Isabella Carter
France is considered by some to be the strongest country in Diplomacy, a game that closely reflects the Napoleonic Wars. France has the offensive potential to rival Russia, the defensive capabilities of Italy and Turkey, and easy access to an eighteenth centre. France also has more safe and non-committal openings than other countries, and its troops can move quickly through Europe without the burden of a long convoy chain. France's major choice is whether to try for the Channel. If successful, this move can kill England, but it may also leave France with no friends in Western Europe. France can also take a more relaxed approach, choosing to play England and Germany off each other and selecting a side in 1902.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| France's strongest opponents | Germany, Italy, England |
| France's strongest allies | Germany, Italy, England, Russia, Austria |
| France's best strategy | France has more safe and non-committal openings that can almost guarantee a few builds during the winter of 1901. France is the only power able to reach the centres in Iberia in 1901, and can choose to take them calmly, or expend less effort capturing Spain and Portugal to attack Germany or England. |
| France's major choice | Whether to try for the Channel. If France manages to occupy the Channel, he can almost guarantee himself BEL by force, as long as he has another unit in PIC or BUR. |
| France's strongest quality | France has more safe openings than anyone else on the board, except Russia. |
| France's weakest quality | France can struggle to keep England from breaching the English Channel in Spring '01 and Spring '02. |
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What You'll Learn
Encourage a Russian-English fight over Norway
As France, encouraging a fight between England and Russia over Norway can be a strategic move to destabilize the north and free up resources for your own expansion. Here's how you can achieve this:
Firstly, understand the dynamics between England and Russia in the Scandinavian region. England typically seeks to establish a foothold in Norway as its safest bet for a build at the start of the game. Meanwhile, Russia aims to negotiate with Germany, allowing unopposed access for its fleet from St. Petersburg into Sweden. This poses a direct challenge to England's ambitions in Norway.
To encourage tension between the two powers, you can employ subtle diplomacy. Suggest to Russia that they move their army from Moscow to St. Petersburg and then from St. Petersburg to Norway, creating a standoff with England. This tactic, known as the "Sealion Opening," involves a Franco-German-Russian alliance against England. France negotiates a demilitarized zone in the English Channel, and Germany and France come to an agreement regarding Burgundy. Russia's role in this alliance is to block England from Norway, and they are typically awarded Norway as a prize for their support.
However, be cautious as an experienced England player may recognize this strategy and allow Russia to take Norway, using their units to counter either France or Germany instead. To prevent this, ensure that France and Germany convey peaceful intentions to England during the S01 and A01 diplomacy phases, respectively. Emphasize the benefits of a stable Scandinavia, proposing a peaceful demarcation of the Scandinavian territories.
Additionally, encourage Russia to focus on stabilizing the north to free up their resources in the south, where they face greater challenges from Austria, Turkey, and Italy. Russia's success in the south depends on their diplomatic skills and ability to navigate potential alliances and rivalries with these powers.
By employing these strategies, you can increase the likelihood of a Russian-English fight over Norway, creating opportunities for France to expand and pursue its strategic objectives elsewhere.
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Make an offer England or Germany can't refuse
As France, you have a lot of options when it comes to opening strategies, perhaps more than any other country on the board. One of the most important decisions you'll need to make early on is whether you want to be pro-English or pro-German. This decision will dictate your openings and potential alliances.
If you want to make an offer England can't refuse, you could try a strong anti-English opening by moving into England and Picardy. You will only get five centers, but it could be fun to play. You could also try moving your army into Picardy to see how England reacts. This might be a good way to gauge England's intentions and see if they are willing to negotiate.
If you want to make an offer Germany can't refuse, you could try to convince them to team up and take on England together. You could suggest a move like S/01 F Bre-Eng; A Mar-Spa; A Par-Gas. F/01 F Eng-Bel; A Spa-Por; A Gas-Spa. This would involve building fleets in Brest, Marseilles, and Paris. However, keep in mind that you might have to settle for five centers instead of six with this strategy.
Another option to create tension between England and Germany is to encourage quarrels over Belgium and the North Sea. If you can get one of them to turn on the other, that could be a fantastic solution. Offer Belgium to one of them, and suggest to the other that their ally might be planning to betray them. Play on their greed and fear of betrayal to try and break up their alliance.
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Keep Italy busy with another country
As France, one of your key strategies to winning Diplomacy is to keep Italy busy with another country. Italy is a central power with limited early growth potential, and it is in your interest to keep them occupied while you focus on your own expansion. Here are some ways to achieve this:
Firstly, encourage an alliance between two of the three western nations—England, France, and Germany. Italy views the Western Triple as a significant problem, so by fostering suspicion and encouraging two of these countries to attack the third, you can create a distraction for Italy. England and Germany are likely candidates for this alliance, as they often work together against Italy. However, be cautious, as equal terms between France and England may not work due to the critical role of southern German Munich in expanding east.
Secondly, Italy's best potential ally is Russia, so it is in your interest to prevent this alliance or disrupt it if it has already formed. You can do this by negotiating with Russia yourself and offering them more favourable terms than Italy can. Additionally, if Austria unexpectedly blitzes Russia, encourage Russia to attack Austria instead, driving a wedge between them and Italy.
