This is the Seven Years' War, a conflict which engulfed all of Europe's major powers between 1756 and 1763. It was fought between Prussia, Great Britain, and a small contingent of German states on one side and Austria, France, Russia, and Sweden on the other side. The conflict began with fighting between the French and English colonists in North America in 1754 which later spread to open war between France and England after the French invasion of British-held Minorca in April 1756. Frederick II of Prussia had captured the territory of Silesia from Austria during earlier wars and feared that Austria would attempt to seek revenge as soon as possible. Against British advice, he chose to pre-emptively invade neutral Saxony as a prelude to war with Austria. This activated a series of alliances which resulted in France, Austria, Russia, and Sweden all declaring war on Prussia. The war which Winston Churchill described as the "first World War" had begun.
Despite being heavily outnumbered and often fighting on three or four fronts at one time, Frederick established himself as the finest general of his era by fighting all of the armies arrayed against him to a stalemate and maintaining the pre-war territorial status quo. Napoleon himself paid tribute to Frederick's military genius; remarking while visiting Frederick's tomb in Potsdam after his defeat of the Fourth Coalition: "Gentlemen, if this man were still alive I would not be here."
In North America, where the conflict would be known as the French and Indian War, the British sent troops to aid the American colonists and their Iroquois allies in the conquest of French Canada and their Algonquin allies. The most lasting impact of the war would be the British territorial gains in America at the expense of the French. After Spain entered the war at the behest of the French, they lost Florida to the British, and, as compensation, France was forced to transfer part of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory to Spain in the Treaty of Paris which ended the war.
The scenario begins in April of 1756 and lasts for seven years (84 turns) until 1763 with monthly turns. You can play as Prussia, Great Britain, France, Austria, Russia, or Sweden. Prussia has the strongest units to start but they are outnumbered by the armies which their neighbors can raise against them. Britain has the strongest navy by far but a small army which might be best utilized in the colonies. France, Austria, and Russia have sizable armies and the capacity to produce even more troops, but they must contend with the veteran, well-trained, and well-led armies of Frederick.
Will you play as Frederick and attempt to establish the ascendancy of the Prussian state in Europe? Or will you attempt to establish British colonial dominance? Or will you attempt to maintain the current balance of power playing as Austria, France, Russia, or Sweden? Whichever you choose, I hope you enjoy my first scenario!
A big thank you to "Dieter VonClam" for his North Atlantic map which I modified and used for this scenario.
Despite being heavily outnumbered and often fighting on three or four fronts at one time, Frederick established himself as the finest general of his era by fighting all of the armies arrayed against him to a stalemate and maintaining the pre-war territorial status quo. Napoleon himself paid tribute to Frederick's military genius; remarking while visiting Frederick's tomb in Potsdam after his defeat of the Fourth Coalition: "Gentlemen, if this man were still alive I would not be here."
In North America, where the conflict would be known as the French and Indian War, the British sent troops to aid the American colonists and their Iroquois allies in the conquest of French Canada and their Algonquin allies. The most lasting impact of the war would be the British territorial gains in America at the expense of the French. After Spain entered the war at the behest of the French, they lost Florida to the British, and, as compensation, France was forced to transfer part of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory to Spain in the Treaty of Paris which ended the war.
The scenario begins in April of 1756 and lasts for seven years (84 turns) until 1763 with monthly turns. You can play as Prussia, Great Britain, France, Austria, Russia, or Sweden. Prussia has the strongest units to start but they are outnumbered by the armies which their neighbors can raise against them. Britain has the strongest navy by far but a small army which might be best utilized in the colonies. France, Austria, and Russia have sizable armies and the capacity to produce even more troops, but they must contend with the veteran, well-trained, and well-led armies of Frederick.
Will you play as Frederick and attempt to establish the ascendancy of the Prussian state in Europe? Or will you attempt to establish British colonial dominance? Or will you attempt to maintain the current balance of power playing as Austria, France, Russia, or Sweden? Whichever you choose, I hope you enjoy my first scenario!
A big thank you to "Dieter VonClam" for his North Atlantic map which I modified and used for this scenario.
