FullAuto Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 You knew it was coming. Don't try to deny.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/labellefrance.jpgGaze upon le glory of la belle France! Liberte, Egalitaire, Fraternitie, or Death will be my attempt to steer France to total Gallic success with elan and joie de vivre, so if you're allergic to terrible attempts at French, best leave the thread now. I don't even know how to do that little thing over the 'e' in 'liberte' (and other words) that the French probably invented. So don't say you weren't warned. Right, what do I, guardian of LBF (that stand for La Belle France, just in case you non-French peasants were wondering) have to work with? Holdings in Africa and the Middle East:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/lefanceafrique.jpgAnd of course a little gem in Asia:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/francasia.jpgI've also got one province in South America, and some islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific. I have about 100 IC, (only 65 ATM because it's lovely and peaceful) which puts me behind Germany (142), who is my main worry for the forseeable future. My sexy forces consist of: The Glorious Dashing Air Force (GDAF)5 squadrons of tactical bombers.3 squadrons of interceptors. The Swift Crushing Army of Might (SCAM)2 light armoured divisions3 cavalry divs (to be disbanded)2 HQs36 infantry divs4 mountaineer divs The Sleek Navy of Supreme Victory (SNSV)1 aircraft carrier6 battleships7 heavy cruisers7 light cruisers15 destroyer flotillas15 subs7 transports Overall, not too shabby. I want to develop armour, so immediately start researching it, along with infantry, interceptors, and industrial techs. My navy and air force are too small, and while I'll modestly invest in my navy, what I'm going to do is build up a solid air force for defence (fighters and interceptors) to protect me from zer Luftwaffles, and a solid army, with a big armoured component. I'm going to counterpunch the Germans when WWII kicks off. As part of the Allies, I'm not too badly off, but I want to pull Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) into the Allies as well, so I can place forces at their borders and help defend them if necessary. I wonder if I can head Hitler off by opposing the reoccupation of the Rhineland? And now, the Camembert! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBrotherKab Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Heh, perfect name for the French army. SCAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 3, 2010 Author Share Posted January 3, 2010 Gearing up.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/gearup.jpgMinor increases, but these will come more and more often as we get closer to 1939, until I'm at 100% IC. The Defence Policy Initiative:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/dpi.jpgI ummed and aahed a bit between mouthfuls of Brie, and then chose the les Conservatifs. This kept dissent low, and ensured a few moves towards Hawk on the country's stance slider. I need to be able to take action, and being a Dove hinders too much. Running a democracy itself is a bit of a challenge. Italy fail:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/itlyfail.jpg Bloody elections:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/frelection.jpgThings are so much simpler as a dictatorship! I chose keep current government, because I've just got my ministers sorted and I don't want any dissent. Ze Hermans fail:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/deutshdp.jpgThey did manage to steal a blueprint for some naval doctrine though. Zut alors! Spain breaks out in Nationalists:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/spancivw.jpgI do want to get involved, but settle for a bit of support for now:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/spancivwarintervention.jpgSometimes it takes ages for the SCW to settle, often when there's two Spains the sides are somewhat evenly matched, and it's just back and forth for months. Great timing:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/scandalfr.jpg5% increase in dissent you say? Merde, I do need some IC you know. Right, time to take people's minds off trouble at home with a little war:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/lbfscwi.jpgA small expeditionary force (6 inf divs, 3 armoured divs), my air force, and navy. Of course, I forgot that, as part of the Allies...https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/alliedivscw.jpgThere's been some tutting and cancelling of trades with me, but in the main everyone seems to be enjoying applying overwhelming firepower against the Nationalists. Nearly done!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/scwiovr.jpgI'm going to see about stealing some Spanish colonies and islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBrotherKab Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Was there no way to support Nationalist Spain and have them swing towards your side, and the Allies? Seems to be they'd be more useful in a big war than the rabble Republican Spain is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 They tend to be quite fascist, unfortunately. Even if the Allies join the war on the Nationalist side, the political leanings of NS mean they often buddy up quite firmly with Italy, and sometimes Germany. The options offered in the event are either ignore what is happening, or help the Republicans, as they are the elected government. Helping revolutionaries overturn the government could be the last mistake your country ever makes, especially when you're right next to it and politically unstable yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBrotherKab Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Is France politically unstable in HoI2? I haven't played as any of the second tier European powers yet (just UK and Germany). Though, I have been toying with the idea of playing as the United States, but instead of being the leader of the Allies, I figure I'd try and be the leader of the Axis and help the Huns whip the Brits, French, and Soviets. How hard would that be, meaning to