What are the best starter nations and tactics to play with over 20 people in multiplayer? In other words, what are the best starter nations and tactics for competitive multiplayer games?
I tend to avoid the 7 major nations and China in +20 players game because I simply don't have enough competitive experience with the game. As for the minors, I particullary enjoy the British Commonwealth. Nations like: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zeeland have their own focus trees (which isn't much but it's better than the generic one) and are far away from the heat of the battle so the stakes aren't that high for your nation, a mistake isn't that crucial. Mexico, Brasil and Argentina are other viable safe choices.
With the Axis I play nations like Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. Not much to say here, they are protected by Nazi Germany and Italy by being right in the middle of Europe. Manchukuo and Venezuela are probably a viable choice too but I never played them. Siam is not because it's very exposed right between China and India. And the surprise choice - Iran. Iran is somewhat of an underdog in Hearts of Iron 4. It can make a decent industry for a minor, it only has 12 million population but there are a few starting minor nations with better manpower pool and is very safe from fascism in case it goes with the Comintern or Allies.
What are your suggestions of the best multiplayer strategies and division templates for: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zeeland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Iran?
I believe the nations mentioned above are something of a "low tier" or "starter tier", not that their contribution is insigificant, because you can create quite an army with them, I once managed to save India from the Japanese as Canada and I've seen someone landing in Rome and conquering a lot of Italy as Brasil. But these nations have the best geographic locations (Romania didn't have in real life when both Nazi Germany and Soviet Union took pieces of it, but when you know you're going Axis since 1936 it's a different story) so they are protected from an early capitulation in case of a huge mistake.
As a summary of low tier nations: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zeeland, Brasil, Argentina, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Manchukuo, Venezuela, Iran.
There are also "medium tier" nations that I believe I should start playing after I master the starter tier nations. What do you think about this?
By medium tier nations I mean nations that are more powerful than the starting tier nations and/or more exposed to the enemy, but are not major nations. Such as:
Sweden - whether you go Allies or Axis you're right in the middle of the battle.
Finland - unless you're going Communist and help the Soviets.
Spain - eventually becomes powerful like a major nation.
Turkey - good location and powerful industry but right on the frontline whether you go commie or fascist.
Mexico - as safe as the British Commonwealth, Brazil and Argentina; but higher industry and better manpower means you're supposed to contribute a lot more to the war effort.
Siam - decent manpower and not a magnificent industry, but you are right in the middle of China and India, it takes a good player to navigate this situation.
Philipines - right at the doorstep of Japan
Afghanistan - weaker when compared to other nations, but if you're out of countries to pick it beats Norway or Switzerland.
Nations like: Yugoslavia, Greece, Czechoslovakia and Poland I didn't mention because in historical games picking them is considered a meme move.
What do you think about this list of starting tier and medium tier? Is it accurate? The high tier would of course be the major nations and China.
What is your strategic mindset when you play competitive multiplayer Hearts of Iron 4? What do you focus on? How do you plan your industry? What division templates you use depending on country? and so on.
I tend to avoid the 7 major nations and China in +20 players game because I simply don't have enough competitive experience with the game. As for the minors, I particullary enjoy the British Commonwealth. Nations like: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zeeland have their own focus trees (which isn't much but it's better than the generic one) and are far away from the heat of the battle so the stakes aren't that high for your nation, a mistake isn't that crucial. Mexico, Brasil and Argentina are other viable safe choices.
With the Axis I play nations like Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. Not much to say here, they are protected by Nazi Germany and Italy by being right in the middle of Europe. Manchukuo and Venezuela are probably a viable choice too but I never played them. Siam is not because it's very exposed right between China and India. And the surprise choice - Iran. Iran is somewhat of an underdog in Hearts of Iron 4. It can make a decent industry for a minor, it only has 12 million population but there are a few starting minor nations with better manpower pool and is very safe from fascism in case it goes with the Comintern or Allies.
What are your suggestions of the best multiplayer strategies and division templates for: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zeeland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Iran?
I believe the nations mentioned above are something of a "low tier" or "starter tier", not that their contribution is insigificant, because you can create quite an army with them, I once managed to save India from the Japanese as Canada and I've seen someone landing in Rome and conquering a lot of Italy as Brasil. But these nations have the best geographic locations (Romania didn't have in real life when both Nazi Germany and Soviet Union took pieces of it, but when you know you're going Axis since 1936 it's a different story) so they are protected from an early capitulation in case of a huge mistake.
As a summary of low tier nations: Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zeeland, Brasil, Argentina, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Manchukuo, Venezuela, Iran.
There are also "medium tier" nations that I believe I should start playing after I master the starter tier nations. What do you think about this?
By medium tier nations I mean nations that are more powerful than the starting tier nations and/or more exposed to the enemy, but are not major nations. Such as:
Sweden - whether you go Allies or Axis you're right in the middle of the battle.
Finland - unless you're going Communist and help the Soviets.
Spain - eventually becomes powerful like a major nation.
Turkey - good location and powerful industry but right on the frontline whether you go commie or fascist.
Mexico - as safe as the British Commonwealth, Brazil and Argentina; but higher industry and better manpower means you're supposed to contribute a lot more to the war effort.
Siam - decent manpower and not a magnificent industry, but you are right in the middle of China and India, it takes a good player to navigate this situation.
Philipines - right at the doorstep of Japan
Afghanistan - weaker when compared to other nations, but if you're out of countries to pick it beats Norway or Switzerland.
Nations like: Yugoslavia, Greece, Czechoslovakia and Poland I didn't mention because in historical games picking them is considered a meme move.
What do you think about this list of starting tier and medium tier? Is it accurate? The high tier would of course be the major nations and China.
What is your strategic mindset when you play competitive multiplayer Hearts of Iron 4? What do you focus on? How do you plan your industry? What division templates you use depending on country? and so on.
