England is certainly one of the most interesting big country to play with, es pecially in the beginning of the GC.
Of course, England has the advantage of the geography, but with the execptionnal ability of AI into sea landing, England should be played very carefully.
England should decide much more than other country into:
- develloping the navy and the economy, but keeping army in a desperate weakness which will at least result in the loss of Calais, and in all cases in a low participation into European wars and possibility. With this England will probably become the leading nation during the 17th, if it survive until there.
- develloping the navy and the army, but keeping economy to a low level. This way, you increase your chance into standing against France or Spain, but will probably be less efficient with Asia and America.
To give an example, I have played England in a GC with the idea that navy will be the only chance of England and have heavily defend the channel. In two succesives wars against Spain then France, I was having loose half of my fleet, be incapable of prevent France to land in Ireland (definitively the weakest part of England), and be crunch by Scotland on battle. Here, I have survive because France has accepted peace in exchange of Calais and 250D indemnities.
The other great challenge of England (and probably of Sweden and Denmark) is to become protestant. Here the risk of revolt and civil war is extremely high, so you just have to think carefully on the right time to become so.
When england start to build a good colonial empire, it can use the benefit from there to build a strong army wich will be able to compete with everyone in Europe. The main difficulties is to be able to build this empire.
From my own experience, here are my classification of country of GC from the easiest to the hardest:
- France: Easiest, a strong population, a good local economy and goods leaders evertime during the GC are the winning key, if France is able to keep some allies agaisnt Spain and later England.
- Spain: easy. You are the first to go for america, so most of gold here will be yours. But beware, your empire is splitted in a lot of pieces so you must permanently maintain a huge army and fleet or loose all yours european possesions. Spain can have a powerful ally, Austria. The main weakness: if you take back too much gold from America, your economy will slowly fading with inflation.
- Turkey: a huge and cheap army, some 'weak' neighbours ready to fall under your domination, and you can convince most of muslims states to become your vassals. But the end of GC will be harder especially if Russia has arise.
- Portugal: strangely this conutry is relatively easy to play, if you keep good relations with Spain and England, because you will not be involved into European wars. The main difficulty will be to go for Asia and build a strong empire there before England, France, and Dutch came. Don't hesitate to use the Tordesillas treaty against catholic nations. With strong positions here (and some well placed fortifications) you should be able to keep your empire until the end.
- Sweden/Austria/Denmark: depending on the version you will get. With all this countries, you generaly have to compete first on main land with one or two definite ennemies. Against AI you will probably be able to keep good relation with one, while you destroy the other. In multiplayer, could be more difficult. All this country have very valuable leaders and not using them when they arrive is a crime!
- England: read above, the end of GC will be easiest as the start.
- Poland: here you have a BIG problem. Your country is too big (your armies will probably walk from one border to the other during all the game), too much religions are here and You are surrounded by ennemies everywhere (Russia, Turkey, Sweden, Austria) with not really a good ally. If you go for war too long, your country can finished in a permanent revolt and civil war. Beware to keep a big army. The other problem, is that you will not have a colonial empire (or a little one) and only if some space is left to you by others nations.
- Russia: probably the most difficult, because ALL your neighbours hate you. Happily you can raise a numerous (but probably not very efficient) and cheap army, and have the mighty general 'Winter' 3 months a year to destroy opponent armies who want to fight you during this period. Just try to survive first and avoid to be at war with TWO of yours neighbours at the same time. If you can build a good siberian empire, you will get the money for the project in Europe, and yours neighbours will probably submit to you before the end of GC.
