Game 10

Hapsburg wrote:

7. Emperor Leopold welcomed King’s Louis’ [previous?] unilateral peace declaration after inspecting Vienna. Probably hadn’t heard about the attack on Messina at that stage.

The Emperor spoke too soon  

After "Spanish" troops on Sardinia and in South America revolted against the usurper and the Regency Government. It would seem that the only troops the government in Madrid can rely on to gun down the what it views as "rebel" forces on Sardinia, Sicily, etc, etc are "French" Mercenaries fighting out of loyalty to Spanish Gold rather than out of loyalty to Louis XIV.

With King Louis saying he does not want to fight anyone and trying to drift off to rebuild his burnt down palace and wrecked flower beds. Could G10 see a problem with unemployed French mercenary forces helping to fual wars in Italy, Baltic etc, etc or even sailing off on their own account?

Terrible and shocking behaviour can hardly believe it

An excellent summary Marshal

Though on the flowing of the whisky, it is clear that alas as the French have abandoned the Auld Alliance, their tolerance for this gentle tipple has also been lost...which explains why, in regards treaties, they suffer from long-term memory loss...they don't remember...

guys just to tip you off I am not going to be able to submit a G10 return (Japan) this turn (May 1706) due to a family emergency. My April turn included a number of letters so apologies to Spain, Scotland and Austria - I will reply with the June turn.

Game 10 arrived today with the Tsar dropping 2 places in the honour table and I didn’t read about him doing anything despicable!

1. The French kept attacking Messina before running off to allow the Sicilians a chance to inspect the siege guns up close. Having poked and prodded the guns they retired to the citadel once more.

2. Palermo saw Spanish troops fight their way towards the harbour before seeing their commander wounded and then routing. Later the Spanish surrendered alongside their French allies.

3. Danzig saw a Prussian naval force arrive, at the behest of the King of Poland so they say.

4. Archangel saw the return of a Russian expedition, can’t wait to see their maps!

5. The Asante delegation were seen enjoying the delights of south-west England. If they go much further they’ll be dragged into the argument about the correct way to serve a cream tea scone.

6. Hanover are expecting a trade and maritime transport agreement with the UDP in the near future.

7. The Hague saw Spain and France both leave the peace talks.

The States-General deputies cautiously backed the Stadtholder signing the peace treaty if he wanted to. They might change their minds when sprouts are available throughout Flanders-Brabant next year. Still they’ll be able to get away quickly with the great new roads and canals in place by then.

8. The French forces in Namur left for Brussels. The Scots didn’t seem to move in afterwards. Wonder if they’re still nursing hangovers from the previous negotiations?

9. In Paris the French Corsair Claude de Forbin asked His Most Christian Majesty whether he could (should?) be hired out to Spain. What confuses me is that I thought from previous newspaper reports the fact Spain is hunting down The French Corsairs around South America.

Meanwhile Flanders asked the treasury if they were going to pay their current debts or pass those onto the UDP as part of the sale. Wonder if the deal’s still looking agreeable to the States-General? Though the Viceroy of French Flanders, Philippe d'Orleans thinks France should be asking for more.

10. Avignon saw the Papal treasury there handed to France along with questions on what the King will do with respect to the Papacy in Rome and his excommunication. Though keeping the Corsairs attacking Papal shipping was highlighted by the Governor of Avignon.

11. Hanover confirmed the wedding in Berlin next month is still on.

Just a bit concerned the Elector is talking about harvest failure and that fish can be used instead. Not sure about the wisdom of planting fish for next year, perhaps I’ll ask my Agricultural Collegium President what he thinks in case I’m wrong.

12. Dresden saw a detailed report about the refurbishment of the Town Hall that used to house the Landtag. The Landtag meanwhile agreed that Saxony could sign treaties reciprocating 0% trade deals without asking them until October 1706.

