Is this a long-term fatal strategy (France)

[unmerged(36339)]

I've established a few profitable colonies in South Africa; there's just not an easy way into the Americas so I'm not planning on expansion there.

I grabbed a lot of Spain in early wars.

My economy is sailing and I'm winning on victory points in 1582. If I continue to build my existing colonies (production, infra), can I win by protecting what I have and avoiding expansion.

Or will my dollars be so weak that eventually Portugal and Spain (in the gold and colonies) overwhelm me with tech spending? Or any other nation in the world?

In other words, here in 1582, I'm thinking I can ride this out with my strong economy and almost unlimited ability to raise troops.

 

[Battle bunny]

There is a chance, but clearly France was designed to be a warmongering nation. I think that you will get involved in major wars and the need may come to go medieval (no pun intended!) on Spain/cronies.

 

[unmerged(18712)]

This looks good with France. Do you play vanillia?
You may sit back and wait for your BB to go down and then you could even get some more provinces. IIRC usually Spain will start to fall in 1600-1700, becouse of inflation from gold.

Edit: Yeh, you may get into big wars, but if you can crack your biggest enemies once (like mauling Spain again) will set them back greatly.

 

[unmerged(36339)]

Yes. Just got the game two weeks ago. 1.09 vanilla. So much depth, so many layers of strategy, so addictive.

The game would be unplayable for a newbie without this forum. I really appreciate the help from all of you veterans.

I can't believe I've been so slow to buy this game. It tops Victoria, HOI and HOI 2 IMHO.

 

[unmerged(18712)]

It's the best P'dox game in my opinion, welcome to the world of EU2.

P.s. I'm just installing the game again after a year break, ah I just can't resist!

 

[unmerged(36339)]

After a one-year break, you'll have to learn everything all over again. I don't see how you can remember all the intricacies of this game. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[unmerged(58575)]

Yes. Just got the game two weeks ago. 1.09 vanilla. So much depth, so many layers of strategy, so addictive.

The game would be unplayable for a newbie without this forum. I really appreciate the help from all of you veterans.

I can't believe I've been so slow to buy this game. It tops Victoria, HOI and HOI 2 IMHO.

I learned myself I found it after I had played it for 2 years with some success

 

[unmerged(1047)]

France is pretty hard to screw up... it's one of the top five or so countries in the game most times.

I wrote a strategy guide for it a while back (check my sig) which might be of some use (although it's a bit out of date).

 

[unmerged(36339)]

Actually, I found your strategy guide before choosing France, Sheridan. Love the detail that you provided. Very helpful.

 

[unmerged(38918)]

After a one-year break, you'll have to learn everything all over again. I don't see how you can remember all the intricacies of this game. Thanks for all of your help.

It's like riding a bike. I've just started playing the game after a two year sabbatical and i'm still hot to trot!!!

Back on topic: France was made to kick ass so GO GET SOME!!!!!

 

[unmerged(18712)]

After a one-year break, you'll have to learn everything all over again. I don't see how you can remember all the intricacies of this game. Thanks for all of your help.

I may have to relearn Age of Empires, Counter Strike, Total War series but Paradox games are different. I know them by heart.

I can't say any more titles I love as much as I love these games. Oh man Europa Universalis 2 is already 4 years old and still sometimes I dream with it.
It feels like if it was yesterday when I finally found the last copy of it in a store on the other side of the country. Dialed up more than a houndred shops, to find that one.

Ah sorry for OT,but I LOVE THIS GAME!!!

Edit: Doing some wars against Austria and Prussia (or the alternative great powers) to keep them in check periodically will do the trick.

 

[BurningEGO]

Well, you said you were playing eu2 1.09 vanila? I pretty much doubt the Spanish AI managed to conquer the azteks. So, i would give you the hint of grabbing the azteks or maybe even the incas, for yourself. France does not suffer from gold bankrupcies like Spain.

But really, the game isnt that complex. You will soon understand why i say so.

 

[unmerged(36339)]

Well, you said you were playing eu2 1.09 vanila? I pretty much doubt the Spanish AI managed to conquer the azteks. So, i would give you the hint of grabbing the azteks or maybe even the incas, for yourself. France does not suffer from gold bankrupcies like Spain.

But really, the game isnt that complex. You will soon understand why i say so.

It's been wonderful to have the flu and Thanksgiving holidays -- so many hours to devote to this "new" game for me. I found out the ease in 1.09 vanilla at easy setting, playing as Spain and France. Now I'm facing a tougher challenge as England and just received tips on the other thread about what I should tackle next to keep increasing the difficulty. Soon, I'll be bold and move the setting to hard.

So much to learn; the most valuable guide is this forum; so many hours already spent with this new addiction. I literally grew a beard and had to shave after five days of managing empires. Not many people conquer France before lunch and hire five governors before dinner. Wonder if the utilities will still be on (oh, yeah, must pay bills, must get up from chair, must earn income.)

 

[unmerged(18712)]

Honestly the manual doesn't offer much information now (I really miss the good country historical description used in the EU1 manual. I lost that when packing in my room. ). Real source of help for the P'dox games are the forums.

Good to hear you like the game so far.


Oh and playing this game may make you a history freak, beware!

 

[Minarchist]

I would have to say that overall, France is pretty much a sandbox. You can try just about any strategy (as long as it isnt ludicrous and you execute properly). I would just suggest that you 'take out' your possible rivals. In my last game as France I vassalized... well... most everyone in Europe and waiting a few years and DAed them all. But you can either choose to dominate colonially or on the continent. I would suggest to pick one, although the game where you try to balance the two I find the most fun

 

[unmerged(36339)]

Honestly the manual doesn't offer much information now (I really miss the good country historical description used in the EU1 manual. I lost that when packing in my room. ). Real source of help for the P'dox games are the forums.

Good to hear you like the game so far.


Oh and playing this game may make you a history freak, beware!

As a matter of fact, I dusted off my Will Durant "Story of Civilization" and have been doing some serious reading about each of the nations that I've played so far.

The depth of the historical events and triggers is downright amazing.

 

[unmerged(47028)]

If 1.09 is vanilla then what is not vanilla?

I think playing different country apart top 10 would make life more difficult.

 

[Van der Gent]

I would have to say that overall, France is pretty much a sandbox. You can try just about any strategy

Well I usually go for early french western empire. I get my large empire but large blocs of countries usually bring me down. (They attack me because of high bad boy rating)

So any strategy isn't possible, perhaps with time. But not in a short timeframe,

 

[SeedSnatcher]

If 1.09 is vanilla then what is not vanilla?

Mods like AGCEEP, AoI, MyMAP, WATK, and other such things. You can do almost anything with France really, take it in many directions. Just be sure to stay within reason. Also, note how France gets a LOT of leaders.

 

[crusaderknight]

As a matter of fact, I dusted off my Will Durant "Story of Civilization" and have been doing some serious reading about each of the nations that I've played so far.

The depth of the historical events and triggers is downright amazing.

If you love historical events, I would reccomend AGCEEP. I just downloaded it the other day and I am having a blast! I'm playing Trebizond right now easy/weakling o (I know that's whimpy, but I haven't played in a while, and I'm trying to ease back in. Besides, I'm angry because Vanilla 1.09 was giving me hell as Portugal in the GC earlier, so now I'm getting my revenge on the AI! Muahaha! lol), anyway, returning to the subject at hand, its 1425, things are going alright, but the real fun is about to start... And already, I've seen so many events for other countries in AGCEEP. You wouldn't believe how many more events there are. You seriously should give it a try.