get the US on the Axis side that is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 France is all over the place, early on in the game. Settles down a bit later (usually because it's been conquered by the Axis and split in two). Fascist US. Takes a bit of doing, as you have to get in with Germany and Japan, and then as many other Axis countries as possible. Making friends with Japan is the trickiest bit as there's a lot of friction to counteract, plus Japan doesn't always join the Axis anyway (potentially, you could be allied with Germany, but Japan will still attack Pearl Harbour), but you still need to be friendly to keep in with the cool Fascist crowd. Another difficult bit is getting your country's sliders from being a fairly left-wing open democracy to a more authoritarian state. Pretty much every event you get, you'll have to choose to be right-wing (think the first one is elect Landon as Prez in '36?). You'll have to put IC into consumer goods to shut up dissent. You'll probably end up very isolationist, but that shouldn't be a problem as an Axis alliance will involve you in the war. It'll take a lot of money, but the US is unaligned and produces a lot of money, so it is quite possible. One thing I would worry about is an invasion from Canada if you manage to turn Axis early on, there's no other country that can really threaten you, aside from a British naval invasion. You start off with very little by way of an army, so you do need some forces built up, plus a decent size navy. The Royal Navy is capable of savaging you early on, but you can outproduce the UK easily over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBrotherKab Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 lol, Canada? Two things I'm not concerned with. One is Japan. Whether they end up on my side or not, doesn't matter to me. I'm more concerned with being Germany's friend. Second is an actual war against the Allies. Take the US out of the picture, and they don't seem very strong. Especially not against Germany AND the Soviets. So I guess just getting the US on the Axis side is the hard part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombie Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 I tried to get chummy with Germany and Japan early in my first campaign to completely prevent war. That part kinda worked for a while, but it eventually fizzled which forced me into the war anyway. Note that Japan never attacked me or declared war on me, we were uneasy neighbors with a big fence between our houses. In that respect, you can keep Japan at bay. The tough part is getting those sliders moved in the opposite direction fast enough to make friends with Germany, and even then you'll have to answer to the American people when you do things which are not in their interest. The Soviet Union is also a tough nut to crack. While you could potentially make friends with them, their actions later in the war may force you to change your mind. Oh, and don't underestimate Canada. Their forces are right on your doorstep. Yeah, they are harmless enough early on, but if/when you are able to side with the Axis they will be stronger. Then you may end up fighting a two-front war. And if they invade through the center of the country (midwest), you'll be helpless to stop it as most of your forces are on the coast. - Zombie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBrotherKab Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Nah, that'll just give me the perfect excuse to form my New American Empire! I'm thinking all of Canada and Mexico and Caribbean. All of North America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombie Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Sounds interesting. Let us know how it goes. What would you call your super-country? Just curious. - Zombie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 I'd like to see that, SBK, haven't played as the US in ages. Be interesting to watch. Mallorca is mine, and soon Ibiza and Menorca too. Note the 31-strong Allied fleet (12 French, 19 British) taking on the 2-strong Nationalist 'fleet'. Ouch.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/mallorcacapturd.jpgJust think, in 60 years, hordes of Ecstasy-addicted British ravers will descend upon my lovely resorts, and I'll be minted. Outside the scope of this game, but selling them bottles of water at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBrotherKab Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I guess I'd call my super nation Heaven Americana, or HA! for short. Or maybe America, F--- YEAH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 In order, we have: Another bloody scandal.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/scandalfr.jpg A peace demonstration.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/peacedemo.jpg A military parade.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/parade.jpg And the Anschluss.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/anschluss.jpg Also, Germany took a bite out of the Sudetenland.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/sudetenland.jpg Gentlemen, start your war economies! All I'm doing at the moment is producing infantry and tanks, and researching like mad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyhf Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Great AAR! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share Posted January 26, 2010 Why thank you! Hopefully it should improve further when war starts. Paraguay, Mr Unpopular of South America:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/evry1picksonparag.jpg Well, it was worth a try, I suppose:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/germsmear.jpgIdiots. How would that work? "You disgust me, with your democracy and your fine wines." In the words of Albert Lebrun, French Head of State, "What the Hell, d00d?!"https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/sudiruptinf.jpgOwning approximately nine billion infantry divisions is not a monopoly, Joseph. I'm allowed them too. Le Organisation Militaire. Unfortunately, a lot of my generals are Old Guard, and therefore I don't use them, so I'm having to promote a lot of lt. gens. to command my forces. This is leaving me with a lot of low-skill gens, which is a bit of a pain, but they'll improve with experience. Quite a few do have the Defensive Doctrine ability, which is good, and thankfully I've been able to find Panzer Leader gens for my tank forces (one has Panzer Leader and Offensive Doctrine abilities, so sit 'n spin, Rommel). I don't have the IC to increase the size of my navy or air force ATM, which is sure to sting later on, but that's just another thing to add to my Tough Shit list. The Maginot Line is handy, as the three provinces closest to the Hun are fortified to 10, and the two bordering Italy are 3 and 5, which isn't too shabby. I can hold those without trouble, I think. The real problem is the German thrust through Benelux, as those three can't oppose Germany, they won't join the Allies yet, and my provinces bordering Belgium and Luxembourg aren't fortified. Time for the infantry to dig in. Czech out time!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/slovak.jpg Lithuania cedes Memel to Germany:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/cedememel.jpgNever seen that before. Don't think it means anything good. Italy declares war on two-province Albania.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/albaniawar.jpgWell. A fair fight, at least. Ah, good choice!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/polandagrees.jpgThis is it, mon braves! Get ready to invade Germany! Nice one, not allowed to research tank destroyers either according to Uncle Joe.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/tdresdelay.jpgDo you know, I haven't made one joke about Communists this time, and look at how I'm being treated. Well, you know what? Your means of production are shit, your quotas are lies, and your mother is a petit bourgeousie shopkeeper. Italo-Albino War concluded on April 11th.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/albaniaannnexed.jpgAbout two weeks? Either the Italians weren't in a rush or the Albanians actually fought back. Now here's an idea, hepcats.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/polishdef.jpgNow that Poland is part of my military alliance, how about holding my borders with a decent complement of troops, but shipping the rest to Danzig and helping with the defence of Poland? Now, this is a one-way trip once war starts, because A) I can't guarantee I'll hold Danzig, the only Polish port, and B) Even if I do I'd have to ship my men past the Kriegsmarine. No chance. So if they go down with Poland, I'm very short on troops. However, the 40-odd divs I can afford to send might tip the balance. Poland has 70, so I'm offering a substantial increase. Preventing the fall of Poland means Germany is trapped in a two-front war. Protracted warfare is to Germany's disadvantage, given that the usual conquest of Poland goes quickly, the Germans take few casualties, and get a nice increase to their IC before turning west. Beard-stroking time. You stupid boy.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/italysmear.jpgYou should have tried mentioning that time I annexed Ethiopia. Ohnowaitthatwasyou. Well, you interfere with my artillery research.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/germresdel.jpgMuch good may it do you. Gits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 Japan's doing really well in Asia.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/japanconquerschian.jpgConquered and then puppeted Nationalist China. This gives Japan a massive source of infantry, on par with the Soviet Union. The only Chinese states holding out are Sinkiang and Communist China, neither of which will live out the year unless they make peace, I reckon. Japan might be difficult to stop in Asia, this game. Right, dispatched to Poland are: 6x6 inf divs (11th Very Handsome Army, 1st Sexy Army, 22nd Dashing Infantry Army, 13th Manly Corps, 28th Unstoppable Warriors, and the 56th Muscular Heroes).2x6 Armoured divs (1st Steel Death Dealers, 4th Steel Dragons).1x1 HQ (1st Gorgeous HQ). Here we go!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/WWII.jpgMetal meets meat and we find out who's who and what's what. Germans attack, Poles defend, and I counter-attack.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-1.jpgWhile my inf divs absorb the main German attack in northern Poland and punch back, my tanks fire and move, fire and move into the German pocket of Elbing-Konigsberg-Memel, hopefully to wipe it out, and then turn and support the main effort. It's not big, clever, or pretty, but it works.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-2.jpgGerman units have superior Org, which may tell in the long run, but right now I'm doing okay. Main attack absorbed and robbed of strength with focused counter-attacking. Tanks surging on, taking turns to attack and support attack. Progress.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-3.jpgTanks have smashed that German pocket to bits, and will soon be able to turn it round and speed Hunwards. I've actually blunted the German attack and managed to advance west, taking Stettin, but my forces are now exhausted, and will soon be pushed back. The Poles, as someone once said, only have two speeds. Killing Germans, and stop.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-4.jpgThey're doing okay in the south without my help, slapping the Slovaks around and holding Jerry back. The Allies club together to plaster northern Germany.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-5.jpgThere's Brits, South Africans, Canadians and Spaniards currently flying missions and dropping bombs, with surprising accuracy. I have yet to see a single bomb miss Germany. Right, bit of give and take, but more to my credit slightly.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-6.jpgGermans have Cracow, but I'm firmly lodged in Kustrin (24 divs) and Stettin (12 divs). They won't get me out easily, especially as an attack means a river crossing too. Erm.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wwii-7.jpgThanks, I'm grateful, but I don't have to assault an enemy capital every time I want the economy improved, right? And Slovakia iiiiis outta here.