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Zaku

Panzer General
94 Badges
Aug 7, 2005
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To be honest I hate snails, but because I'm playing with the French let's pretend I like it.

Hi everyone!
This will be my first serious game in HOI3, until now I only played till 41. Germany was too easy for my taste and Japan needs too much micromanagement to mantain the islands, so I'll check the other side.

I will start on normal and when the war starts I'll switch to hard. I don't want to start on hard, because then:
1. I won't have enough IC to waste(I have a bad habit of building trash for flavor)
2. My allies will be stronger too.

Every option on player control.

Also, there will be some house rules:
1. More or less historical research. I probably won't have the leadership for it though, so I'll neglect navy if I must.
2. No division controls. I'll issue my orders on army/corps level. I'll drop this rule if Paris is in danger.
3. I won't start a war early to increase my mobilization, industry, etc.
4. I won't desert any colony. Of course the Motherland comes first, but I will do everything to protect them. This doesn't mean I will garrison every single island and whatnot, but you get my drift.
5. I modded out the Japan vs China war, because Japan always looses korea, and I don't want to fight crippled enemies. More challenge, more fun. I also modified the end of csehszlovakia(sorry, I'm too lazy to look after how it is written in english :p) event. Hungary will get Slovakia.
6. No save-load if something goes bad.
7. I'lll try to add some humour, but I'll probably fail at it.
8. I may mod the save game later, but only for flavor, and to help the AI. I will not cheat, or whatsoever. Everyone knows it can't research land doctrines, so I'll probably add some of them to the majors in '39. Also I'll mod Hungary, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Japan in the axis.(at historical dates)
Oh and I'll try to modify USA's aligment constantly, I don't want them to join the allies before '41, or better I'll try to add leadership in allies to france, that way the englishmen won't interfere in my almosthistoricalbutthefrencharecoolandnotpussiesliketheywereIRL game. Huhh even I couldn't read that.

EDIT: Okay I modded France to be the leader of the Allies. I will invite historical members on historical date to the alliance. I don't think I will have the leadership to spare on influencing, but I hope UK will still do her job. Those englishmen are friendly for sure. The only difference is that I'M THE BOSS MWAHAHAHAcough.... cough.... err...

My objectives are(in priority list):
1. Survive
2. Destroy Germany and his merry band
3. If I fail against Germany I'll switch to Vichy, and

  • [a] try to join the allies while the nazis are crusading in the east. OR
    I'll join the axis and destroy the evil english for letting me fall. I'll decide it when I'm there.

4. Pacify the Japaneese.
5. Purge Stalin.

Update1: Installed Kasper747's mod. It allows the AI to build convoys.
Update2: Added land, air and naval doctrines to all AI majors.
Update3: I also installed an other work of Kasper747: Production AI improvement. MP rich nations will build more infantry instead of tanks, airforce, or ships.

Appendix:

1936 Jan 1 -1939 May 1: The Calm Times.
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III., Chapter III/b, Chapter III/c.

1939 May 2 - 1940 April 1 : War in the Mediterrean.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Conference of Saigon(side chapter)
Chapter VI. , Chapter VI/2. , Chapter VI/3
Pirates of the Mediterrean(Side Chapter)
Yet an other Side Chapter


1940 April 1 -
Chapter VII.
 
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Chapter I. Reorganization of the army

First of all, if you are like me, and you want your divisions in tidy corps, then DON'T START WITH FRANCE. I mean geez, their starting OOB is a chaos. Some divisions are under armies, or army groups, some are in corps. Those french generals are crazy. I should send then to germany to learn some discipline. I bet they don't even know what does the first 'O' stands for in 'OOB'.

Well anyways, here is our army:


Not bad but still not enough if we want to defeat Germany in a possibble war.
Our priority will be to build a modern armored army consisting at least 3 corps of motorized and armored formations. 5 corps would be more ideal, but I don't think France will be able to field that many units before '40 and that may be too late. And besides we still need to build up an air force, and infantry.

This brings us to the next part:

What can I say? A good backbone for the airforce, but this will not help against the german armored spearheads. Tactical bombers are good, but we need more Interceptor wings, and more importantly CAS squadrons against the Panzers.

