Japan Decisions

[Derek XC]

Hey Guys!

Playing as Japan on 1.10 version. It's December 1939, I just got the surrender event for China. My question is (Do you guys prefer the one large puppet Republic of China? Or do you choose the Warlords choice and have the multiple smaller puppets?) I am on the fence. I try to be as historic as poosible and trying to think what Japan would of done. Having one large china puppet seems and but gamey to me. Especially when China has potential IC and resources to be stronger than there master Japan. What do u guys do? And thoughts are welcomed please.

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

The best thing to do is to puppet the large Republic of China. It has the best tech teams, leaders and ministers compared to the alternatives. Also a united China is far stronger. But then I am thinking of online play, so the 'best' strategy is also the most 'effective' strategy.

 

[Derek XC]

The best thing to do is to puppet the large Republic of China. It has the best tech teams, leaders and ministers compared to the alternatives. Also a united China is far stronger. But then I am thinking of online play, so the 'best' strategy is also the most 'effective' strategy.

In my current game I went with Puppet Republic of China. Saved and loaded as them made a couple production changes . Need there strong INF army but made sure they help me against the Allies navy by building some NAV queues and navy. Hoping they have some decent Naval leaders we will see .

 

[Commander666]

The best thing to do is to puppet the large Republic of China..

If you like a couple hundred only infantry divisions with very poor leaders and the only good thing being ample HQs, then a united China is the way to go. But if you like some variety with a few brigades in the army and some CAV and MTN troops, then choosing the warlords is more interesting. A unified China is very different from India - which also fields a couple hundred infantry - but does so with half brigaded and excellent leaders. China's leaders are so abysmal one usually needs to find a new war (like Tibet) just to train a few so the many offensive specialist with zero skill and who can command only 1 division can be promoted to get just some of the Chinese army under effective leaders. But certainly a unified China will give you far more divisions than all the landlords put together.

 

[Mr_B0narpte]

If you like a couple hundred only infantry divisions with very poor leaders and the only good thing being ample HQs, then a united China is the way to go. But if you like some variety with a few brigades in the army and some CAV and MTN troops, then choosing the warlords is more interesting. A unified China is very different from India - which also fields a couple hundred infantry - but does so with half brigaded and excellent leaders. China's leaders are so abysmal one usually needs to find a new war (like Tibet) just to train a few so the many offensive specialist with zero skill and who can command only 1 division can be promoted to get just some of the Chinese army under effective leaders. But certainly a unified China will give you far more divisions than all the landlords put together.

If you want whatever kind of army, a united China is the way to go. With the additional IC and colossal manpower, it can build whatever army you want. But of course, infantry is the best unit to build for China in terms of effectiveness. But, yes, it can also build CAV, MTN and other more 'flavour' units. Making Warlord states would be counter productive if your aim is to get better quality troops. The Republic of China has many decent generals, that will also have gained EXP from it's war with Japan.

In my current game I went with Puppet Republic of China. Saved and loaded as them made a couple production changes . Need there strong INF army but made sure they help me against the Allies navy by building some NAV queues and navy. Hoping they have some decent Naval leaders we will see .

Good idea! Not sure on the NAV or building ships, Japan is best placed to do that given its much superior naval leaders, naval tech teams and capacity for building ships. A good divisions would be China for most new land units (ideally infantry and some HQs); with Japan going for the air & naval units alongside some additional land units too.

 

[Commander666]

If you want whatever kind of army, a united China is the way to go. With the additional IC and colossal manpower, it can build whatever army you want... ... ... , it can also build CAV, MTN and other more 'flavour' units

But the AI doesn't build those things, does it? It sounds like you discussing modding China to build something better; and certainly a unified China has very much IC and MP to do that. Put differently, if I had to play unified China or could somehow play all the warlord countries, I would choose being player of China - because then I could build completely as should be. Except there still is a leader problem. But the warlords have similar problem with lack of good leaders - if comparing, let's say, to India.

But I was replying to what an AI unified China gives the player as the master over that puppet.

 

[Commander666]

In my current game I went with Puppet Republic of China. Saved and loaded as them made a couple production changes . Need there strong INF army but made sure they help me against the Allies navy by building some NAV queues and navy. Hoping they have some decent Naval leaders we will see .

Well, saving and loading as China is one way to get the AI to change its rather boring construction focus. China would be great for building MTN divisions that player could expedition to themselves. They do have several Skill 0 Commando leaders who would improve with experience.

But China doesn't have the doctrines to build good navy or even air force. It would be interesting to see how effective their NAVs are to your Japanese NAVs. I doubt China has many air doctrines accomplished. But just for having lots of NAVs to be able to patrol everywhere I suppose it would help.

However, checking past game of mine playing as Japan and as regards the puppet Nationalist China, they are over 10 years behind in air doctrines. I think Republic of China puppet would be identical. And I can remember, whenever running into any Chinese interceptors - even though they were modern - they really lost very quickly (probably lack of doctrines).

 

[Zardnaar]

Releasing or puppeting after 1939 is the most powerful choice.

At least in vanilla Hoi2. You get a better head of state in 1939.

If you win before that gobble it all up and release as puppet. Releasing it as Communist China can also work- better tech teams and leaders IIRC.

 

[Pioniere]

You can also liberate China called "China-Nanking"(u87) it has many leaders similar to rep. China, but weaker TT. Even so I think it can be a usefull puppet.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reorganized_National_Government_of_the_Republic_of_China

 

[Pang Bingxun]

If you want whatever kind of army, a united China is the way to go. With the additional IC and colossal manpower, it can build whatever army you want. But of course, infantry is the best unit to build for China in terms of effectiveness.

Mountaineers are a good choice aswell. They have better Org, tend to consume less tc and are far more effective in the hills and mountains that China has some many of.

AI China has 4 building schemes to choose from. Early on it focusses on 93% Inf-Art. Soon this changes to 60% Inf-Art and 33% Mtn-Art. Eventually the buildung scheme will be changed to include some tactical bombers. Under some really rare circumstances China might even start to build a navy. But it really is mass infantry to scare off attacks and Mountaineers for attacking that China does supply.

 

[Derek XC]

Well, saving and loading as China is one way to get the AI to change its rather boring construction focus. China would be great for building MTN divisions that player could expedition to themselves. They do have several Skill 0 Commando leaders who would improve with experience.

But China doesn't have the doctrines to build good navy or even air force. It would be interesting to see how effective their NAVs are to your Japanese NAVs. I doubt China has many air doctrines accomplished. But just for having lots of NAVs to be able to patrol everywhere I suppose it would help.

However, checking past game of mine playing as Japan and as regards the puppet Nationalist China, they are over 10 years behind in air doctrines. I think Republic of China puppet would be identical. And I can remember, whenever running into any Chinese interceptors - even though they were modern - they really lost very quickly (probably lack of doctrines).

I released Republic of China in February 1940. I assume they are given all the Techs I have researched up to there puppeting. So there air and navy doctrines are not terrible right now in early 1941. They do have 4 tech teams researching now. I'll have to keep an eye on what there researching. If your right and they lag behind on doctrines I'll have to load up as China and fix it myself.

Just got their first 2 IV Battleships out with IV CL's. Trying to get some SAG fleets started for China. Glad I helped them out with production.