Quite a balancing act you're forced to play with your limited resources. Fortunately the way HOI3 handles occupied/conquered territories means that you can increase your production base reasonably well. Provided you can conquer some worthwhile land that is.
I think you'll enjoy what I have in store... If I can pull it off!
Heh, Portugal looks like it'll be fighting a very interesting set of wars--colonial wars, but not against natives but European armies. May want to study up on the campaigns of Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck in preparation.
You're exactly right! It'll be very interesting -- very different from most HOI 3 games. I'm planning to follow von Lettow-Vorbeck's strategies some, to be sure.
It's almost painful to watch how you have to dole out your preciously few resources. The more you emphasize the small industrial and resource base you have, the more I wonder what exactly you'll be able to achieve in a war, particularly in a war against the Allies. It should be interesting to find out.
As I play through 1936 in v1.2 this is becoming even more apparent. In some ways I feel like it's going better, and in other ways I feel more constrained. It's like there's something subconscious pushing back against me that I didn't experience in the first game. I can't put my finger on it. But I already sense this is going to be a harder game than before.
The Spanish Civil War is turning out a very short affair in this game...
Conquering Brazil would provide the resources and manpower to do a world conquest. Build up Ascension Island as a port and airbase. Historically,the Portuguese army was small. Going for marine, mountain and airborne would fit in. Transports dropping paratroopers would be interesting. Elite Portuguese armed forces.
South Africa is not part of the Allies at the start of 1936 in HoI 3. That provides a window of opportunity to grab Namibia(administered by South Africa) and South Africa. Raising the threat level of Namibia would kep South Africa from building up their mlitary. The Belgian Congo would provide all sorts of resources, though Belgium may be guaranteed by Britain an have to wait for war with the axis to take.
Timor would make a good jump off point to secure the the Dutch East Indies and Dutch Guyana would provide a springboard for an attack om Brazil.
It's probably too mcuh to hope for to have a run at the clique running the Chinese territory nearest Macao.
Wonder if Portugal will have a desire for Siamese cats?
You're doing a nice showcase of the game, Rensslaer.
Well, paratroops and anything "elite" is out of reach for Portugal for now. Too little leadership to do the research. I could do a license purchase... But that's not my strategy right now. Maybe later.
Honestly, I think Brazil could crush me right now!
Their manpower base is far beyond mine, and their economy is probably pretty strong too. I've got too much to worry about already without taking on new problems!
South Africa may be possible, and the Belgian Congo -- I'm allowing more for those possibilities in this game. I've also experimented with manipulating the Guangxi and I don't think that's a potential in this game. We'll see.
Quite a busy little nation you have there.
I've quite been thinking so!
Seems like you are building up a nice set of trade deals all around the world, but you are going to need that if you are ever going to be able to build some real forces… Also if the Nationalists continue doing this well, maybe you should see if you can attack the Republicans and grab some provinces before they are completely defeated. Or is your level of neutrality still too high to do anything?
A very interesting AAR. I have never taken a look at Portugal, other than as a target while playing a major power.
It truly is indefensible against a Britain, France, or Germany and thus I'm feeling the pressures you must be facing in preparing for future war. Looking forward to the next update.
BTW, excellent strategy guides.
Thanks! I really appreciate that! Actually, I hope to prove that Portugal is defensible. This is one reason why it's not always a good idea, though, for Portugal to bring Spain into the war. While Spain is neutral, Portugal is alot more defensible.
Well, you wouldn't want an easy ride, would you?
Never!
great! looking forward to it!
Great to hear!
this is great stuff - think you're right to go to 1.2 - its so much faster and seems to have ironed out the worst failings in terms of diplomacy etc.
I've just been muttering in my USSR aar about the difficulties of being expected to cope with 'just' 17 leadership points - I should have your problems.
Yes, I know the pain of running the USSR on low leadership -- a fascinating country to play -- but Portugal is far more frustrating!
Welcome, Loki! Great to have you along!
Playing a minor power can truly teach one the mechanics of any game as mistakes (and victories) are magnified and brought into greater relief. Anything you've learned thus far that would cause you to change the Guide?
Looking forward to your take on the differences in the new version (as compared to v1.1c).
You're completely right -- a wealth of resources can cover a multitude of sins! Without that...
Changes to the Guide? Hmm... I've discovered one thing -- in fact someone from the Forum discovered it, and brought it to my attention -- but rather than detail that here, I'll show you in practice. I'll take note of differences between patches, too. Off the top of my head I don't know that I can say there's anything I'd seriously change my recommendation on. I'm always open to suggestions, though!
The plot thickens!
