I only play Treaty (usually 40, sometimes 30). My opinion? France is an OP civ. 80 settlers leaves you with 120 pop. It used to be that all this allowed for was 40 cuirassiers. Now, you have more options (don't recommend starting with #5, as it takes a lot of micromanagement to pull off):
#1. 60 cuirassiers (don't do this, unless you're playing noobs/have worn your opponents down).
#2. 50 cuirassiers + 20 skirmishers.
#3. 45 cuirassiers + 30 skirmishers (highly recommended).
#4. 40 cuirassiers + 20 skirmishers + 5 mortars (highly recommended).
#5. 20 cuirassiers (meatshield) + 30 dragoons + 5 falconets (my captain friend says colonels use this, i.e. highly recommended).
By the way, I recommend Russia for Treaty (musketeers can build forts if you send a Level 40 card).
Just in case you're wondering, every civilization gets OP Level 40 cards. (But 2 pop cuirassiers and fort-building musketeers are the best!) Am I to understand I should be using some sort of additional unit with my horses? I tried the voltigeurs and was not very impressed (I didn't get them all the way to the Imperial Age upgrade though).Is it really worth it add an additional unit (ie, volts) instead of a few more of those horses? Like I said, I'd love to diversify my army, but the Volts didn't seem to do much, and by the time they got up to a fight, my horses had taken care of the enemy...
Once you play someone who trains Ranged cavalry (aka Light cavalry in the expansion), you'll be glad you have skirmishers.
Noli nothis permiterre te terrere.
Don't let the bastards wear you down.
[This message has been edited by Aowpr the Great (edited 05-04-2007 @ 04:02 PM).]