Do the french have less morale or something?

[.L.]

Everytime I battled them they always rout way to soon after the general dies, example, heir general ran into my stakes then a few seconds late my dismounted english knights managed to rout them after only about 30% of them were killed, I ended up capturing more than I killed, most of the kills were longbow kills anyway. So do the french have decreased morale? If they do I applaud the CA and this realistic feature.

[Christonikos]

Have you tried doing the same with any other faction? They all rout the same. The French may have had ow-quality troops with reduced morale. But generally, when the general dies, if you manage to rout one unit, then all enemies will rout.

[.L.]

lol dude they had armoured seargents, dismounted feudal and noble knights and way outnumbered me, before the general impaled himself only 2 units were "wavering" the rest(there were ALOT) were all "Steady" and a few were "Shaken" BTW it was on hard/hard, also I know for sure that the scots have slightly higher morale than the other factions so the french having LESS morale isn't to far-fetched.

[Aeratus]

No. Morale depends on unit only, and not on faction. For example, the French and English Armored Sergeants have identical morale because they are identical units.

[eXistenZ]

why do you want a frenchman in your army?

to negotiate a surrender

[Teutonic Warlord]

why do you want a frenchman in your army?

to negotiate a surrender

“I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me.”- General George S. Patton
"The Almighty in His infinite wisdom did not see fit to create Frenchmen in the image of Englishmen."-Winston Churchill
“Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion.”-General H. Norman Schwartzkopf

And for the sake of the OP, you answered yourself in your post. Change your question into a statement and there is your answer. But yeah, I have noticed the same thing.

[Drustan]

“Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion.”-General H. Norman Schwartzkopf

I was just about to make that quote

Morale in battles can be down to luck. If a unit is in the wrong place at the wrong time, it will be made to rout. Also how many stars the general has or if he is killed has a significant impact on morale.

[Lord Minotaur]

why do you want a frenchman in your army?

to negotiate a surrender

AHAHAHAH :d this slaps me on the knee

[AJStoner]

They rout if you run out of cheese and wine. (Fun Fact: The act of running from battle is unofficially known as "French Leave" among both U.S. and British armed forces)

[tudor93]

hehe, the french jokes crack me up
+rep, you bastards xD

[AJStoner]

I had a battle recently at a bridge where I fired a trebuchet and killed the enemy general on the first shot and they ran at once. It happens sometimes... Still, any occasion to make fun of the French should not be squandered.

[Double A]

The French having less morale would imply they have morale in the first place.

[Shasqua]

I HATE French jokes. France kicked the crap out of most of the rest of Europe COMBINED for over a decade during the Napoleonic wars. It defeated England in the Hundred Years' War and conquered all English territory on the Continent. Even after losing the Franco-Prussian War, a lot of French people refused to surrender, revolted, and seized Paris, which required an extremely violent siege and reconquest by the French army that killed tens of thousands. During WWI, the bloodiest war in human history at the time, the French fought on the entire time, losing hundreds of thousands of brave soldiers over the course of a months-long siege of Verdun. The Free French refused to quit after losing France to the Nazis and fought on in exile, while the Resistance constantly harrassed the occupation forces. The French are not cowards.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Teutonic Warlord]

I HATE French jokes. France kicked the crap out of most of the rest of Europe COMBINED for over a decade during the Napoleonic wars. It defeated England in the Hundred Years' War and conquered all English territory on the Continent. Even after losing the Franco-Prussian War, a lot of French people refused to surrender, revolted, and seized Paris, which required an extremely violent siege and reconquest by the French army that killed tens of thousands. During WWI, the bloodiest war in human history at the time, the French fought on the entire time, losing hundreds of thousands of brave soldiers over the course of a months-long siege of Verdun. The Free French refused to quit after losing France to the Nazis and fought on in exile, while the Resistance constantly harrassed the occupation forces. The French are not cowards.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Gen. Chris, thanks for posting the good old google funny "French military victories I'm feeling lucky" thing. I always loved that. Now, let us always remember that NORMANdy was ruled by Vikings in 1066, and the land was handed over by the French king (Charles the Simple I think) so the Vikings would leave them alone (like the Barbary Pirates, right?); good job ccgr1121. smthhappy, good job for pointing out that the Turks would show up hundreds of years later in Asia Minor. All of you get +rep.

As for Shasqua...
Napoleon brought about the victories (and was looked down upon by French commanders until he started winning), and his better armies later on were largely non-French. It took France more than 100 years in a war for a country with a larger population, homefield advantage, and one that didn't have to ship troops across the English Channel to defeat England?! If you are right about French citizens taking Paris and the French army having to take it back, what is your point? The French can kill French? WW1: Germany faces a 2 front war, fighting the Russians in the east and the combined might of France and Great Britain in the west. France had GB with them to face a divided German force, and they can only keep the Germans out of Paris until the US enters the war, at which point the Germans think the war is lost if the fresh American masses come at them and so go for a last chance strategy that made their lines too big. Otherwise, they most likely would have won since they were bringing in their troops from the east. WW2: 6 weeks. Remember that. Also, what about Vichy France? I always loved how the French created a new government in GB after they had been conquered by the Nazis. Nothing quite like a government that doesn't actually have a country...

