Matrix Games Forums

What is the best way to use the French Navy? Every game I get my ships blowned out of the water the first few turns.

ORIGINAL: Kid

What is the best way to use the French Navy? Every game I get my ships blowned out of the water the first few turns.

The best way to use them is to not use them....

Keep French boats in the wait till rotten. [:'(]

I had a time Nelson's fleet lifted the blockade off south-west Spain and I seized on the chance to order Villy's fleet to Toulon. I advise against risking the other 3 fleets out as they would usually be reduced to a mere shadow of themselves by repeated British assaults.

My standard move as France is in the very first month move the Brest fleet South to engage Nelson, and use a support move for Villeneuvre's fleet to come out and join in. In the PBEM I am playing at the moment, the stacks hit Nelson seperately - we lost the first battle but won the second, and now Nelson is down to like 30 ships, and the naval war stands a chance. Then combine your forces to make a "battle fleet"...

In my experience, you need massive numbers, and to keep hitting them - but if you can engage the British fleets seperately, it is possible to get through. Its like playing the Turks at land war: you have to whittle the opponents numbers down while they win most of the battles.

When I start playing France, I reckon there is a 40% chance of naval war being useful, and a 15% chance we will get to invade England. That said, look at the numbers the other way around - about 60% of the time the Brits beat the living daylights out of my navies in the first couple of months, and a further 25% of the time although I beat Nelson, Cornwallis destroys my navies.

If you are going for it, try for some Naval upgrades, and see if you can get allies...

Interestingly, I have had no success at all with the other common strategy - leaving the fleets in port waiting for a better opportunity later. Perhaps your milage will vary.

Lastly, be aware that this strategy is exactly what a good British player would like you to do: he will win more battles than he loses, since his units are so much better, and this will get him glory and national morale, while hurting yours. Fortunately as France you can probably afford to have a go - and knocking Britain out of the war makes for a massively different game from there on.

[quote]ORIGINAL: Ralegh

My standard move as France is in the very first month move the Brest fleet South to engage Nelson, and use a support move for Villeneuvre's fleet to come out and join in. In the PBEM I am playing at the moment, the stacks hit Nelson seperately - we lost the first battle but won the second, and now Nelson is down to like 30 ships, and the naval war stands a chance. Then combine your forces to make a "battle fleet"...

Simply curious how likely it is for an unit to succeed in supporting another? Are the two units going to move, and reach the common destination, at the same time?

ORIGINAL: Ralegh

My standard move as France is in the very first month move the Brest fleet South to engage Nelson, and use a support move for Villeneuvre's fleet to come out and join in. In the PBEM I am playing at the moment, the stacks hit Nelson seperately - we lost the first battle but won the second, and now Nelson is down to like 30 ships, and the naval war stands a chance. Then combine your forces to make a "battle fleet"...

Simply curious how likely it is for an unit to succeed in supporting another? Are the two units going to move, and reach the common destination, at the same time?

depending witch scenario you choose.
in a 92 scenario I have wait 8 years the good time to be able to concentrate my 2 fleets and to inflict a decisive victory to the Royal Navy. It was a great time

Simply curious how likely it is for an unit to succeed in supporting another? Are the two units going to move, and reach the common destination, at the same time?

if group are in adjacent area at least one could arrive as a renforcement.
Best way is also to do short move

I played Britain as well as France, so I feel how hard Britain's naval situation is. That said, for a France player, keeping French ships intact goes a long way to tying up British ships (they have to keep constant blockade or at least can't allow themselves to be stretched very thin) so Britain cannot be free to transport its troops as freely as if it manages to decimate French ships. A wait-and-see strategy is worth adopting in this sense.

and a 15% chance we will get to invade England.

I found very dangerous any England invasion. If you are beaten you will not be able to retreat and you will loose all your army.

A "support move" means the unit given that order wont go into the area unless another friendly unit is already there. This is how you get fleets (or armies) to cooperate in the game. What can go wrong? Some pitiful allied unit might go there, and then you guys charge in to get egg on their faces.

ORIGINAL: Reiryc

The best way to use them is to not use them....

What was it the First Lord of the Admiralty said when asked about the prospects of a French invasion? "I do not say they cannot come. I say simply they cannot come by sea."