Does the game hate me or the French?

[brockdp]

I've been learning RTW3 for the last few months and followed early advice that France was a good learner's experience- not too large or complex. Also watching lots of Dickie's YouTube videos- love you Dickie. I'm a long time strategy gamer and happen to be a former naval officer, [minesweepers and destroyers, long ago]. In playing as the French, I find over and over the national assembly gives me one of the smallest budgets of any nation, smaller than Italy, Austria Hungary, Russia, and vastly smaller than GB, Germany, US, etc. Then I get pushed into war with nations with much larger navies, decimated and no reasonable budget to re-build after the war. The icing on the cake is the Prime Minister demanding that I build lots more [cruisers? destroyers? etc] but giving me very little additional money to build. I know that the game gives me various choices on actions that might raise my budget [and prestige] which also typically raise tensions and risk of war, and I try to make rational decisions with each one. But game after game I get starved and then decimated in war then further starved until France has almost no navy and I get fired or quit. Am I an idiot or does the game lean against France having much of a navy? It's not fun beating your head against a wall with minimal resources and pushed into wars against much stronger nations. I want to enjoy this game and love the concept, but... Any thought would be most welcome.

[EvanJones]

Ah, the French . . .

Great potential, but very tetchy, indeed. Not my recommendation for fi4st time play, what with running between the Med and N. Europe, and all the hell else going on around the sides. I managed 218 prestige (Admiral's Mode, AI+, Large, No cheating/exploits/replays/reloading, etc.), and that after a hideous late-game defeat. But it is a juggling match, throughout.

(Think of AI+ as more meat to kill, more prestige to be gained . . . You will find that Admiral's Mode is not only more scare-quote, "accurate", but easier to play. And the AI will avoid torps better than you will. (And FULL victory points results in fame and fortune.)

But the country you want to play for the first time is, unquestionable, ITALY.
You can confine your imperialism to the Med., plenty to fight over, there, I even advise turning down colony offers out east. Until you have smashed the others, and at least taken Egypt, at any rate.

You are off the beaten N.Europe path, although you can easily sortie out and blockade Germany or Spain right off the bat with your legacy fleet.
Austria-Hungary is an ideal early foe.
And, as you are keeping to the Med., you can make those killer 8000ton, 22k Light cruisers short range and low freeboard. But to mention those 15,000-ton 23k heavies that you should start as soon as you get sloped armor.
As for doctrine, take Night Fighting from turn one. Gunnery is crap by comparison. (Drop it when you get radar.) Possibly add Torpedo, but replace it with Damage control as soon as the game lets you. After radar, Damage Control is all you'll need.
Note: GET RID OF THE CAUTIOUS TRAIT as soon as the event able allows. No matter what it costs in prestige. If you don't you'' wonder how your prestige score evaporated every time you took real losses (even if you don't lose the battle).

[EvanJones]

And, as Italy, Don't Take Colonies. Take reparations every time. You want to invade those things to gain prestige, and those Base Economy reparation boosts will eventually put you ahead of everyone but the US. "If I want your colonies (and I will), I'll beat them out of you."

[EvanJones]

P.S., Thank You for my Freedom. From a wizened wargamer (1974, SPI) who had others do the fighting for me.

[EvanJones]

And, finally, keep half your budget, up to 50 grand in your kick (more if your budget is >100k). That will allow you to follow your silly ministers' prejudices and gain prestige at the same time. You also want that fund for fast refits of multiple ships (esp. missiles, but also fire control, gun elevation/directors, etc.).

Everyone else I've seen is pushing their budget to the breaking point. But don't give in. A little loose swag will go an amazingly long way and save you a world of hurt.

If you got any questions, just ask.

[EvanJones]

And if you still want to shoot for France, I can clue you in on how to survive and prosper in the early game. But Italy is easier.

[brockdp]

Evan- thanks for your thoughtful replies. Much appreciated. I decided to try the Germans from 1900 and I am enjoying a bigger budget and better technology. We’ll see if that produces a more playable and enjoyable gaming experience. The destroyer I served on was the apex of World War II technology. Lots of 5 inch 38 guns and no missiles. I was happy to do my part a long time ago.

[EvanJones]

Germany is very vulnerable in the Early game, but is formidable by 1920. Get rid of the Cautious Trait ASAP (via event). Slow start, much ground to make up, but the German missile advantage will help do that.