Defending a border without any bad surprises [HOI4]

[Belryuminus]

Hi Generals,

I'm quite experienced with HOI 4 now but fails still happens especially in one particular situation : when i have to defend a frontline or a border on a large scale.

I mainly use three solutions depending of the profile of the border to defend but each ones seems to have their own weakness.

1 - The one i mostyle use : pick up several Generals, and distribute the troops beetween them, then ask each of them to defend a part of the frontline in order to limit troop mouvements along a huge border. It's quite efficient but if a breach appears, sometimes, the frontlines of the diffrent Generals automatically merges with the largest points possible and my troops start to move on their own along causing disorganisation and holes everywhere --> Death

2 - Give the entire border to 1 Genéral. Problem : Mouvement troops along it are too long and often totally stupids. The defense is not efficient.

3 - Using the "Fall back line" tool with different Generals in order to draw a nice and solid line. Problem --> I can't see easily holes piercing the line and it's quite difficult to organise counter-offensive (a lot of microgestion. Though it is possible, the planning tool seems more efficient as you also have a bonus when you execute it).

So here is the question : what's your favorite and more efficient solution to hold those kind of situation ?

Last exemple in date : Huge border to defend from North Germany to the Black Sea with my Yougoslavia (trying to achieve Huge'o'Slavia), against USSR which I was just betraying.
I used the solution number 1 hoping them to waste Manpower (as it was already massively reduced by the war against Germany and Japan) and then counter attack through Poland and East Germany.
It failed badly as my different frontline merged with no reason and my troops started to do sh** on their own...
In Ironman, by the time I saw that it was too late.

Thanks by advance for the help, and sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language.

 

[tylerdurden199]

only fault: dont use the stupid battleplanner for anthing

 

[ithillid]

What I tend to do is set up a long infantry battle line under a Field Marshal. Then, in front of particular areas that are important (fortification areas, screens for nearby VPs/industrial zones) I place additional generals to cover that in particular. Then I mostly just pay attention, and try to use the generals for counterpunching.

 

[davej]

stop the battle planner and manually adjust, if you can't, you're outnumbered

 

[hkrommel]

Use field marshals. The redeployment bug has been largely fixed and the AI will detect weaknesses in your line for you. Plus on a front that large they'll gain experience and get those really nice FM traits really fast. I usually use 3 to cover the eastern front as Germany, with 60 divisions each (30 INF, 10 MTN, 10 MOT, 10 ARM). You can just use pure INF with good support equipment and let the Soviets wear themselves down.

 

[Belryuminus]

Hi and thanks for the answers.

When i describe a large front line with only 1 General to manage, yes i use a Field Marchal with all divisions necessary but i still have the feeling that movements of troops are quite eratics ...

@hkrommel when you say : "I usually use 3 to cover [...] with 60 divisions each" ; do you mean that you draw the same front line for the 3 Field Marchals and their respective units are taking place along the same line ? Therefore you have a total of 180 divisions, but managed by 3 different groups ? I should try that indeed.

@ithillid : indeed it is a nice solution i used with major powers that can access a vast number of divisions. But in that case i was establishing a frontline with Yougoslavia and it was more difficult to access an adequat number of troops and of Field Marchals (even if i should have promote a General or 2 indeed).


However i always had a problem to draw a proper Frontline along different coutries.

 

[ithillid]

@ithillid : indeed it is a nice solution i used with major powers that can access a vast number of divisions. But in that case i was establishing a frontline with Yougoslavia and it was more difficult to access an adequat number of troops and of Field Marchals (even if i should have promote a General or 2 indeed).

I don't play minors a lot, but if I am short on generals, I always make sure I have field marshals, because troops are easier to mass than good generals.

 

[CharlesV]

Your English is good - you're French, correct?

I usually use Field Marshals as a huge border - the AI is better now and it works well. Always keeps a reserve, though, on a fall-back line to plug any gaps - just send in some units if there's a hole.

 

[Belryuminus]

@CharlesV thank you. Yes i'm French indeed. Specifics sentences constructions that allowed you to suppose that ?

The "nearby reserve army" on a fall back line proxy to the front is a really good idea i should try that !

 

[CharlesV]

@CharlesV thank you. Yes i'm French indeed. Specifics sentences constructions that allowed you to suppose that ?

The "nearby reserve army" on a fall back line proxy to the front is a really good idea i should try that !

Thank you! Really it was the accent on "General" and how you spelled mouovement. Really your sentence structure is very good.

 

[davej]

Hi and thanks for the answers.

However i always had a problem to draw a proper Frontline along different coutries.

Agreed. That's a common complaint.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

MIcro >> battle planner, though unfortunately the planning bonus is too good to pass on so it's usually a hybrid. Vs AI I use it for initial positioning, cancel and micro defense, then remake for planning bonus before going on massive offensive.

 

[hkrommel]

@hkrommel when you say : "I usually use 3 to cover [...] with 60 divisions each" ; do you mean that you draw the same front line for the 3 Field Marchals and their respective units are taking place along the same line ? Therefore you have a total of 180 divisions, but managed by 3 different groups ? I should try that indeed.

No not on the same line, that would just confuse the AI. I roughly have a north, center, and south army group. Basically there are 2 problems with battleplanners:

1. If you go with too wide of a front divisions can be caught way out of position and have to shuffle all the way across the line, plus it's more difficult to have targeted objectives.
2. If you go with too many fronts, you're stuck micromanaging small armies as the frontlines shift.

The best solution I've found is 3 large army groups. That way control is more local, so you have less shuffling (necessary or unnecessary), and you can target objectives. Plus it's only 3 frontlines to babysit rather than 30.