Combat capabilities of fast divisions 1938-1942

[Mr_B0narpte]

I used to but got sick of the long wait to wartime game and then someone doesn't turn up or the USSR player ragequits or something. THere were also hgouserules used (no switching doctrines, no fascist USA, no selling fleets, must trade with Axis, no spreading dissent spy option, no Japan invades USSR). Said rules were to stop things like Japan selling fleet to Germany, and no sow dissent bombing by the allies (when USA+ UK+Aussie+South Africa+ Canada dissent bomb Germany). Oh and no filling France with all of the allied troops as well.

Ha! So so true. In my current game with 6-7 others we pretty much have all those rules. But the BEF was allowed in France (we have previously banned it mind); and Japan has always been allowed to invade the USSR after Danzig. I think it took us 6 RL months to get to Danzig. Maybe China or Japan is better suited for you as it's only a few sessions before war starts for them!

 

[Zardnaar]

Ha! So so true. In my current game with 6-7 others we pretty much have all those rules. But the BEF was allowed in France (we have previously banned it mind); and Japan has always been allowed to invade the USSR after Danzig. I think it took us 6 RL months to get to Danzig. Maybe China or Japan is better suited for you as it's only a few sessions before war starts for them!

I think it took us around 4 sessions to get to war.

Not sure if the strategy works in AoD but the German and Soviet players would have around 50 armoured divisions in 1941. The players would rush 1941 inf and arm getting it 1940 and then do a massive build of armor. Axis usually lost if USSR fell they end up getting nuked or double nuked (UK and USA had nukes).

USA player usually built a crazy amount of CVs Japan player had 0 chance.

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

I think it took us around 4 sessions to get to war.

Not sure if the strategy works in AoD but the German and Soviet players would have around 50 armoured divisions in 1941. The players would rush 1941 inf and arm getting it 1940 and then do a massive build of armor. Axis usually lost if USSR fell they end up getting nuked or double nuked (UK and USA had nukes).

USA player usually built a crazy amount of CVs Japan player had 0 chance.

I'd say the majority of my online games have been more balanced then that. Certainly never reached nukes, I feel Germany could get to them quicker in an even race. Germany players have built more then 50 ARM by 1941 on more then one occasion. USSR has to infantry spam, and to a smaller degree Mot spam. Arm for the USSR normally comes later as 1941 is all about surviving.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'd say the majority of my online games have been more balanced then that. Certainly never reached nukes, I feel Germany could get to them quicker in an even race. Germany players have built more then 50 ARM by 1941 on more then one occasion. USSR has to infantry spam, and to a smaller degree Mot spam. Arm for the USSR normally comes later as 1941 is all about surviving.

I think they may have over done the house rules a bit. Kind of lent itself heavily to rushing tech.

 

[Commander666]

I have always been interested in MP, and - paradoxically - decided against trying (for several reasons, personal and otherwise). But what happened to the earlier attempt to have people play their games to Danzig separately, and then merge those files to so begin a group war game (on the 1st session)?

IMO, the "early years" of AoD are very problematic as regards satisfying MP. Has anybody tried doing MP using the 1939 scenario? I understand there is strong desire for people to build their own army, and not the AI set up given using the 1939 scenario. But, still, there are MP advantages, I imagine, by getting game sooner to be an actual war. Also, as a suggestion, I suppose everybody could use a file save of an AI game that was run to - perhaps - Jan/38. It's a compromise that does cut off 2 years while still allowing nearly 2 years for players to "personalize".

I think they may have over done the house rules a bit. Kind of lent itself heavily to rushing tech.

Unfortunately, I generally have problems with rules. Honestly, I am positive I would end up cheating on some of the rules. Got to make two micromanagement missions just to insure my transports don't do something illegal.

At least with SP, if I do "cheat" I am only short-changing myself by getting advantages to win even easier against the AI. That makes good reason to instead take on handicaps. But if I was playing humans, I admit, I would be trying my utmost to win. Really, is anything fair in war? Seems chivalry and dueling died ages ago. If one looks at modern war - especial current involvements of the superpowers - nothing seems fair, or honorable. It is simply "beat them first".

 

[Zardnaar]

I have always been interested in MP, and - paradoxically - decided against trying (for several reasons, personal and otherwise). But what happened to the earlier attempt to have people play their games to Danzig separately, and then merge those files to so begin a group war game (on the 1st session)?

IMO, the "early years" of AoD are very problematic as regards satisfying MP. Has anybody tried doing MP using the 1939 scenario? I understand there is strong desire for people to build their own army, and not the AI set up given using the 1939 scenario. But, still, there are MP advantages, I imagine, by getting game sooner to be an actual war. Also, as a suggestion, I suppose everybody could use a file save of an AI game that was run to - perhaps - Jan/38. It's a compromise that does cut off 2 years while still allowing nearly 2 years for players to "personalize".



Unfortunately, I generally have problems with rules. Honestly, I am positive I would end up cheating on some of the rules. Got to make two micromanagement missions just to insure my transports don't do something illegal.

At least with SP, if I do "cheat" I am only short-changing myself by getting advantages to win even easier against the AI. That makes good reason to instead take on handicaps. But if I was playing humans, I admit, I would be trying my utmost to win. Really, is anything fair in war? Seems chivalry and dueling died ages ago. If one looks at modern war - especial current involvements of the superpowers - nothing seems fair, or honorable. It is simply "beat them first".

The rules mostly covered things like Russians and USA switching to blitzkrieg doctrine, human USA going fascist and allying Germany, USA entering the war a historically early or Japan allying Germany and selling its fleet so Germany has carriers in 1939.

 

[bshirt73]

Commander666;

Please forgive me for bothering you with an off topic question. But it's driving me crazy and your expertise would be greatly appreciated.