The navy is absolute secondary for me, I have UK to protect my shipping lanes, but here you go:


Well this is a nice fleet, but it won't help defend my borders against the pigs... err I mean the germans. The CAGs will come in handy though as an expansion of the air force. The other parts of the fleet will be used to hinder Italy's ability to attack our north african Colonies, but I don't think I will be building any more of them... well maybe a battleship or two later, 'couse they are cool.

Anyways. After reorganizing the army, this is how we are:

Paris HQ (theater HQ)

Northern Armygroup(armygroup)
Third Army: 3corps consisting 13 infantry divisions, and the best unit the country has to offer: the first armored Corps with 3 armored and 2 motorized cavalry divisions.
This font will be used to counter the Germans on the belgian border, thus it gets the highest prioritiy in all aspects.
Maginot Armygroup(armygroup)
8. Army: 3 Corps consisting 14 infantry divisions. This army will guard the german-french border.
I think an other 8-10 divisions will be enough to hold the fortresses.

Marsielles HQ (theater HQ)

Alpine Army: 9 divisions, 6 of them are mountain and 3 infantry
I'll probably create an armygroup for the southern front, but right now I want to save the leadership and the generals (France starts with very few and very bad generals) We will need more units here, this will not stop the italians, well 1 more problem is nothing for me, I can handle a dozen more.

France starts with like 10 army HQs for these units, so yes, I still think they are crazy. I disbanded the rest to save officers and generals.

The colonial forces are in a good shape, especially the north african army, there are six infantry and 1 motorized cavalry division there, so we can use them as a final reserve. I don't want to give up on my colonies, but it's better to have a plan if thing turn ugly.


Well this is enough for the OOB, I'll soon post an other update about the technologies and the industry.(after that I can finally start playing:p)
 
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Sounds reasonable so far.

The trouble is, you're going to have a hard time improving your laws. That National Unity hurts. (It should, when 20% of the people vote Commie and 15% believe in Monarchism when not in Fascism... :p )

Nah, it's common knowledge that we're proud, boastful, and that we're always taking the other side in an argument. Just because we know better :p
 
Don't you know, Zaku? The French don't have OOBs, they have DOBs. Disorders of Battle. :D
 
Having just completed a French campaign, it was suprisingly easier than expected, not that I expected difficulty from Paradox games but still.

Italy surrendered in 1941 and Germany folded the next year. My attempt to invade the Soviet Union were cut short by the game though, instant CTDs as soon as I launched combat operations.
 
Chapter II. Oh crap! I just realized France sucks in the game.

Okay. So then what? We have bad laws, high neutrality, low national unity. What does the germans have? Apart from everything opposite as above? NOTHING! (well if we don't count the numerous and good leaders, modern airforce, high leadership and high IC, but those things doesn't win a war)

Well here is the deal in the politics:

The Laws
Open society: -25% counter intelligence. Cool, who need is anyway -10-15% on research speed is nothing.
Two year draft: this is not bad. But not good either. I bet even the Albanians have 3 year draft.
Full civilian economy: the -50% ic increases your manliness.
Big Education investmen: Hey at least we are clever.
Mixed industry: well the best peacetime setting here, so no complaints.
Free press: HAHA this is what we need. even worse national unity :grumbles:
Advanced training: I was eyeing with specialist, but I only switch after I trained a few cannon fodders... err I mean infantrymen.

The guys behind the laws:
Pikachu I choose you! I mean Yvon Delbos! Yvon Delbos! I don't know what pikachu is! :embarassed: The -0.01 looks like nothing but it is like an other spying mission thats -0.02 now. He helps to get rid of the shitty laws. After that we'll dump him. The other guys don't need explanation, easy choices there. At least where I HAD a choice. That destroyer practical guy might come handy if the UK is not able to destroy the uboats... HAHA I'm so funny.