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/slovkgone.jpgPicked the wrong side, chums. Pushed back in the north:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/wii-8.jpgBut probing deep into Germany in the south! "Allo Germans! We will be your thundering machines of death tonight!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted January 30, 2010 Author Share Posted January 30, 2010 Shiny!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/secrettech.jpgNot useful right now, and my tech teams aren't that good so it might not be useful in future either...but still, shiny! The Eastern Front is a stalemate, with neither side having the divisions to win by force. While I try a bit of the old maneuvroo, let's see if I can take a bit of pressure off by opening the Western Front!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/westfront.jpgThough Saarbrucken is fortified, it's only a 1, so it won't make much difference. Breaking in knackered virtually every div I have left in France, excepting those guarding the border with Italy. My latest tank upgrades hit the battlespace. +8 Hard Attack, +4 of Soft Attack, +0 Air Attack, +4 Defence and +1 Air Defence.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/upgradetank.jpgOne of the things you have to adjust to, mainly by thinking further and further into the future, is just how long it takes new techs to come into action. First, you have to research it. This can take months. Then you have to actually create or upgrade the unit, which is IC intensive. Upgrades especially usually get pushed to the back, because they're merely improvements to existing forces, whereas production is making entirely new units, and supplies/reinforcements keeps existing units, well, existing. The result is often you've got 300 IC worth of upgrades to carry out, but only 10 IC spare, so it takes months before the unit gets upgraded. You can pick and choose which units get upgraded, and by extension when they do, but it's still a difficult choice to make. Pushed back in the north, expanding in the south.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/planofaction.jpgOnly thing I can think of to do is strike north from my invasion, and try to roll up their main line. Either that, or cut in behind it and start cutting off piece of zer Deutschland and capturing industrial centres, and I don't think I have the troops to stretch that far. Hey, Republican Spain, can I borrow a couple of divi-https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/repubdspaindivs.jpgZut Alors, mon amis! As the Spaniards are shipped in to help, my tanks roar on, deeper into Germany.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/deeperanddeepr.jpgI'm gaining greater leverage in the west even as Germany inches east. I think they've shifted forces from the west, where it was quiet, to Poland, and are now short-handed here. Boo hoo. Major points for the Spaniards!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/repubspaincoup-1.jpgShare and share alike, mon frere! My country hasn't lost the romantic touch.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/song.jpgTwo problems. I don't have any dissent, and what's he doing writing songs when he should be on the front line with a rifle in his hands? Right, managed to snip off a bit.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/germanycutin2.jpgHowever, German resistance is still strong. Poland is still very much under pressure, and the line is in danger of being cut. I need to maintain it, and push south, eliminating that pocket, before turning north. In the face of strong resistance, and up against a tight time limit. Gird your loins, men. My forces in Poland held on with gritted teeth, beating off allcomers, until I realised I was about to be encircled, and used the latest attack as an excuse to retreat.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/retretencirclement.jpgOnly reason I didn't just lose 24 divs is because the 1st Steel Death Dealers drove into Czestochowa and held the province until the infantry managed to reach it. French manliness and engines, hear them roar! Germany is bonkers.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/germanylosesplot.jpgNot exactly major powers, but opening up another front? Adding two more countries to the Allies? Someone's in the bunker with Hitler, someone's in the bunker I know! They should drag him out of there, before his head does blow! Right. Against continual strong German attacks, I'm going to try and end this quickly, before Poland goes under.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/warplan12.jpgHopefully, a major push will at least make them slow their advance as troops turn around to deal with it. If a miracle happens, they'll put it in reverse and come back my way, allowing the Poles to start stabbing them in the back. If I reach the coast, I've cut another chunk off Germany, which means they've lost about half the country. Here we see the gorgeous Stuka in its natural habitat. Hear the distinctive warbling cry as it dives upon its prey. Admire the iron grey plumage. Watch in awe as the scattering bombs it drops fall upon the unsuspecting headquarters, killing all and sundry.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hqatk.jpgOne HQ down, one to go. Arseholes. And BANG the pocket is gone!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/pocktgone.jpgNow to turn north and defeat Germany. Shyeah, right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Et alors, mon Capitaine? C'est la guerre, ou quoi? Qu'est-ce que je peut dire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 It's exhausting being a military genius. Especially fighting the Germans, who seem to bounce back faster than the average weeble. The Third Reich wobbles but it doesn't fall down.