Advice for Italy please

[unmerged(8303)]

I just got this game monday. On Tuesday my harddrive had to be formatted due to a virus and HoI was one of two games that I have put back on my harddrive so you can see I hold it in high regard.

My first campaign was with Italy. Now I did the obvious: annex Ethopia. No real gains there..that I can see, but its nice to see Italian colonial possessions growing.

But really, I haven't quite got the hang of this game. I thought I had EU2 down til I read the forums and realized I knew next to nothing.

Can someone give me some advice on how I can prepare Italy. Should I ally with Germany? What are some juicy areas for Italian expansion? Greece? Albania? Perhaps Occupy Yugoslavia? Switzerland?

Where do I increase industry, AA guns, Forts, etc? Not just for Italy but in general.

Is there a pattern I should develop for technologies or just invest in what I can? Can you customize your armies strengths and weaknesses by technology?

 

[unmerged(11920)]

I belive you will find the threads in the FAQ forum usefull reading. Mybe even an Italian AAR (if there is one) could help.

 

[Norgesvenn]

Since you're not a part of the Axis in 1936, you can basically do whatever you want, Jaron. Take out Yugoslavia for some more raw materials, then Albania. Staying Neutral is an option, but how about an Allied Italy, getting those irredenta lands in Austria?

 

[unmerged(8303)]

I'm sorry guys, but those faqs are a bit cryptic to me..

What helps me the most is player to player advice. I like this game a lot. What I wanted to do originally is build an Italian colonial empire but I learned HoI was not designed for EU2 style empire building. So taking colonies from britain etc is not an option unless I want to fight them indefinitely. I only wanted the yugoslav adriatic coast but I find that I either must occupy these lands and guard them forever, or annex the whole of yugoslavia and I dont want to do that really.

but I am interested in all those buttons I know nothing about. I want to build AA stuff and sea forts, but I'm not really sure how to go about defending Italy and as far as I have experienced thus far I cannot protect Ethopia. There are just too many british around. Grabbing Egypt is always temping though.

 

[unmerged(6105)]

Taking yoguslavia and albania is the best advice I can gice you. they give you direct resources that you don't have to gather with a supply convoy and enough to supply your industry. They also give you a handy increase on industries. Take Albania first since that is a good base to attack Yoguslavia from and you can put them under a two front war.

remember to put up convoys to ferry recources from Africa to Italy and send supplies to Africa. And if you take Albania before Yoguslavia you need to set up convoys there too.

you don't have that much ICs, try to decide what branch of your armed forces you are going to spend research on. Tanks are great if you want to push for Africa and Infantry if you want to battle in europe and since you already have a lot of infantry. either some navy to uphold your convoys or some airplanes to bomb their fleets.

 

[Prince Eugene]

After you have Yugoslavia Romania and Hungary are good targets as well. There is lots of useful oil in Romania. Africa really isn't all that useful so it may not be a good idea to get offensive there.

 

[unmerged(4926)]

one way to really help germany is to take the belgian and british rubber in africa, you can allways take down south africa and the french colonies, take greece, albania, yougoslavia no real problem taking turkey either..

I would stay away from countrys that have borders towards the Russia since you will probably end up in war with her and you dont really have any intressts there.. make the mediteranian your own lake..

but first take yougoslavia, albania and greece, nice IC increase and some recources.

 

[tank_buster]

Yes taking balkan states is a good move and you definately need the resources there.

What I did as the Italians. . .

First of all I decided to join the Axis early, no sense putting this off. Start beefing up Ethiopia with more troops ASAP, this will be your launching pad to conquer the Belgian Congo and hit the British provinces in Egypt from two directions.

Do not give the British a moments rest in the Med! If you let them get too strong becuase you are not harassing their fleets and intercepting their convoys you will pay the price later.

Consider disbanding units. Sounds like a bad idea but so much of your production is tied up in supplies. I easily disband 6 to 9 divisions, it really helps.