13. Berlin saw the arrival of the Tsarevich who appears to have the wrong maps with him. However he’s in good company as 3 other kings were also present for the wedding so he must be in the right place! Right?

14. Vienna heard His Most Sacred Majesty had signed the Hague Treaty. Later 0% trade tariffs were announced for Saxony, Sweden and Wurtemburg.

15. Madrid saw the removal of taxes on Nobles and Commoners, alongside a celebration of the successful harvest next month.

Venice saw their tax on nobles dropped to 4%

16. Florence saw the establishment of The Giornale de' letterati d'Italia broadsheet covering the arts.

17. In Rome Pope Clement XI warned that you cannot serve both God and money.

He then lifted the excommunications in the Church in France and recognised the Gallican churches' traditional rights.

The Honour table refers to King of Prussia? Not King in Prussia, surely a typo and totally unconnected to the Prussian Naval and possibly troop movements?

Goldstar wrote:The Honour table refers to King of Prussia?  Not King in Prussia, surely a typo and totally unconnected to the Prussian Naval and possibly troop movements?  

Typo's been there since April 1706, so maybe a case of if you use the title long enough then you get to keep it. Possession being 10 tenths of the law if you're a King!

Marshal Bombast wrote:

Goldstar wrote:The Honour table refers to King of Prussia?  Not King in Prussia, surely a typo and totally unconnected to the Prussian Naval and possibly troop movements?  

Typo's been there since April 1706, so maybe a case of if you use the title long enough then you get to keep it. Possession being 10 tenths of the law if you're a King!

Also a bit concerned that we have had x2 Feb 1709............thought we might have had another fiendish Papal plot to confuse everyone by making changes to the Christian Date system.

Game 10 arrived this week with The Grand Duke of Tuscany and The Asanthene swapping places on the honour table. Be aware that the turn reply date is 3 weeks and we (UK at least) have Easter the following weekend.

1. After expending a lot of gunpowder a Spanish battle squadron found Santo Domingo to be empty of defences and then sailed in to take the town back into Spanish control.

2. 2 Prussian (assuming both are?) Army columns arrived in Danzig while the subsequent arrival of the Polish Army of the Centre cut the Prussian Horse column from entering the town.

3. Imperial hussars were driven from blockading Strassburg by French cavalry there. The resident Wurtemburger troops left the gatehouse to preserve the local truce. By which time Imperial hussars had blockaded land approaches to Lyon.

4. At Messina the Prince of Conde showed why you don’t move your artillery close to walls without cover. Clearly overcome by the situation he later broke the siege to allow for the peace talks to have a chance of success.

5. Paris saw the rise of a mob clashing with the town watch. Austria’s ambassador there thought Paris’ not the same as it was before the war and promptly left the country.

I wonder if this is anything to do with the Avignon enclave being put under French administration?

With Dutch diplomatic efforts failing to find prominent Corsairs, I suspect they’ve agreed with the outgoing ambassador.

6. Berlin saw great hospitality from the groom’s family in the upcoming wedding. Shame no one could find the bride or her family doing anything similar, or find them at all! Our sympathies go out to the Crown Prince, but perhaps the bride is just setting a new trend in how to be fashionably late.

7. The harvest news came out with one big position having a good harvest along with 3 others and 2 having a poor harvest. The Akwamu poor harvest led to later diplomatic repercussions with The Asante nation getting larger through a promised alliance in the event of a poor harvest.

Despite having a good harvest Tuscany has placed an ad in the paper for grain.

8. London saw Lord Godolphin join in with the Maritime Powers will get involved if peace doesn’t happen soon. Rather cryptic by saying it would be against the merchant marine of the power that is the aggressor, and confusing as both sides come across as thinking that the other is the aggressor.

Does the fact that Scotland were referring to France as a friend and giving them the opportunity for unreciprocated tax free trade shed any further light on the Maritime Power’s position? Or is this just a cover for the operations of a certain Commander Bonde?

