France (ETW Faction)
| France (ETW Faction) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | France |
| From Game: | Empire: Total War |
| Religion: | Catholic |
| Culture: | European |
| Playable: | |
France is one of the 11 playable nations in Empire: Total War's Grand Campaign. It is also a major faction in the game.
Contents
Overview
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?
Details
France's major strengths are its unique artillery pieces, the guard artillery. France can build 18-pounder horse guard artillery, a substantial improvement over the standard 6-pounders. France can also recruit 24-pounder guard artillery, upgrades over regular 24-pounders with superior accuracy and reload times. In the campaign, the French do not have access to regular 24 pounders, forcing them to rely on 12-pounders for most of their foot artillery firepower. The French field good cavalry and excellent line infantry (3rd best after Britain and Prussia); in particular, it fields Chevaux-Leger cavalry, lancers with inferior melee stats but superior charge bonuses. France also has the opportunity to train a variety of unique, more expensive, and higher quality line infantry such as the Swiss Guard, Petite-Vieux infantry, Royal Eccosais, Regiments Etrangers, and Infanterie Vieux.
Starting Position
France starts the game with regions in both the European and the American theatre. In Europe, the French own France and its capital, Paris, along with Alsace-Lorraine and the province's capital, Strasbourg. In America, the French control several regions and also have a protectorate (Louisiana) which can become part of the French Empire after completing the assigned mission. The French colonies border the Iroquois Confederacy and the 13 British Colonies. France does not possess any colonies in the Indian theatre. France has a college at Orleans and a gentlemen near it. France also has some excellent ministers and the best starting monarch in the game, Louis XIV. However, Louis is quite old and it won't be long before he is replaced by his ineffectual son, Louis XV.
In Europe, France borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. They are bordered by the Kingdom of Spain in the south, and Flanders, a Spanish province, in the north. Furthermore, France borders Württemberg in Central Europe and Savoy in the southeast. Across the English Channel lies France's bitter rival, Great Britain. France is allies with the Spanish in the beginning, meaning that its position is actually quite secure. France has relatively powerful navies in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, allowing it to take the fight to the Barbary States and Britain if it chooses to.
In the Americas: France has a unique advantage no other playable nation possesses: they have a major city. This means that with proper investment, France has immediate access to almost the full roster of units with which to complete their mission in the Americas, and beyond.
France faces quite a lot of civil unrest as the game progresses and (as is historically appropriate) may become a republic, in which case it will receive massive relations penalties with most of the other European nations and potentially make an enemy out of its longtime ally, Spain.
Victory Conditions
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)
