50 replies to this topic

[a1s]

alright...
well if you are attacking them, and you are Germany, that should autojoin them into the Allies (I think- I'm to lazy to actually install it and check). so my guess is:  it is possible the Brits see you getting you fleet into the Mediterranean through being allies of the Italians. I haven't really seen the AI cheat (tough maybe I just never noticed...).

[Juni Ori]

It indeed autojoins Italy to Allies - which of made me think a nasty little thing which of more later - but the pure chance that they could get in there at the right moment, which is only several hours, is far too small to hit that many times. They should have the fleet in neighboring sea zone and move in immediately they see my transports have left Venice. I don't buy it.

The idea: as I'm now fighting against Soviet Union and for some illogical reason Italy declared war to them also, I benefit of declaring war to Italy. Simply because it either does not autojoin allies for some reason or then - even better - allied declare war to Soviet Union...

Immediate edit: like it actually matters anything. All I have to do is destroy Leningrad and that's about it. Also the game may go somehow wierd because of it - perhaps I ignore it.

[PrejudiceSucks]

I actually saved myself from Annexation as Austria by invading Italy in 1937 - the Germans then got involved and after about a year, I was the new owner of north-Eastern Italy, and the Germans had taken the entirety of its land.

[Juni Ori]

Hehe, encouraged by that post I tried out playing Austria and it's surprisingly easy! Alliance with Germany is very easy to achieve and aggressive territory demandings gives you easily Trento and after that you stand in the high ground, better positioned for defend and for attack. Venice and Milan are both easily takeable and if you play it dirty, you get your belligerence to zero (attack Hungary and let the war continue until Italy declares war on you). All the time I've been aiming for democracy and to keep relations good with the Allied. Now I'm just waiting what happens in the end of Czechoslovakia. If peace continues, I play it even further dirty and leave the alliance in 29. of August...

[Juni Ori]

Heehee, I love how this game can surprise! I tried something risky with good results: Sep 28 '39 Poland annexed; Oct 10 '39 I accept Vichy France event but they say no!!! (never happened before); Nov 21 '39 Swedes join the Winter War!!! (never happened before); Dec 28 '39 UK territory in British Isles conquered; Jan 3 '39 Ireland annexed; Mar 29 '39 last remaining French divisions destroyed to Alps; Jan 16 '39 Nationalist Spain annexex (Gibraltar naturally conquered)...

And so on, until the really big surprise! Soviets were invading Baltic States (by force), when they apparently got nervous about my expansions in Middle East when I declared war to Persia. So, war broke out and no go to India yet. However, AI made a poor estimation, because even my infantry divisions could break Soviet lines in several spots, even without Panzers or Luftwaffe supporting! However my main breakthrough happened in the Caucasus - reaching Stalingrad in less than two months! Luftwaffe hammering Black Sea clears the route to my onslaught via sea to Sevastopol.

Oh, btw, Africa is cleared by the end of '42 (except Portugese and Italian ownings)...

[Juni Ori]

Okay, this got ridiculous. I've always hated how USA masses forces against me and I decided to take the initiative and head to North America. Screw the Soviets, enough troops on east front to defend if necessary and to make it less likely them to even declare war to me is enough. I thought six infantry divisions and 3 armored divisions is enough.

Now, Africa is mostly under control and what's not, is neutral or in war against the Allied. Or, better said, what's left of them. Here are some crucial events from the early years of war:
September 24, 1939: Vichy France-event
September 25, 1939: Poland annexed
August 28, 1939: Canadaa annexed
And before the end of the year, northern half of Africa cleared.

At first I was stunned how USA didn't even try to fend me off from North America, but then I realized that my invading force was about five times larger than US Army in total. So they could had harassed badly my supply line over the Northern Atlantic, but lose much territory. In the end, they did declare war on me, but after quite some time. I had strenghtened my forces in North America a little bit, prepared for defense and had turned my gaze to Africa, so I could reinforce my Amerika Korps and concentrate to battle for control over North America. During the first month of war against the USA I seized roughly half of her industrial capacity! In September 1942 I still haven't been able to annex them, thanks to very easily defended Alaskan victory point and - worst of all - Samoa. Samoa is out of my reach as long as I can take control of a port much closer to it. However, even from Pearl Harbor I can't reach any port of my enemies, thanks to Imperial Navy and Marines of the Japanese, who have advanced hardly in the Pasific. So, until Japs take care of it, I most likely can't do anything to end the US struggle. Like that really mattered to me...

Controlling North America is actually quite easy and shipping garrisons to there has become more and more safe, especially when transports are well escorted. I'm not even halfway done yet in the shipping, but in good start and my fighting force has been splitted all over the NA and assigned to anti-partisan duty. Except for the Kampfgruppe that has dug in in the Panama, waiting for my invasion to Colombia and South America in general.

Surprisingly, my hands and most of my forces tied to other fronts, the Soviets have not done anything else but building her armies! Now, as the situation is beginning to look like under control in other fronts, I've began to build my forces in East Front and shipping some of my forces back from Africa and Americas.

It's September 1, 1942, and the inevitable is about to happen. Not yet, because of the coming winter, but who knows what spring comes with it? What I'm afraid of, is the neverending hordes of the Red Army. Over 250 infantry divisions, almost as many armored ones as I do, air forces quite even... I'm little worried, to be honest. Mostly because of those infantry divisions. They have about five times infantry compared to me in East Front... Ouch...

Edit: Apparently I can't count. Corrected that infantry comparison...
Edit2: Forgot to mention there's no more France, only Vichy France...