Starting setup Germany 1936

[pendragonlot]

I'm currently playing another Germany 1936 campaign and as usual I'm not sure how to start.
I was wondering which setup other players use.

Which ministers do you appoint, wich politics do you use, what do you research first and which units do you produce?

 

[Slan]

Some can find pointers here.

 

[pendragonlot]

Thanks, I already read some of the AARs, but I really would like what the gros of players does.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

Well, let's see:

(1) Switch to consumer goods economy.
(2) Appoint Hjalmar Schacht (+10% IC), Josef Göbbels (+10% LS), the +5% espionage (Frick?), -10% supply consumption (Dietl?) ministers.
(3) Add 10 to 20 IC builds with 5 runs each.
(4) Add 2-3 BB or CV (depending on my naval strategy), 1 run each, to the quenue.
(5) Add 1 INT and 1 CAS or TAC, 12 runes each.
(6) Add some AAA and some reserve ART brigades.
(7) Add 1 reserve L-ARM brigade, 1 reserve MOT brigade, 2 reserve INF/AA divisions and 1 reserve INF-INF-INF-ART division, 15 runs each.
(8) Spend all leadership on espionage to create ~100 spies. Counter espionage at home, infiltrate FRA and UK to increase their threat.
(9) Start research of INF equipment, L-ARM equipment, IC, radar, land doctrines, IC and MP techs, fighter and CAS techs, either SH-BB or CV techs, naval doctrines, air doctrines.
(10) Offer SOV and USA supplies for money and buy rares and steel from them afterwards.

 

[pendragonlot]

I read somewhere, that some people only build up IC for the first year. What do you think about that?

 

[Slan]

I think it's a complete waste of time. You won't need it anyway. Unless you are playing on Hard or Very Hard...

 

[GAGA Extrem]

I read somewhere, that some people only build up IC for the first year. What do you think about that?

It was a decent strategy in HoI2, and since it became a habit for me, I did the same during my first HoI3 games.

However, practical knowledge is so powerful in HoI3 that it makes more sense to start building units instead of IC. For example building a handful of CVL to boost your carrier practical from 0 to 5 will cost you as much as maybe 5-8 factories, but with this you will negate the +50% IC cost and build time penalty, allowing you to field a fully equipped CV fleet by 1939, something you could never do, despite the amount of IC you build.

The same is true if you want to build a large surface fleet: Four early built BC will give you enough practical knowledge to field up to six super heavy BB until the end of 1939 - while still allowing a decent number of ground troops.

Ever wanted to conduct a large scale strategic bomber campaign over germany as USA? Just continuously build one or two start wings during the early game - when the war starts you will have enough practical to receive almost 25% cost and time discount on them.

 

[pendragonlot]

Well, I don't know if it's a waste of time, but I surely could need them. I'm a huge fan of armour and they take up a lot of IC.

Btw, I took a look at your AAR, as you suggested, but unfortunately I can't find any info about your pre-war buildup. It's nice to read though.

 

[unmerged(3221)]

Research the infantry, light armor, + arty techs to 1936 level and then build bde. I always build the ultimate number of factories [14*3] and then switch over to building Corps in mid 1938 when the factories finish. At normal difficulty levels you have enough IC to build up any way that you see fit with the CG law [more usable IC] and picking your ministers as mentioned above. While I am waiting for my techs to finish, I build lots of supplies, get trade offers for them to get $, and use $ to buy metals and rares and to start getting better relations with lots of trading partners. I focus my leadership in 1936+37 on diplomacy [trades] + intel, then switch over to tech in 1938 and then officers in 1939.

 

[juv95hrn]

Not to mention that more IC will cost you more resources whereas more practicals cost none.