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/dresden.jpgThings are so evenly matched as to be morale-sapping. Every advance has to be meticulously planned, or I get pushed right back. Each attack is met with counterattack. Rivers have become deciding factors in battles. I'm operating flat-out and making headway only one province at a time. I hoped to push on from Dresden into Cottbus, with added pressure from my troops in Kustrin, on the Polish side, cutting off a pocket where Czechoslovakia used to be, but this proved impossible. The Germans started up a new wave of attacks in Poland, either sapping my forces' Org or forcing them back. Obtaining another pocket and crushing it appears to be impossible at the moment, I have to take one province, consolidate, weather the counterattacks, R&R, then attack again.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/june7.jpgThe war is taking much longer precisely because I'm destroying very few units. Mostly, they're just being pushed back into denser concentrations, making the next fight that much harder. Quite frankly, if Germany proposed peace now, I'd accept. I hope to push north, Cottbus-Potsdam-Straslund, cutting off the western half of Germany from Berlin, forcing them to ship supplies out (me and the Brits are dominating the seas, we'll wreak havoc), crush the western half and then turn the vice on the forces left between me and Poland. However to take off a lot of pressure immediately, and make sure the Poles don't get too much of Germany, I should go Cottbus-Kustrin-Stettin, ending the Polish front, then turn west. Hmm. One unforseen complication is the increase of my IC. It's more than doubled, which is lovely, but this also means I need more than twice the raw materials to fuel my industry. This is draining me, especially of rares, even though I've got several generous trades going with the UK. Still, I shan't be relinquishing this territory any time soon, with Germany annexed I shall be a proper world power. I'll restore the annexed countries to existence first, of course. I'm not a monster. A German push takes Frankfurt-am-Main and gives me a bit of a scare.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/germanpush.jpgI was worried about getting all my conquered territory, and most of my forces, cut off, then remembered they can be supplied by convoys oversea and then through Poland. Whew. Still, Poland is safe. Funnily enough, the Poles don't look to be in any hurry to rush in and help. My interceptors get into it versus 3 squadrons of obsolete fighters and 1 squadron of interceptors, and do okay, but not that well. Hmm.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2smallboycmdr.jpgPerhaps it's because my commanding officer appears to be all of twelve years old? Whereas the German CO appears to be the kind of man who eats people's faces. Berlin is surrounded.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2berlinsurrounded.jpgI'm going to let it choke a good long while before trying to crack that egg. My ints hit an enemy bomber formation, their exact role.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2intrceptrs.jpgThey take very little damage that time. Apparently even having children in charge only holds you back so much. Ints versus ints this time, and my boys come off worse, despite flying more advanced models.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2intsvsints.jpgTime for a new CO with pubic hair and everything. Poland, are you mad?https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2polandpushtheirluck.jpgI'll just come running to your rescue again, shall I? Plank. You're next, Italy.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2italyarenext.jpgI need that flipping tank research, you bunch of twats. Why, who is this obscure Major-General controlling nothing more grand than an armoured division?https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2degaulle.jpgMy tanks are bashing through into deepest Germany, too. Yay! Crash, bang, and indeed, wallop.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2nothsea.jpgPenetration, break through, push on, and stop when you hit the North Sea. Champers all round. The last pocket, squashed down to almost nothing.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2lastpocket.jpgWWII, cut off before it can get rolling. Denmark, back once again (with the renegade master).https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2denmark.jpgYou're welcome. Now, bacon and blondes, please. Thank you! Well, I'm going to stagger the resurrection of those annexed countries to avoid lots of dissent building up. Denmark only cost me 0.75%, I can cope with that. I think the only country left to release is Czechoslovakia. Goodbye Germany.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2gbyegermany.jpgNow, any partisans feel like starting a Fourth Reich?https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2dissent.jpgThought so. A lot of that in the south-east is the Czechs and Slovaks, eager to have their own country back (understandably). Some of it near there is where Austria used to be, though, and it's not on the list. Possibly because the Poles captured Vienna? Never mind. Little bit of rebel activity in the north too, but that won't be hard to step on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 Right, my relatively modest plans for the future are to actually build an air force and navy. Using my new IC, I'm planning on an initial expansion of three 18-strong fleets, consisting of 7 aircraft carriers, 2 light carriers, 3 light cruisers, and 6 flotillas of destroyers. Additionally, I'm going to keep 1-2 lines of subs in constant production, because their low cost is far outweighed by the damage they can do. I also need to build about 20 transports in order to be able to move a decent amount of troops around at once (the 6 I have ATM present a considerable bottleneck). The air force is going to be solidly defensive, consisting mostly of fighters and interceptors, with a few tactical, naval and strategic bomber units. Say, 24 interceptors, 12 fighters, and 8 each of tac, naval, and strat. My army will retain its strong mobility/armoured focus, (nearly 25% of all units are either tanks or motorised/mechanised inf). I need to build some more HQs, which are a big drain on IC, but well worth it. It also looks like I need to build some garrisons.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2dissentincrease.jpgThink I'll stick military police attachments on them as well. The increase in partisan activity is still low-key, but I have a lot of units around. Without a military presence, there would definitely be provinces breaking out in rebellion. Japan, you must be crazy.