[Shasqua]

Gen. Chris, thanks for posting the good old google funny "French military victories I'm feeling lucky" thing. I always loved that. Now, let us always remember that NORMANdy was ruled by Vikings in 1066, and the land was handed over by the French king (Charles the Simple I think) so the Vikings would leave them alone (like the Barbary Pirates, right?); good job ccgr1121. smthhappy, good job for pointing out that the Turks would show up hundreds of years later in Asia Minor. All of you get +rep.

As for Shasqua...
Napoleon brought about the victories (and was looked down upon by French commanders until he started winning), and his better armies later on were largely non-French. It took France more than 100 years in a war for a country with a larger population, homefield advantage, and one that didn't have to ship troops across the English Channel to defeat England?! If you are right about French citizens taking Paris and the French army having to take it back, what is your point? The French can kill French? WW1: Germany faces a 2 front war, fighting the Russians in the east and the combined might of France and Great Britain in the west. France had GB with them to face a divided German force, and they can only keep the Germans out of Paris until the US enters the war, at which point the Germans think the war is lost if the fresh American masses come at them and so go for a last chance strategy that made their lines too big. Otherwise, they most likely would have won since they were bringing in their troops from the east. WW2: 6 weeks. Remember that. Also, what about Vichy France? I always loved how the French created a new government in GB after they had been conquered by the Nazis. Nothing quite like a government that doesn't actually have a country...

Richard Coeur de Lion was a Frenchman who couldn't even speak English and rarely visited England, yet is renowned as one of the greatest English kings. Funny, that.

In the Hundred Years' War, the English started off with big chunks of France (Normandy and Aquitaine). They had the initiative in the war, plus allies, and lost it all anyway. Partly due to a teenage peasant girl. That makes the English weak, right?

In the War of the First Coalition, France whipped Austria, the HRE, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia, Naples & Sicily, and the Dutch combined. Guess that makes the British and Germans weak, huh? And do note: Non-French forces were pretty insignificant in the crushing French victory here.

In the War of the Second Coalition, France and its little allies crushed the combined forces of Britain, Austria, the Two Sicilies, and their new friend Russia. France wins again!

In the War of the Third Coalition, France and friends smashed Austria, Russia, Britain, Naples, Sicily, Portugal, and Sweden. Noticing a trend here?

In the War of the Fourth Coalition, France et al. defeated Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, Saxony, etc. And here's the kicker: France defeated Prussia, killed 25,000 of its soldiers, captured another 150,000 (those cowardly Germans!) and sacked Berlin itself in 19 days. If we're judging a nation's virtues by its success or failure in war (which is a pretty stupid metric), then we can say that the Germans are as weak and cowardly as the French. And in all these wars, it's not like Napoleon singlehandedly presided over every French victory.

In WWI, Germany had a superior economy, population, industry, and military, yet failed to take Verdun. Or Paris, for that matter. That makes them weak, right?

In WW2, the French were caught off guard by a powerful German blitz, and while the government gave up, large sections of the armed forces and the population fought on 'til '45.

It seems to me that many mock France whenever it loses, and then try to write off any French victories- even the ones in which France WTFpwns most of the rest of Europe combined four times in a row.

[mattgoby]

In the War of the First Coalition, France whipped Austria, the HRE, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia, Naples & Sicily, and the Dutch combined. Guess that makes the British and Germans weak, huh? And do note: Non-French forces were pretty insignificant in the crushing French victory here.

In the War of the Second Coalition, France and its little allies crushed the combined forces of Britain, Austria, the Two Sicilies, and their new friend Russia. France wins again!

In the War of the Third Coalition, France and friends smashed Austria, Russia, Britain, Naples, Sicily, Portugal, and Sweden. Noticing a trend here?

In the War of the Fourth Coalition, France et al. defeated Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, Saxony, etc. And here's the kicker: France defeated Prussia, killed 25,000 of its soldiers, captured another 150,000 (those cowardly Germans!) and sacked Berlin itself in 19 days. If we're judging a nation's virtues by its success or failure in war (which is a pretty stupid metric), then we can say that the Germans are as weak and cowardly as the French. And in all these wars, it's not like Napoleon singlehandedly presided over every French victory.

Now i'm not an expert, but i live in britain and i'm not speaking french, i'm fairly sure napolean lost.

In WWI, Germany had a superior economy, population, industry, and military, yet failed to take Verdun. Or Paris, for that matter. That makes them weak, right?

Read a book about the somme, you'll find out how rubbish the french were, and how the british were generally hindered by them.

In WW2, the French were caught off guard by a powerful German blitz, and while the government gave up, large sections of the armed forces and the population fought on 'til '45.

Rubbish "caught off guard" it was obviously coming, for gods sake they came through 2 other countries first.
A small amount of the french came to other countries to stay as the "free" french. And all of the navy had to be sunk by the british to stop them surrendering.