To ease the demand on resources early "spend" production on upgrading provinces. I recommend AA in the ones bordering France just to make sure they don't get any bright ideas.

With proper planning and support Africa is easy, just be sure and put the forces there that you need.

When Germany invades France join in, the French will be so busy that you could get several provinces of France for yourself if you are quick.

Techs that I key on are aviation related, artillery (this area affects everything), and Infantry. Desert fighting equipment helps, also work on oil refinery tech and rubber plant tech to ease your resource problem. Of course once you have the Congo. . .enjoy!

 

[unmerged(12438)]

I tend to ally with the axis and build up until the war starts. Then I go for the rubber in british africa and push into the middle east for their oil. Definatly kick the british Navy out of the med. and sieze the suez canal.

 

[dsteve3]

Yes, don't be shy! Take ALL of it, all of the Balkans. Remember, as the origional fascist, you have a reputation to uphold!

Its not just that HoI is different from EUII, the world was different. Yugoslavia is one of those rare countries were regionalism is stronger than nationalism. I doubt you would see Bavaria busting to break from Germany.

But seriously, take it all. Its really a good game.

 

[slugo]

yep everyone has the rite idea.
ethiopia, a staging area for the precious rubber in cent africa
yugoslavia, leads to...
albania, these 2 give good resources
romania for the oil
hungary
the tail of chzech, just to make a good solid straight border with germany.
keep a garrison on the french border, turk border, soviet border for the inevitable. if your prepeared , you can grab all the oil in the caucus and stalingrad.
(i havent got to the bitter peace event in my italy game, but since i occupy stalingrad, im not sure if itll trigger, and if it does i hope i keep all my provs)
prepare to grab the suez adn cent africa.

the real thing with italy is tweaking your res sliders. keep an eye on them. during peaceful times, research and new units.
also watch your leaders. all the little wars in the balkans gets them good skills for the big one. also, use generals and lt generals alot to gain skill and exp so youll have enough field marshalls for the big one.
the only prob i have with italy is the lack of air leaders. 1 air marshall, then the default mj gen gain skill and exp if you promote them, they dont actually go up a rank, just lose 1 skill.

 

[unmerged(11763)]

I had an interesting game as Italy where I loaded my transports and sailed around and invaded persia and then marched through Iraq to build oil reserves. I think you have 5 transports. Taking 5 decent units over and then using the transports to move the "regular" forces in Ethiopia (which was annexed by the time the transports sailed around Africa) over to Persia gave more than enough firepower. Meanwhile, the rest of the army marched through Yugoslavia, Rumania, Bulgaria and they all finally met in Turkey in order to grab some industry and provide a land route for the oil to avoid the headache of convoys. Hungary, Austria and Czechoslavakia were next. That took me up to some time in 1938 and left Italy as one of the most powerful nations on the map with seemingly unlimited resources before anyone else really got going. At that point I quit and decided to give Argintina a try.

 

[Darkrenown]

Originally posted by Jaron
I'm sorry guys, but those faqs are a bit cryptic to me..

What helps me the most is player to player advice. I like this game a lot. What I wanted to do originally is build an Italian colonial empire but I learned HoI was not designed for EU2 style empire building. So taking colonies from britain etc is not an option unless I want to fight them indefinitely. I only wanted the yugoslav adriatic coast but I find that I either must occupy these lands and guard them forever, or annex the whole of yugoslavia and I dont want to do that really.

but I am interested in all those buttons I know nothing about. I want to build AA stuff and sea forts, but I'm not really sure how to go about defending Italy and as far as I have experienced thus far I cannot protect Ethopia. There are just too many british around. Grabbing Egypt is always temping though.

Italy doesn't really need to build AA, only France has an airforce that could threaten you and they don't last long once the big war starts.

Forts aren't needed as the AI is never likely to push you back (Hurry up 1.02!) but if they were needed your border with France would be a good place.

Its only worth upgrading industry in provs with 5 IC or less (this will change in v1.02) so up grade your african holdings.