UK - French Open

[hcookie]

I'm not sure how many people are doing this at the moment, but I'll thought to take sometime out to write about the French Opening Strategy for the Brits in grand campaign mode.

The Objective
The objective for the french open is simple, knock France out of the game as early as possible thus enabling you, the British player an easier time completing the 13 colony objective.

What to do
The simplest way to go about this is to build 3 x Line infantry in London for two or three turns (depending on how good you are in land battle mode)

AND

2 x Colonial Line Infantry for two or three turns in the Americas.

Whatever cash you have left, is usually poured into building trade indiaman for that trade node rush or upgrading your regions.

At the same time, send out all your sloops to assist in the trade node rush (that includes all the sloops in the americas as well) saving only ONE Sloop for transport duties in the UK.

Send out ONE squadron consisting of a 5th rate and 2 sixth rates for Trade Node Anti-Piracy Duty

Leave ONE squadron in the Americas (usually one 5th rate and a brig/6th rate) for Anti-piracy and marine landings.

Leave ONE squadron in the English channel for French and Spanish duties. (1x 5th rate, 1x 6th rate and whatever you have left)

Combine All land forces in the UK at the same time and send them all to London. Disband all Pikemen (Seriously, i've not found ANY use for them whatsoever)

The Invasion - Europe

Since the game started in 1700, with 2 turns of line infantry building, 3 turns to get all your troops to London (yes the ones in ireland come along as well)

It should take 4 turns or two years of game play, 1702 to be ready for the big show.

Usually, 2 turns of 3x Line Infantry in London is all you need. Load them all up and combine them with the existing Brit Forces (You should have at least a 1/2 stack with ONE Cannon Regiment)

Clear the Area of all French Navel Squadrons and Land in the French Port of Le Havre (thats the port right across of the English Channel)

March to Paris. (Incidentally it helps to send your rake in earlier to scout enemy movements, positions and strength)

Don't auto-resolve as you'll probably lose the fight. Even if you do win, your troops will be too badly mauled to continue to take the 2nd and last French European City (Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine)

Once you've taken Paris, it'll take you two turns to march to Strasbourg. In which case, reorganize your army and leave all your replenishing troops in France.

Most importantly, leave enough troops in Paris as a garrison and try to ensure that no french rebels pop up due to your invasion and unhappiness. (I find that exempting tax for one or two turns helps)

The key to the Paris battle is to minimize your losses as much as possible. Your single demi-cannon helps alot by causing some losses on French infantry before musket range.

The invasion - Americas
While you're fighting in France, quickly snatch the two Spanish towns of Cuba and Santo Domingo with your colonial line infantry. Auto resolve is ok as you should be able to win hands down.

The whole point of taking these two Spanish regions is to force a Spanish terms for peace once france falls.

Afterwhich, you'll have a good sized land force to finish off the pesky Pirates and giving you total control of the carribean by 1704.

Due to France falling, all their possessions will revert to independents. For example, New France (One of the objectives for the 13 colonies) will become the state of Quebec.

Afterwhich, it's all a matter of time before you squish the Cherokees.

[The_Dude]

meh, i dont like these blitzkrieg tactics, they hardly pose a challenge.
you wanna knock out france fast you just rush them(or any other nation except maybe prussia), the AI cant cope with early rushes since it takes some time to build up a force.

[notger]

In one word: Line-inf-rush.
In another word: boring game.

If you want the 13 colonies w/o attacking France, you might want to check out the protectorates mini-mod (granting you the 13 colonies at game start). -> Download section -> minor mods and tweaks