Singleplayer as Allies or Comintern

[lekim]

I played Hoi2 and AoD (and some of HoI3) a lot, mostly for Axis, cause it was the best experience.

And I must I found it is quite boring to play as UK/USSR/USA - they just have so much power and production early on that even if i hold back, it was pretty easy to kill AI Axis.

I hope it is going to change in HoI 4 and we can enjoy a great/challenging game as UK or USA.

What do u think is a good way to make allies gameplay challenging (In HoI3 it was different policies limiting peace time expantion and build up, not sure it worked out that well)?

PS: Is there any statistics what countries people play the most in Hoi2, Hoi3?

 

[The_Meme_Man]

Well, with the British Empire divided, though easier to manage, it might be harder in the regard that you might not have as many units (though we now know you can demand your puppets to give you troops, so you can just ask India to give you their troops).

I feel like the USA will inevitably be incredibly powerful to use. They were one of the most powerful countries in the time, and politically rather stable. I mean, you could choose to take on the British, that MIGHT be a challenge if there are so many other allied countries, and supply limits will definitely force the USA to spread itself thin (though then again the USA could produce enough to just negate attrition penalties).

I don't really know. I don't think there are ways to make UK and USA less powerful without reaching ahistoric levels (December 31st of 1935 should be 100% historically accurate). I know the USSR have political tensions before the war, so they have that going for them. You could also try to instigate civil war by playing as the USA and vying for fascists or communists to take over, since now during political revolutions you can actually pick your side and fight. A second American civil war would be fun, and would probably spark WWII as British and French volunteers try to support the Democrats and German volunteers try to support the rising Fascist party, or Soviet volunteers support the rising Communist party.

 

[lekim]

Thanks for the feedback.

I read recently that actually both USA/US were pretty right oriented so, maybe the way to go is political - bind the hands and dont alowe USA to start any wars unless they are attacked.

As for USSR - they should have a very badly organized troops where organization should be bound to the experience (this is actually very historical) and bad industry (they relied heavily on USA - like every second truck was coming from USA, 50% of dynamite, they even did not have own aluminium and rubber)

Well, with the British Empire divided, though easier to manage, it might be harder in the regard that you might not have as many units (though we now know you can demand your puppets to give you troops, so you can just ask India to give you their troops).

I feel like the USA will inevitably be incredibly powerful to use. They were one of the most powerful countries in the time, and politically rather stable. I mean, you could choose to take on the British, that MIGHT be a challenge if there are so many other allied countries, and supply limits will definitely force the USA to spread itself thin (though then again the USA could produce enough to just negate attrition penalties).

I don't really know. I don't think there are ways to make UK and USA less powerful without reaching ahistoric levels (December 31st of 1935 should be 100% historically accurate). I know the USSR have political tensions before the war, so they have that going for them. You could also try to instigate civil war by playing as the USA and vying for fascists or communists to take over, since now during political revolutions you can actually pick your side and fight. A second American civil war would be fun, and would probably spark WWII as British and French volunteers try to support the Democrats and German volunteers try to support the rising Fascist party, or Soviet volunteers support the rising Communist party.

 

[The_Meme_Man]

Thanks for the feedback.

I read recently that actually both USA/US were pretty right oriented so, maybe the way to go is political - bind the hands and dont alowe USA to start any wars unless they are attacked.

As for USSR - they should have a very badly organized troops where organization should be bound to the experience (this is actually very historical) and bad industry (they relied heavily on USA - like every second truck was coming from USA, 50% of dynamite, they even did not have own aluminium and rubber)

I would assume Fighting as the USSR alone will be much harder than with the lend lease.


You COULD play a freedom game as the USA where you start a "Freedom International" faction as kind of the opposite of the "Communist International", where you oppose the Axis, the Comintern, AND the imperialist Allies. I mean, pff, doesn't matter that YOU PERSONALLY aren't Democratic (since democratic nations can't get the casus bellis to do this), but yeah, do a USA vs The World where you drop freedom over everyone.

