France (Empire: Total War)

France's flag under a Monarchy

France's flag under a Republic

France is a major faction in Empire: Total War.

Description

France has had fifty years of military and administrative excellence under Louis XIV, the Sun King and his servants. They achieved this in spite of a backdrop of strife and rebellion sparked by France’s involvement in the Thirty Years War. Louis and his able ministers, Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin, were able to steer France away from the feudal struggles that hampered growth, and they created a centralised government where the King’s power is absolute. In 1700, France is the pre-eminent power in Western Europe, with an unrivalled army, vast colonies and a King who is respected and feared by all, both at home and abroad. Few nations pose any real threat to his well-equipped armies and heavily fortified borders.

The French Bourbon dynasty is strong, even though Louis XIV is aging. There are sons and relations aplenty, with legitimate claims to many titles. To the south, the lack of a Hapsburg heir in Spain – and the feeble-mindedness of Charles II – means that a Bourbon could one day rule in Madrid. A course of action that brings this about has much to recommend it. Of course, not all offshoots of the Hapsburg line are weak as their Spanish cousins. The Austrian Habsburgs, and other European nations, may not be entirely willing to see a Frenchman or French nominee as King of Spain. No matter.

France is surrounded by possibilities, and beyond Europe there are other continents to conquer and colonise: New France in North America, and the riches of India. The untrustworthy British may have to be swept aside or crushed, but what is wrong with that?

General Information

Short Campaign

Capture and hold 20 regions by the end of the year 1750, including: New France, Corsica, New York, Confederation of New England, Leeward Islands, Pennsylvania, Cherokee Territory, Savoy, Algonquin Territory, Liguria, Michigan Territory, and France.

Long Campaign

Capture and hold 30 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: New France, Corsica, New York, Confederation of New England, Leeward Islands, Pennsylvania, Cherokee Territory, Savoy, Algonquin Territory, Liguria, Michigan Territory, France, Orissa & Circars, Carnatica, Flanders, Hindustan, and Egypt.

World domination

Capture and hold 50 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: France.

Basics at start

• Protectorates – Louisiana
• Allies – Spain
• Trade Partners – Spain, Louisiana, Savoy, Sweden
• Enemies – Barbary States, Pirates
• Religion – Catholic
• Government – Absolute Monarchy
• Ruler – Louis XIV (King)
• Population – 26,059,676
• Prosperity – Spectacular
• Prestige – Sublime
• Treasury – 8000
• Technology - Physiocracy
• Missionaries – Guillaume Vasser (Upper Canada), Guillaume Chretien (France)
• Rakes – Roger Fouquet (Michigan Territory), Urbain Despreaux (France)
• Gentlemen – Bernard le Bovier de Foutanelle (France)

Europe Theatre

Paris, France

• Starting Buildings – Barracks, Royal Palace, Opera House, Admiralty, Cannon Foundry
• Infrastructure - Basic Roads
• Population – 24,567,308
• Wealth – 6278
• Religion – Catholicism 80.0%, Protestantism 20.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Poitou Farmland (Not Developed), Brittany Farmland (Not Developed), Bordeaux Vineyards (Vineyard), Loire Vineyards (Vineyard), Auvergne Mines (Iron Mine), Lille (Coaching Inn), Brest (Shipyard), Orleans (School), Clermont-Ferrand (Craft Workshops Smiths), Dijon (Church School), Marseille (Trading Port), Bordeaux (Craft Workshops Weavers), Le Havre (Trading Port)
• Later Villages/Ports – Calais (Port), Lyon (Village), Nantes (Village), Toulouse (Village)

Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine

• Starting Buildings – Military Governor’s Encampment, Settlement Fortification
• Infrastructure - Basic Roads
• Population – 1,442,152
• Wealth – 2625
• Religion – Catholicism 80.0%, Protestantism 20.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Metz Mines (Iron Mines), Nancy (Craft Workshops Smiths)
• Later Villages/Ports - None

