Italy advice needed

[unmerged(55119)]

I started a new game with 1.2 as Italy (1936).

Instead of annexing Ethiopia i puppeted it to prevent supply problems to that area later when im at war with the brits.
In Europe, Rep. Spain is winning the SCW. I plan DOWing them once Franco is defeated.
My next plans would be attacking Greece, Albania, maybe Turkey, Yugoslavia, one by one....after their independence guarantees expire.

Now...before i attack Rep. Spain...im considering to form an alliance with Bulgaria (they would agree to join) and my puppet Ethiopia and maybe get some more members later. The other alternative is remaining neutral for now and joining axis later on. What would you guys suggest me?

I know the most important benefit of joining axis is getting a lot of nice bluepritnts from the germans....on the other hand..do i gain anything by having my own alliance?

 

[Whisper]

you can whistle the tune with your own alliance?
Maybe get some blueprints from bulgaria? *g*
And you won't have to fight the Allies...

 

[blue emu]

If you want to be a real prick, you could join the Axis right after whacking Spain, load up on blueprints, then leave the alliance again just before the big war starts.

 

[Whisper]

thats what i have done once...
I think germany got mad at me after some months, and after France they came for me...

 

[unmerged(55119)]

If you want to be a real prick, you could join the Axis right after whacking Spain, load up on blueprints, then leave the alliance again just before the big war starts.

Hmm i wouldnt want to piss off the germans.....

 

[unmerged(53922)]

my puppet Ethiopia

Better release them as Lybia too. UK don't get them and you will have always military access. It's much easier to encircle Allies closed in space between Lybia and Ethiopia.

But don't rebase planes there and attack becouse you loose that planes.

 

[RolandRahn]

Hmm i wouldnt want to piss off the germans.....

There is an alternate - piss them off completely.
Fortify those two provinces that have a common border with austria (and, to be absolutely sure, you might also increase the fortifications in the two provinces that border with france).
Leave the axis alliance in late August 1939, and then, in early September 1939, join the allies.
I once had a game where germany wouldn't invade Benelux/France nor me (Italy), but they garrisoned the hexes in front of the Maginot line and north of my anti-hun-defense-wall.
I exited in late 44 (or 45?) because it was just boring.

Kind regards,
Roland

 

[unmerged(55727)]

As Italy, I liberated Somalia after anexing Ethiopia. I thought about liberating Ethiopia too, but I wanted the 5-6 IC. As Italy, you have a horribly low starting IC.
I also liberated Libya (no IC there), declared war on republican Spain, got NatSpain to join me, and beat the Republicans.
When the Albanian event happened, I quickly annexed Albania (more IC), then declared war on Yugoslavia to get even more IC
I got Bulgaria to join me, but when I had almost conquered Yugoslavia, Romania declared war on us, and I had to defeat them too. The war ended with a ceasefire, granting Constansa to Bulgaria and the SW province of Romania to me.
A year or so later, I declared war on Saudi Arabia, and made them a puppet state.
I attacked Syria and then Lebanon, and finally me and Spain got a nice chunk each of Vichy France when I DOWed them in '41.
And then I got busy with RL stuff, and now I hav to start over again because of 1.2.

Liberating Libya and Somalia is helpful, as they'll give you Blueprints.

 

[unmerged(55119)]

There is an alternate - piss them off completely.
Fortify those two provinces that have a common border with austria (and, to be absolutely sure, you might also increase the fortifications in the two provinces that border with france).
Leave the axis alliance in late August 1939, and then, in early September 1939, join the allies.

Well, that WOULD be very "italian"


Anyways, I invaded Rep. Spain and captured all but 1 VP so far. Now im thinking if i should annex them or puppet. Oh yes, i also just joined Axis.

arguments for annexing:

1. Spain has IC rich provinces, which would be a nice addon to my low IC capacity

2. Painting the wolrd green is fun

arguments of puppeting:

1. around 25% revolt ratio in spanish provinces, this means id have to MP almost every province, which would cost me a lot of manpower (and italy is pretty low on it)

2. I can puppet them now without dissent hit.

3. Spain is prone to amphibius invasions

Am i missing any pro/cons and what would you guys do?

 

[unmerged(55119)]

I And then I got busy with RL stuff, and now I hav to start over again because of 1.2.

Liberating Libya and Somalia is helpful, as they'll give you Blueprints.

I dont really want to liberate territories that dont have any resistance. Ethiopia was an exepction cause of no dissent hit and because it is impossible to supply when war with allies starts.

Also, from what i ve read on the forums, you can load your old 1.1 save game with 1.2 without any problems.

 

[unmerged(55727)]

...so I just deleted all my savegames FOR NO F-ING REASON??
Bugger.

Anyway, when I do it again, I won't liberate Somalia, as they have cores in French and British provinces. I like to give my pupets all their cores.
But Libya will be liberated. There's no big benefit of keeping it, as far as I can see.

 

[unmerged(53922)]

...so I just deleted all my savegames FOR NO F-ING REASON??
Bugger.

Anyway, when I do it again, I won't liberate Somalia, as they have cores in French and British provinces. I like to give my pupets all their cores.
But Libya will be liberated. There's no big benefit of keeping it, as far as I can see.

Better to release them at all as puppets (free countries). UK don't get it. You have military access and when it's all done in Europe you do some landing in Suez and in Africa near Ethiopia. All Allied units will be closed between not involved in war Lybia and Ethiopia so you can encircle them. It makes war in Africa much simplier. After successfull war you can ally with them if you want.

 

[unmerged(55727)]

Just to make sure I understood correctly: You mean to liberate them first as puppets, then "release puppet"?
The problem with military access is that you can't attack directly from the "host country", so you have to rely on amphibious assaults or paratroopers.

 

[SirGrotius]

I'm unclear on why you wouldn't want to join the Axis?

Are you really that scared of the Brits? If you have Gibraltar, as you seem set on doing (wisely so, as this is a pre-requisite for an enjoyable game as Italy), you should be able to take Suez. Having a Roman Lake is the ultimate dream of a true Italian.

You had mentioned Turkey. I believe this is key, eventually, as the way to become powerful is to get yourself to Baku. Once you have that oil-rich province and the others around it, you'll be set (use the mountains to protect yourself).

The big, big problem is the US. Once they start invading northwest Africa you can expect a lot of tears.

I wouldn't recommend playing on VH, or even H really. Your IC will be so limited as is, and if you think you'll stand a chance against the Allied forces with significant difficulty penalties then you are a brave man.

I just don't see what you can do with your own alliance.

 

[unmerged(55727)]

Having your own alliance is fun, as you will be the leader of said alliance, not Jerry or Tommy.
If one as Italy manages to keep the peace with the Allies/USSR, you can invade Germany and basically win the war by taking all their VPs while they're fighting Ivan.