FullAuto Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Stepping it up a bit, I'm going to attempt to play a nice, friendly Germany, on Hard difficulty level, with the AI aggression set to Furious, which should be entertaining.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/iamadn.jpgI'm going to try and conserve IC, by having a 100% defensive air force (fighters and interceptors only) and a sub-only navy. The army is going to have a strong armoured component, but the majority of it will still be infantry. Friendly, but not soft.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/rhineland.jpgMy Rhineland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaije Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Ooh, this could be interesting. Evil is best served with a pinch of friendliness. More, more, more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share Posted July 9, 2010 The Spanish Major Disagreement kicks off.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/scw1.jpgI'm not intervening directly, but the Nationalists are getting all the trades they ask for from me, plus subsidies in supplies, oil and power to keep them moving. Hopefully, I can get to be great friends with the Nationalists and either give them so much economic support they win, or invite them into the Axis and lend a tank. The good old Anti-Comintern Pact turns up.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/acpact.jpgItaly signs it, Japan doesn't (not a shock, as they've started a war with the NatChins not long ago). Roping Japan into the Axis is actually quite difficult. Time to stop all this laissez faire capitalism and get on with some central planning.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/nationalise.jpgA +10% IC minister, some gearing up, it all adds up. After building up a good rapport by spending lots and lots of money:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/gotns.jpgViva la phalangist Espana! What sort of situation are we looking at?https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/spainsit.jpgFantastic. Right, first job is to link La Coruna with the main chunk of the Nationalist territory, so time to hit Oviedo. With my single troop transport on non-stop ferrying, it shouldn't take too long to build up some forces. Or perhaps it will. For some reason, the forces I've moved to Spain aren't being supplied. So the auto-convoy creator isn't working. A manual attempt to create a convoy failed, because apparently all my areas are being supplied. Brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaije Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Are your Spanish forces in Nationalist La Coruna? If so, I believe the burden of supply falls onto the Nationalists. I know as Italy that I have to fuel and supply Nationalist planes and ships rebased to my territory. Are you planning on leaving a small contigent near Gibraltar after the civil war ends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 They're in La Coruna, Bilbao, and Tarragona, and none of them are being supplied. The Nationalists have a surplus of supplies (25) but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I'm at a loss to explain it. I don't have any existing convoys supplying them, nor can I create a new one. So, as long as I land in Nationalist territory, the only thing I can do is lose Org and then strength. Bit of a bug, methinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaije Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Are there any Republican beaches that you can easily land on? Or is 'lending' the units that you already have there an option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 It appears the Nationalists are just very, very tight with their supplies. Loaning them the forces, so they're part of the Nationalist forces and get supplied, then asking for them back works fine. Bit of a bore, but it works. Won't see much surface fleet action this game, so enjoy it while it lasts.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/fleetaction.jpgMy fleet bumped into a small Republican fleet and hammered it. Easy peasy. The 'Lude dies.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/ludedies.jpgNow there goes a soldier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 "no longer available" is indeed a way to put it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 Thanks to the scarcity of troop transports, it's taken a while to build up forces in Spain, but soon it's time to come out of our corner and punch the Republicans in the face.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/strikebk.jpgPanzers, vorwarts! von Blomberg in trouble.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/blomberg.jpgActually, if I remember rightly, his wife wasn't a prostitute, she merely posed for some naughty photos. This is an entirely different level of filth, and as such, quite forgivable. Blomberg, your job is safe. And I'd love to meet the wife. von Fritsch's turn.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/vonfritsch.jpgHimmler and Goring try again. And fail, again. von Fritsch rocked a monocle, ergo, not gay. Stay where you are, von. Japan tries desperately to add a veneer of respectability to its puppet.