Who Should Pick Which
These two powerful European nations offer different playstyles and learning paths:
- France: Land-first hegemon play with vassal integration and short decisive wars. Ideal for learning decisive land warfare with economic follow-through.
- Austria: Diplomatic hub leveraging subjects and imperial politics. Ideal for learning alliance web and subject-driven growth.
Tip
Quick decision: Pick France to learn decisive land wars with economic follow-through. Pick Austria to learn alliance web and subject-driven growth.
First 20 Years Fork
Both nations have distinct opening paths:
France
- Integrate vassals in sequence: France starts with several vassals. Integrate them one at a time to avoid overextension and maintain stability.
- Pick one primary rival (England or Burgundy): Focus on one major rival at a time. Avoid two-front wars that stretch your resources.
- Avoid two-front wars: Fighting on multiple fronts exhausts resources. Focus on one theater at a time.
- Build tax/trade in high-pop centers: Focus infrastructure development in high-population centers. These provide the best return on investment.
Austria
- Court electors, stack relations, and win by subjects: Austria's strength comes from diplomatic management. Court electors, improve relations, and leverage subjects for power.
- Expand via vassalage and PUs while avoiding AE dogpiles: Use vassalage and personal unions to expand. Manage aggressive expansion carefully to avoid coalitions.
- Build alliance networks: Create strong alliance networks to deter threats and support expansion.
- Manage imperial politics: Navigate imperial politics to maintain influence and control.
Economy & Markets
Different economic strategies for each nation:
France
- Inland roads to lift access/control and stabilize tax: Build roads connecting key provinces to improve access and control. This enables efficient tax collection.
- Staff urban jobs first: Focus on staffing urban jobs in high-population centers. These provide the best return on investment.
- Build marketplaces in primary trade hubs: Develop marketplaces in key trade centers to expand capacity and income.
- Focus on domestic production: Develop domestic production to support your economy and military.
Austria
- Vienna/Venice connectivity, marketplaces on alpine hubs: Build infrastructure connecting Vienna and Venice. Develop marketplaces in alpine trade hubs.
- Trade assists a subject-heavy budget: Trade income complements subject contributions. Use trade to supplement your budget while subjects provide manpower and stability.
- Build roads to connect subject territories: Improve infrastructure connecting your subject territories. This enables better integration and control.
- Leverage subject economies: Use subject economies to support your expansion and development.
War Posture
Different military strategies for each nation:
France
- Fort-first, short wars, avoid winter pursuits: Take forts and crossings first. Keep wars short and decisive. Avoid long winter campaigns that drain resources.
- Use terrain advantage: Leverage favorable terrain for decisive victories.
- Focus on objectives, not army kills: Wars are won by taking objectives (forts, crossings, strategic provinces), not by killing armies.
- Integrate gains quickly: Integrate conquered territories quickly to maintain stability and prevent overextension.
Austria
- Defensive coalitions management: Manage coalitions carefully. Use diplomacy and alliances to deter threats.
- Subjects to do sieges: Use subject armies for sieges to preserve your own manpower and resources.
- Focus on diplomatic victories: Win wars through diplomacy and alliances, not just military might.
- Avoid aggressive expansion: Manage aggressive expansion carefully to avoid triggering coalitions.
Verdict
Pick France to learn decisive land wars with economic follow-through. France teaches you how to wage decisive wars, integrate territories, and build a strong economy. Ideal for players who want to learn military strategy and economic management.
Pick Austria to learn alliance web and subject-driven growth. Austria teaches you how to manage alliances, leverage subjects, and expand through diplomacy. Ideal for players who want to learn diplomatic strategy and subject management.
Tip
Both nations are excellent for beginners, but teach different skills: France emphasizes military and economic management, while Austria emphasizes diplomacy and subject management. Choose based on what you want to learn.