9. The Asante delegation were given a tour of Clavering Hall, along with culinary advice on what not to eat.

10. In Madrid Tuscany asked Spain to make the Milanese safe for Tuscan traders facing brigands. Spain must have already been doing a good job of that as the newspaper only reported Spanish trade caravans being attacked there.

Spain then went on the engage with privateers to take on the current privateer threat.

11. The Doge of Venice made a series of investments into quality of life facilities and apologised for the previous Doge’s mistakes which he promptly corrected by paying outstanding amounts promised.

12. His Holiness asked Spain to make concessions regarding certain individuals and in return he would pay a year’s worth of tithe to the Spanish Royal Treasury.

13. A Dutch fleet sailed into Kolberg to help King Augustus of Poland.

Another ‘Dutch’ fleet arrived in Kowloon to take on supplies before considering whether to establish a presence in Alaska is still the plan.

Thanks Marshal, a good update.

As to we Scots and being nice to the French...we just have a surplus of whisky we need to offload...and we reckon after all the French have been through (including their vineyards being torched I suspect?), they might appreciate buying some foreign cheap booze (a booze cruise in reverse)

Jason2 wrote:Thanks Marshal, a good update.

As to we Scots and being nice to the French...we just have a surplus of whisky we need to offload...and we reckon after all the French have been through (including their vineyards being torched I suspect?), they might appreciate buying some foreign cheap booze (a booze cruise in reverse)

Tricky things happen when you start messing around with markets. In G7 the English Royal Navy captured a huge amount of Spanish (well Southern Italian Wine) in the Med which they proceeded to give away for free.

Result of this huge free sample is that English drinkers ......well the ladies and the Royal Navy now have a taste for Sherry and the sweet desert wines from Sicily and southern Italy. Denting sales of Port, French Reds and Gin and bringing joy to the merchants of Venice, Ottoman Moldovia, Dutch and Russians who control the shipping and act as middle men for Spanish vinters who absolutely do not trade with the nasty French aligned Heretics and English merchants who have nothing to do with Spain and nasty Hapsburgs.

Though if we are talking about dodgy trade practices think G10 does currently hold the top spot...........How come with the Government in Madrid having promised the Pope that they will stop the Slave trade and end slavery in Spanish South America. Years later specialist Spanish slave transports were still active in Africa?

Does this mean that rebels against the authority of King Rodrigo and Madrid who objected to him banning the slave trade and crashing the economy and social order in the America's will now end their protests as Madrid clearly is doing no such thing. While "loyalists" get all upset about Madrid telling porky pies to the Papacy and become the new rebels?

With all this talk about men in Iron masks and if Pope Clement is a real or fake this would seem to be a pretty good test. If the real Pope Clement finds out he has been lied too and decieved he blows up and loads of people get excommunicated for their own good. If its a fake Pope Clement nothing happens apart from the various Catholic Powers like France, Spain, Austria, Bavaria, Flanders etc trying really, really hard to not notice the Pope has been switched because they prefer the new, improved Pope Clement who does not give them too hard a time.

The game turn arrived this week with no changes to the honour table, so my social experiment doesn’t seem to have hurt my relative standing in honourable company.

(I thought I’d try a different approach to the write up – more from the Tsar’s point of view. Let me know which style you prefer. Not as easy to keep in game politics and the write up separate and within the rules though, but worth it if you enjoy it more)

1. Paris saw the arrival of an Imperial army on the outskirts. His Most Christian Majesty offered a peace and return to pre war boundaries with a 5 year peace treaty. I’m glad to hear more tulips will be planted it must’ve been a grand sight when they previously bloomed.

Meanwhile the Dutch led HWIC seems to have found new company directors as well as investors in France. Given later comments by a Spanish Fleet Officer it’ll be interesting to see what the eventual Spanish position will be towards the HWIC.

2. Danzig saw the Prussians cause the Polish forces loyal to the Royal Steward’s Regency government to disappear following a physical and verbal disagreement outside the city. Maybe they heard His Majesty was seeking transport to Danzig to give them a right talking to?

