If you were going to start as France...what would you do?

[ulthar]

Hi,
I am familiar with Paradox games, and have done the tutorial. The tutorial teaches you where buttons are and some concepts but gives you little in the way of how to build an effective strategy.

I've tried the game as something not overly ambitious, Spanish King, Irish Lord, etc.

What I would really like to lean is how to play something more powerful. Once I understand the general strategy one would play as something powerful, I can start working on building up a powerful kingdom to eventually rival those kinds of empires. However if I wouldn't know what to once I get there, I won't be any good at it.

What I am asking is for some general idea of what you would do first if you picked the Capetian King in 1066 (He starts as a boy) with William the bastard (Or Richard?) not sure, disloyal as his military commander. He has 8,000 troops and even though I'd like to kill him before he becomes a problem, it seems too late there.

So first question: What would you do about this disloyal vassal/minister of war?
(Why)

Second, France is vast with lots of titles to hand out, and a claim du jure on toulouse you are in danger of losing.

Second: What would you do about those titles? pass them out to the best people?
What would you do to toulouse?
(Why)?

Third, you are a child. Do you try to find a tutor for yourself? if so, who?
(Why?)

Is the game going to automatically tutor children for me or do I always have to do that? is asking them to tutor going to take them away from their job as mayor or something?

Fourth, Should I start trying to arrange marriage right away? What is matrilineal marriage and why would I do that?
(why?)

Five, what would your immediate goals be as France?
(why?)

Six, should we start putting advisors to hurry along research? or is there some benefit to having them sit around not on assignment?
Does it matter what province they are in? I usually stick them all in my capital because I have no idea what the point of setting them in a province is if they are developing tech.



If you can give me a sort of step-by-step guide to playing a big unweildy kingdom, I can better grasp this game.

 

[Sir Garnet]

Look at Secret Master's 1066 Lets Play 3 parter on Youtube. Under 90 minutes. The link to this fellow's video is in http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...that-explains-the-game-concepts-and-mechanics

 

[Maleficus]

So first question: What would you do about this disloyal vassal/minister of war?

Nothing for now. Either he'll lose in England and come back to France a loyal vassal or he'll win in England and go independent, at which point you'll get a claim on Normandy, which you should use quickly, as he'll be extremely low on troops and cash for the first few years after the conquest. He'll also likely be fighting Lancaster and possibly Denmark, so it should be an easy win, and you can use those fertile Norman lands to pad out the royal demesne which is otherwise worryingly small.

Second: What would you do about those titles? pass them out to the best people?

Give out honourary titles to as many of your dukes as you can to try to keep them happy.

What would you do to toulouse?

Try to keep Toulouse on side. My experience in 4 or 5 demo plays as France is that the powerful Aquitaine is likely to rebel. Toulouse can help swing the balance either way, so I'd suggest betrothing princess Emma to him on day one, this way she should come of age and marry him in plenty of time to secure his support against Aquitaine.

Third, you are a child. Do you try to find a tutor for yourself? if so, who?

Someone with high attributes across the board if possible and positive traits. In all honesty it's not going to make much difference at Philippe's age anyway, but it's a good time to learn for when you need to educate children from very young.

Is the game going to automatically tutor children for me or do I always have to do that? is asking them to tutor going to take them away from their job as mayor or something?

No, you need to assign tutors. An icon will appear at the top of the screen when a child needs a guardian. If you leave it a while, someone will often offer to tutor the child, but they often aren't the best choice for the job. Assigning them as a tutor will not remove them from their job, the child will just follow them wherever their job takes them.

Fourth, Should I start trying to arrange marriage right away? What is matrilineal marriage and why would I do that?

Yes, the longer you leave it, the less good marriages will be available. I'd reccomend betrothing Emma to Guilhem of Toulouse to ensure his loyalty later on. As for Philippe and Hugues, one should marry a princess somewhere to secure an alliance (Germany, Hungary and Denmark should all have decent princesses available, though the German one doesn't seem to produce many kids, she does bring the best alliance). The other boy should marry Aines, daughter of the Duke of Aquitaine. You may be able to keep Aquitaine loyal this way, but the real prize here is that land - Aines isn't likely to get any brothers in a hurry, which means she'll inherit that massive duchy (well, basically 4 duchies) and then her children will inherit it from her. So if her children happen to be your children too, then that puts the Capetian dynasty in a very strong position.

Five, what would your immediate goals be as France?

Keep the kingdom intact, expand the royal demesne, keep the dukes in check and possibly absorb Brittany if an opportunity comes along. Foreign policy should basically be restricted to helping the Spanish keep the Moors as far from the Pyrenees as possible. France doesn't need much expansion to become a powerhouse, and the majority of threats to your well-being are internal ones, so don't go casting your gaze abroad until your own house is in order.

Six, should we start putting advisors to hurry along research? or is there some benefit to having them sit around not on assignment?

If they're not doing anything their talents are going to waste. Have your chancellor do a tour of your realm improving relations with the dukes, and have the chaplain improve relations with the clergy in Paris and Orleans before shipping him off to Rome to make nice with the pontiff. Have the marshall train troops in Paris in case you need them, as you don't have many counties to call your personal levy from you'll have to make the most of those you do have. The steward should either collect taxes or research tech, I'd go with taxes myself, again it's about squeezing the most out of what little personal land you have. The spymaster should be in Paris uncovering plots. The plots will likely come thick and fast in France, so it pays to be a step ahead of the plotters.

 

[UniversalWolf]

No, you need to assign tutors.

I had a Galicia game in which the king died leaving a six-year-old heir who was also heir to Mathilda of Tuscany. He was assigned the Holy Roman Emperor as a tutor without me doing anything. Probably an exception, but it can happen.

 

[RedRooster81]

I agree with Mal's advice. I would marry Philippe Capet to the Lady of Aquitaine however, as heir would also inherit those lands, which is a lot more than your estates around Paris. I would marry Hugues into the family of an independent kingdom or duchy, either an Iberian or Scandinavian or maybe the HRE, so that you can call upon them in case of a civil war or to press a claim on an independent House of Normandy.

 

[unmerged(392218)]

Now much of what Malefius makes sense, but i have a different way of thinking, attack is the greatest defense, and conquest is the best way to keep your vassals happy and increase your powers!

The muslims are fairly weak, especially the once who are on 1-2 provinces. (they will be attacked at start by everyone!) So if you are quick, you can get some free land with the Spanish helping your siege!

Why should you kill the muslims? Well because you can then give the areas away, a bishopric gives you... 40 piety i believe. and if you give the priest the county as well, you gain 100. If you keep your relations with the Pope high, you can use the Invade casus belli! (and if you are really quick, you might even manage to invade England before the war between Norway and Normandy is done!)

Atleast that is my way of thinking! ^^ Expansion expansion expansion! And if a vassal rises up against you, great! Most likely most of his army is in your army as you raised his levies, and now after he loses the war, you can revoke one of his titles without being punished! (This is how you gain power!)

Good luck anyway, France is a strong country, but with a weak king compared to the vassals! You need to get strong, and if you just want to play a major part of France, and be strong as well, you could just take Aquitaine. Attack the muslims, gain a invasion casus belli on England (or one of the spanish kingdoms!) And suddenly you are a independent kingdom with half of France as your mainland!

(Not to forget, if the pope like that you are killing muslims, you might get some random 200 gold! and that can do wonders! )