And then you can concentrate on France. (being defender of the faith helps with your morale)

I guess all depends on what your game goal is. What I love doing with England is block off Gibraltar with my fleet and go on a holy war spree (they can't reach your islands)

Pretty sure you cant without the subjugate casus belli, which halves the WS needed to vassalize.

True. btw: can I retreat my army out of a battle? Or do you just have to wait until their morale tanks?

IIRC you can retreat from battle to a specific province after 10(?) days of fighting.

 

[alexti]

Pretty sure you cant without the subjugate casus belli, which halves the WS needed to vassalize.

Scotland in its original borders is vassalizable without subjugate CB. Basic rule is that if the cost of vassalization is 180 or less at the start of the war then you can vassalize [eventually]. Just leave the worst unoccupied until the very end. Of course, with the case of England vassalizing Scotland it's easier to use the corresponding mission.

 

[cotwell]

But the longer the war goes on the more time they have to gain allies. This time, it was Sweden, then their allies, muscovey et al. Jeez....

 

[alexti]

But the longer the war goes on the more time they have to gain allies. This time, it was Sweden, then their allies, muscovey et al. Jeez....

AI rarely makes alliances with someone at war. If they do it might be to your advantage - that's a free war after all.