The Grand Hetman of Lithuania seemed supportive of King Augustus to the extent that he would allow my forces to cross Lithuania. Assuming we don’t eat them out of house and home that is, though I didn’t think the average Russian soldier ate that much!

3. West Africa saw a Spanish fleet engage the Corsairs who took shelter up river while managing to sink a large ship of the line. They are now stuck with the Spanish prowling out at sea waiting for them.

4. London saw Lord Godolphin present King Augustus’ embassy with a generous gift, before parliament gave consent to reduce tariffs on the French to 0% if His Grace wishes.

5. The Asante delegation left England, much to the despair of their host at Clavering Hall who wanted to learn more of their culture. It’s so exciting seeing Europe for the first time, there were so many places I loved on my Grand Embassy, especially the shipyards. What are the odds if I bet on Archangel being their next stop?

6. Not usually one to comment on the Tsar’s We Sink Ships trophy for impartiality reasons but the maritime losses section seemed quite low. That was until I later read of 40 ships being lost by Japan in a tsunami. Therefore, I will award the trophy this month.

7. Various moves were made by Imperial forces to cut off French towns, with some more successful than others. I won’t discuss this more as Ekaterina made me promise not to talk about the war seeing how as I’d been away for a few months and forgot to bring her back a gift!

Meanwhile in Vienna concern was raised by the Thedor von Strattman the Emperor’s Trade Minister as to the size of Spain global trade. As expected, my ambassador did a grand job consoling dear old Thedor.

8. Berlin saw all the pomp and ceremony of a Royal wedding as members of high society helped get the bride to her wedding in a fashionably late style. I’m glad dear Alexei was able to attend on my behalf. He’s led a sheltered life and could do with getting out and about a bit. I wonder whether the Crown Prince’s role modelling will encourage Alexei to seek out an army life?

9. Ah yes Moscow saw the first phase of my social reforms take shape. Wasn’t as large a scale as I’d hoped but at least someone has faith in me. Thinking about it though Ekaterina was rather quiet when I freed my serfs - I’d really better make it up to her.

The Royal Steward of Poland was currying favour with the populace by removing taxation for commoners under his rule. Which mean Poland won’t have many jobs for the recently sacked Spanish tax collectors.

10. Rome saw His Holiness speak out in support of King Augustus as the only true King of Poland. Which is interesting as He’s supporting a Protestant ruling a constitutionally Catholic Commonwealth. Especially interesting given the grief His Holiness gave His Most Sacred Majesty for his daughter marrying me.

11. Venice kindly requested my Father in Law’s army to leave their territory, which they did. Though I’m not sure why Austria then raised troops on Venetian lands.

I think the Venetian church got a raw deal but maybe it's their own fault though. From reported conversations no one wanted to raise taxes on the church to improve their building portfolio at state expense.

However, judging by the Council of Ten’s applause it looks like a small majority were happy to vote through a tax increase on the church to pay for national infrastructure projects though. Maybe I’m missing a trick here?

12. Various locations around Italy and its islands saw French and Spanish troops leave the area while Neapolitan garrisons arrived to take up their duties. That must please my Brother in Law.

13. The letter from Accra described the celebrations following the departure of the Royal caravan, including the peoples of nearby guest settlements joining in and feeling happy.

Part of the reason to celebrate was the recognition that the neighbouring Akwamu were joining the Asante nation following the harvest failure previously reported.

14. Martinique saw a large slave rebellion against the French, possibly instigated by Papal comments against slavery. Can you see why social reform’s needed now?

15. Edo saw an economic reforms edict around the large volumes of rice being produced to help alleviate the inflation situation in Japan. I wonder whether my mission to Japan likes rice, perhaps I’ll send them a basket or something to remind them of home!

