How to Be Mediocre at Hearts of Iron III Part 1
Hello to all of you reading this. As you can see, I am going to be playing a game of HoI3.
Please note that this AAR is probably not going to be very successful, seeing as I have yet to play any HoI3 game past 1936.
Anyways, I have made several Eu3 AARs, and I have now decided that the times has come for me to expand my horizons, as they say.
I have played both HoI1, and HoI2, and I wasdecently skilled mediocre at both of those games.
So, when HoI3 came about, and I purchased the game, I was expecting something similar to the previous two.
And so, when I first opened up the game, and saw the massive (compared to the other games) amount of provinces, I honestly just kinda gave up and went back to playing Eu3.
But whatever, just be warned that this will be mediocre, and don't expect anything too great.
But enough about that, let's get into things.
This first update will be rather short, and it will only contain a few screenshots, since I will not have unpaused the game for this part.
My nation is Germany. All settings are on normal. 1936 Scenario.
I chose Germany, simply because even though it might not be easier than Britain, you actually have things to do besides sitting in France for 5 years.
Also, I have really only been greatly successful with Germany in the past games, since I never quite managed to do as well when playing with other nations.
From this view, the map looks very slick and high tech, just what one would expect for a new game.
After joining the game, I look though each of the screens.
First up is Diplomacy.
This diplomatic triangle reminds me very much of HoI1, where they used what I think is the exact same thing.
New for me are several things: Neutrality, threat level, and the decisions at the bottom left.
I assume neutrality is how much people want peace, and I suppose threat level speaks for itself.
As for the decisions, it appears that Paradox has made left everything up to you, and not made all of this based on the in-game date.
This new system is fine by me. I wonder what else is new.
Production is next.
Very similar to HoI2, in that you both produce units and control your IC here.
New for me is the brigade system that is used in HoI3. I have no idea how powerful, or how useful having multiple brigades is, but whatever.
I purchase 12, 2-brigade motorized infantry units, as well as 4 u-boat flotillas.
I've always found motorized infantry to be useful, so I suppose I can't go wrong with this choice, can I?
Next is Technology.
Now this is what I call an overhaul. They have still separated everything into roughly the same groups, but now you have various stages for each research project, depicting upgrades in it.
The other main new feature here is leadership. With 4 groups, research, espionage, diplomacy, and officers, this is something completely new to me.
Research is pretty obvious, but the rest are not so plain.
I think diplomacy and espionage are similar now, since I have recognized the DI counter on the top of the screen from HoI1. Next to it is a spy counter.
Officers, I don't know what to think of. I guess that it stands for junior officers and NCOs, and such, since there are still generals in the game.
For now, since technology is so important, that's what Ill stick with. I invest as much as I can in tech, and then put the rest into officers.
I am now researching about infantry, tanks, land doctrines, and theories, for the most part.
Next up is the politics screen. Now this I can understand.
First, there are the ministers, just like in HoI2.
And so, just like in every HoI2 game I've played as Germany, I get Hjalmar Schacht, since more IC can be a real lifesaver.
Next, there is what is obviously a chart showing what political party is in charge in the nation, which is currently the Nazis (obviously).
Finally, there is a law making system on the lower left. I have not seen anything like this in previous games, but a quick mouse over reveals what it is fairly quickly.
It seems that I can now enact various laws that will decide how my country runs. unfortunately, it seems I can't really make any changes at the moment, so I just leave things as they are.
Finally, the Intelligence screen.
This screen is mildly similar to HoI2's, (Well, it's not like HoI1 even had one, anyways).
The only real new things I see are several new missions, whose names speak for themselves in describing them.
Not much to say here, except that I don't plan on spending to much time in this place.
Now, just a quick look at the map, and my troop movements.
I send almost all of my troops to either the Polish or French border.
All of the Panzers are sent East to Poland. I also also put several infantry units on the border with Denmark, just in case, along with one unit to protect from amphibious landings in Wilhelmshaven.
Moving all of these troops took a little bit of time, but it's worth it, so long as I have an organized army.
I don't know how strong my troops at the French border have to be, but I'll just assume that having one infantry unit in each province is good enough.
Anyways, that's all for this update. If you have any advice, or feedback, please post a comment.