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2jap.jpgI've got at least a dozen submarines waiting to kick your gigantic navy into shape. Don't start with me. I'm getting a little anxious about Indochina.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2indochina.jpgRinged with Japanese forces, it would be no trouble at all for them to take. I can ship some forces out there, but Japan has conquered China, and so there's no impediment to their 176 (estimated) divisions coming to bear against any forces I ship there (6 divs at a time, with a journey lasting 6 weeks there and back). I can't keep any sort of link open, as I only have two below-par fleets, and some subs. Versus the IJN, which is one of the strongest starting navies in the game, and with the swift resolution of the war in China, will only have grown stornger. Good day Czechoslovakia.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2czech.jpgHow nice to see you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted June 5, 2010 Share Posted June 5, 2010 Libert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 Well, one of the good things is that an ascendant Japan will keep the SU looking east, and as Germany never got anywhere, there's no reason for their forces to mass in the west. However, I'm thinking of possible friction with the Poles, and while Japan is the number one meddler with my research and production at the moment, the Soviets are also making regular attempts. Currently, I'm organised for a war with Italy, so by the time I get myself turned around in the even of a Soviet invasion, Poland will probably be gone. Czechoslovakia, newly reborn, won't be in any sort of shape to even hold her borders, and I'm not convinced Romania, Yugoslavia etc will be able to stay out of it, one way or the other. While the rest of the Allies have plenty of air and naval forces, I'll be the man on the ground, and in very deep merde. One of the things I struggle with is the production timescales involved. I can understand most of them, and do 'force forecasts' accordingly, adjusting my disposition, altering my tactics, etc, but ships still throw me off. My new line of carriers, for instance. I've ordered 21, and the first won't be done until mid-1942. I've already researched the next model of carrier, and am starting research on the one after that. So by the time the first carrier of my original order is finished, I'll be 4-5 models ahead. It'll be obsolescent as soon as it's launched, sadly. If I had the IC to knock off multiple production lines of carriers, so I'd at least build up a considerable force of old ships, I'd do it, but I just don't have the industry, even with the French Republic of Germany (FRoG) as part of my country. A frustrating and elementary mistake I keep making is forgetting to set new research projects. When one is finished, and the notification pops up, I keep fussing around and adjusting things, and then not giving the research teams a new project to work on, wasting time. This is especially important early on in the game, when you have a lead in certain areas, and you want to maintain it, or someone else has a lead, and you want to cathc up. It's even worse when you have other countries delaying your research (Japan, the SU, and Italy keep meddling with mine). Good on you, Romania.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2welldoneromania.jpgWonder if I can get Romania to join the Allies...and Yugoslavia. And Hungary, Portugal, Bulgaria, etc. Italy, I hate you, and I'm going to conquer you next.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2italypita.jpgFirst excuse and bang, you're gone. I have two tank, one motorised (and one mechanised being built) and four infantry armies on your northern border. They will go through you like curry through a drunk. Dissent is kept manageable, as I put together some garrison units with military police attachments.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2dissentchange.jpgPlacing them down in a chequered pattern is the most efficient way to use them, and frees up the infantry units I have policing the area now. What do you mean, 'my technology lags behind in certain areas'?https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2lagbehind.jpgSo what if it's mainly made of wood and canvas. Shut up. Ban fascism!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2banfascism.jpgYeah, that'll work. Still, fascists nearly caused a world war, so it's perfectly understandable. Uh-oh.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2japwar.jpgIf I had a big red button to push, I would be pushing it. I am laughably unready for this. I currently have three army groups. Army Group North, on Italy's northern border, consisting of five infantry armies, two tank armies, and one mechanised army. Three of the infantry armies head for the coast to ship out. Army Group West, on Italy's (go on, guess, bet you can't) western (see!) border, consists of four infantry armies, and some spare tank, motorised, and infantry divisions. Two armies and the loose ends take ship for the Far East. I chuck a HQ in the boat as well. Army Group South, consisting of one infantry and one motorised army, remains in place next to Italy's African holdings. My entire navy heads east, rebasing variously in Rangoon, Bombay, basically anywhere I can find a spare port. Subs will be raiding around China and Japan, my fleets will be providing security and stopping the IJN from coming west. Three squadrons of ints head east. Air bases are in short supply, and most of them are too small for one squadron, yet are host to three or four. This means Org regain is going to be very, very slow. I also send a squadron of tac bombers, hoping to slow the Japanese advance. The Japanese are on the march into Burma and Indochina.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2japsmarch.jpgI'm shipping my troops to the eastern edge of India, roundabout Calcutta, to form a defensive line there. I'm not going to try and defend Indochina, it looks awfully like a death trap. Quite frankly, with Rangoon only a few provinces distant, I'm thinking about rebasing the forces headed there again. A few hours later, and my first losses occur.