Tips for fighting

[Wilsh8517]

I'm currently France in the 1880 campaign and at war with Managasar and I'm struggling to beat them as I can't build more supply carts and there is no colonial troop options I sent marine bridges for seaborne operations and African colonial troops they are getting smashed In battle and observely supply is a major issue. Any tips would be great! Thanks

[vaalen]

Invade a coastal area with overwhelming force. I am talking about full divisions of marines, even a regular corp or two. Once you take a coastal area near their capital, immediately build an anchorage, and make sure you have a commercial fleet in the trade zone that serves the area. Build a depot as soon as you can. Build up on colonial troops. Build a depot, and increase its level. Make sure you have colonial leaders in every force, but also make sure you have enough command points so you have no penalty. Once you are built up, wait for the rains to stop, and march on the capital with overwhelming force. Leave a strong garrison in your port province which is next to the capital. If you bring enough troops, the enemy will not fight, but retreat. Build a depot in the capital once you get military control of the capital, and keep playing colonial actions in every area of Madagascar until you are able to declare a protectorate, then a colony. At that point, the enemy army will defect to your control. It is quite likely that the enemy will attack you during this long process, but they will have a very difficult time prevailing against dug in European firepower.

If you send European troops running around the rainforest and mountains chasing the natives, you will suffer a number of defeats. It is much better to make them come to you, in a position where you are well supplied.

[Wilsh8517]

Roger dodge and thank you and that's why I didn't send European armies but the colonial options are low but I am going to build up a marine force and do need more colonial generals thanks

[vaalen]

Roger dodge and thank you and that's why I didn't send European armies but the colonial options are low but I am going to build up a marine force and do need more colonial generals thanks

The colonial options should increase in an area once you get military control of it. For most areas, you can get a cp of 35 just with merchants, though gunboat diplomacy and Naval demonstration can be useful in most of Madagascars provinces. That should be enough, if you really increase your colonial penetration in the capital and one or two other areas to get enough cp for a protectorate, then the protectorate makes other options easier. Best of luck!