Next: tech



WHOOOAAAA! We are good at something. Suprisingly this is nothing like HoI2. France is lightyears before germany in almost every tech tree. 1938 tanks? both medium and light? That's what I'm talking about baby! I was expecting a blank screen saying "French doesn't research"(like in hoi2...) our theorical and practical is good too. I'm speechless.
Also notice that there is no point on the officer training. I will up it when 3 year draft will be avalible. I can save a few leadership point that way. Espionage will also be lovered when we have 10 spys on our 3 targets (Germany, Italy, Myself)

Espionage



Eat that sucker! That should slowdown you in the tech race. We the French will be superior to you. FOREVER!
In the meanwhile we start to lower the neutrality.

And finally: Production



10 reserve infantry(3inf/1 arty) in the first run. I want to build 50 of them leter along with the armored army. Some guys told me that arty is not good, that it's expensive and eats supplies, but then tell me how should I blow up a german otherwise? I'm expert at this, trust me.
I will add the air force and armored/motorised divisions later with better techs.(and specialised training) Maybe I will build a few forts on the italian borders, that should slow them down a little.

Well time to play, I'll update as soon as something interesting happens (or when I realize I forgot something.)
Gotta... remember ... to make screenshots.
 
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you already organize the army in the teutonic or the yankee way. "Armoured Corps" :rolleyes: what a notion. No, armours are to be given to all the divisions or the corps at the regimental level (brigade in HoI3). The doctrine is to support the irresistible advance of our proud infanterymen (piou-pious) :cool:

To be honnest, the reorganisation of the armours had began in 1939 and the idea of real armoured corps (at least divisions) was slowly getting through the hierarchical levels to the HQ. Slowly means post 1940 surely :D

If you manage to change the doctrine and to speed the changes that were coming (changing infanterie divisions into motorized infanterie division, changing cavalry division in light armoured divisions...) the strange little guy with funny moustache will have no chance. Providing the "roastbeefs" get their ass through the channel to give a hand... but that's another debate :p

good luck
 
Yep, it isn't really hopeless :D

French research was rather good for the times, though we made some silly designs too. Like building some ancestors of the Maus tank in the late 1920s.
 
Sounds reasonable so far.

The trouble is, you're going to have a hard time improving your laws. That National Unity hurts. (It should, when 20% of the people vote Commie and 15% believe in Monarchism when not in Fascism... :p )

At least it is historical somewhat. Well my spys will have jobs, that's for sure.

Don't you know, Zaku? The French don't have OOBs, they have DOBs. Disorders of Battle. :D

Ehh don't worry, I'll bring them the ORDER.

Having just completed a French campaign, it was suprisingly easier than expected, not that I expected difficulty from Paradox games but still.

Italy surrendered in 1941 and Germany folded the next year. My attempt to invade the Soviet Union were cut short by the game though, instant CTDs as soon as I launched combat operations.

That's why I made house rules. If it will be too easy, I will make the game harder :D

Good luck!

Watch the Italians closely, they may prove tougher then the Maginot line.

Are you going to build up your air force at all?

Yeah those sneaky little italians I'll just take lybia from them and they'll run home crying to their mommies :)
And yes, I plan to build at leat 5 CAS and a 4-5 interceptros besides the starting airforce.(maybe a strat wing or two if I'll have the IC... just for fun)
 
Yeah those sneaky little italians I'll just take lybia from them and they'll run home crying to their Jerries :)

Fixed that ;)

Any idea of when you can get a little more IC?
 
I am myself trying a french campain from 1936. I'm currently in 1938, I will come back to read how you managed it yourself.

(I divided my Army the same way you did).

And yeah snails are very good and only barbarian foreigner can deny it. :rofl: Seriously give it a try ^^.
 
French tech looks pretty good, though her leadership in on par with Italy's. Which is to say, not all that good. :p
 
We do! And with enough red wine and garlic sauce, everything tastes good eventually.

Don't forget to make eating snails compulsory in vanquished nations!

Was it not so that you hadn't ever tried snails about a year ago? :p
 
Was it not so that you hadn't ever tried snails about a year ago? :p

Nope, that was frog legs - still is, actually, I still haven't touched the stuff. Snails in garlic/parsley sauce I've been acquainted with in my childhood, and I swear it is with snails as it is with fugu : the trick is to have as little snail and as much sauce as humanly possible. ;)