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2convoylosses.jpgThe Netherlands joined the Allies very quickly indeed. The Japanese are bombing Singapore, Hong Kong, the Phillippines, US islands in the Pacific, anything in range, it seems. Their ground forces are about 400+ divisions, which outnumbers us, even when the US joins the Allies. The US has not had the benefit of gearing up for war, and has less than 50 divisions. The UK owns 160+, though how many it can bring to bear, I don't know. There certainly aren't many of them in Burma and India. I have about 150. Poland has 110, but no transports. The rest of the Allies have handfuls of divisions. I think we have a slight advantage on the seas, with the RN and IJN being roughly equal, though I have no idea how the two have really developed/suffered in their respective conflicts. With my navy, the USN, and the other navies of the Allies, I think we might have a decent advantage. In the air, I think we clearly outmatch the Japanese, with lots of British planes, plus a good US contingent, plus a surprising amount from the colonials. The Allied response. Every single ship is heading east.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2alliedresponse.jpgCarriers, battleships, heavy cruisers, destroyers, troop transports, subs, hook line and anchor. My subs reach port, regain their Org, and deploy.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2subsatk.jpgI'm not looking to cause massive damage, just force the Japanese to divert forces to patrol their waters. The Brits promptly put me to shame, landing in Indochina to oppose the Yellow Peril.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2britslandnam.jpgColonial forces, too. La Belle France cannot be humiliated in such a fashion! I must send armies there to regain territory (and face). Subs get their wrists smacked.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2earlysubfail.jpgBit early for that, chaps. Back to port, rest and repair, then back out again. I don't expect my subs to win against a surface fleet, I just expect them to run and survive, but getting caught so early? Live up to your name! Sly, not stupid. That's more like it!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2earlysubwin.jpgSnooping around, find ship, sink ship, run away. The Phillippinos get a nasty shock.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2phillipinosinvaded.jpgThe Japs hit the beach, and then everyone else. I can't see the paltry forces there opposing the Japanese for very long. Nor do I have the fleets to stop further Japanese landings east of Indochina. My subs get double teamed, hit by an enemy fleet and some of their bombers.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2subdoubleteamed.jpgSneakier, damn it! It's a little early to be taking losses, so I disperse the subs even further, and make 100% sure they switch hunting grounds after each kill. It's a race to get out of the area before the IJN turns up and depth charges the party. I need a bit more time before the new model sub production lines are up and running, and there'll be some slack in the gap between the out with the old and the in with the new. IJN sub activity drops to zero once my fleets are out doing the ASW boogie, which is nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 South-east of Indochina, one of my patrols catches some Jap troop transports.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2transintercept.jpgThey managed to get away without being sunk, but at least whatever they were doing was foiled. One of the problems my ships and planes are having is the lack of oil.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2oilshortages.jpgI'm not short of it, I've got loads, but I can't ship it out there quick enough. This hampers my units and saps their Org. Sort it out, logistic chain. I build some more convoy transports and escorts. My first proper naval battle, and victory!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2firstnavalwin.jpgYes, it was an 18-strength fleet versus 4 flotillas of destroyers. Yes, it was ridiculously unfair. I don't care. With two infantry armies holding the narrowest point (three provinces wide, 18 of my divs versus 300 or so Japanese divs, surely it will be Thermopylae all over again?), the leftovers form an odd yet strangely powerful group, and head out to cause havoc.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2rtheadout.jpgStopping the Japanese advance is a little bit beyond four divisions (three tank, one motorised), but they'll do some damage. My troop transports get intercepted this time.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2trooptransint.jpgThankfully, the subs are scared off by a fleet intervening, and I don't lose any ships. The troops on them, experienced infantry divisions, will live to fight on land. I can't let the Brits liberate Indochina or my cheeks will be red forever more. Gentlemen, we have just won the war.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2suwarjap.jpgThat's another 300+ divisions on our side. It might take them a while to reorient their forces eastwards, but the probable length of the war has just shrunk a lot. They haven't joined the Allies though, so this will be an outright scramble for territory. Siam join the war on the Japanese side, and their navy promptly gets in on the action.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2siamnavy.jpgOnly to be sunk. Jolly good. However, they still pose a problem. Siam is perfectly placed as a wedge between Indochina and Burma.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2siamproblem.jpgTheir country is the perfect avenue for the Japanese to split the Allied forces, cutting off Indochina completely, and strangling it. I'd rather that didn't happen. My ints do their job and catch a Jap Close Air Support squadron.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2intsvscas.jpgSo that's one flight of CAS wiped out, one reduced to almost nothing, one to half strength and the last with a bit of a dent. For the loss of aboslutely no men or machines, just a little Org. Bargain. The Soviet Union takes a province from the Japanese.