Thirdly, Italy often seeks a non-aggression pact with France and Germany, so you can use this to your advantage. Agree to the pact but negotiate specific terms that benefit you. For example, you can agree not to move a fleet to Tyrolia if Italy does not build a fleet in Marseilles. However, be prepared to re-evaluate your plans if Italy breaks the agreement, as they may then be planning a Western Triple.
Finally, while it is generally inadvisable, you can consider attacking Italy from the start, especially if you can keep Britain and Germany busy on other fronts. Coordinate with Austria to support an army in Piedmont to move into Venice, Italy's weakest point, while you focus your efforts elsewhere. However, be aware that holding onto captured centres in Italy will require significant resources, leaving you vulnerable to attacks from England and Germany later in the game.
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Occupy the Channel
Occupying the Channel is a viable strategy for France, but it is an aggressive move that may leave you with no friends in Western Europe. It is a risky strategy, as it leaves Iberia completely untouched and may result in a very powerful-looking Italy in the east. However, it can be a successful strategy if you can guarantee a supportive Germany and a relaxed Russia. A French fleet in the Channel, supported by a German fleet in Denmark in the North Sea, can quickly end England. This strategy also provides the maximum possible force on Belgium and the possibility of a convoy to Wales or London.
To execute this strategy, France must first secure an alliance with Germany and ensure that Russia remains neutral or friendly. This can be achieved by lobbying Germany to allow Russia to have Sweden, which can be framed as being in Germany's interests as part of an anti-English alliance. With Germany on your side, you can almost guarantee yourself Belgium by force, as long as you have another unit in Picardy or Burgundy. However, forcing your way into Belgium is against most French theory, which suggests that France should play docilely during the first year, playing England and Germany off each other, and only choosing a side in 1902.
The key to occupying the Channel is to move your fleet into the English Channel in Spring '01 and Spring '02. England will typically have two fleets adjacent to the Channel, but without pressure from other neighbours, this is more annoying than threatening to France. France can effectively counter this move by moving from the Mid-Atlantic Ocean to the North Atlantic Ocean or the Irish Sea. The real threat comes from combined pressure from multiple neighbours, rather than England alone. Therefore, it is crucial to secure alliances or neutral relations with other countries, especially Germany and Russia, to ensure your success in occupying the Channel.
It is worth noting that this strategy may leave you with no allies in Western Europe and a powerful Italy in the east. France must carefully consider the potential reactions of other countries, especially Italy, and be prepared for potential backlash or retaliation. Additionally, Germany may take advantage of the situation to make a quick strike into Burgundy. Therefore, it is essential to carefully assess the diplomatic landscape and form alliances or agreements to secure your position before executing this strategy.
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Take Spain and Portugal
Taking Spain and Portugal early as France is a good strategy. France is the only power able to reach the centres in Iberia in 1901, and it can choose to take them calmly, or it can expend less effort capturing Spain and Portugal to attack Germany or England. This is a conservative move, but it usually works because no one is arguing yet. France can also claim Belgium if it has another unit in Picardy or Burgundy. This is a more aggressive move, and it is usually better to play docilely in the first year, playing England and Germany off each other, and choosing a side in 1902.
If you have no pressure from any of your neighbours, you can take Spain and Portugal with your armies and let the fleet hold. If you want to be more aggressive, you can move to Burgundy, which guarantees Portugal while still having a stake in the argument over Belgium or at least keeping Germany out of Burgundy. This move bothers England a little over Belgium and Germany a little over the move to Burgundy, but it antagonises neither too strongly.
If you want to be even more aggressive, you can try a Western Triple, moving your army into Piedmont. This will likely be fun to play, but it may leave you with no friends in Western Europe and a very hungry-looking Italy in the east. This opening may also leave Iberia completely untouched if the move succeeds. It is obviously anti-English and possibly anti-German.
To win as France, you will need to dominate the northern seas. This can be achieved by allying with Germany and Russia, and lobbying Germany to permit Russia to have Sweden as part of an anti-English alliance.
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Frequently asked questions
France has a lot of options for opening moves, so much so that you can play four or five different games and still not have used them all. France has more safe and non-committal openings that can almost guarantee a few builds during the winter of 1901. One common strategy is to take Spa and Por with your armies and let the fleet hold. You can also make a move on Belgium, though this is against most French theory, which suggests playing docilely during the first year.
France is able to move troops quickly through Europe without the burden of a long convoy chain required by other countries. France also has better long-term survival prospects than other countries, as they can do very well in mid- and late-games. France is as defensible as Italy and Turkey, with offensive potential rivalled only by Russia, and superiority in a one-on-one contest with any neighbour.
France can struggle to keep England from breaching the English Channel in Spring '01 and Spring '02. Without pressure from elsewhere, a breach of the Channel is more annoying than threatening. The real threat comes from combined pressure from other neighbours.
France's wins often start with a Russian-English fight over Norway, fuelled by Russia's acquisition of Sweden. France should therefore lobby Germany to permit Russia to have Sweden, as part of an anti-English alliance. Austria is also a good complement to France, as it can keep Italy busy and distract Germany and Russia in the middle game.
Most French wins come from the annexation of England and subsequent domination of the northern seas. France can also take advantage of profitable alliances with either England or Germany, though England has a better chance of stabbing than Germany or Italy.
