Omar Bennett
France is considered one of the better countries to play in Diplomacy, with a lot of opening options and suitable for every play style and format. However, it can also be challenging, especially when facing an England-Germany alliance. A key strategy is to remember that England is more dangerous than Germany, as a German assault on France often bogs down, and an alliance with England will eventually lead to betrayal. To win in the west, you need to control England, and this can be achieved by getting Russia involved in the west, causing England and Germany to turn their backs on you. France's best move in Spring '01 is to pick up Portugal by opening to the Mid-Atlantic Ocean, and in Spring '02, to move from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean to the North Atlantic Ocean or Irish Sea.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opening Strategy | France has many options to open the game. It is recommended to start with Bre, Par, Mar, Spa, Por, and Bel. |
| Alliances | England-French alliances are profitable early, but England will eventually stab you in the back. A triple alliance with England and Germany is not profitable in the long run. The key to winning in the west is to control England. Getting Russia involved in the west can help, as it will cause friction between Germany and England. |
| Defence | France is extremely hard to kill. Holding Pic and Burg can help maintain the eastern line. Holding Pic, Burg, Brest, and MAO is ideal, with the 5th unit in Paris for support. |
| Strategy | Go for the Mediterranean, ally with England against Germany, or ally with Germany against England. France is great for every play style and format. |
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What You'll Learn
France has a lot of opening options
A common strategy is to ally with England against Germany. However, this can be risky, as England will often stab France in the back to pursue their own interests. It is also important to note that an alliance with Germany against England is less favourable. This is because Germany shares only a two-province border with France, making it difficult for Germany to invade. On the other hand, England has greater flexibility in attacking France, and thus poses a greater threat.
To counter this, it is advisable to secure Italy's non-aggression. If Italy invades your Iberian centres, your game is over. It is also crucial to control Munich and to keep Italy occupied with another country, such as Germany or England. Additionally, you should aim to hold Picardy and Burgundy, with your fifth unit ideally in Paris, to effectively defend against England.
Another strategy is to pursue an alliance with Russia, who can cause friction between Germany and England, allowing you to throw your weight around against either of them. However, be cautious not to empower Russia too much, as this could also work against you.
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England is more dangerous than Germany
When playing France in Diplomacy, it is important to remember that England poses a greater threat than Germany. This is mainly due to tactical reasons. France's border with Germany is limited to two spaces: Burgundy and Picardy (sometimes Belgium). German assaults on France often get bogged down in these two spaces, and it is relatively easy for France to hold these spaces against Germany. In fact, three armies can hold these spaces indefinitely.
On the other hand, England, if it becomes strong, can pose a significant threat to France. An alliance with England can be profitable in the early game, but England will eventually have to stab France to win. England will often wait for France to be preoccupied with other opponents before striking. Therefore, France must be cautious and protect its fleets.
A triple alliance between France, England, and Germany is not very profitable in the long run. To win in the west, it is crucial to control England. This can be achieved by bringing Russia into the mix. Russia will often play a key role in causing England and Germany to turn their attention away from France. However, it is important to ensure that Russia does not become too strong and form an alliance with Turkey, as this could be detrimental to France's position.
When it comes to Belgium, it is preferable to let Germany have it before England. Belgium is highly coveted by all three powers, and by holding it out as a bargaining chip, France can manipulate the situation to its advantage. France can offer Belgium to Germany to gain favour, while simultaneously warning Germany that England is plotting to take its centre in Belgium, thus creating tension between the two powers.
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English-French alliances are profitable early
However, it is important to remember that this alliance is not always beneficial in the long run. England and France are nearly as dangerous to each other as Russia and Turkey. While an alliance can be formed, it is often short-lived as England must eventually stab France in order to win. This is because France can swiftly swing to attack England if England focuses on Scandinavia and Russia. Therefore, France must be cautious and keep an eye on England's moves.