[TWWolfe]

Now i'm not an expert, but i live in britain and i'm not speaking french, i'm fairly sure napolean lost.



Read a book about the somme, you'll find out how rubbish the french were, and how the british were generally hindered by them.



Rubbish "caught off guard" it was obviously coming, for gods sake they came through 2 other countries first.
A small amount of the french came to other countries to stay as the "free" french. And all of the navy had to be sunk by the British to stop them surrendering.

No, only half of the French Mediterranean navy, the ships at Oran, were sunk. the Other half were based in Alexandria and were impounded after the french sailors staged a mutiny when the french admiral wanted to leave. they were later incorporated into the Free French.

[Shasqua]

Now i'm not an expert, but i live in britain and i'm not speaking french, i'm fairly sure napolean lost.

Only in the last two wars. But whipping Europe four out of six times ain't bad. Oh, and incidentally, you may not speak French, per se, but the English you speak is strongly influenced by French due to an invasion and conquest of England by Guillaume le Batard and his French-speaking Normans (plus Bretons and French). These attackers weren't their granddaddys' Norsemen; Guillaume himself was 3/4ths French by way of his French mother and half-French father.

And by "caught off guard", I was referring to the whole sneaking-past-the-Line thing. I know about the Phony War.

[.L.]

Richard Coeur de Lion was a Frenchman who couldn't even speak English and rarely visited England, yet is renowned as one of the greatest English kings. Funny, that.

HE DID NOT COME FROM FRANCE. Richard's ancestors came from scandinavia and harassed the french until they gave them Normandy and sacks full of gold to leave them alone, and Richard was a terrible king, a good commander yes but as a king he was terrible.

[Teutonic Warlord]

Richard Coeur de Lion was a Frenchman who couldn't even speak English and rarely visited England, yet is renowned as one of the greatest English kings. Funny, that.

In the Hundred Years' War, the English started off with big chunks of France (Normandy and Aquitaine). They had the initiative in the war, plus allies, and lost it all anyway. Partly due to a teenage peasant girl. That makes the English weak, right?

In the War of the First Coalition, France whipped Austria, the HRE, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Sardinia, Naples & Sicily, and the Dutch combined. Guess that makes the British and Germans weak, huh? And do note: Non-French forces were pretty insignificant in the crushing French victory here.

In the War of the Second Coalition, France and its little allies crushed the combined forces of Britain, Austria, the Two Sicilies, and their new friend Russia. France wins again!

In the War of the Third Coalition, France and friends smashed Austria, Russia, Britain, Naples, Sicily, Portugal, and Sweden. Noticing a trend here?

In the War of the Fourth Coalition, France et al. defeated Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, Saxony, etc. And here's the kicker: France defeated Prussia, killed 25,000 of its soldiers, captured another 150,000 (those cowardly Germans!) and sacked Berlin itself in 19 days. If we're judging a nation's virtues by its success or failure in war (which is a pretty stupid metric), then we can say that the Germans are as weak and cowardly as the French. And in all these wars, it's not like Napoleon singlehandedly presided over every French victory.

In WWI, Germany had a superior economy, population, industry, and military, yet failed to take Verdun. Or Paris, for that matter. That makes them weak, right?

In WW2, the French were caught off guard by a powerful German blitz, and while the government gave up, large sections of the armed forces and the population fought on 'til '45.

It seems to me that many mock France whenever it loses, and then try to write off any French victories- even the ones in which France WTFpwns most of the rest of Europe combined four times in a row.

1. Richard did NOT consider himself French.
2. It takes more than a century for France to actually beat someone, and they get so desperate that they get help from peasant girls. They get lucky with a schizophrenic one, who is later betrayed and handed over to the English so they can light her up and roast marshmallows.
3. Austria AND the HRE? By the way, Spain and Portugal end up subdued and Napoleon puts a family member in to rule, and Iberia turns into a pain from guerillas. By the way, Napoleon brought about the victory over the coalitions. Interestingly, Napoleon hated the French. The French now love him to death. Just be glad his father sent him to France to school and not elsewhere... Anyway, after his new tactics started kicking butt, he put generals in charge who FOLLOWED HIS STRATEGIES. Why are you using Prussia as an example? Though pretty Spartan, Prussia didn't have the population, resources, etc that France had.
4. As for WW1, please go back and read what I wrote. 2 fronts on which they fought 3 of the world's most powerful nations. As for German allies, the Ottoman Empire and Austrian Empire were both crumbling.
5. The Phony War just doesn't ring true with "caught off guard," especially considering: A. they were aware for years of the threat the Nazis were posing and B. were actually ignoring the favorite German path for attacking and conquering France-the Low Countries, instead setting up an expensive line along the German border that went unused.

In conclusion, I enjoy French jokes as many do. However, something that extremely bothers me is the arrogance of the French military and its supporters because it ends with them often skewing the facts to make up for a poor record. France had a great military time when under the command of a Corsican, I admit, and maybe others too. However, it still has a pretty poor record while somehow lasting for this long. Personally, I think the record may have to do with the other nations wanting some of France's food and wine.