1755 Campaign

[Obediah]

Well, I just finished my first full campaign in the F&I War, as the British. Before this, I had only played some of the shorter scenarios. Needless to say, I made a whole lot of stoopid mistakes and still managed to win quite easily. Let's face it: the French really don't have much chance here, do they? The only "fly in the ointment" is Louisbourg. During the war, the Redcoats attempted 3 major attacks on the place, and the French handed them their cojones on a platter, every single time.



My apologies for not having a detailed AAR, but that really didn't occur to me till late in the game.

Oh yeah, my vote for "the one true hero" of this game would be Gen. Braddock. His army marched thousands of miles and captured just about everything that needed capturing. He was there from 1755 to mid-1763, when he fell before the walls of Louisbourg in an ill-conceived campaigned commanded by that idiot, Jeffrey Amherst. Here is Braddock's list of major accomplishments, starting in '55: captured Ft. Duquesne, caputured Ft. Niagra, captured Frontenac, captured Montreal, recaptured Frontenac, recaptured Ft. Duquesne, only missed capturing Ft. Detroit because Gen. Forbes beat him to it by 1 month, re-took Ft. Cumberland. His one big mistake? Getting on the boat with Jeff Amherst for that little cruise up north!

[Brett]

I love playing the F&I Campaign, but you are largely correct.

I just finished a campaign last night, myself. Only difference for me was, I actually managed to take Louisburg. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy. I spent probably 5 summers sieging that city while maintaining a year-round naval blockade, and never getting anywhere. Finally, in the next-to-the-last year of the war, the computer-controlled French sortied against me from out of the fortress. It was a bloody battle but I repulsed them and they retreated back into the city. But by great good fortune I captured all their artillery, including a precious battery of siege artillery.

I had to retreat back to Halifax to winter over and rebuild strength, but next spring I went back and spent the summer sieging the fortress once again. In early fall I finally assaulted the fortress and took it, albiet with great loss.

In summary, the F&I campaign is easy for the British to win, with Louisburg being the only exception. That is one tough nut to crack.

[PhilThib]

Then I would suggest you play the French side next time

[Obediah]

Then I would suggest you play the French side next time

I will, right after I take Louisbourg!

[Brett]

Then I would suggest you play the French side next time

Actually, I was considering doing that exact thing. Now that I've won a total victory with the British, it would be interesting to see what I could do with the French in this campaign. Knowing what I do about the forces that will be available to the British, playing the French would definitely be a challenge.

[Duncan Ferguson]

Actually, I found playing french side a little easier than playing with the British:

1.) You don't have to take Louisburg

2.) I already knew the steps to follow from my first game with the british

My favourite scenario from BoA, don't know why...

[Korrigan]

I've not played F&I war for a while, but actually I used to consider that the French side was too easy.

My strategy was to blitkrieg Osawgo and Albany during the first year of the war, taking advantage of the French military superiority during the first 20 monthes of the war. I even happened to take New-York...

Then, I switched to a defense and skirmish war, using the awesome French leaders, and the numerous irregulars.

However, or perhaps because I made this strategic choice, I had a hard time to keep Louisbourg and very often Montcalm would be rushing to Quebec to throw back at sea a british landing attempt in the St Lawrence.

I think Philippe Thibault tweaked the scenario to reduce the importance of the "Baron Dieskau Rush", but I have not tried it since.