Why France is still the same flavorless, bland country?

[Nyrael]

France is far from Favorless. Since release, it has been in top 3 most flavored countries.

Can't say I mind that they don't have unique mechanics, seeing as most mechanics are inspired by France.

 

[TenshiN]

Lets imagine one of possible scenarios
>France flavorless! PDX, giff France expanshun! France great!
>*PDX makes a France-expansion*
>OMG, now Britain is flavorless! You make a France expansion and not a British expansion! Thats biased! Giff British expansion!!
The future is dark and full of horrors, isn't it?

 

[mruuh]

Lets imagine one of possible scenarios
>France flavorless! PDX, giff France expanshun! France great!
>*PDX makes a France-expansion*
>OMG, now Britain is flavorless! You make a France expansion and not a British expansion! Thats biased! Giff British expansion!!
The future is dark and full of horrors, isn't it?

The fun part is that by the time the above cycle iterates for all bigger countries, people would already have "consumed" the first few such expansions, and the "France flavourless!" cycle would restart.

 

[Bebou]

I wouldn't say France is flavourless but it does seem that it could use a bit of tarting up. The thing I find most strange is the degree to which France gets outscaled by major most powers in the game by the end of the period (Russia, Prussia, UK, Spain etc). But ah well, gotta have some drawbacks i guess.

P.S. I do mean MP, since in SP its pretty much possible to succeed with any country.

 

[Vince75]

I think that we really need an overhaul about Western Europe. Especially for NI for every country. I mean, Philippines countries have their own ideas but not most of the Italian, Dutch and German nations...

And yes, I also think we need the return of French fiefs. But I'm confident in Paradox and I'm pretty sure they will focus on Europe now that they did the ROTW for a good time.

 

[raikaria]

I wouldn't say France is flavourless but it does seem that it could use a bit of tarting up. The thing I find most strange is the degree to which France gets outscaled by major most powers in the game by the end of the period (Russia, Prussia, UK, Spain etc). But ah well, gotta have some drawbacks i guess.

P.S. I do mean MP, since in SP its pretty much possible to succeed with any country.

For a large part of the endgame [Up until the Revolution; which can turn any country into a juggernaut but France usually wins the race since their rebels spawn on and only need to take Paris]; France actually historically was in a really bad way.

Basically bankrupt; filled with corruption; it's navy and army had both taken massive beatings...

 

[Bebou]

For a large part of the endgame [Up until the Revolution; which can turn any country into a juggernaut but France usually wins the race since their rebels spawn on and only need to take Paris]; France actually historically was in a really bad way.

Basically bankrupt; filled with corruption; it's navy and army had both taken massive beatings...

The issue is that France doesn't get that problem in game, what it gets is either gang banged by neighbors (which is fine) and that its NIs get outscaled hard (which is a bit meh imo). if the Revolution and the ability to get the Revolutionary Republic and Empire was a France only mechanic I would have no issue with the state of France. As it is, France's NIs get outscaled long before we ever get to a point where they dominated Europe. Still its no biggie just an observation, after all EU4 is not a history simulator.

 

[tip001]

For a large part of the endgame [Up until the Revolution; which can turn any country into a juggernaut but France usually wins the race since their rebels spawn on and only need to take Paris]; France actually historically was in a really bad way.

Basically bankrupt; filled with corruption; it's navy and army had both taken massive beatings...

France being "bankrupt" was only a thing at the end of the 18th century, certainly not before that. France is always pushed back by coalitions and such (like the Spanish inheritance crisis, not in game of course, see also the Portuguese inheritance crisis, such a shame PDX) for good reason. It was too powerful to let it linger on. The same can be said about 19th century Prussia.
Besides France the real powerhouse in Europe was the HRE, or better, the HRE emperor.

Suggestion: It would be nice to see some changes or mechanic for both "countries" to have options to go more inward or more outward. Just brainstorming.

Neither England, Spain nor any other nation could challenge the HRE or France during this period, except through coalitions.

 

[Bebou]

Realistically the only nations that were any challenge for the HRE were France and the Ottomans. From the reading I've done France being viewed the more opportunistic and dangerous of the two. I could be wrong though.

 

[tip001]

Realistically the only nations that were any challenge for the HRE were France the Ottomans. From the reading I've done France being viewed the more opportunistic and dangerous of the two. I could be wrong though.

