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I decided to replay the 1755 campaign, again as the Redcoats. Right now I'm at January 1758. This is so different from the first time I played...Braddock got smashed at (where else?) Monogahela (infantry anihilated, but arty & supply escaped). Braddock only wounded, as was Washy and the Brit colonel.

1756...Braddock rebuilds his army (with help from the Jamaica regulars), takes Ft. Duquesne this time and takes Ft. Niagra just in time for Christmas! In the Albany area, things are looking baaad for the boys in red. A number of French armies are treating them like they were football hooligans...ouch! In fact, despite Braddock's heroics, the French are increasing their lead. leure: At least the Brits are able to secure a foothold on Cap Breton Island & starting seiging Louisbourg this time around.

1757...ahhh, muy bueno! The seige of Louisbourg continues; it will fall in '58. Braddock marches up the Mohawk valley, turns left at Albany, destroys a major French army, and (just in time for Christmas again) takes Ft. Carillon. Now there are 3 major Brit armies pointing due north along Lake Champlain toward Montreal. Mon Dieu!!

A final note: the British finally take the points lead in December 1757 this time around, as opposed to December 1756 the first time I played this. Braddock's defeat in '55 sure slows things down for them.

Thanks, Ageod!

I am also replaying this campaign, this time as the French. I must say, I am disappointed in the AI's handling of the British. I was expecting a much greater challenge, based on its handling of the French during previous games.

The computer-controlled British and I keep trading off ownership of various forts around the Great Lakes, mainly because I am concentrating my strength in the Hudson Valley. Albany was easily taken, and New York City fell, as you put it, just in time for Christmas. I even transported units from Louisbourg to help out (because I no longer fear a British invasion there), but the Marquis de Montcalm took New York before these reinforcements could even arrive.

After a comfortable winter spent in NYC, Montcalm is looking forward to reviewing his troops on the Boston Common next spring.

What is the turn you are currently playing Brett? The problem with any AI is that it has to be more prudent than a player, or it backfire atrociously. As the English start weaker, there is also a snowballing effect, because the player will use the French early superiority to its best, preventing perhaps the British to recover enough.

Part of a letter from Gen. Braddock to King George II:

Ft. Carillon is ours and fairly won.

I remain, YMH&OS,
Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Braddock

Oops, wrong war!!

Pocus:

It's now January, 1759.

I am sure your assessment is correct. After playing this campaign several times as the British, I was impressed with the French forces (and leaders) immediately available to me. And I definitely tried to use them with maximum effect.

However, I don't think the British AI used much of the prudence you mentioned. It didn't seem to have any real strategy, it just sent individual leaders with small armies north towards Montreal where they were easily defeated. In short, the AI seemed more aggressive early on than prudence would dictate. Perhaps my early gains sent the AI into a panic, trying to recapture what it had lost or else divert my attention by threatening Montreal.

When I play the 1755 Campaign as the British, the only reason I am able to survive the first few years is because I put most of my effort into defending Albany, Norwich and New England in general. I simply write off Oswego and evacuate the forces stationed there to Albany. I will defend Ft. Niagra if I can, but if the French take it I do not worry about it. If the French AI is having exceptionally bad luck, I may try to capture Ft. Duquesne. But instead what usually happens is that I abandon Ft. Cumberland so I can defend in the Alexandria / Philadelphia area. It is only by consolidating my forces and fighting a defensive war early on that I am able to eventually turn the tide and defeat the French.

I admit, I know nothing about programing AI behavior. But it seems to me that the British AI should be more conservative early in this campaign, until it can bring it's eventual strength to bear against the French.

Strange, the AI is not programmed to press an attack if the offensive has no chance. It can starts sending troops toward Montreal, if no big French stacks are to be seen, but if some are spotted, the stacks should react by agregating or retreating.

I will try to find some time to improve how the AI play in the FIW. If you can send me a saved game after having played say 6 turns as the French, this will be used as a starting point for the tests.