 

[lekim]

Ok i dont consider sinking my fleet in mexican gulf as good play

The only fun game as USA is something like at 100% WT become an ultra bad guy and declare a war on Axis, Japan, Allies and USSR and all the latin america and just swipe them one by one

Cause by 38 in WWW USA had already 150 something civil factories, unlimited resources, huge manpower, being a glorified island so nobody can actually get to you in a efficient way (except for Mexico and Canadians).

I would assume Fighting as the USSR alone will be much harder than with the lend lease.

You COULD play a freedom game as the USA where you start a "Freedom International" faction as kind of the opposite of the "Communist International", where you oppose the Axis, the Comintern, AND the imperialist Allies. I mean, pff, doesn't matter that YOU PERSONALLY aren't Democratic (since democratic nations can't get the casus bellis to do this), but yeah, do a USA vs The World where you drop freedom over everyone.

 

[The_Meme_Man]

Ok i dont consider sinking my fleet in mexican gulf as good play

The only fun game as USA is something like at 100% WT become an ultra bad guy and declare a war on Axis, Japan, Allies and USSR and all the latin america and just swipe them one by one

Cause by 38 in WWW USA had already 150 something civil factories, unlimited resources, huge manpower, being a glorified island so nobody can actually get to you in a efficient way (except for Mexico and Canadians).

That's worrisome. The USA was greatly powerful....but it should not be able to take on the world. It should have a straw that breaks its back, but then again, best case scenario (or I should say "worst case"), it literally is the world vs. America, so the British and Japanese navy will be working together, the Kriegsmarine and Soviet Navy will be growing and also fighting alongside Britain and Russia, so that allows the anti-Freedom coalition to have total naval superiority. At that point, Eurasia becomes its own glorified island, bent on destroying America.


That would be a fun scenario.

 

[Matt the Czar]

I really enjoy playing as an evil US. I usually invade Canada and Mexico as soon as I can, then do some naval invasions in Central America. I've both declared war on the allies, and stayed out of the war and invaded South America. It's a little easy, yes, but roleplaying as an evil dictator (setting up Americanization Zones, antagonizing the allies, focusing my research on secret weapons rather than more practical stuff) is a lot of fun.

 

[ExtraAngel]

I think it would be harder to play as France then UK or USA in HOI 4, and it would be at least for me lot's more fun, France brings a challenge!

 

[phantomrider]

I really enjoy playing as an evil US. I usually invade Canada and Mexico as soon as I can, then do some naval invasions in Central America. I've both declared war on the allies, and stayed out of the war and invaded South America. It's a little easy, yes, but roleplaying as an evil dictator (setting up Americanization Zones, antagonizing the allies, focusing my research on secret weapons rather than more practical stuff) is a lot of fun.

The thing about the USA in 1935 is that it was isolationist and was not interested in the rest of the world at all. US politics of the time did/would not tolerate any kind of aggressive foreign policy (except maybe in South/Central America if a 100,000 man strong army + the navy could handle it). The US had been pulled into the war to end all wars and in the peace conferences afterward the seeds of WWII were planted so the attitude was a pox on the rest of the world -- do whatever you want to each other. Combine that with the depression to direct all concentration internally. Mobilization, expansion of the army would have been met with massive civil unrest any mobilized troops would be needed at home to quell the protests. No one in the US had any interest in invading Canada or Mexico or even helping out while the Europeans were being mean to each other or the Japanese were abusing China. Roosevelt did a wonderful job in recognizing and supporting a path which eventually got the US to support an anti axis policy but it was tough and very hard work. If the US can be turned into a predictory state starting in 1936, then the political simulation of the times is highly inaccurate possibly to the point that it effects many single player games where the player is some country other than the US. i.e. it may be an interesting sandbox but it won't be a WWII era game with anywhere near a semi historical course.

