AAR FRA 1643-1662
Soon after start a certain nation suggested a gangbang of Austria before they reached LT26, It was rumoured 5 nations would take part in this endeavour. However FRA made the comment that this appeared "unsporty" but nevertheless was favourably inclined to the basic proposition.
However, all plans came to naught when the devious Emperor had to be away for the first 30 minutes, while all his investments were put into LT. Thus ensuring that he would be not have to face a gangbang until he were ready. When questioned upon this matter the Emperor fervently denied that this was anything but a coincidence, although he admitted it was not disadvantageous for the Empire.
Soon after the rehost when HG entered the play as OE pledges of support were shared between those nations who appreciated the importance of standing up at an über-Austria at trade tech 7 and huge trade income, quite remarkable in itself.
Not many months passed before Austria DOWed OE. FRA entered the war half a year later and so did SWE. FRA attacked Italy in the South and the Netherlands in the North. In the latter area cooperation with the Swedes meant that soon all of it was occupied by the good forces. In the South battles were hard with a super-Austrian leader 3-7-5 killed many more French soldiers than he lost himself.
The battle war score therefore rapdily increased for Austria while the province captured war score was postive for FRA. When FRA could move men from the North down to the South the Emperor did something foolish, he left Italy and sent his men to the North. At least that how it appeared from the French point of view. It may also be that he focused on pushing OE out of the war. Anyhow it meant that Turenne et all could unopposed descend on the Lombardian plain laying siege to Lombardia, assaulting Emilia and Mantua and pushing even into Salzburg from where 73k ottomans in Vienna could be spotted. THis was the height of the war as far as FRA is concerned.
Now there was the jewel, Venice with its COT. Ah, what a price the king of France said to himself and immediately dispatched Turenne with 40k to assualt the fortress. Little did the king contemplate the fact that passage into Venice was allowed by the Emperor whose fleet in the Adriatic was impressive indeed. :wacko: Venice was taken by assault and instead of just issuing the stab hit the king instead triumphantly messaged to all that now he was stabhitting Austria, and then proceded to contemplate over what to ask for. Just 1 second before the stab hit was to be sent a likewise triumphant message could be seen on the screen: No you are not! Because a few seconds before AUS captured a province in the north thus reducing the war score below the limit. To the utter humiliation of the king he now tried to move Turenne and found that the marechal could not be moved. He was trapped in Venice by a fleet outside. I imagine many readers of this AAR now ask themselves: how ignorant and stupid can an experienced player be? The answer to this: there is no limit.

o
Because the biggest blunder of them all was committed at the start of the war. The king asked himself: should I claim DotF or not? He decided not because of the penalty on tech speed, and he knew he really needed to invest in LT. Luckily SPA owed FRA 3000d so that paid the expenses during the first 2-3 years of the war. Later on AUS claimed DotF and thus FRA had to phase not only a CRT level disdvantage but as well 0.5 in moral extra.
AUS proceeded to proclaim to the world that now would he kill Turenne.

First he sent in 40k and lost with Turenne down to 20 something. Then another 30 with Turenne winning again, now down to 12. Meanwhile the French galley fleet of some 30 ships had sailed from Poitou and was now past Mallorca. Together with the whole OE navy, some 700 ships, they arrived outside Albania and could spot the main Austrian fleet of some 750 sails outside Dalmatia while AUS kept only 13 outside Venice. The order to advance was given and both fleets majesticly sailed to the North and then.... the Ottoman admiral noticed that AUS had a CRT level advantage and thus the admiral wet his trousers and ordered retreat to the dismay of the brave French sailors who had to follow suit. All this occurred before Turenne was attacked the first time. The French fleet went to Cyernaica and waited for an opportunity. And it did arrrive. FRA had sent a small galley fleet (some 12 galleys) to help a siege in Liguria and the Emperor had a mental collapse and sent all his galleys to kill this fleet. Thus FRA got the message on the screen that the fleet was attacked and killed outside Liguria and the whole Austrian fleet was on display

. Thus the french fleet immediately left Cyrenaica sailing into the Adriatic and destroying the Austrian small galley fleet outside Venice. However, only a week before Turenne had been killed.. only a week before..
From this it was downhill. OE was stabhitted out of the war and SWE was DOWed by Russia and had to leave the arena. Thus it rested on FRA alone to represent the free world. FRA has now fought alone vs Austria for more than three years and the position is not good. Luckily SWE sent a mediumsized army just a few months ago into Holland and repaired the position somewhat.
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The present war score is on stabhit level for FRA and we have taken one so far IIRC. But we are only half a year away from LT26. We are hardpressed but with stab costs low it is possible to survive a few years more and in 22 months the truce between OE and AUS expires.
The emperor as always has sent very limited peace proposals offering to take only Piemonte. Threatening that next session BB will be played by a human, indicating that they will be hostile towards FRA.
All offers has been rejected.
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The number of losses in this session offers an interesting reading
AUS 1.3
SWE 1.2 (no doubt it is SWE that buys all the mercs)
FRA 1.1
OE 0.9
RUS 0.7 (although I believe RUS may have fought other wars as well)
Anyhow this says something about the price to pay for them figthing a fire 7 general with a CRT disadvantage.
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During all these wars the King of SPA had a brilliant possibility to take back from Austria the gold mines in America since the bankruptcy events are long gone now. But did he do that? No. He stayed at peace and developed his nation.
During all these wars the king of England had a brilliant possibility to squash his main trade antagonist, but did he do that? No. He stayed at peace and developed his nation.
Both these monarchs may however regain their good will with the king of FRA by simply sending some state gifts which will enable FRA to put up new regiments while still pushing 100% into LT.
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Next Friday I cannot play. It is Midsummers eve in Sweden. All Swedes, including myself, go away to friends, except those to whom friends are coming, and drink, drink a lot. It is an old heathen tradition to celebrate the summer solstice. I will try to find a sub although it is quite difficult in this game with its late end time.
I would be happy if such a skilful player as HG would take it upon his shoulders trying to salvage FRA in this precarious situation.
