France: too weak in the game? (given the current province lineup)

[Fisherking]

I have not seen a game where France was a dominant military power.

I think I saw them take Savoy once and maybe Wurttemberg once but never a great power.

It has been the most prestigious faction in a game or two and seems to have a lot of tech advancements.

I also see the other powers suffering from time to time but I do think that France could be stronger.

But all the major factions seem to have those troubles at times. With the possible exception of Russia, who seems to have an easy time with all but player factions.

[Sheogorath]

France in my games almost inevitably gets locked into a stalemate with Savoy. Apparently the French AI is unwilling to capture cities in Europe, so they just kick Savoy out of their territory, then Savoy comes along with a fresh army and kicks the French forces back to Paris...then a fresh French force shows up and returns the favor...
And it just goes on and on and on...