How do I invade New Zealand as Australia?

[andysonofbob]

Hi

I watched a Let's Play and the dude built up an small invasion force, declared war and invaded. No worries.

When I tried, I couldn't declare war. I had too much unity or something. I was about three quarters of a year further into the game (about a year and a half in) than the YouTuber.

What do I need to do to declare war? I am happy to start again if I need to speed up.

Thanks!

 

[IronMurg]

You have to get your neutrality low enough to declare war.

Depending on what version you have you can do that different ways. In early game versions there was a "lower neutrality" mission your domestic spies could perform. In later versions that was taken out, but now minor countries like Australia will have a "prepare for war" decision that will lower their neutrality over time. But even that might not be enough to get into a war. So you can also assign spies to "raise threat" on a country, the closer the country is to you to faster it works, and this will let you get into a war eventually. Also joining the Axis faction will make it easier to declare wars.

 

[21oliver]

Im not sure what version your playing. But at the very least youll want to 1) hit the prepare for war decision 2) raise threat on Japan (because they are a different ideology and their aggression will help you lower your unity) and 3) raise threat on New Zealand.

IF you join the Axis youll get basically a free DOW on anyone, without worrying about raising threats etc... of course it comes with enemies too!

 

[andysonofbob]

Awesome thanks.

I didn't do that. I don't recall the caster doing it either - he must have stealth clicked it without noticing. I have the complete edition btw.

 

[21oliver]

does it include TFH? thats what you really want.

 

[andysonofbob]

Im not sure what version your playing. But at the very least youll want to 1) hit the prepare for war decision 2) raise threat on Japan (because they are a different ideology and their aggression will help you lower your unity) and 3) raise threat on New Zealand.

IF you join the Axis youll get basically a free DOW on anyone, without worrying about raising threats etc... of course it comes with enemies too!

I think aligning myself with Axis is the only way. I just couldn't lower neutrality. It was changing but it would have taken years!

I have TFH.

 

[21oliver]

Yes you pretty much have to join the Axis. Otherwise by the time you can get your NU low enough, New Zealand will have joined the Allies, which creates a whole other problem for you.

 

[andysonofbob]

Hmmm. Nothing seems to be working. Two years in and I can't join axis. My neutrality is stuck at around 27.

Is there a naughty way of making me not like New Zealand enough for war?

I really want to conquer them!

 

[21oliver]

at the games start you have to Align to Faction - Axis, that will begin you moving in their direction. It is located in your Diplomatic screen (where you make trades), click on Germany and then hit align to their faction. Making many small trades will help your relation with Germany (not easy to do as Australia doesnt have much). But understand you are so far away in the triangle it will take you probably a few years to get there. You picked a hard way to play, it takes time. If you want to do it so badly why not use CGM? at the setup you can move your alignment probably halfway to the Axis, then do what i mentioned above.

 

[gunstickuncle]

Or you use CGM to decrease neutrality more and can probably DoW NZL without being Axis.

Im not sure what version your playing. But at the very least youll want to 1) hit the prepare for war decision 2) raise threat on Japan (because they are a different ideology and their aggression will help you lower your unity) and 3) raise threat on New Zealand.

Did you do all this stuff 21oliver mentioned? With 10 spies each for 2 years?

 

[andysonofbob]

I didn't increase Japan's threat. I did the other thingies though!

Is that cgm easy to find? Must be.

 

[gunstickuncle]

do
> custom start
Just click on custom game below that historical game button....

increasing Japan's threat as well is vital to that plan because it decreases your effective neutrality far more than only raising threat on NZL.
Downside of this plan is that also NZL will be less neutral and might want to join the Allies faster. Maybe you'll have to try a little, and balance your raising threat on Japan with some historical events so you can attack them before they get below 25% neutrality themselves. Maybe it will work out pretty smoothly, I haven't tried yet.

 

[21oliver]

Here you go;

http://www.gamefront.com/files/24513678/Australia_rar

It still takes forever to get Australia into the Axis, even with CGM. The above game is pretty well set up for you. Its June 1, 1940.

1. You are in the Axis
2. I have DOW'd New Zealand and have begun lowering their NU which will decrease the time you need to conquer them (remember attack the Victory Points!).
3. You have a CA based navy that you produce, supplemented by product licensing CLs from either Germany or Japan (they will be better then yours and now you dont have to research the techs). You have CAx8 now, with CAx2 / CLx4 in production.
4. I licensed and built you LCx6 which are far better then TPs.
5. Your Army is INFx3/ART which you produce. You have 10 atm.
6. Your aircraft are all licensed. I have INTx2 TACx2 CASx2 in production.
7. I have requested Lend Lease from Germany, Italy & Japan whom all should say yes which will boost your IC free of charge and allow you to build these high ticket items.
8. Your Officer ratio is maxed at 140.
9. I have built over 500 convoys so when the real war starts you wont lose your Lend lease too fast (always ask for Lend lease when you are at war, from Italy/Japan/Germany...Italy wont be able to send any if they are locked in the med).
10. I have begun building infrastructure in your territory so you can move around without needing a ship to do it.
11. I have begun stockpiling and researching your resources so you should be good for the game.

This should get you going. Have fun!

 

[andysonofbob]

Here you go;

This should get you going. Have fun!

You sir

Are awesome!

 

[21oliver]

Enjoy.

 

[andysonofbob]

I can't believe how much wisdom was in your save file and notes. That's what land lease is, renting production runs really is the thing to do as a non major. Gems.

Just out of interest, why go cruisers and not say escort carrier? Also would you describe this as a defensive build?

 

[misterbean]

By boat?

Sorry, guys, couldn't help myself

 

[21oliver]

I had no idea what your overall plans would be. That being said, when you join the Allies you know for sure Japan will come knocking so fortifying your isles (especially VPs) is a priority. No this isnt a defensive build, but you have plenty of time to take care of that if you choose. I dont anticipate you will be winning any serious naval battles no matter what you decide to do, your navy will basically be to defend itself against small or singular vessels. The point of using the CA as your Capital, and the CL as your support ship is they both share the same practicals, meaning no matter which you build it will reduce the production time of the other. Eventually you will be able (with lendlease) to spam them out. You would be surprised how effective just those 2 types of ships can be if put in a big stack. You can redo the game and shoot for escort carriers or Carriers or even BBs if you want. Now that you have an idea how i did it, youll get the hang of it.