For the 1st time in years I'm playing the USA and for the life of me I can't recall how to annex Japan. I'm totally lost. I've taken the main Japanese island & about 800,000 of their tiny islands but still can't annex them. Even took out Korea, half of China they previously controlled & lots, lots more.

Help Cammander666!

 

[Commander666]

I presume you mean that the Annex Nation option is greyed out. I assume you know to go to Diplomacy Tab, click on Japan and so have access to the Annex Nation (right under Sue for Peace).

If you can not annex that can only be because you have not taken all of Japan's Victory Point (VC) provinces. Go to Political map mode (next button on mini-map after Terrain) and very carefully scour the whole world for any "yellow provinces" of Japan. You must have missed taking one of their VC provinces. You can not annex until you have all VC provinces. I suspect you missed something in Indo-China or Australian territory Japan captured. A VC Province is identified - when you click on it - with having a white star including number of points. Going to Victory Points Map mode (last button on mini map) gives you instant world view of all VC provinces.

BTW, you don't need to take "about 800,000 of their tiny islands" only every VC province and capital. Please let us know if you found the solution. Incidentally, there are many others on this forum who are more expert than me, but thank you for the kudos.

But, as regards being OT in this forum, that's nearly impossible... so don't worry about t.

 

[bshirt73]

Oh, that's precisely the answer I needed Commander666. THANK YOU so very much for, as always, sharing your keen insights for this marvelous game.

Some day I really need to send you a case of your favorite beer. Again, thank you sir!!

 

[bshirt73]

Oh heck Commander, for the life of me I can't find where in the world they have a VC province that I'm not in charge with. I've looked & looked everywhere. Grrrrrr.....

Haha.....it's probably staring me right into my eyes. Geesh!!

 

[Commander666]

Did you find it? What version are you playing?

As regards looking for it, be on Political Map Mode so that "Japan yellow" should show readily. Click on every remaining Japan province to see if its a VC province. Maybe check again.

There is always chance of a WAD, or game BUG I suppose. But first, let's get your answers to above.

 

[bshirt73]

Commander666, I'm playing version 1.09. I did find one I wasn't aware of in Vietnam. But taking that didn't help either. Blasting out Korea, Mengkukuo and the others north of Korea, half of China & so on. Finding another Japanese VC province is brutal.

Oh boy, this is tough! I double & triple checked Australia, New Zealand but none were under any Japanese command. I keep looking for any Japanese VC province anywhere in the Pacific ocean but no luck.

Of course, maybe I'm blind as a bat. Or maybe I should use a different game version?

Well, these are the locations of where I found Japanese VC provinces......

Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Shikoku, Osaka, Nagoya, Kanaza, Tokyo, Akita, Sapporo, Kaoh-siung, Hanoi, Saigon & Beiping......of course that changes with different game results. Heh......

 

[Pang Bingxun]

Of course, maybe I'm blind as a bat. Or maybe I should use a different game version?

I rather bet on the earlier, the version should not be the issue. In the map mode for victory points every vc province held by the enemy lights up red and is easy to find. If you cannot find any in the pacific region you might want to look elsewhere in case Japan controls a vc province somewhere else.

 

[Commander666]

Commander666, I'm playing version 1.09......

Please upload your latest file save and I will look at it to find solution. Do you know how to do that?

Short instructions are,:
1) go to the Scenarios folder/ save games and copy the latest saved .eug file and paste on desk top. Ignore the corresponding .eug.cfg file.
2) Put the file thru WinZip to reduce the size to under 1 MB (I think is the Forum attachment limit). That will create a zipped .rar file.
3) Make a new forum post, and use the "Upload File" feature to navigate to your desk top and click on the .rar WinZip file you created.

I very sure you missed finding all of Japan's VCs. Your list is way too short. There are considerably more than 13. Did they conquer Philippines? Then there is Clark Field, Bataan, Manila, Leyte and Cagayan right there.

Did they not take Guam and Wake Island (2 more VCs)?

Did they not conquer East Indies (6 more there)? Singapore another. Japan has VCs at Truk and 8 more of its own islands.

Did they not take anything from Australia? There's VCs at Rabual, Port Moresby and Lae.

I did find one I wasn't aware of in Vietnam. ......

Vietnam has 4 VCs from Hanoi to Rach Gia.
Good luck!

 

[bshirt73]

Commander666....well, I got so frustrated I deleted the file and started over. I'll be in touch in just a day or two compadre'. Thank you sir!

 

[bshirt73]

I rather bet on the earlier, the version should not be the issue. In the map mode for victory points every vc province held by the enemy lights up red and is easy to find. If you cannot find any in the pacific region you might want to look elsewhere in case Japan controls a vc province somewhere else.

You're almost certainly quite right Pang. Hmmm.....looking outside of the Pacific area is a good idea. Thank you!

 

[bshirt73]

Hi Commander! Thank you so very much for your patience. I started up another game as the USA and once again it's the same thing.

I took Hanoi in Vietnam and the rest of the their provinces are claimed by France. Guam, Truk, & Wake Island are taken by the USA. All the Japanese main lands also. Anyways.....let me try to send it to you my kind sir.

 

[Commander666]

Yes, please upload file so we can check.

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

Has anybody tried doing MP using the 1939 scenario?

Not that I know of. Partly as you say because of people wanting to have more influence on grand strategy, but I think also because many people have little faith in any of the scenarios beyond 1936. I might be wrong in saying this, but I get the impression the 1936 scenario is the only one that's had any sort of substantial attention since the release of Hearts of Iron 2.

 

[Pang Bingxun]

I might be wrong in saying this, but I get the impression the 1936 scenario is the only one that's had any sort of substantial attention since the release of Hearts of Iron 2.

This is my assessment as well. For AoD to work well it needs to start in 1936.