I think I'm gonna need all the help I can get.
Hello to all of you reading this. As you can see, I am going to be playing a game of HoI3.
Please note that this AAR is probably not going to be very successful, seeing as I have yet to play any HoI3 game past 1936.
Anyways, I have made several Eu3 AARs, and I have now decided that the times has come for me to expand my horizons, as they say.
I have played both HoI1, and HoI2, and I was
So, when HoI3 came about, and I purchased the game, I was expecting something similar to the previous two.
And so, when I first opened up the game, and saw the massive (compared to the other games) amount of provinces, I honestly just kinda gave up and went back to playing Eu3.
But whatever, just be warned that this will be mediocre, and don't expect anything too great.
But enough about that, let's get into things.
This first update will be rather short, and it will only contain a few screenshots, since I will not have unpaused the game for this part.
My nation is Germany. All settings are on normal. 1936 Scenario.
I chose Germany, simply because even though it might not be easier than Britain, you actually have things to do besides sitting in France for 5 years.
Also, I have really only been greatly successful with Germany in the past games, since I never quite managed to do as well when playing with other nations.
From this view, the map looks very slick and high tech, just what one would expect for a new game.
After joining the game, I look though each of the screens.
First up is Diplomacy.
This diplomatic triangle reminds me very much of HoI1, where they used what I think is the exact same thing.
New for me are several things: Neutrality, threat level, and the decisions at the bottom left.
I assume neutrality is how much people want peace, and I suppose threat level speaks for itself.
As for the decisions, it appears that Paradox has made left everything up to you, and not made all of this based on the in-game date.
This new system is fine by me. I wonder what else is new.
Production is next.
Very similar to HoI2, in that you both produce units and control your IC here.
New for me is the brigade system that is used in HoI3. I have no idea how powerful, or how useful having multiple brigades is, but whatever.
I purchase 12, 2-brigade motorized infantry units, as well as 4 u-boat flotillas.
I've always found motorized infantry to be useful, so I suppose I can't go wrong with this choice, can I?
Next is Technology.
Now this is what I call an overhaul. They have still separated everything into roughly the same groups, but now you have various stages for each research project, depicting upgrades in it.
The other main new feature here is leadership. With 4 groups, research, espionage, diplomacy, and officers, this is something completely new to me.
Research is pretty obvious, but the rest are not so plain.
I think diplomacy and espionage are similar now, since I have recognized the DI counter on the top of the screen from HoI1. Next to it is a spy counter.
Officers, I don't know what to think of. I guess that it stands for junior officers and NCOs, and such, since there are still generals in the game.
For now, since technology is so important, that's what Ill stick with. I invest as much as I can in tech, and then put the rest into officers.
I am now researching about infantry, tanks, land doctrines, and theories, for the most part.
Next up is the politics screen. Now this I can understand.
First, there are the ministers, just like in HoI2.
And so, just like in every HoI2 game I've played as Germany, I get Hjalmar Schacht, since more IC can be a real lifesaver.
Next, there is what is obviously a chart showing what political party is in charge in the nation, which is currently the Nazis (obviously).
Finally, there is a law making system on the lower left. I have not seen anything like this in previous games, but a quick mouse over reveals what it is fairly quickly.
It seems that I can now enact various laws that will decide how my country runs. unfortunately, it seems I can't really make any changes at the moment, so I just leave things as they are.
Finally, the Intelligence screen.
This screen is mildly similar to HoI2's, (Well, it's not like HoI1 even had one, anyways).
The only real new things I see are several new missions, whose names speak for themselves in describing them.
Not much to say here, except that I don't plan on spending to much time in this place.
Now, just a quick look at the map, and my troop movements.
I send almost all of my troops to either the Polish or French border.
All of the Panzers are sent East to Poland. I also also put several infantry units on the border with Denmark, just in case, along with one unit to protect from amphibious landings in Wilhelmshaven.
Moving all of these troops took a little bit of time, but it's worth it, so long as I have an organized army.
I don't know how strong my troops at the French border have to be, but I'll just assume that having one infantry unit in each province is good enough.
Anyways, that's all for this update. If you have any advice, or feedback, please post a comment.
I think I'm gonna need all the help I can get.