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/recogmanchuko.jpgI recognise Manchuko in the vain hope the Japanese will join the Axis some time in the future. Infantry push east, panzers roar south, and then a nice little encirclement of the enemy capital.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/cutoffmadrid.jpgI won't pretend it's been flawless, but apart from the supply stupidity, it's been good. One thing I want to do is try and create a big Axis faction. Romania, Sweden, Finland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Italy, Bulgaria, Japan, I want them in here, pissing out. Unfortunately:https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/france.jpgDivisions guarding the Franco-German border? 10. Divisions guarding the Franco-Spanish border? 0. Crap. I can get 10 divisions from the Polish-German border if I leave it naked (I do have a non-aggression pact with them). Shitting shit it. This is unbelievable. With the Allies now at war with me, I can't ship my troops home. I'll have to make do with 20-odd divisions in Germany, until I either gain naval supremacy (not going to happen, it would take years just to catch up with the Royal Navy if I excluded building anything but ships), or fight my way through France to Germany. I'm going to ramp up production, adding another 3-4 infantry runs and another tank run if I have the IC. Right, deep breath. First steps. 1) Reverse most of my forces in Spain. Leave a screen to help the Nationalists and ensure the Republicans don't turn the situation around (and cordon off/take Gibraltar after). 3 infantry armies and 1 tank army are going to head for France, and immediately start causing bloody havoc if at all possible. If there are already sizable French forces there, they'll just have to hold the border. 2) My subs are going to ship (boat?) out immediately, and start convoy raiding around the UK. It's a little early for a sub campaign to strangle the British into submission, ideally I'd like twice as many subs, but never mind, lets make a start killing merchant ships. 3) Get Italy into the war ASAP. Doing this will mean the French have another foe to contend with. 4) Don't panic. Sub campaign.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/subcampaign.jpgWish I could afford to produce more subs, but three runs is all I have the IC for, currently. Uh-oh.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/sunap.jpgThat's probably not good. Good thing they can't reach me because Poland is in the way! Ahh, my first sinking.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/firstsubsinking.jpgMay many more follow it. Hopefully, my current subs will survive long enough for the force to build up to true Brit-toppling proportions. France pushes into Spain, taking one province, and no doubt egging Barcelona on, so it converts to the Republicans.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/francepushintospain.jpgFirst contact soon follows, with my tanks leading the way.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/firstcontactwiththefrench.jpgI wonder if I can reach Paris... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaije Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Wow, talk about flanking the Maginot Line. Bet they never saw that coming... Oh, and this campaign just oozes "a nice and friendly Germany" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 I haven't declared war on a single country yet! My subs are doing okay, about a third are currently out of action, R&Ring in Kiel. When caught by UK ASW forces, the norm seems to be: lose a lot of Org, take light damage, and then manage to escape. Long may this trend continue. I have plenty of officers, who are either quite skilled, or have the Sea Wolf ability, so breaking my subs up, even into individuals, won't harm my forces. Bombing has started versus my industry in north-west Germany, and my armies guarding the Franco-German border. My ints have so far seen off all-comers, including a bunch of French ints of equal tech level, so it's good news really. The bad news is, the Anschluss (Austria folding into Deutschland) doesn't seem to be in any hurry to happen, nor does claiming the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia. Presumably my meddling has changed something? Oh dear. Without Austria and the Sudetenland/all of Czechoslovakia, my IC is a bit tight, with room only for 1 run of tanks, 1 of ints, 4 of infantry, 3 of subs, some radar and various bits and bobs. Still, I have a non-aggression pact with Poland, so I can ignore the East, for now. First month of sub warfare, April 5 to May 5, has netted me 50 transports and 7 escorts, for the loss of 0 subs. 46 of the transports sunk were British, the other 4 Republican Spanish. In order to keep up with losses, the Brits will have to devote more IC to making transports and escorts. Each run costs 4 IC, and produces 10 transports/escorts about every ten weeks, IIRC. They may have a lot of ships to lose, but unless they put major IC into transports, or major effort into ASW, my subs are going to choke the UK. Just when I started to use the Spanish colonies as sub bases, the Allies spoil my fun.