by Will W
Now that many of us have played several games, a common complaint that is emerging is that England is a boring and unimportant power in VQ. Spain, France and the Protestants all are exciting, complicated powers. The two Eastern powers, HRE and Ottomans, have some strategic options and can be interesting. But playing England feels like playing solo. (This is not to say England is a weak power, they win their fair share of games.)England is in theory a major ally of the Protestants. In practice they have little interest in how well the Protestants do, so there isn't much incentive for them to help much. It isn't like the Protestants are not going to push the Protestant space count up if England doesn't help them. Compare this to Spain and France, who will, in my experience, often play big Protestant events if the Protestants will just agree to focus on the other area this turn.
The following are, in my experience, rare: Ireland coming into play at all, English cross-channel invasions, much anti-English espionage, any events that impact England being played as the event (ever seen Puritans? Rising of the North? Richard Topcliffe?), or the Armada attacking England. The latter is a particular joke. On turn 5 of a typical game, it costs 12 CP or more for Spain to declare war on England, build the Armada from scratch, man it, and sail it to the British Isles. The result is highly uncertain (you might get slaughtered on the beaches, etc). What Spanish player is going to spend his CPs on that, rather than on six suppress heresy/preach sermon actions?
The Gunpowder Plot typically forces England to play Walsingham defensively every turn, nothing to see there, move on.
What are your thoughts on the Virgin Queen's marginal role in VQ?
