Let me set the stage for you...
It's mid-42, I (as Germany) was hell-bent on total European domination (as all good-little dictators are)
Poland - gone in 39 (no problem)
France - gone in 40 (again, no problem, they really are a bunch of cheese-eating surrrender monkeys)
Vichy France - for what they're worth they're my allies
Republican Spain - won the SCW and are part of the Comintern (damn reds)
Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, - all in the axis family. (I've given them techs which brought up their infantry org to respectable levels)
Italy - In the family, but require massive amounts of assistance. (more on that later)
All of Scandanavia - Neutral
US - Neutral (elected right and became isolationist) well that changes as you'll read
USSR - Neutral (just wait)
Japan - Slogging through China
I've been building my massive Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe to begin a delayed Barbarossa, I have good subs that patrol the English Channel and the seas around Denmark to ensure no nasty surprises bite me on the ass. The only offensive operations that I'm participating in are in the Grecian Isles to head off any UK landings. (Using combined Germany and Bulgarian/Romanian forces) Yep, everything is looking good for the Fatherland. Until a few weeks ago that is, when all hell breaks loose. Firstly, the UK stage a massive amphib landing in Sicily and the southern end of the Italian mainland. I re-deployed 2 armeegruppe (18 x Infantry) and 2 Luftflotte wings (9 x tac/div, 3 x fgt), to push them back into the sea. Since the Italians were rather inept in Africa, I was hoping that they'd pick up the slack in the defense of their homeland. I was wrong. I took significant casualties in the defense of Italy, but was finally able to push them back. With the limited MP that Germany has, I'm still in the process of reconstituting my forces. Thinking that I could get back to Barbarossa, the UK (being the consumate pains in the ass that they are) decides to reinforce Greece. So now, I'm rushing those troops that fought in Italy to the Balkans.
Then things get worse. Next, the Japanese (not in the Axis) declares war on the US and allies (goes for Australia first), the US takes command of the Pacific front, joins the allies and therefore puts us in their crosshairs (all this despite the fact that their political leanings are decidedly in the fascist corner), so now I have US warships in the English channel, no troops yet, but its only a matter of time. Then like clockwork, the Soviets declare war on us, and my plans for a Barbarossa Offensive are dashed. So now I'm in a defensive mode in the East, its only a matter of time before the US/UK see how thin my defenses are in Northern France, Republican Spain is making headway into Vichy France (yet another area of operation where I am diverting eastern front troops to) and Japan won't join the axis to take some of the heat off me by engaging the Soviets. (although they're soon going to have their hands full with the US/UK in the Pacific)
The only good options that I can see are:
1. Reduce the amount of territory that I will be forced to defend. Shorten the lines in the west (thereby sacrificing my gains in France), shore up the Balkan defenses, and pray that my 50+ mech and panzer divisions will make the Soviets think twice about launching any major offensives.
or
2. Launch Barbarossa immediately (I have 3 x armeegruppe with 12 inf/mech divisions each, 4 x armee with 9 inf/mech divisions each, 5 x Panzerarmee with 9 x 50mm Med tank divisions each, and approximately 6 Luftflotte wings with a ton of div/tac bombers and a good number of fgts). Thereby forcing the Soviets to defend and hopefully getting to Bitter Peace before the Western Front implodes.
Any suggestions from more experienced players would be greatly appreciated. As a side note, this has been the best HOI game I've ever played, Super AI makes it all worthwhile.
It's mid-42, I (as Germany) was hell-bent on total European domination (as all good-little dictators are)
Poland - gone in 39 (no problem)
France - gone in 40 (again, no problem, they really are a bunch of cheese-eating surrrender monkeys)
Vichy France - for what they're worth they're my allies
Republican Spain - won the SCW and are part of the Comintern (damn reds)
Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, - all in the axis family. (I've given them techs which brought up their infantry org to respectable levels)
Italy - In the family, but require massive amounts of assistance. (more on that later)
All of Scandanavia - Neutral
US - Neutral (elected right and became isolationist) well that changes as you'll read
USSR - Neutral (just wait)
Japan - Slogging through China
I've been building my massive Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe to begin a delayed Barbarossa, I have good subs that patrol the English Channel and the seas around Denmark to ensure no nasty surprises bite me on the ass. The only offensive operations that I'm participating in are in the Grecian Isles to head off any UK landings. (Using combined Germany and Bulgarian/Romanian forces) Yep, everything is looking good for the Fatherland. Until a few weeks ago that is, when all hell breaks loose. Firstly, the UK stage a massive amphib landing in Sicily and the southern end of the Italian mainland. I re-deployed 2 armeegruppe (18 x Infantry) and 2 Luftflotte wings (9 x tac/div, 3 x fgt), to push them back into the sea. Since the Italians were rather inept in Africa, I was hoping that they'd pick up the slack in the defense of their homeland. I was wrong. I took significant casualties in the defense of Italy, but was finally able to push them back. With the limited MP that Germany has, I'm still in the process of reconstituting my forces. Thinking that I could get back to Barbarossa, the UK (being the consumate pains in the ass that they are) decides to reinforce Greece. So now, I'm rushing those troops that fought in Italy to the Balkans.
Then things get worse. Next, the Japanese (not in the Axis) declares war on the US and allies (goes for Australia first), the US takes command of the Pacific front, joins the allies and therefore puts us in their crosshairs (all this despite the fact that their political leanings are decidedly in the fascist corner), so now I have US warships in the English channel, no troops yet, but its only a matter of time. Then like clockwork, the Soviets declare war on us, and my plans for a Barbarossa Offensive are dashed. So now I'm in a defensive mode in the East, its only a matter of time before the US/UK see how thin my defenses are in Northern France, Republican Spain is making headway into Vichy France (yet another area of operation where I am diverting eastern front troops to) and Japan won't join the axis to take some of the heat off me by engaging the Soviets. (although they're soon going to have their hands full with the US/UK in the Pacific)
The only good options that I can see are:
1. Reduce the amount of territory that I will be forced to defend. Shorten the lines in the west (thereby sacrificing my gains in France), shore up the Balkan defenses, and pray that my 50+ mech and panzer divisions will make the Soviets think twice about launching any major offensives.
or
2. Launch Barbarossa immediately (I have 3 x armeegruppe with 12 inf/mech divisions each, 4 x armee with 9 inf/mech divisions each, 5 x Panzerarmee with 9 x 50mm Med tank divisions each, and approximately 6 Luftflotte wings with a ton of div/tac bombers and a good number of fgts). Thereby forcing the Soviets to defend and hopefully getting to Bitter Peace before the Western Front implodes.
Any suggestions from more experienced players would be greatly appreciated. As a side note, this has been the best HOI game I've ever played, Super AI makes it all worthwhile.