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/britsgc.jpgBrits amphib assault Gran Canaria, and French coloniales make their way into Villa Cisneros. Back to Kiel it is, and either a roundabout route north of Scotland, or the gauntlet of the Channel. von Blom earns himself a new trait.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/vonblomtrait.jpgI knew keeping him was a good idea. Well done to you and your 'model' wife, von. My tankies stop reading Vot Panzer? magazine long enough to sample the sweet taste of French province.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/1stfrenchprov.jpgMmm, and more to come. Splendid. The dastardly French manage to crack the border, counter-assaulting a probing effort from me and catching my army off-guard and low on Org.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/frenchcrackborder.jpgLuckily, Austria has just joined the Axis. Not as good as the Anschluss, but still, pretty good. Osterreich to the rescue! Panzers lead the way!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/PLTW.jpgThey've been instrumental so far, crushing the enemy, driving reinforcements back, cutting him off. There doesn't seem to be many French divs here in the south, though the numbers are increasing. Allied air power is already having an effect, debilitating my infantry armies with bombing, reducing their Org regain to a slow grind. Currently I'm using Ludwig Beck as my Chief of Staff, for the very nice +10% land unit speed bonus, but I might have to swap to Bayerlein, who grants a +20% Org regain speed. Can't really afford the 1% dissent though. Allied strategic bombing is a minor irritation. The coast is covered with radar, and select provinces of the interior are now receiving it. At 2 IC per installation, it's not expensive. At most they do 1-2 IC worth of damage, then my ints catch them next time and put the unit out of action for weeks. I can almost taste the cheese!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/parisinsight.jpgIt's a bit galling that my drive so far hasn't got me much beyond casualties, experience, and a few new traits for my officers. All the territory has gone to Spain. Still, they could do with being a bit stronger. Soon I'll be able to pressure the border from both sides.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/frenchborderpressure.jpgAnd then a tsunami of Feldgrau will wash France away, and leave just a lot of conquered territory. Mmm, conquering France, without declaring war. Tasty. The game goes ever so slightly nuts.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/suwar.jpgAnd then bonkers.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/greecebulgsuwar.jpgI thought I set the AI to Furious, but apparently it switched over to Retarded. It gets better.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/polandally.jpgDoes anyone know what the Hell is going on? Let's ask Steve Guttenberg, circa 1978.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/pregnant-1.jpgSteve? Steve? I don't think he knows either. Useless. I'm going to have to deny Poland, as if she joins me in an alliance, she will be at war with the SU, and will fall in short order. She's better off as a barrier between us. Not that I'm scared of twice-my-IC Soviet Union, good Lord, no. Yugoslavia, however, is a different story, and they want in.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/yugojoins.jpgAxis expansion through being friendly and stuff! Everyone wants to join my alliance. Very kindly, the Yugos offer me some divisions as a loan, and not wanting to be unfriendly, I accept. Half a dozen infantry divs will come in very handy for holding my border while I concentrate on punching into France. I also feel my rear is a lot more secure, now I have an ally in eastern Europe. Yugoslavia is a decent local power, and is a lovely addition to the Axis. Naturally, not even a week later, they promptly have a coup d'etat.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/yugocavein.jpgShit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit. Well, I can't afford the +2 dissent that comes with not affording war, so I'll have to take the -100 relations hit. The situation then is thus: Yugoslavia are at peace with the Allies and Soviets, but are still 100% with me as far as fighting Republican Spain goes. Brilliant. Nationalist Spain shits all over my efforts to help them by producing loads of militia, which are unable to oppose British amphibious attacks. Or indeed a bit of gentle pushing.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/ukamphibspain.jpgThe Nationalist forces 'helping' me get rid of the last few Republican provinces? Militia. The divisions holding captured French territory? Militia. What a load of stinky stinky poo. War becomes Europe's biggest joke, and everyone likes a laugh.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/romturkrswar.jpgI mean, why? They can't even reach Republican Spain. My interference appears to have split Europe on political grounds. Or perhaps it was keeping von Blom/Fritsch? Who knows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 Greece goes insane.