I like both write up styles. Whichever you feel most comfortable with is fine. I think most players are just glad you do the write ups. Always good to see a fellow players view on the news. Keep up the good work and thank you.

The summary is always appreciated regardless of the style Perhaps a write up from a different nation's perspective each month 

Marshal wrote:11. Venice kindly requested my Father in Law’s army to leave their territory, which they did. Though I’m not sure why Austria then raised troops on Venetian lands.

The Austrian battalions in Bergamo were previously stood down and reactivated in June, not "raised".

Cheers

Tudor

jamesbond007 wrote:I like both write up styles. Whichever you feel most comfortable with is fine. I think most players are just glad you do the write ups. Always good to see a fellow players view on the news. Keep up the good work and thank you.

I agree with 007 I enjoy both ways you've done it.

Congrats to the Elector of Saxony on his becoming the most honourable man in G10, it is a pleasure to be displaced by you

The game turn arrived earlier this week with a new King of the Castle on the Honour table as the Elector of Saxony pushed the Lord President of Scotland off. There was a swap between 7th and 8th places as the Asante overtook the Rozwi.

1. First off, the stadtholder declared war on France and then wrote to the Scottish and English parliaments to see if they would join in.

The Dutch then took control of Bruges alongside Ghent and Namur.

2. While His Most Sacred Majesty partied in Budapest the imperial armies overran Paris, leaving only the Bastille untaken, while His Most Christian Majesty promptly left the area.

The English ambassador left with him no doubt so any letters from England could still be passed directly to the King.

King Louis’ son tried to rally French troops to the defence of France but found the situation so taxing he had to lie down afterwards.

3. Admiral Salcedo and his fleet again tried to take the port of Ndar, successfully breaking the chain boom. The cannonade eventually breached the port’s walls before running into powder issues.

4. Great Frigates of the Committee to save South America engaged with Spanish merchants and corvettes with limited success.

5. England parliament saw more veiled threats made against another nation but still no idea who, what, why, where or when.

6. Meanwhile Scotland’s parliament seemed content to recognise crown Prince William George as King William’s heir. Perhaps the size of the diaper bill caused the Lord Treasurer to hand in his notice after many years of service.

7. 10 men purporting to be from the Dutch navy arrived in Flanders offering to sell the Viceroy details of the Dutch navy as of 2 years ago? Must have been a long walk to get to Brussels?

8. The Grand Dauphin bribed the Wurtemburg Army to leave Strassburg in his capable hands, which they promptly did, before imperial forces moved on to Freiburg.

9. A welcome new section has appeared in the paper summarising notable army movements. Perhaps a precursor of the modern-day traffic news.

A new rule regarding lightly laden swallows merchant liners has been published.

10. The Elector of Hanover, arrived in Berlin after dealing with urgent matters of state which had delayed him.

This was in time to see the King announce a new award of the Iron Cross be created for all ranks. His Majesty then went on to gift elaborately decorated swords to his distinguished guests.

11. Berlin and Leipzig saw announcements to the re-establishment of the Fruitbearing Society, by the Elector of Saxony, to promote literature and scholarship.

12. Kolberg saw the King of Poland board a Dutch ship of war before sailing to Danzig.

13. In a continuation of new orders & awards being established this month, Moscow saw the Tsar create the Order of St. Ekaterina, with his wife as the first to be awarded the order as its Head.

14. Tuscany re-established her convoy route to include Genoa, though this probably didn’t help with the return of stolen cattle herds, nor the new diplomatic links with Venice.

Venice meanwhile was consumed by the opening of an art gallery to display many famous works from the Ducal collection.

15. His Holiness was seen to be disappointed with Spain for wanting more grain and not re-establishing the Spanish Inquisition. In fact Rome said Spain should provide them with grain in future should the need arise.

16. Accra reported that Thomas Wood, the paper’s prolific letter writer, was very uneasy at reports of cannibalism. Perhaps the famine was more widespread than originally thought?

