Diplomacy assessment, sprites, garrisons

[Ehrenbourg]

A few fixes are needed - a) diplomatic basic control of self interest by AI

Diplomatic idiocy rules are OK to a certain extent - Mussolini historically played havoc in Hitler's Drang nach Osten game by invading Greece with a terrible timing (err...having Greeks invading Albania, actually) - it is historical,

as are historical the facts of not matching extensive systems of alliances (the petite entente namely) by an energetic autonomous policy (Chamberlain wants to appease the "gentleman" , OK, sorry, we won't go alone, we appease too then, even if it's not "peace for our time" but "les cons, si ils savaient") and (perhaps the ultimate cause) not a mobile army (even with goodwill, sitting behind the Maginot wasn't a winning strategy to relieve Czech or Poles),

so are Stalin's paranoia (Thukatchevski) or blindness (Hitler won't attack, it is an intelligence service "pravokatsya"), or american ships sitting anchored waiting for japanese dive bombers after cutting the gas to the japanese (perhaps not an additional Roosevelt enticement, but suprise attacks without a DOW was standard japanese practice since 1905), so was DOWing america (sure killing Uboot in peacetime was a major irritant, but nazi leaders but Hitler felt better that the industrial giant was more than "a razorblade manufacturer whose masterworld was bluff"

...and surely Yamamoto knew better

In my recent game, while finishing off France (yes, I played germany), to my great dismay, Stalin revoked the non agression pact - I immediately allied to Japan to keep hip thinking it twice (I expected Russian AI to check "correlation of forces" and conclude that "while contrary to marxist theory in the long run , temporary neutrality towards fascists is objectively compelling so correct praxis for the party line" - or , failing this deterrence having the soviets busy on their east)

then, Japan, still busy with China, with France and Britain still alive (no Vichy yet), and Soviet Union ready to strike...immediately DECLARED WAR ON USA ! - without a pearl harbour !
too much is too much ! This "bold" move was matched later by a declaration of war to China (strangely enough, China, in such as situation, offered a peace limiting its losses, but still victorious for Japan, that I, leader of alliance , immediately accepted then - followed a difficult salvation of south east asia situation, where I took command of japan allied forces rolled out of thaliland/burma indochina, and an Inchon-like strategy to cut British India army lines of communication - then, while I had pocketed 90% of british army unsupplied between the sea and ..chinese border ...Japan declared war to China THEN - Ach, Sabotage !

so - could countries check correlation of forces, and not attack ahistorically powerful neutrals if it reverses prematurely the balance of power and put their alliance in inferiority - would it be hardcoded, or by a check of numbers of divisions/naval (air ? ) units - the feature exists perhaps in AI but clearly basic checks are to be implemented or improved - great powers should declare war step by step, not commit suicide, Germans AI, should not declare war to russia if france is alive, Russia to japan when barbarossa is launched, japan to USA if france is not down and pearl harbour not ready, and germany to USA if at war with healthy britain and USSR and japan is neutral ! AI should compute potential ratio of strength

b) at any difficulty level, strategic points should be left garrisonned, if only by a minimum number of units - garrisons include capitals (except if one wants to help Germans in france for play balance, OK, but then clearly chosen idiocy rules), ALL British ports/vbeaches, plus malta, Gibraltar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Suez and Alexandria - I guess the atlantic wall for germans - ditto british reversed, and at vey least Moscow Leningrad Stalingrad and baku (plus some crucial strategic places, like smolensk) for Soviets - I have seen the Soviets EVACUATE Stalingrad in front of my Panzers - "stay, dig in and die there if necessary, you counterrevolutionnary defeatist scum !" seems they know well too much that NKVD is out of the scope of the game !

c) preferential areas should be computed - due to unlimited redeployment feature and ally basing, I have seen uinwanted Manchukuo, Japanese, Italian, Hungarian planes, sometimes badly needed in closer fronts, come and commit suicide in a battle of Britain I, German did not fight myself (deadly british 15 AA) - I have been attacked by zero to 5 org British bombers - a good way to gain free experience, and kudos to Paradox team for having fixed it, but next step (if not already done) should be avoiding Italian fleet around australia or unneeded japanese naval bombers in cyprus and jordan (at a time where mediterranea was an axis lake since 2 years) while neglecting vital patrolling duty around Coral Sea, Midway, and japan - clearly priority checks should be implemented - an array of priioritary areas, and send units abroad only when not badly needed - granted US sent a lot of material both in Europe and Pacific, but there is no way they would have sent ALL abroad had nazis landed in Carribean or Venezuela

d) then for local colour, PLEASE, could we have a few sprites more - not much, but roughly what we had in HOI1, a rocket and not a (fine BTW) ME 109 for V1 and V2, in addition to these beutiful fighters, at least a stuka and an heinkel for the german dive/tac bombers - B17 and Wellington for british/US bombers, a sturmovik, and if possible an italian and a japanese bomber too - oh - a mechanized-motorised sprite would be nice too, knowing if we face a mobile foe - (if more, the better) - take HOI1 existing ones if needed, but, please, fort colour, striking an allied column with a messerschmitt in place of stuka don't do visually, a battle of britain without any bomber isn't visually cool, and I like hammering the Ruhr with the SAC, not with spitfires - it's just for colour - and that's the only thing missing for chrome, imho

e) already evoked somewhere - allow specific provinces orders for air or naval units - areas should be the rule, but we need the possibility to call CAS - MORE THAN ONCE i had to call off missions because my planes consistently commited suicide on heavily AA defended remote provinces while my target of land attack went untouched - I don't know how the routine operates, but for me any attack on a really intended target was pure coincidence

thanks for all

[Alexander Seil]

I second the diplomacy points, at least. The system needs to be more dynamic.

[Markusw7]

If Japan is at war with the allies it will dow the US.