You are right, I forgot about the Ottomans ;-)

 

[Bibor]

Why France is still the same flavorless, bland country?

Because Champagne is just flavorless and Bordeaux is in British hands.

What you want is to lace it with some Bourbon. That should do the trick.

 

[creativitypersonified]

Realistically the only nations that were any challenge for the HRE were France and the Ottomans. From the reading I've done France being viewed the more opportunistic and dangerous of the two. I could be wrong though.

For a part of the game the polish Lithuanian commonwealth was a really powerfull state too.

 

[Bebou]

For a part of the game the polish Lithuanian commonwealth was a really powerfull state too.

Absolutely but I was talking more about countries that actively tried to take land from or dismantle the HRE as opposed to powerful countries generally. there were certainly many powerful nations in Europe at the time.

 

[Dakka]

Since when has Austria gotten a DLC or mechanic unique to them? Are you referring to the HRE? Because that is hardly unique to that, the only benefit they get from that is that they start as the end of the since when has Austria gotten a DLC or mechanic unique to them? Are you referring to the HRE? Because that is hardly unique to that, the only benefit they get from that is that they start as the Emperor.

France has tons of flavor. Lots of events, and unique disasters. Unique decisions. All in the base game. Now I will always advocate for more events and flavor, and I would love to see western Europe get a map overhaul, but that in no way means that France is flavorless.

 

[Viperswhip]

Since when has Austria gotten a DLC or mechanic unique to them? Are you referring to the HRE? Because that is hardly unique to that, the only benefit they get from that is that they start as the end of the since when has Austria gotten a DLC or mechanic unique to them? Are you referring to the HRE? Because that is hardly unique to that, the only benefit they get from that is that they start as the Emperor.

France has tons of flavor. Lots of events, and unique disasters. Unique decisions. All in the base game. Now I will always advocate for more events and flavor, and I would love to see western Europe get a map overhaul, but that in no way means that France is flavorless.

1) Austria, 2) England, 3) Castile/Aragon, 4) France. No other country has an easier time forming the HRE than Austria, they can easily and almost immediately in game get PUs over Bohemia and Hungary. England can, with a bit of work get a PU over France, Castile can easily get Aragon and is highly likely to get the Inheritance. France can force the Inheritance and if they time it right can take the whole thing.

That's why those countries are such good springboards. I guess 5 would be Poland over Lithuana, it's a bit down because that land tends to be a bit lest developed, there are some religion and culture issues for a unified Commonwealth. But they are pretty good, having 3 ways to expand only one of which carries any real AE.

 

[yerm]

France was more interesting when it had a vassal swarm, like Moscovy has now. That should come back. One of the possibly-unintended side effects of such a swarm is to inhibit ability to mass ally but increase ability to stomach blows (multiple manpower pools etc), which was good for keeping France from either ballooning or imploding right away.

 

[Mortheim]

Yeah. France needs some love. Badly.
But do you really want something like "Third Rome"? Pay 10 dollars for funny magic buttons.
But if it will be in form of free patch with events here and there - sure, I'm all in xD

 

[yerm]

One of the major things I would love in the game would be to change culture mechanics. They should at least be as involved as religions! I'd even like minority cultures, culture-based unique bonuses, cultural assimilation (eg France/Prussia compared to eg Austria/Spain).

I see a culture/nationalism focus as a great opportunity both to add some excitement to the later game as you blob into somewhat easy mode, and also, importantly, as a perfect place to dive into mechanics for France - the poster child for mass cultural conversion.

 

[Nilspart]

I hope the next dlc will be focused on France and HRE or India, would be pretty epic to have one of these three atleast. I hope for a french one + no more generic ideas in europe.

 

[Oridaellin]

I hope the next dlc will be focused on France and HRE or India, would be pretty epic to have one of these three atleast. I hope for a french one + no more generic ideas in europe.

In my mind a full west europe dlc or update is the biggest need. Biggest priority is some extra flavor for the "all stars" like France, GB and Spain. HRE minors need some new ideas, at the very least the electors do.

Burgundy needs a bit of early flavor which could be soaked up by Dutch or Flemish players before they form the Netherlands.

Lastly, republics and the British parliament need some sort of a way to keep up with absolutist states, as is, they are a strictly worse choice to a vanilla monarchy in the immensely important age of absolutism.