Kumasi saw the Asanthene take on a new a greater title of Akanthene, to show his control of a larger area of land. This was followed by feasting, sacrifice and tax reductions for all Akan peoples.

This was only overshadowed by the rinderpest disease, though the local Nsumankwaamu instigated a livestock segregation to protect the healthy herds. Unfortunately, this was too late to stop the spread to the Akwamu.

An excellent summary, many thanks

I feel I should add that not only did the Elector of Saxony overtake Lord Melville at the top of the honour table, Lord Melville's own honour score still increased so the Elector was clearly being really honourable

Got to admit, was a little shocked at how quickly Paris fell, I was expecting a prolong struggle.

I am a bit confused by something on page 6 of the newspaper. We are told of an action near Somers island where a French frigate is attacked by three French Corsair frigates and after a running battle we are told the "Spanish" gave up and sailed away. Does that mean those naughty French corsairs are now in the employ of Spain?

Jason2 wrote:An excellent summary, many thanks

I feel I should add that not only did the Elector of Saxony overtake Lord Melville at the top of the honour table, Lord Melville's own honour score still increased so the Elector was clearly being really honourable

Got to admit, was a little shocked at how quickly Paris fell, I was expecting a prolong struggle.

I am a bit confused by something on page 6 of the newspaper.  We are told of an action near Somers island where a French frigate is attacked by three French Corsair frigates and after a running battle we are told the "Spanish" gave up and sailed away.  Does that mean those naughty French corsairs are now in the employ of Spain?

Probably a combination of Danzig, the fruitbearers society and other bits adding up.

When Moscow fell in the Napoleonic Wars Russia kept going. taking the capital and not the treasury might not mean capitulation. Plus there's no fortifications other than the bastille from my reading of the paper.

Think last month the paper said some French type ships were crewed by Spanish or some such wording so might be a slip up/reference to the crew not being the same nationality as the flag the ship's registered under.

The noble acts of both Lord Melville and Elector Augustus are examples to us all.  Lord Melville is a canny politician who defends Scotlands independence and the primacy of the Kirk.  While the Elector is know to reside over the most culturally sophisticated Court in Europe in addition to his political and military achievements.  The King in Prussia sits in 3rd position despite a royal match with Hanover. The militarist Junkers seem more impressed by the Army’s endeavours at Danzig and Paris, than by any cultural achievement.

Marshal Bombast wrote:

Jason2 wrote:An excellent summary, many thanks

I feel I should add that not only did the Elector of Saxony overtake Lord Melville at the top of the honour table, Lord Melville's own honour score still increased so the Elector was clearly being really honourable

Got to admit, was a little shocked at how quickly Paris fell, I was expecting a prolong struggle.

I am a bit confused by something on page 6 of the newspaper.  We are told of an action near Somers island where a French frigate is attacked by three French Corsair frigates and after a running battle we are told the "Spanish" gave up and sailed away.  Does that mean those naughty French corsairs are now in the employ of Spain?

Probably a combination of Danzig, the fruitbearers society and other bits adding up.

When Moscow fell in the Napoleonic Wars Russia kept going. taking the capital and not the treasury might not mean capitulation. Plus there's no fortifications other than the bastille from my reading of the paper.

Think last month the paper said some French type ships were crewed by Spanish or some such wording so might be a slip up/reference to the crew not being the same nationality as the flag the ship's registered under.

Thanks for the Spanish/Corsairs explanation, the brain is going

When I was running them the Corsairs or the privateering branch of the French Navy were very much a equal opportunity employer open to all nations and creeds.......French, Spanish, Italians, Flanders we did not care. Though probably drew the line at Russians

Its a interesting fact about this period just how much both leading commanders and rank and file swapped services without anyone thinking it odd.

English Commanders included both French and Dutch generals.

Probably majority of Russian generals/Engineers/Admirals were not Russian.

Hapsburg forces were equally multi National and with most of their outstanding commanders Parma, Spinola and Eugine all from non Hapsburg parts of Italy.

