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So, last time I posted, I was at war with everyone but Austria, attacked from all side. Well, I still am.
My blockade was way more succesful that I tought at the time. Britain got tons of coal, but only a single iron mine. The blockade and the constant sinking of their ships must have crushed their steel industry. Whil I didn't realize it at the time, this made the Brits totally irrelevant, and send the downward from the first position to the last in international ranking.
The reason I didn't realize it is Prussia. While I was pushing them into Portugal, they came thundering across the Rhine. Twice, they took Champagne, menacing Paris. The second time I actually had to bring every single regiment back to defend the capitol. Only through an endless meatgrinder and a clever use of forts did I manage to secure the Franco-Prussian border. As soon as this was done, they rushed across Belgium, capturing Brussels and depriving me from a much needed source of foreign income (every single forest in Belgium belonged to me). After a few setback (including the losses of most of my troops in a furious battle in Brussels), I managed to gain the upper hand, and I am slowly pushing them back north and east. The current plan is to push them out of the Low Countries and establish a along the Rhine (There are only 3 provinces to protect) to free up troops for the Spanish theater.
While our armies clashed, I aslo wage a ferocious diplomatic war. While I claimed Catalonia as my own, the Netherland and Denmark became Prussian colonies. The last uncolonized spot in Europe is Morroco, which I can't affor to loose (My mines there earn me over 1500 $ a turn, and I don't want Germans to use it as springboard to invade Algeria (which is currently supplying me with much-needed oil). We're currently both at "Dark Green" level, but despite my 100% trade subsidies and my 3k/turn grant they still won't join me.
Another diplomatic fight is about Austria. Austria is the third biggest power (After Prussia and me) and is still at peace with me. They've refused an alliance many time, but they're now at "Dark Green" level with me, and I hope they'll ally. At the very least, they garantee me a secure border: the whole western front could collapse if they declared war on me, not to speak of my Italian holdings.
Now, you might wonder why I want to establish a defensive line rather than crush Prussia? The reason is that the whole of Iberia is a warzone. The northern half of portugal switched hand 4 times in the last 4 years, and is now Russian. Andalousia switched hand 6 times and is now British (They aren't in shape to attack the rest of Spain though). Half of Spain is now under my direct control because I took it back from the people that ivaded it. Worse, the Russian landed in Barcelona, stealing my gems mines an threatening my supply lines (A lot of iron ore arrive by railways in Langedoc and Aragon).
Right now, around half of my new troops are heading to Spain. Once the Prussians are checked in line, I intend to boot the Russians out of Catalonia and grow my navy until I can blockade my three enemies and assert dominance over the whole sea. By that point, the final victory should be within grasp. Of course, many thing could go wrong: The Prussian could get lucky and beat me back, the Russians could cut my supply lines, Morroco could become a Prussian colony and they would invade Algeria, breaking my balance sheet.
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This game is way to fun for 35 MB.