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/greecefurious.jpgNot satisfied with taking on the Soviets, the Greeks fancy their chances against the Allies as well. Bravo. The French, with their traditional cunning, have started fighting the Nationalists, instead of me, and have started pushing them back.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/cleanupfrance.jpgI can't hold the captured ground and advance at the same time, so I'm slowly falling back, which is fine as it means more territory for me to conquer once I break out of Germany and into France. However, with France's holdings in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, I won't be annexing them any time soon, so I may have to liberate some historic countries, in order to reduce the amount of territory I'll have to police. Republican Spain is finally cleared up. Not that the Nationalists have annexed them or anything, but never mind. I actually forgot about Gibraltar until some British and Republican forces sallied out and retook Malaga.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/gibraltar.jpgPenned in now, but they've got 7-8 divisions, in supply, in good shape, manning a decent defensive position. Winkling them out, with the abominable help of the Nationalists, could be tricky. Broken into France, and cut off their forces on the border.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/cutoffborder.jpgGoodbye 20+ divisions. Shame my forces are now at a very low ebb. I may have to switch my Chief of Staff, dissent be damned. I need that +20% Org regain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunflash Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Have you had an AAR /yet/ where you didn't tick of the Sleeping Red Giant? O.o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 No, but it was never actually my fault! I didn't declare war on the SU, I haven't even taken Poland to get myself into position to go to war with the SU. I'm just minding my own business when all these declarations start flying about. Yugoslavia finally summons up the courage to leave the Axis, leaving a vacancy.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/hungaryjoins.jpgWelcome, Hungary! I hope you last longer than Yugoslavia. Hungary is known as the Corned Beef of Europe, being powerful, dense, and compact. And Gibraltar is taken. I'm going to station three divisions there to make sure the UK doesn't regain it with an amphibious assault.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/gibtaken.jpgKnowing the Nationalists, they'll garrison it with donkeys. So I can turn the other dozen divisions around and point them to France. At long last! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Well, to some at least, the SU looks like a rash they can't resist scratching - as happens to be the case with our overexcited greek friends. Stiff blokes, these here greeks, no doubt about it. But there must be a whole crowd of yowling, testosterone-filled Hoplites gone bonkers down there by the looks of it... :: If that AI is souped-up, what the hay did you put in the soup, FA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 14, 2010 Author Share Posted July 14, 2010 The SU gives my offer of a white peace the old "I hate the word as I hate Hell." treatment.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/sunopeace-1.jpgSo far, the only conflict between us has been Soviet subs sinking a transport or two, and my fleet sinking a Soviet sub or two. Rubbish. I'm going to have to figure out a way to give them a bloody nose. It's been an incoherent few years, and the game's only just got started. My IC situtation is pretty bad, I don't have enough IC for supplies or reinforcements, and as I'm due an infantry upgrade, which needs 200+ IC, I'm behind on that too. Keeping consumer goods and production going is challenge enough. Some of the pressure will be off when I push the French out of Europe (this year, hopefully), but I'll still be at war with the Allies, and I want to get out of it before the US gets involved. I've dodged the Belligerence bullet (not that it's done me any good); mine is currently 5, whereas the Allies are at 25, with France somehow only rating a 13, despite being the one who kicked this idiocy off. The Soviets are at 15, but the world leaders in aggression are of course the Greeks, at 35. Nutters. With Gibraltar taken, the Mediterranean is shut at one end to the Allies, so any Brit ships wanting in will have to go around Africa, and in by the Suez, and back the same way. Might be a good time to put some subs in the gap between Africa and South America... The Soviets decide to step our 'war' up a notch, interfering with my subs as they raid Brit convoys.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/susubinterfere.jpgNo ships are lost, but that's not the point. The British and French are carrying out enough ASW as it is, I don't need Commie meddling. As I've captured some nice French ports, I'll rebase my subs there, at Brest and Bordeaux, get them away from the Baltic and the gruelling Channel passage. A thunderous blow is struck against the French psyche as Paris comes under attack for the first, last, and only time.