Geared the economy to build banks, culture, barracks as needed and some factories. I trade like crazy with any German state that likes me and some that don't. Sent all the diplomats to Wurtemburg and am influencing Swiss, Bavarians, Badeners, Wurtemburgers, Hessians and Thuringians; it is fun to watch the "blue pies" grow. It is now November 1792 and Swiss are about 90% dark blue. Can the Helvetian Republic be far behind?
I reorganized all the armies in central France. I stripped off the observation corps watching Italy, sent a four division force to beseize Antwerpt (blockaded by the Brest fleet) and hunkered down to await the Kings of Europe.
On they came through Switzerland. Detailed battles were interesting. Except for the Swiss Guard and a pair of infantry divisions, the frog infantry have terrible morale. Apparently fighting the uniformed minions of the Divine Right of Kings crowd is more intimidating than persecuting unarmed Royalists and political dissidents at home. Half the frogs can't form a line. Even the decent units get outshot by Austrian landwehr. French cavalry with morale 3 is not much help. The old Royalist artillery corps is excellent, so I tend to break up the enemy infantry with artillery. As they disorganize and/or rout, the sans culottes and garrisons take a drink
, grab their pitchforks and scythes and swarm out (in column) to chase down the poor unfortunates like Jacobites after Culloden. I fought three separate armies (Austrian, Austro-Prussian, and Prussian) over two months; revolutionary fervor and royalist artillery did the job. I captured all their cavalry and artillery, sending a few infantry stragglers back over the border to the Helvetians. I'm guessing they can't have many more armies left, so it must be time to form another militia seige army to secure the Rhine states that don't wanna be protectorates. It is now November 1792 and we control our borders. The Royalist division is just across the Rhine watching. I'm savoring the prospect of free protectorate troops and French borders without enemies across the river.
For the history inclined (and aren't we all), the small but genuine pleasure is to watch things play out. The game is not perfect, but is a workmanlike effort to portray a number of factors and variables of an era that is unrepresented in computer gaming. The possibilities, combinations and permutations are endless. In lieu of the boob tube, we can use historical characters and units to move over a legendary landscape seeking military, economic and political success with strategies of our own conception. For me, the game is worth every penny and more.
I'm wondering how I can improve on the French situation in the September 1805 scenario? Build docks and coastal barracks to raise a competitive navy with appropriate upgrades (too bad there is no french admiral)? Try for a quadruple alliance of Spain, Sweden and Turkey to squeeze the players in the middle? Avoid waste by using protectorates and trading partners?