 

[Baron Jukaga]

The thing about the USA in 1935 is that it was isolationist and was not interested in the rest of the world at all. US politics of the time did/would not tolerate any kind of aggressive foreign policy (except maybe in South/Central America if a 100,000 man strong army + the navy could handle it). The US had been pulled into the war to end all wars and in the peace conferences afterward the seeds of WWII were planted so the attitude was a pox on the rest of the world -- do whatever you want to each other. Combine that with the depression to direct all concentration internally. Mobilization, expansion of the army would have been met with massive civil unrest any mobilized troops would be needed at home to quell the protests. No one in the US had any interest in invading Canada or Mexico or even helping out while the Europeans were being mean to each other or the Japanese were abusing China. Roosevelt did a wonderful job in recognizing and supporting a path which eventually got the US to support an anti axis policy but it was tough and very hard work. If the US can be turned into a predictory state starting in 1936, then the political simulation of the times is highly inaccurate possibly to the point that it effects many single player games where the player is some country other than the US. i.e. it may be an interesting sandbox but it won't be a WWII era game with anywhere near a semi historical course.

There is an option to force the AI to take historical outcomes, AH stuff like this is for the player.

 

[Viktor_Vertex]

What do u think is a good way to make allies gameplay challenging (In HoI3 it was different policies limiting peace time expantion and build up, not sure it worked out that well)?

Allies ? You mean France, Poland and British Raj? I can't think of how to make a playthrough as those nations challenging...

 

[lekim]

Allies ? You mean France, Poland and British Raj? I can't think of how to make a playthrough as those nations challenging...

Poland is hard, yes and what Daniel shows in his screenshot should not be happening in most of the cases. They should not be surviving as they most likely be attacked by two superior countries and have no advantages like terrain, remote location or too much manpower.

France is pretty easy, instead of building a stupid line, you just build up good troops (and France has a huge advantage of being Allies from 36 - tech share in HoI2), As France it was pretty easy to destroy Germany once they attack Poland.

British what? Once I played as Mongolia, this was hard - cause was pretty boring

 

[ExtraAngel]

Allies ? You mean France, Poland and British Raj? I can't think of how to make a playthrough as those nations challenging...

Poland especially!

 

[jju_57]

In all previous HOI games the USA was nerfed from historical capabilities so I sort of expect it here. But if they did stick to historical accuracies then as a naval power the US should be 100% dominant by 1944/45. What happens on land depends if Germany/SU beat each other up or not. In the air the US should also be very dominant with the actual level again depending on how Germany/SU act.

The game appears to allow you to create your own factions so that is interesting. But how much fun it is I think depends on how badly weakened the other factions are. What would be best is for either Germany OR SU to rule all of Europe. If both exist then the US can divide and conquer.

I think the best (hardest) game for a US only player would be for the Allies to join forces with the Axis and defeat the commies. Then go against the US. This gives the opposition the biggest possible fleet and land army.

 

[Viktor_Vertex]

France is pretty easy, instead of building a stupid line, you just build up good troops (and France has a huge advantage of being Allies from 36 - tech share in HoI2), As France it was pretty easy to destroy Germany once they attack Poland.

Oh you managed to destroy Germany? I guess that Poland isn't threatened by the SU and that communism isn't so bad, right*cough hint cough*? Right ?

 

[77Hawk77]

I guarantee that Germany was the most played country in all Hoi games.

 

[lekim]

Oh you managed to destroy Germany? I guess that Poland isn't threatened by the SU and that communism isn't so bad, right*cough hint cough*? Right ?

Poland? I was talking about France.

Yes Poland is hard, actually in my opinion only in a very bizarre scenario (No RM pact and extensive support of Allies + stupid German AI) Poland should survive even under @Da9L management.

 

[lekim]

I guarantee that Germany was the most played country in all Hoi games.

I've heard that as well. But it would be interesting to know what is the top 10.

 

[77Hawk77]

I've heard that as well. But it would be interesting to know what is the top 10.

Just from the games that I've played with my friends which is of course not representative of everyone but i played with a fairly large group.

1. Germany
2. Italy
3. UK
4. Japan
5. USSR
6. USA
7. Romania
8. Hungary
9. France
10. China

It was usually picked in that order. I have to admit i got really really tired of playing germany though.

 

[lekim]

Here is the list of "playable" countries in HoI3:
http://hoi3.wikia.com/wiki/Countries

Axis: De, It, Jp, Hu, Sp
Allies: Uk, Fr, Usa, Poland
Commies. Ussr

Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Finland, China, Turkey, Cz