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/gayparee.jpgSoon have you all cleaned up, monsieurs... Italy sees red.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/italysuwar.jpgYou won't join the Axis, but you still want to fight the Soviet Union. Bright spark! After years of pleading and wheedling, Italy finally succumbs in a flash of sanity.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/italyjoinsaxis.jpgNow, that's a bit of a help. Hopefully, the Italians can dominate the Med, as they're local, compared to the Brits, who have to ship around Africa, and the French, who have been reduced to a shadow of their former glory. Hopefully, my convoy raiding is interfering with the Brits supplying their forces in Africa, weakening them enough for the Italians not to lose miserably.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/africa.jpgThat's a lot of territory to conquer. I'm doubtful of getting any troop transports (or any ships at all besides subs) into the Med, so I hope the Eye-ties can handle it. It may be time for the Fallschirmjaeger to make an appearance. With almost all of the French homeland under my jackboot, I wonder where to go next.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/ukunguarded.jpgMmm, interesting. Aircraft in the air bases, ships in the ports, but no troops. Did I starve them out? I didn't think my sub campaign was that effective. Perhaps it's not time for Sealion quite yet. Protecting troop transports/supply convoys from the Royal Navy would be impossible. Only just noticed how well the Turks are doing.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/turkadvance.jpgGot as far south as taking Jerusalem from the UK, Beirut and co. from the French, and made a start on Iraq. Nice! I'd invite them to the Axis, but they have a border with the Soviets. Wonder if they'll take the Suez? France done at last. The homeland, anyway.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/francedone.jpgNow I'll have to start a run of garrisons to police the place. There's give and take over Ethiopia, with the Brits taking Italian provinces, and the Italians taking British.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/ethiopia.jpgThis is ultimately unimportant, but it would be nice, and make things easier, if the Italians managed to win it. D'you wanna be in my gang? Portugal does!https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/portugaljoinsaxis.jpgWhich is fortuitous, as I was going to declare war on it and let the Nationalists conquer and annex the place. Still, another member is just as good. However, joining me does mean Portugal will probably lose her African holdings.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/portugalafricanholdings.jpgIt's a continent dominated by the French and British, and the Portugese have no forces to defend their colonies. Turkey reach and take an important objective.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/turkeysuez.jpgThe Allies are now locked out of the Med. What a shame. Now I have my own private pond, I shall have to see about swishing around on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaije Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Wow, the first and probably last time I'll ever see Turkey expand. Nice! I have seen the Balkan countries go bonkers like that before though, there's a hodge-podge of gaurantee independence in that region which can make for some entertaining results. If you leave the Brits be, what kind of future do the Czechs and Swiss have in store? It appears that your need for allies has got you boxed in with limited room to easily expand now. Well, unless your ready to take on the SU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunflash Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Wouldn't be the first time he's beaten the Reds in the face with naught but a wet noodle. XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 15, 2010 Author Share Posted July 15, 2010 The Balkans are a hotbed of criss-crossing alliances and opposing views, so it's quite natural to see them like this, and worse. Switzerland is perfectly safe, I wouldn't dream of violating a country dedicated to laundering the money from my wars, but Czechoslovakia had better stop trying to smear me/interfere with my research and production, etc, or they're in for a nasty shock. Yugoslavia, also, has something to answer for, dropping out of the Axis like a particularly fat skydiver. If I do take Yugoslavia, it won't be for my benefit, Austria and Hungary will get the territory. I've had to turn Poland down three times now, so they must be getting worried about the Soviets, but until I get France annexed, I'm not taking on any more conflicts. This might take a while, as they have Indochina, which I can't reach, but if I or the Italians take their African colonies, they'll have to relocate to Indochina, and will lose those when the Japs take over, meaning I can annex them. Which I need to do, very badly, because the partisans are killing my TC. The Tripartite Schact! See what I did there? Hee hee.