I haven't tried any fun openings with France in my recent past, but if you can orchestrate a rock solid WT then the WM fleet opening seems like it could go quite well. However I've found whenever France goes south they've either already dealt with England, or are just asking to get stabbed in the back. It's quite easy to get stuck in a stalemate with the Italians in the med for a year or more without outside assistance. You'll win out on an early attack on Italy but you may find progress to be slower than what you might hope for.

Austria's help would certainly be welcome in that situation. Assuming you get the two builds, you're not completely leaving all of France wide open, but there is an opportunity for both G/E to pounce while you bring an army back from Iberia.

Most of the time it's decided very early what two countries are going to attack who in the relations in the west. I just feel it's too risky to give England such an opportunity to land an army into Picardy and Germany to move an Army into Burgundy while Spain moves back to either Mar or Gas and you move fleet from Brest to MoA then NA. It's a slow move that requires dedication but if you convince England to get into a stalemate against Russia in ST.P it certainly could give you enough time to do something special. I just feel most players know a relationship between England and France aren't usually a very long term thing unless Germany is willing to help England break out of ST.P and into Moscow.

I'm a big fan of the Gascon Pudding. It takes the entire board by surprise, and nobody is quite sure how to react to it.

Another opening idea: F-Bre-ENG, A Par-Pic, arranged bounce A Mar-Bur.

Fighting with Germany seems like an utter waste of time in the early years. This opening gives you many options for A01, but not the more traditionally secure Iberian SCs (Spa is still a likely SC pick up).

@HR: At least you still have one viable option for a gain in A01. The Yorkshire Pudding, not so much...

Anyone try to negotiate a deep trust alliance with England to charge hard at Germany by going to the English Channel and then NOT stab England? That could be interesting. I'm thinking Bre->EC, Paris->Pic, Mar->Bur.

If England is committed to moving on Germany it could definitely work. The move to ENG is usually not something England is a huge fan of though. Maybe F Bre-Pic, A Par-Bur, A Mar S Par-Bur is a better anti-Germany opening that doesn't agitate England.

I actually believe England would be for this type of opening against Germany. It's interesting enough to get older experienced players on board so they don't have to sit through the same boring openings they're familiar with, and newer players could be easily swayed. It's a fun opening with all the same potential as a typical French opening. It may be hard to sway England to help you 100% because you're more likely to get a larger share of the centers and typically I've found England prefers Germany the majority of the time if forced to choose one ally in the WT.

I've tried an very friendly to Germany opening ( & hostile to Germany openings in other games) but in a game after reasonably good pre spring 01 talks with the player with Germany, tried army Paris to Gascony, army Marseilles to Spain, fleet Brest to English Channel... Got messed about by Italy, moving to Piedmont, think i got Belgium with my fleet and bounced armies in Marseilles.
Hellenic Riot is right, Gascony is a great spot, can be very useful

the Split is great. pic, gas, MAO

Anyone ever snag Por and Spa with armies and leave the fleet in MAO? Would require a friendly German player and maybe even convince Russia to head north with Mos.

Gives you options to move on England without giving away where the fleet is going to. If Russia doesn't cooperate, you could always just move south towards Italy if you can patch things up with England.