Opening Context
France starts with a powerful core and internal consolidation challenges. Decisive early wars define your hegemony. You have the advantage of a strong economic base and central position, but must manage multiple fronts and internal estates balance.
First 50 Years Checklist
Tip
Follow this checklist to establish French dominance in your first 50 years.
- Vassal Integration: Integrate vassals methodically. Don't rush—ensure your economy can support each integration.
- Rival Selection: Pick one rival to dismantle first (England or Burgundy). Avoid fighting both simultaneously.
- Economic Development: Build economy via high-population centers. Support clergy and burgers for tax and trade income.
- War Strategy: Keep wars short. Prioritize sieges over pursuits. Capture objectives quickly and negotiate peace.
- Estates Balance: Manage estates satisfaction to maintain crown power. Support clergy and burgers strategically.
- Food and Housing: Ensure core provinces have sufficient food and housing. Fill jobs before expanding.
- Market Development: Build marketplaces in Paris and key trade centers. Expand capacity where needed.
- Diplomatic Isolation: Prevent coalition formation by managing aggressive expansion. Don't take more than you can hold.
Diplomacy Targets & Risks
Key Targets:
- Burgundy: Potential integration or containment. Rich lands but requires careful timing.
- Smaller Neighbors: Potential vassalization targets to expand without direct annexation costs.
- HRE States: Careful diplomacy needed to avoid triggering imperial response.
Risks:
- Coalition Formation: Too much aggressive expansion triggers coalitions. Manage AE carefully.
- Multi-Front Wars: Getting pulled into conflicts on multiple borders. Focus on one front at a time.
- Estates Unrest: Ignoring estates satisfaction leads to internal instability and reduced crown power.
Trade Nodes Plan
France's central position offers multiple trade opportunities:
- Champagne: Central trade node. Develop Paris market capacity to maximize income.
- Bordeaux: Secondary focus if controlling southwest. Atlantic trade routes.
- Marketplaces: Build in Paris and key provincial capitals. Expand capacity strategically.
- Trade Routes: Connect production centers to markets. Prioritize high-value goods.
Military Posture & Logistics
France's military strategy emphasizes efficient warfare:
- Quick Wars: Keep conflicts short. Capture objectives and negotiate peace quickly.
- Siege Priority: Focus on sieges over pursuits. Fortresses are the key to victory.
- Supply Management: Maintain supply lines. Don't overextend without securing supply.
- Terrain Advantage: Use favorable terrain defensively. Rivers and hills favor defenders.
Alternate Routes
Alternative strategies for France:
- Consolidation Focus: Focus entirely on internal consolidation and vassal integration before external expansion.
- Trade Empire: Emphasize trade and market development over territorial expansion.
- Aggressive Expansion: Rapid conquest of neighbors, requiring careful coalition management.
Recommended Mission Track
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Mission Strategy: Consider Infrastructure Efforts for regional control and stability, or Manufactory Focus to leverage production capabilities. Trade missions are less critical for France's early game.
See Also
Not sure which nation to choose? Compare England vs France to decide which opening strategy fits your playstyle.