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/tripartiteschact.jpgFirst up is the Tripartite Pact, which I ask Japan and the spaghetti-fondlers to sign. The Japs do, the Eyeties don't. Fine. Then there's the attempted resignation of Hjalmar Schacht, who played a key role in reorganising the Germany economy prior to WWII, but then got cold feet and decided Hitler was not the Messiah, just a very naughty boy. I need your +10% IC bonus, Hjal (can I call you Hjal? Of course I can, or you'll be shot). Mr Popular am I.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/greecejoins.jpgWelcome Greece, you little maniac. The Czechs have been irritating me for years. Interfering with unit production, delaying research, trying to steal blueprints, smearing me, they've done it all. Now, they've taken their behaviour to its logical conclusion.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/czechvstt.jpgWho the Hell are Tannu Tuva, you ask? They're a Soviet puppet between the SU and Mongolia. As far as I can tell, they have never done anything to anybody at any time, any where. You can just see the easternmost part of Czechoslovakia in the screenshot, that little green bit on the far left. Thousands of miles between them. And this puts the Czechs at war with the Soviets, of course. Fantastic. But no, apparently that's not crazy enough.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/czechvsuk.jpgWell done, Czechoslovakia. You could at least make a case for Greece, as they share sea routes with the recipients of their war declarations, but what on Earth has tannu Tuva, or the UK, done to the Czechs? Bizarre. Bulgaria jumps to the head of the Crazy Queue.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/bulgvsuk.jpgCurrently world Belligerence champeens, with 48. Second place goes to Italy (38), and third to Greece (33). Mine is 16 (a little unreasonable, I feel, but the great thing about Belligerence in this game is it's not evaluated objectively). With a little help from their friends, Italy has done well, and will own most of Africa fairly soon.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/casablanca.jpgI think I'll have at least some of the west coast, though. I like Bogart, and Rick's Cafe can stay open, but those pesky Torch landings will have to be foiled. In the eastern half, Italy have had help from the Spaniards and Greeks, squeezing the Brits out of Egypt.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/egypt.jpgDown in Ethiopia, it's been give and take, which in the long run means an Italian victory. While all this has been going on, I've been looking at some islands (nabbed Cyprus, am currently capturing Malta), and relocating my subs to Tobruk, in North Africa. Brit ASW patrols have been increased in force size and frequency in the Atlantic, so I'm going to operate in the Red/Arabian/Indian Seas/Ocean instead. The Channel might be dominated by the UK, but the air over it is another matter.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/channelcover.jpgIt's probably the busiest bit of airspace in the game, with Allied aircraft constantly flying in and out. French, Brits, Ozzies, South Africans, Canadians, they're all flying through it, so I decided to put the Luftwaffe in the way. Even with three 4-squadron units of ints, aircraft were still getting through unscathed, and if one squadron got a pasting, the whole unit was out of action until it recovered. So I split them up. Now there's 6 2-squadron units, and the place is impassable without a fight. Although most of the Allied air units are stronger, they get caught by one unit, and delayed long enough for 2-3 others to join in, resulting in a pasting for them. I don't even got to do a thing.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/bulgjoinsaxis.jpgNot looking good for Mr Smarty Pants Yugoslavia now, is it. Surrounded by Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy and Greece. There's an arse-kicking in your future, sirrah. Sinkings over the past year.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/graph-2.pngNot brilliant, but it's been a drain on the Brits, without a doubt. Cost me 8 subs. Think that is cost-efficient. The Czechs see sense.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/czechsjoinaxis.jpgPretty soon, I'm going to have all of Europe. Perhaps not Benelux, but so what. A solid bloc of power, able to stop anyone. ANYONE, D'YOU HEAR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Good thing you're in a friendly disposition then... Still, "you must remember this": you-ass-of-ay. :: Da-dy-da-dy-da-dum, da-dy-da-dee-da-dum... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share Posted July 17, 2010 C'mon c'mon, let's stick together... West Africa is going to be mine, with a division left guarding each beach against assault.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/westafricamine.jpgvon Kluge's leading the infantry and dropping the individual divs off, after licking a hanky and wiping their muddy faces with it, while Guderian's panzer spearheads capture undefended province after undefended province. East Africa is going to be in Italics, if they can manage to push the Brits out. There are plenty of Commonwealth troops around too, so I've had to send von Rundstedt at the head of an army to assist.