Early France Strategy

[afrit]

This is the first game I play on expert . I picked France because I am organizing a PBM in the Throne Room for France and wanted to get familiar with the faction (BTW, there is space for a couple more players in the PBM "The French Dynasty").

I figured from the table of contents posts that rushing the English early is a must. But how early do you rush? I was ready to attack in 1094 , but decided to wait for Prince Jean to mature. Big mistake, as next year a 4-star Enlgish general appears in Aquitaine and a Fort appears in Normandy. Anyway, I attacked in 1095 and eventually got England out of France (but not without being backstabbed by puny Aragon in Aquitaine) by 1098.


Since I had used a bunch of mercs in the war, I decided not to disband them and instead grab Lorraine and Burgundy. I knew this was risky, but hey, what the heck.... I was counting that with the loss of 3 provinces in one turn , the HRE will have a civil war.

So I attacked in 1102. Needless to say, no civil war happens in HRE depsite losing Burgundy. Lorraine and Friesland in one turn. The war went back and forth and now it is 1106. Looks like I'll win (have sacked Swabia and Franconia for florins, I'm besieging him in Provence and fighting his prince with a trapped force in Toulouse. Burgundy and Lorraine are securely mine). The downside is that Aragon cost me an excommunication, I have no friends and I am almost broke were not for pillaging

So, those of you who play France often, in which year do you attack England? and when do you take on HRE?

just want opinions and stories

afrit

[Fragony]

My typical french campaign I ally with the germans and attack england on the second turn. Keep an eye on Toullouse because the Aragonese WILL invade you with a lot of knights. When I have secured my german borders I head south taking the spanish lands, germany will inevitably fall into civil war (read as bribe paradise)

ps, do you play ga or domination? You will definately get the most out of your campaign with GA

[Westland]

I agree with Fragony. Attack all English provinces at once a.s.a.p.
If you think you don't have the manpower to take all English provinces at once, leave Aquitaine alone for a while. Without ships they can't reinforce that place anyway.
You don't have to worry about the HRE. It's not likely they will attack because they need everything they have to defend their eastern border against the Polish and Hungarians.
The Spanish won't trouble you either. Normally they are to bussy with the Almohads.
Only the Aragonese will come sooner or later but if you defeat the first attack they have nothing left for a second try.
So, I think that after you've taken the 3 English mainland provinces, you are in a solid position to build up your economy. From this point you can go in any direction you like.

[katank]

read guide forums.

I dont' agree. attack Anjou and Aquitaine.

Anjou is a given as it's at the heart of France and attacking it would split their lands.

between Aquitaine and Normandy, taking Aquitaine would deprive them of hobilars which are very poweful that early in the game and hobilar facilities are more important than the star that Normandy provides.