Thanks for your update. I welcome your clear commentary. Please feel free to go into as much detail as you can about the decisions you make and why you make them. Reading your AAR is a good learning experience.
Thanks,
Vitalix, and
Welcome! It is my habit to go into detail, so I'm glad there's at least a few people who don't mind!
3.23 Leadership! And I thought 15 was bad!
I think you're absolutely right to go with spies early on. Get up to 10 domestically as quick as possible to get the maximum effect, then you can shift spending elsewhere.
Course, Peekee's Guide recommends putting leadership toward spies for a short time -- long enough to get up to 10 spies internally. That process takes longer for a small country.
Is it just me, or did the research times increase in this patch? I guess I may remember that being in the patchnotes, but I don't remember specifics. Not a bad change, all in all, but it's making Portugal even MORE frustrating!
Your strategy guides are an excellent read and this AAR puts it all into moving perspective. I'm having to change my thought processes from HoI1 style of play to this new and improved HoI3 style. I like it!
Waiting for next update - looks like the differences are negligible at this point between now and your past AAR.
Thanks again, Jorath -- yes it's pretty similar right now. More a shift of emphasis, rather than a change in strategy. Glad you're enjoying the game!
I love it!
Thanks!
Welcome, MastahCheef!
Mmm...Belgian Congo then South Africa? Using garrisons as port denial?
Excellently reasoned in anycase.
Subscribed.
Welcome, DropBear! Glad to have you along. No promises on the Congo. We'll have to see. But, yes -- the garrisons will serve as port denial forces (plus objectives) while my stronger units do the heavy lifting.
Oh, just a trowback to
this memorable thread and the years of low-level campaigning that followed. Including
this flaming disaster yesterday.
Funny. "Who are the Portuguese, again?" Yes, I imagine long debates have gone on about this.
Hehe, I was just copying what some other dude was saying. I know no Portugese... Hungarian, Yes. Portugese, No.
I can already tell you are playing smarter this time around, good for you!
Heh. Hard to tell facetousness on the internet. Thanks -- sure hope I'm playing smarter!
I just lub small countries
Welcome, Juan de Marco! Yes, small (well, medium anyway) size countries are a blast! Very fun.
Goa must be defended!
If not, then it must be sold!
But this freaking game does not allow selling provinces.
Yes, but then again I don't remember any provinces being sold in the '30s or '40s historically either.
Looking good. Which colonies do you think are worth defending and which are not?
Well, as I mentioned before, I don't think I can defend Goa, and though I think the island is potentially useful, I don't forsee any way for me to defend Timor either. If I've garrisoned everything else, plus added offensive forces according to plan, and I still have time to produce more defenders, then maybe Timor will get some attention. Everything else, I really would like to hold. The smaller islands, like Madeira and Sao Tome will be nice bases, but I'm not going to cry if I lose them.
Good, more focused start. Nice to be able to compare the two starts. Good luck, looking forward to seeing your 'strategic reserve' in action.
Thanks! Should be some interesting stuff ahead, soon.
The restart with the new patch sure looks a little more focused and I see you are taking advantage of some lessons learnt with the last patch. While I dislike garrisons I can understand why you are using and building them, and with Portugal’s resource situation I actually think it is a smart plan to use garrisons. Shall be interesting to see what colonies you think important enough to defend and where you will just let the Allies march in unopposed…
I'm hoping to keep the Allies so unbalanced they don't walk ANYWHERE unopposed! But that remains to be seen, whether I can do it.
*Looks at paper chart of expected timeframe*
Let's see here....Hmmmm....it says here by 1937 you should be invading East coast of the US after destroying San Deigo with a nuclear weapon
*checks status of AAR*
*Frowns*
It seems you have some catching up to do
Good luck to you!
Thanks!
Welcome, Exterous!
GOA WILL NEVER BE SOLD! IT WILL BE DEFENDED UNTIL THE LAST DROPLET OF PEASENT BLOOD! (Shameless copy from some EU3 pictures in the Strange Screenies thread)
Historically though, after the Portuguese Civil War of 1828/1834, the Liberals who won it were heavily endebted to the British. Those sneaky bastards who proposed to exchange Goa for the termination of the debts. Obviously such an outrageous proposal was immediatly declined!
The British have done alot of that, it seems. I'm not happy about losing Goa, but I don't see any way to stop it right now. Otherwise Goa would become the focus of all my defenses!
I'll try to get an update up today/tomorrow. Sometime soon. Lots going on! Should be fun to report on... Things are not going quite as I expected, compared to the last game. But that will be interesting, in itself!
Thanks again, to everybody who's reading, and especially to those who are commenting! Any lurkers care to say hello?
Rensslaer