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Considering it is a game they stoped producing a long time ago, it is pretty amazing how many still like the game. You don't get new players...

So how will it continue to be "number one" at gaming conventions. People must know the game to play it properly.

Spain has to be my favorite, mainly because I played them so many time. I always hated seeing Spain kiss butt to either England or France, so I decided to follow my own foreign policy. In one game, I was a stern French ally in the opening wars, mainly because I wanted us to fight the English navy together, instead of individually and outnumbered. However, when the French began making threats concerning my occupation of the Papacy (which he needed for KoI), I stood my ground and joined the other side. Only had to surrender to France when betrayed by my new 'alies'.
In another game, I joined in on the war with France, because I thought he was the bigger threat. However, having won Holland as my prize, I quickly gained the mistrust of the English. He declared war on me, but I hid my fleets in in good ports and dug in. When the Russian, taunted with gaining Holland for himself, and being buddy-buddy with England, also declared war on me, I decided to give them a full-fledged guerilla war. Even though I lost Holland, Naples, and even Portugal, and despite losing every major battle on Spanish soil (bad die rolls and/or chit picks), I still maintained a decent force (paid for by France) that held 10 British and Russian corps tied down in Spain. Since they could not take my last two provinces, they finally pulled out when France declared war on Russia and marched an army into Spain. Although Spain was no longer a major power, it had stood up to two. It was glorious and fun.

My other favorite, which I only played once, was Turkey. The entire game, Turkey maintained an anti-French attitude, mainly to balance the game. I only declared war once on a major power (France), and sent a large cavalry force to help the coalition armies in Central Europe. However, very soon afterwards, the British and Spanish (alies), convinced that they could win an easy victory over Turkey, as most of the regular army was in Egypt, landed an army near Constantinople. Scounging for every last infantry and feudal corps, my Turks bled the invaders in repeated battles, while also fighting a limited war with Russia (limited because he only had 11 infantry left after one one battle, but refused to surrender). Soon, even France sent 4 Corps, which finally tipped the balance and Turkey had to surrender. However, worried about power balance, France did not allow for Britain and Spain to take Egypt, so I didn;t lose that much. Again, it was fun and glorious.

The victory point system used in EIA was an extremely useful way of handicapping the players such that everyone had a (more or less) equal chance of winning, regardless of the inherent strength of the player. The "bidding" for powers and the subtraction of those bids from VP totals also helped to handicap the players and made it harder for players with a favorite country they were good at playing from taking that advantage too far. Thus, there are no powers that are more or less easy to "win" with. There are certainly powers that can do more "neat" things. But even the lesser power provide the opportunity for original thinking and the ability to change the scope of the game. No one should be someone else's dog to kick unless the former is bad at diplomacy and/or the latter is exteremely adept. Ultimately the winner is the one who uses strategy and DIPLOMACY to meet his VP total while preventing the others form reaching theirs.

That said, my "favorite" powers to play (that was the original question) are:

1) G.B.
-The best navy. The ability to choose when in the Naval Phase you move.
-The most elite infantry even if there are only a few of them. France has a guard corps of 20. G.B. has a guard corps of 72, even if they can't be committed and are called "infantry."
-The money
-The default win rule.
-The ability to be arbiter of the status quo in Europe.
-My playing-buddy loved France. I had to even the game out.

2) France
-Napoleon
-The best infantry. The ability to choose when to move in the land phase.
-The threat of a strong navy
-A strong economy
-The guard (2 column shift! AND TWENTY factors) and artillery corps
-Always being "in" the game.

3) Russia
-Definitely #3 in the overall strength category.
-A strong army
-A decent navy
-The guard (2 column shift!) and artillery corps.
-The vastness of the steppes.
-Strong Economy
-Cossacks!

4) Prussia
-A flexbile army
-Access to minors
-Potential to be involved
-Challenge
-Thrill of playing Frederick the Great's creation (I know, they had declined by 1805) and the militaristic forerunner of modern Germany.

5) Austria
-A strong army
-A decent economy
-Access to minors
-Definitely be involved
-The one country that probably requires the most adept diplomacy--and that is what the game is really about!

6) Turkey
-A sizable army, even if of poor quality
-Access to North Africa
-I've always enjoyed sitting back and watching the situation unfold.

7) Spain
-Second (third?) best Navy
-Access to minors
-Potential to be involved.
Spain can be just as fun as the rest. I've never liked having to play second fiddle to France or G.B. though. Also, Spain's options are not as flexible as they might seem--assuming a game takes on its normal complexion.

Jason

France is the most fun. The joy of turning GB into a regular power has no equal. If you can put aside the compulsion to conquer every thing, and convince Russia, Spain and Turkey to focus on Beating down the Brits, that is the ultimate challenge. If GB can convince one of them to his side it comes down to luck. How many have seen GB surrender to France?

In games where I don’t know anyone I will play Russia or GB. Make friends play nice, counter France.

Turkey as the mercenary is great fun. Show me the Money! Cav hordes for sale.

Spain how to maintain and expand your power without using it.

Prussia and Austria, it always comes down to who will be my friends? How much will the English pay to keep the French busy? I wonder, what kind of deal France will cut?

Black Hat wrote: ...How many have seen GB surrender to France?

Seen that, few times. And every time GB aggravated all other players realy angry and destroyed a lot of his fleets for nothing (and built too meny infantry, not ships).

In one of our FtF games about a year ago, I saw that GB was dropped out from game! That was something! England, Scotland and Ireland became ceded provinces for Spain and Wales to France. Later Spain conquered Wales from France, at least for short time...

Missing GB made that game quite boring (think that France!). And brought a interesting problem: What happens to trade, if there is no GB???