Obviously, one cannot post in this thread without offering a very deep bow to Ironhead. This has been more helpful in understanding the intricacies of the game than... well, anything else I encountered sofar. Much obliged.
Post then continues with observations from my game where I am trying to follow along faithfully. I have to admit I have no clue what exactly is different in Armagedon - but from what I see, a lot.
1) Research is a lot faster. I noticed that I am running way ahead of you in research. I also noticed that I have to use a differing order or research: sometimes you'll advice to take 'Techt a' first, but it is only available after reesearching 'Tech b' that you start later. No biggie.
I can guess that I have traded a few blueprints but that doesn't account for all.
2) Romania will not ally (now in march 1940). before Hungary, after Hungary, before Bulgaria, after Bulgaria: relations have been a healthy 200 for years and chance of joining the Axis remains a steadfast 0. Either I am doing something wrong or there is something hardcoded in Armageddon. No clue. They are not a democracy, in case anyone wonders
Portrugal and Argentina do want to join (95% chance). I resisted the help, but that seems rather too simple? Italy, by the way, refuses all events with Germany and Japan. I dunno if this will make a mess of the Grand Strategy later on.
3) Attacking Poland with exactly the forces you had, using your exact tactics/strategems did not work, period. After declaring war, I was at the gates of Warsaw (taking all objectives within two days) after 7 days. Planes had been bombing the place for four days, like you instructed. The 17 divisions in the city resisted all I managed to throw against them on seven reloads of the war. I ended up reloading my januari first 1939 save and place six extra infantry corps in the northern area. That did the job, but barely. A LOT of casualties sank my usable IC due to replacements in the nether regions for months.
4) Attacking Denmark went as expected and they surrendered as advertised, but the partisan activity is quite persistent. Maybe a few garrisons needed. Is this not in Doomsday or Vanilla?
5) Attacking Norway caused a few surprises. I had to reload and send out the Kriegsmarine to protect the transport fleet with the Alpenjager and infantry. The Norse fleet sank them the first time around.
Taking Oslo was indeed simple, but the Norse troops were retreating northwest only to isolate the advancing Alpenjagers later on. I am uncertain if this is what happens with everyone, but I am sure it will hamper my combat operations anytime soon.
Also, the convoy from Aarhus - Oslo is under constant attack. Beats me where those subs are coming from - so far the Kriegsmarine has been unable to find anything. I was forced to divert production IC to building transports and escorts to keep the convoy viable.
6) France wasn't helping either - while I was worrying about the Norwegian developments, France crashed through the front door using 72 divisions, 8 of them armour. The four corps each in Freiburg, Saarbrucken and Stuttgard were no match obviously even with all my TACs and CAGs offering support. You did mention that after they took Freiburg all I need to do was take the Maginot line from Stuttgard - but the four corps doing just that barely managed to do it, then were crushed in a counterattack from Freiburg (20 divisions) and in the back from France proper while the other 52 divisions from Freiburg went on to Munich and Vienna. The armour went north, maybe towards Berlin... I am guessing France is now devoid of troops? Perhaps when they do attack, I should declare war on the Low Countries and execute the attack?
Or, I am looking at a reload I guess, the one from januari 1st 1940 and not place any infantry corps on the Societ border but in stead place them all on the French border. I got 10 corps built between january 1st and march, so they should hopefully be able to either defeat the attack of deter it.
I would like to know if this is either because I am doing something very wrong, or that there is a HUGE difference in Armageddon. Also - what surpises can I expect once the Big Red Beard kicks off? I mean, if France and Poland were too much for me under these circumstances, that Russian bear looks very scary.
All in all, no harm done, because what I learend will prove invaluable regardless of how this turns out, but I am curious. Also, I reclal you asking about differences with Armageddon, so there
Thanks again, and thoughts on my errors or the setup of Armageddon are appreciated.