A common route of attack for France is to take control of the English Channel and move around the back of England to Liverpool. This can be done by using fleets from Spain and Portugal to build fleets and attack England from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean, which is a non-threatening position. By doing this, France can prevent England from getting builds and limit them to only Norway.
To avoid an alliance with England, France can also try to get Russia involved in the west. This will help to cause England and Germany to turn their backs on France, allowing France to throw their weight around against either of these countries. However, it is important to be careful and not let Russia get too strong, as this could also be detrimental to France.
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Balancing Russia is key
France should try to get Russia to join against Germany, especially if facing an England-Germany alliance. This can be challenging, as it requires convincing Russia to act against its own self-interest. One strategy is to hold out Norway to Russia, promising that Germany's Denmark will soon be theirs if they take Norway. This can be a win-win situation for France, as it distracts Russia and Germany from focusing their attention on France.
Another strategy for balancing Russia is to focus on building alliances with other countries, such as England or Germany. Early English-French alliances can be profitable, but it is important to remember that England may eventually stab France in the back to go for the win. A triple alliance between France, England, and Germany is also not very profitable in the long run. The key to winning in the west is to control England, which can be challenging due to its defensibility.
France has a lot of options for openings, and each one can lead to a different game. It is important to have a plan and try to commit a minimum force to your initial target. Reinforcements can be sent as needed, but it is crucial to keep some builds close to home to avoid creating a void that neighbours can exploit. France's ability to move troops quickly through Europe without the long convoy chains required by other countries can be advantageous.
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France is the best country in Diplomacy
France is considered one of the "'better' countries to play in Diplomacy". France is great for every play style and format. It has a lot of options to open, and each one is a different game for France, making it one of the more interesting and challenging countries on the board.
France has a strong position on the board, being a "corner" and not a "centre" country. It has a tough border with Germany, which hinges on Burgundy and Picardy (and sometimes Belgium). A German assault on France often bogs down here, and many Germany players have tried and failed to break into France via the Ruhr-Burgundy corridor. The German player alone can never beat France. However, England is more dangerous to France than Germany. England, if she gets strong, can be a serious threat. Therefore, an Anglo-French alliance should be your second choice; only pursue this if England is a more reliable player than Germany.
To play France successfully, you must stay alive early on. You can do this by securing Italy's non-aggression. If Italy comes for your Iberian centres, you're dead. France is extremely hard to kill, so defence is key. If you hold Picardy and Burgundy, you can hold the eastern line for a long time. If possible, do whatever it takes to hold Picardy, Burgundy, Brest and MAO. Your fifth unit should ideally be in Paris to support any of these four.
To win as France, you must annex England and dominate the northern seas. Without pressure from elsewhere, a breach of the English Channel is more annoying than threatening to France. France can parry an English move by moving from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean to the North Atlantic Ocean or Irish Sea. You can also try to get Russia involved in the west, as this will cause England and Germany to turn their backs on you. However, be careful not to empower Turkey too fast, as Turkey will soon have enough fleets to challenge you.
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Frequently asked questions
France has a lot of options for gameplay, so you have a lot of flexibility in your strategy. Some players suggest that you should focus on securing alliances with England or Germany, while others recommend pursuing control of the Mediterranean or northern seas.
England is more of a threat to France than Germany, so you should be careful when dealing with an England-Germany alliance. You can try to get Russia to join against Germany or focus on holding key territories like Pic, Burg, Brest, and MAO.
Controlling Munich can be valuable when playing as France, as it can help you balance the power of other countries. However, be cautious about empowering Turkey too quickly, as they can become a strong competitor.
You can start by reinforcing your home territories with builds. You can also try to secure Portugal by opening to the Mid-Atlantic Ocean in Spring '01. Additionally, consider your initial 18 centres and how this will impact your alliances and enemies.
Don't underestimate the threat posed by England, as they may stab you in the back even if you are allies. Be cautious about forming a triple alliance with the three western countries (England, France, and Germany), as it may not be profitable in the long run. Instead, focus on controlling England if you can.
