A Very, Very Short War

[AussieGiant]

I've been in and out of war with the French in a UP M/M prestige campaign the whole time.

They will even trade with me out of necessity when offered. Every time I blockade their northern French port, they put up as good a fight as possible but once they lose I can usually sue for peace with them.

On M/M I am definitely experiences sensible decisions.

It was 1724 and Maratha Conf had a go at Ceylon. They did a big loop to avoid my fleet and landed on the east coast. I then went out and smashed their army followed by their navy, then asked if they would consider a truce. They took it, and used the "feeling dirty and need a wash" line.

Then next turn they even accepted trade rights. Because it seemed they realised I was about to cripple them by blockading one of their home ports.

Basically anytime I take an AI nation to the cleaners they will be far more receptive to negotiate.

Which is sensible and very realisitic.

They are like small skirmishes. They will build up a bit of strength, have a go, and a good go, then if they fail we will have another short "peace" for a few years. It's works for me also as I'm trying to keep the number of wars down to less than three. As I can't get peace with Sweden and Spain, I have to control France and Ceylon this way.

[NimitsTexan]

I've been in and out of war with the French in a UP M/M prestige campaign the whole time.

That sort of thing is more accurate than not. The major western powers were involved in numerous conflicts, Britain, for example, was inbolved in:
War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714 (13 years)
War of the Quadruple Alliance 1718-1720 (2 years)
Anglo-Spanish War 1727-1729 (2 years)
War of Jenkin's Ear 1739-1740 (1 year)
War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748 (8 years)
Seven Year's War 1754-1763 (8 years)
American Revolutionary War 1775-1783 (8 years)
War of the First Coalition 1792-1797 (5 years)
War of the Second Coalition 1798-1801 (3 years)

So in the 100 years from 1701-1801, Britain was at war for 50 of them.

[AussieGiant]

That is exactly what is going on in my UP m/m game.

It's a lot of manoeuvring, counter attacking, truce, trade, war, manoeuvre etc etc.

As you say NimitsTexan, all very believable.