Breaking the France/Ottoman Alliance

[unmerged(13119)]

I've been sailing through my recent game as Austria. I've gobbled up so many provinces on the continent and have probably 10x more colonies than the rest of the europeans combined. Smooth sailing. And then...

Suddenly I realize my nemesis France has allied with the Ottomans. The Ottomans are MASSIVE. They have consumed land from Hungary all the way to Morocco. France is slightly smaller than me and definitely beatable. But with the Ottomans on their side I have no hope of winning a continental war. I have tried about 10 times (through reloads) and get crushed every time.

I'm curious if there is a way to break up the alliance and reposition myself as the undisputed leader of Europe. Any thoughts?

 

[hwoosh]

Wait for one of them to attack a small nation and fail to call the other in. Enforce peace on the small nation. Carpet siege and force annul treaties. Attack the other. Rinse and repeat

 

[AurochsAway]

Don't let France reach that point! Taking down France early is always my first priority as Austria. They only ever get stronger.

 

[hwoosh]

Don't let France reach that point! Taking down France early is always my first priority as Austria. They only ever get stronger.

It sounds like the Ottomans are the big problem, not France. . .

 

[AurochsAway]

It sounds like the Ottomans are the big problem, not France. . .

Well, I'm not going to advise someone to take down the Ottomans early game! That ghazi . Better to wait for western tech to overpower them.

 

[hwoosh]

Well, I'm not going to advise someone to take down the Ottomans early game! That ghazi . Better to wait for western tech to overpower them.

OP did not specify the year that his game is at. Considering he mentioned lots and lots of colonies, I'd guess late 1500s to mid 1600s.

 

[unmerged(13119)]

OP did not specify the year that his game is at. Considering he mentioned lots and lots of colonies, I'd guess late 1500s to mid 1600s.

Bingo. I'm at about 1650.

BTW, I was happily beating the s*** out of the French for a few years. But those frogs are durable and resilient! They just started scooping up their neighbors and moving into Spain. I am bigger than them, for sure. But their army tradition and resultant ridiculously talented generals make beating them a real chore. But its do-able if they have no other big ally. But with the Ottomans on their side and that speedbump of a country (Hungary) between me and then things are not looking good for our hero.

 

[AurochsAway]

OP did not specify the year that his game is at. Considering he mentioned lots and lots of colonies, I'd guess late 1500s to mid 1600s.

Well yes, but by the late 1500s to mid 1600s you're in a much better position if France is no longer remotely a nemesis. The point is if you take out France early, it's much easier to dominate Europe.

But back to the original point, Hwoosh's initial post is a very useful tactic, as whoever you end up at war with will not be calling in any new allies. Just improve relations with the weak neighbours of France/Ottomans in the meantime. If that's not done/not enough when war is declared, cheap subsidies, guarantees, and alliances should get you up to +100 fast.

 

[Dragonheart]

Well, I'm not going to advise someone to take down the Ottomans early game! That ghazi . Better to wait for western tech to overpower them.

I learned this by the tough way. Although they had another war they kicked my ass and i had quickly to peace it out. They have an incredible huge fleet and a kick-ass-army. Some years later they captured every single province from a huge blobbing Commonwealth-Empire. :blink:

From this moment i decided to let them alone and find my luck with spain in the west with england which, after a couple of wars, is allied with france :blink:

unholy alliance wtf

 

[hwoosh]

Well yes, but by the late 1500s to mid 1600s you're in a much better position if France is no longer remotely a nemesis. The point is if you take out France early, it's much easier to dominate Europe.

But back to the original point, Hwoosh's initial post is a very useful tactic, as whoever you end up at war with will not be calling in any new allies. Just improve relations with the weak neighbours of France/Ottomans in the meantime. If that's not done/not enough when war is declared, cheap subsidies, guarantees, and alliances should get you up to +100 fast.

What you say is true, but early-game advice was not going to be the most useful thing for OP's query