The Auld Alliance

[Simplicius]

Hey there everyone,

So, having just taken a trip to Scotland, I decided to give them a go in EU4. I fully expect a challeng, and now in 1460s i've already fought several white-knuckle wars against the English and thei allies. By retreated into the Highlands and making the English to fight on my terms, i've forced them to take the hit on crossing and terrain penalties, and managed fight them off during the War of the Maine. In a seperate peace deal I actually Annexed the Scottish Marches and 2/3rds of Northern Ireland...

However, ever since that succesful campaign France has essentially used me as cannon fodder. Do they ever take the "Auld Alliance" seriously, or can I expect to be their attack dog for the entierty of the playthrough? Struggling to keep down rebellions and investing in development around Scotland has caused me to fall behind in military tech. My armies are getting crushed by the far superior English and even Irish forces, and France sits idle on the continent unwilling to invade the British Isles (Sounds like 1745). To add injury to insult, they've canceled their garuntee of Scottish Independance and all subsadies they'd previously granted, while still relying on Scots to die in offensive continental wars by the tens of thousands. The only thing that keeps me in this Alliance is that it is the only deterrant to English aggresion towards Scotland. My manpower and financees are in ruin, and I just can't see how I can get ahead. They have even awarded Provance territorial gaines in their peace deals while ignoring my hard work in Ireland, where the vast majority of the actual fighting has been done. Scottish pikes are pitched against English in the Pale while the French Siege undefended forts, and when the treaty is signed we're given a fractional cut of the Frankish wergild like cheap mercenaries and left to prepare for the next time the French call. The control of Ireland is critical and i am in a race over it with England. "He who would England win, in Ireland begin." As the saying goes. If they could just open up a second front in England we could crush them, but so far it is yet to happen and i'm doubting it ever will. As it stands much of Scotland is occupied by English forces, and the remnants of my army fight as opportunistically as they can. We are winning the war as France hold Calais (The Wargoal and final English Stronghold on the continent) but it will take me decades to recover from this final conflict. Will France, having already treated me this impetuously, have any need for a Scottish ally once their rival is vanquished from the continent? If not then I have bought for France Normandy, Brittany, and Bourdeux with Scottish blood, and will be left to fend off English retribution as an already exhausted kingdom.

Has anyone played a succesful Ironman as Scotland and have any tips?

Best,

-RD

[Simplicius]

In answere to my own dilema, the best option seems to be to restart, avoid rebuilding the one sided "Auld Alliance" that occurs in EU4, and maintain the impetus on France to continue garunteeing Scottish independance. Then build alliances with the irish lords and wage opportunistic wars on the English as they commit troops to France in the HYW and War of the Roses. Hind sight is 20/20. Its for this reason that I don't like the 'Missions Tree" in a game that used to be as open as EU4.

[Addex78]

If you are allied to France focus your attention on beating the English navy. France never invades as their navy is terrible compared to England. The only way to beat England as Scotland is to secure Ireland and beat the English navy, then France will invade.

[Mr.M]

Originally posted by Addex78:

If you are allied to France focus your attention on beating the English navy. France never invades as their navy is terrible compared to England. The only way to beat England as Scotland is to secure Ireland and beat the English navy, then France will invade.

It is doable without that

I just did it a few months ago, but forgot how exactly :p

The thing is: England starts with a 0-0-0 ruler. By focusing on mil you can easily get tech 4 before him and if War of the Roses wont fire maybe even tech 6.

That means 2 opportunities where you are significantly stronger than him - tho tech 6 means much stronger.

So you should either try to beat them early on with tech 4vs3 or later with tech6vs5.

If you wait for tech 6 you can also start conquering ireland (which i think i did) and it will give you almost 100 extra development.

DONT ally France. You are guaranteed and he will just drag you into Maine.

[football5680]

You shouldn't ally France as long as they are still guaranteeing your independence. They cannot help you in the British Isles because their Navy cannot compete with England and they will call you into wars where the English just attack you while they chill out in mainland Europe. If you can get an alliance with Spain or Denmark, that would be really helpful but you should just wait until England is vulnerable and then attack. If France or the War of Roses can wipe out England's manpower, you will be able to attack and defeat them. Early in the game you should also expand into Ireland.