Hungarians and even the Ottomans had the odd French commander.

While even the leading French Military of Louis XIV included the Duke of Berwick (Jacobite exile), a Spanish General who name I forget and probably the greatest Commander of them all Marshall Turrane was a German. His rival The Great Conde was French but he spent a fair chunk of his career fighting for Spain.

Stuart Bailey wrote:When I was running them the Corsairs or the privateering branch of the French Navy were very much a equal opportunity employer open to all nations and creeds.......French, Spanish, Italians, Flanders we did not care.  Though probably drew the line at Russians

Its a interesting fact about this period just how much both leading commanders and rank and file swapped services without anyone thinking it odd.

English Commanders included both French and Dutch generals.

Probably majority of Russian generals/Engineers/Admirals were not Russian.

Hapsburg forces were equally multi National and with most of their outstanding commanders Parma, Spinola and Eugine all from non Hapsburg parts of Italy.

Hungarians and even the Ottomans had the odd French commander.

While even the leading French Military of Louis XIV included the Duke of Berwick (Jacobite exile), a Spanish General who name I forget and probably the greatest Commander of them all Marshall Turrane was a German.  His rival The Great Conde was French but he spent a fair chunk of his career fighting for Spain.

Well, its probably look strange to our modern view, rather than them. The idea of nationalism would spread our unleashing its full power in the XIX century. In our age and expecially in the previous centuries the idea of family pedigree, religion and sometimes opportunism where prevalent. So the Ottoman Empire did employee many Italians, Greek and French which were converted to islam. Italians (Like Eugene von Savoy) would rarely consider themselves as “Italians” since an idea of unified country like France or Spain was well away from their mind. They considered themselves Christians, of noble breed and thus eligible to serve at a certain status. He would have probably decline the command of Savoyard armies, preferring a more prestigious role at the service of France or the Emperor. The Jacobite themselves felt the Catholic French closer in spirit than any English Protestant.

Reinsassance wasn’t far. A true reinassance man valued culture and religion well above “the place you’ve happened to be born, which could be an accident”. Illuminism also played a role, adding value to the person and his brain, rather than his guts.

Lastly, family ties were broadened, and sons where encouraged to go and find their place in the world. Cadets would often find a better employer in a distant country (like Russia) where their curricula as foreigner would have brought them a high tre wage.

Got to admit, was a little shocked at how quickly Paris fell, I was expecting a prolong struggle.

Without city walls you can only defend the perimeter and if you commit to the east, as in this case you can be fixed and outflanked. Historically Paris' city walls were knocked down to create boulevards after King Louis declared Paris safe from attack.

Suppose it comes down to preferred way of conducting warfare.

Leave towns/cities open and have more troops to move in your armies or tie them down in fortresses as garrisons and have less troops for an offensive campaign.

I wonder whether anyone expected fighting to be on French territory in G10

Marshal Bombast wrote:Suppose it comes down to preferred way of conducting warfare.  

Leave towns/cities open and have more troops to move in your armies or tie them down in fortresses as garrisons and have less troops for an offensive campaign.

I wonder whether anyone expected fighting to be on French territory in G10

The only advantage of not building fortification’s in towns is the fact it usually gives higher honour. As the Nobles prefer to look out onto open ground than confided by stone walls in every direction. The downside is that it leaves your town very exposed and open to an enemy simply walking in. Rather than having to fight their way in. Not a problem if you have a big force in the town, but if you don’t then you can lose your town too easily.

I am sure nobody expected France to be on the backfoot in a war with Austria. Problem with playing France is that it is so big that to properly defend it and build it up into the big power it is. Costs a lot in turn fees. If you play the position with basic or very low extra orders you end up falling behind other powers in the game who have spent much more. The Spanish and Austrian turn fees in comparison are in triple figures. Sad to say, but money counts in these games and the French situation has proven it. All in my humble opinion of course.