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2firstsuadv.jpgA slow start, but I suppose the rather opportunistic declaration of war took everyone, including themselves, by surprise. Lovely beaches, lovely women, lovely ports with lovely repair facilities, foreign submarines welcome.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2oz.jpgI'm using 'Oztralia' as a base for a lot of my subs, as the IJN hasn't ventured this far south yet, and most of the Allied ships are further north, lacking the range to be based here, leaving the ports open for my subs to get fixed up and restore their Org. My spies fail to crack Japan, but have more success with her fatter, uglier sister.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2secretsstolen.jpgMmm, battleships. If only I had the IC. Well, if it isn't my best mate, again.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2italyagain.jpgYou're welcome! Arseholes. I happen to know one of the French generals, but for something other than WWII.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2delattre.jpgA later conflict, the First Indochina War, principally mentions in Martin Windrow's excellent book, The Last Valley, about the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French proved themselves to be tenacious in the extreme. Plus, it has quad .50 cals. Brilliant. And the Philippine Islands are gone.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2phillisgone.jpgApart from one province being held by two American divisions. I may have to help them out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted June 11, 2010 Author Share Posted June 11, 2010 Off the coast of China, my subs catch some transports.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2subsvstps.jpgThey only manage to sink a few, but still, one can hope they were full of experienced divisions! Why oh why does movement take so long? Here's why.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2asiaterrain.jpgTypically, provinces have low infrastructure, usually around 40%, and the terrain is mostly either jungle, or mountains. Whereas in Europe, it's more like 80%, and plains. So instead of days to move to the next province, it takes weeks, or a month or so. The longer movement means more Org is lost, which means waiting longer for it to build back up, which can take longer because of the low supply efficiency. Fellows, please! There's a time and a place, for pity's sake.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2suvsus.jpgIt's odd, this conflict. Almost, but not quite, triangular. I want the SU to do well, but not too well. I don't want conflict between us and the SU, but technically there's no reason why not, as we are all fighting Japan, but not on the same side. I just wish people would focus on getting Japan out of the way first. It's not a foregone conclusion. That's more like it.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2suvsjap.jpgGlad to see I'm not the only one doing economic damage to Japan. I take a chunk out of Siam.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2siamchunk.jpgI want to just get rid of this country, absorb it into Indochina, and let Allied troops flow through and sort the Japs out. Their army is in poor state, with only occasional resistance from Jap divs. Not a rich country, by any means, but not a problematic one to rule, either. My subs have succeeded.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2subpurposewon.jpgEven if they never sink another convoy, they've kept Japanese fleets like this 31-strong monster busy hunting them across the Pacific, instead of hunting around the Asian coastline, hampering my ship movements. And they've done damage as well, sinking a fair few convoys. If the Japs are short on resources, cramping their production, supplies, anything, the Allies can thank my subs. All for a trivial IC cost, although about half of my total sub forces so far have been sunk. Siam, on the brink of being conquered, agrees to a peace treaty.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2siampeace.jpgUn-be-flipping-lievable. A few more weeks and I would have annexed the country. Allies? You can keep them. The thing is, I'm not the leader of the alliance, so do I get to make the choices? No. The Japs prove that even taking on the SU and the Allies, they are still capable of rapid offensive action.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2japislandhop.jpgIf you had asked me, I would have said this was perfectly safe Allied territory. You have mongrel collections of ships and planes everywhere, although most of the troops are on the continent. But the Japanese cruise in, drop off some lads, and zip back out, and no-one even sees them. The naval situation worries me, actually. I've seen massive Japanese strength in one fleet, varying from 27 to 31 strong, and numerous smaller ones, but only small fleets from the Allies. Yet I know the US and UK both have sufficient strength to field fleets equal to that, if not larger. I could field a larger fleet, come to that, although admittedly a lot of my ships are obsolete, which is exactly why I haven't done it. The Japs are enjoying naval dominance, and I'm very pleased I haven't seen more of their subs, because ASW is a risky business with a huge Jap fleet menacing the ocean waves. I regularly see small groups of destroyers and transports get wiped out by larger Jap forces. I've seen one British fleet of average strength, and it didn't stay long. Not sure what's going on, if Japanese subs are harassing the American coast/islands or what. The Japanese get some more island hopping in.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hoi2morejaphops.jpgOh how I wish I had some naval bombers. Right now, I can't achieve much against the Japs at sea. I'll have to focus on countering them on land, but this is going to divert forces from the main struggle on the continent, and entails more travel on seas I don't control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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