America Theatre

Quebec, New France

• Starting Buildings – Army Encampment, Magistrate
• Infrastructure - Basic Roads
• Population – 16,044
• Wealth – 1307
• Religion – Catholicism 95.0%, Animism 5.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – St. Jean Trapper Post (Fur Trader), St. Lazare Farmland (Peasant Farms), Mont-Laurier Mines (Not Developed), Marsoui Forests (Logging Camp), Tadoussac (Trading Port)
• Later Villages/Ports – Trois-Rivieres (Village), Gaspe (Village)
• Plantations - None

Montreal, Upper Canada

• Starting Building – Magistrate
• Infrastructure - Not Developed
• Population – 8,100
• Wealth – 39
• Religion – Catholicism 30.0%, Animism 70.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Ahmic Trapper Post (Fur Trader), Conestoga Farmland (Not Developed)
• Later Villages/Ports – Fort Frontenac (Village), Tkaronto (Village), Fort Sault Sainte-Marie (Village).
• Plantations – None

Fort Nashwaak, Acadia

• Starting Building – Magistrate
• Infrastructure - Not Developed
• Population – 6,706
• Wealth – 1428
• Religion – Catholicism 70.0%, Protestantism 20.0%, Animism 10.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Northesk Mines (Silver Mine), Nova Scotia Farmland (Peasant Farms)
• Later Villages/Ports – Bathurst (Village), Cap Fourchu (Port), Louisbourg (Port)
• Plantations – None

Martinique, Windward Islands

• Starting Building – Magistrate
• Infrastructure – Not Developed
• Population – 8,151
• Wealth – 372
• Religion – Catholicism 90.0%, Animism 10.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Barbados (Trading Port)
• Later Villages/Ports – None
• Plantations – St. Vincent (Small Sugar Plantation)

Plaissance, Newfoundland

• Starting Building – Magistrate
• Infrastructure – Not Developed
• Population – 7,031
• Wealth – 1246
• Religion – Catholicism 70.0%, Protestantism 25.0%, Animism 5.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Badger Trapper Post (Fur Trader), St. George’s Forests (Logging Camp), Burgeo Farmland (Not Developed), St. John’s (Trading Post)
• Later Villages/Ports – Bonavista (Village)
• Plantations – None

Cayenne, French Guyana

• Starting Building – Magistrate
• Infrastructure – Not Developed
• Population – 4,184
• Wealth – 257
• Religion – Catholicism 85.0%, Animism 15.0%
• Starting Towns/Ports – Camopi Mines (Not Developed), Sinnamary (Trading Post)
• Later Villages/Ports – None
• Plantations – Maroni (Small Spice Plantation)

Unit Roster

France has some of the best line infantry in the game, complemented by a substantial pool of excellent elite infantry. They have a varied light infantry roster, although none of them are remarkable in their abilities.

France's cavalry have several flaws: they cannot train the normally-ubiquitous Regiment of Horse nor Light Dragoons, instead utilizing lance-based Chevaux-légers and Carabineers. Their roster is very unusual compared to most European powers, but is unremarkable in terms of capabilities.

France has a unique artillery roster: on one hand, they have access to the best horse artillery and cannon of the western factions: the 18-lber Horse Guard Artillery and the 24-lber Guard Artillery. On the other hand, France cannot recruit regular 24-lber Foot Artillery in the Grand Campaign, significantly limiting the firepower it can field for most of its armies.

France's ships have stronger hulls, higher speed, and fire with better accuracy than that of other navies, and has full access to the European roster of ships. France's navy at the beginning of the Grand Campaign is rivalled only by those of Great Britain and Spain.

Overview

France starts off with an unusually powerful army in Europe, and with one of the best starting navies. It tends to have a large lead in the beginning, with the highest starting National Prestige—although this tends to wane due to France's limited number of regions. Geographically, France is relatively secure; it is bordered by its loyal Spanish ally in the south and the troublesome but weak Savoy, while the German states in the West aren't very strong initially. The United Provinces to the north-east could potentially prove troublesome, but won't be if their threat is snuffed out early.

France has a less rosy outlook initially in the Americas, with a somewhat weaker presence than that of Spain and Great Britain. However, unlike its rivals, France has access to a major city in Upper Canada from the beginning, allowing it to access a larger range of units should it choose to build up there.