Italy First SP

[KEV1NJ]

Hey Guys!
I'm a somewhat casual player without much understanding of the 'under the hood' workings of the game. I've made several attempted starts at Italy using Italy first tree and befriending Yugo and Romania. I am coming to the conclusion that this is impossible, no matter what I do to improve their opinion of Italy, improve Italy's apparent strength, or ... They always join or prefer to join Axis rather than new Rome. But it doesn't seem like those foci would exist in the tree if it isn't possible to have those nations join your faction. Is there any help for this? Or should I just give up and go back to EUIV?
Thanks
Kevin

 

[The Balbinater]

it's the TIMING that is important. if you wait too long you wont get them in Imperium, no matter what happens. I'm having the same problem with Nat Spain, have never got them in the Imperium.

Romania I've had join a few times, as well as Hungary. even got Portugal a couple of times.

you need to exercise as much influence for as long as possible, and under the right circumstances. So far I have noticed it has a lot to do with if the Imperium is at war or not, and if Germany is at war or not. They would much rather stay peaceable then join an ongoing war. The times ive had them outright ask to join me, it would be 1940 or 1941 and I have waged wars of opportunity, but I still have peace with the allies. this seems to help them decide to join up.

hope this helps

 

[KEV1NJ]

Maybe I'm trying to get them too soon. I've failed twice on getting Romania. If I start promoting Fascism in Romania in Jan '36 and befriend them as soon as it becomes available, then they turn fascist in Dec '37 (their first scheduled election) and immediately join the Axis, causing me to rage-quit.. lol That happened twice, in a 3rd attempt fascism lost the election. Maybe I'll try it without wasting points to turn them fascist and see if they'll join later on.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

In a 3rd attempt fascism lost the election.

Losing the first election be a good thing. Sometimes the Romanian Fascists will just seize power in 1938 or 1939. This will give you more time to grow your Empire.

I started playing this game in March and played Italy a few times. I ran into the same problem you did at first, Romania joins Axis instead of Imperium.

For my most successful (and final) attempt at Italy, I conquered Yugoslavia instead of trying to get them into my alliance, then I conquered Greece, Hungay, and Spain. Once Romania switched to Fascist, they asked to join me the moment they turned (sometime in late '38/early '39 if memory serves). So there's a crossover somewhere in there. You just aren't powerful enough compared to Germany when you can switch them. It's either that, or I got a border with them... could that give a bonus to your chances?

A similar thing happened after I defeated the Allies. Germany and Italy split up the Allies. I got France, all the colonies and basically everything else south of London, Germany spent all their points claiming Poland, the Low countries and Great Britain. The day after the peace treaty, Fascist Venezuela offered to join the Imperium. (Ok, the Axis was still at war with Soviet Union/Comintern and I was at peace, so there could have been that.)

 

[KEV1NJ]

ok, thanks. I'll try a couple different things and see what happens.

 

[Dalwin]

it's the TIMING that is important. if you wait too long you wont get them in Imperium, no matter what happens. I'm having the same problem with Nat Spain, have never got them in the Imperium.

Romania I've had join a few times, as well as Hungary. even got Portugal a couple of times.

you need to exercise as much influence for as long as possible, and under the right circumstances. So far I have noticed it has a lot to do with if the Imperium is at war or not, and if Germany is at war or not. They would much rather stay peaceable then join an ongoing war. The times ive had them outright ask to join me, it would be 1940 or 1941 and I have waged wars of opportunity, but I still have peace with the allies. this seems to help them decide to join up.

hope this helps

In my current game, as of mid '41 I have gotten Bulgaria, Rumania and Spain to join. Turkey may reconsider once the fascists take control (currently 47%) Hungary is firmly in Germany's pocket.

After overrunning all of North Africa, including Palestine and Syria, I then annexed Iraq. Although poised to take Persia so that I can threaten the Raj, I may abort that operation and shift the forces back to the Alps. I think it is better for me in the long run to claim my slice of the Reich as they are once again crumbling early. Unfortunately I think it is unrealistic to hope that the Allies and Russians will clash after Germany falls rather than both focusing on me. Japan is doing well.

 

[ggsimmonds]

I ran a Italy first campaign shortly after release. Never finished it (I quit after Germany declared war on my ally Yugoslavia when they had the bulk of their troops in Russia and Africa, my legions had a clear path to Berlin) but I did manage to get Balkan nations on my side.

All I did was keep knowledge of history in mind. You need to stay ahead of Germany in the NF tree in this regard. I got Yugoslavia relatively early, but I think I didn't get Romania until after the Soviets stole some of their land.

 

[Dalnar]

I think influencing fascism in Romania at the game start helps. As long as Romania has the 'Neutral Foreign Policy' trait it won't join any faction until 100% world tension.