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/eastafricaital.jpgIt's a full Axis versus Allies effort, and it's getting strenuous. In Asia, the Japanese are doing well.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/japaxeschina.jpgI hope they declare war on the SU. If so, I'll launch an offensive ASAP, and the Axis will crush the Commies, with Poles, Czechs, Bulgarians, Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, Hungarians and Germans all rolling forward together, as one, in overpowering friendliness. North Africa belongs to the Axis.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/northafirca.jpgAnd soon, South Africa will be ours too. Italy's still going strong, but they keep leaving the coastlines undefended, letting the Allies land behind them. My panzers are spread thin, often bopping back and forth as they race forward and get pushed back, but overall it's going very well. Portugal has put up a valiant defense, but it's losing overall, and pretty soon their forces will be wiped out. The bottom third of Africa will be solid Allies by the time we get there. The Battle of Britain isn't going too badly. Brit fighters are rubbish, three steps behind, but their interceptors are just as good, if not better, than mine. Although equal technologically, they must be well ahead doctrinally, as even with a 2:1 advantage my ints are taking a thumping. Of course, the Brit radar and AA guns probably help a little.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/bob.jpgI need to expand my IC considerably. The UK, weakly defended but ringed by one Hell of a navy, looks like a good option. The Altmark incident.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/altmark.jpgWent with prepare for invasion. I'm not going to for years yet, but that's not the point. I'm going to teach those Scandos a lesson. It took some doing, but Yugoslavia have taken the Craziest Country Crown. Although there's been some tough competition this game, not least from Greece and Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, if you remember, joined the Axis, only to leave in an awful hurry. A bit nutty, you might say, but not really jaw-dropping. But what other country has joined a major alliance, then left it, then declared war on the other two major alliances in the game, first declaring war on the Soviet Union, then the Allies.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/yugoshizo.jpgYugoslavia, I salute you. With your Belligerence of 50, you have shown me the true path to frothing at the mouth and biting yourself. Now I suppose I'd better see about inviting them back into the Axis. The maniacs. In an effort to lure some Allied forces away, I send a div in a troop transport to South America.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/irritantsa.jpgLots of unguarded provinces and islands there. Taking them won't do much, but it will draw forces away, bent on re-taking their property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 DAMN how many provinces... How long does a game last?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share Posted July 19, 2010 There's thousands of the buggers, SV. Games are variable length, with the longest ending in 1963. IIRC there's a mod that removes the time limit, though. In terms of Victory Points (important provinces are worth VPs), I'm actually winning, with 184. The Soviets are second (174), then Japan (117), the UK (102) and Italy (90). So the Axis is well in the lead, overall. Turkey's doing well for herself.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/turkeyaxesiraq.jpgAlthough she has non-aggression pacts with Saudi Arabia and Persia, she can always break those. No reason why she couldn't conquer the whole Arabian peninsula. Don't fancy Israel's chances of spawning now. A nice drive down the coast, sea breeze, great views, cheap food, dead bodies.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/panzerafricadrive.jpgThat's about thirty divisions, I think? I hope but doubt that's the majority of their forces in Africa. Hmm, what shall I do. Let's see. Hungary's an ally. Romania isn't. Hard cheese, Romanians.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/theviennadictat.jpgHungary gains two provinces. I didn't want Romania for an ally anyway. Good riddance, with your border with the Soviets. Er, okay then.https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/FullAuto_2006/HOI2/romania.jpgI want to, but I can't, I'm afraid. I'm fully engaged elsewhere, and I doubt the ability of Romania, even with Austrian/Hungarian/Bulgarian help, to hold back the Soviets, even on a border only two provinces in length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaije Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 I see all is going well for you, FA! I hope the bulk of the Allies don't get pushed back into the jungles of Africa, that always make for some long hard fighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 Thankfully, neutral Belgium owns most of the jungle provinces, but there's also a fair few forest provinces that are owned by the UK, though it looks like they're currently empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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