Who said Nazis can't have nukes? - German Reich TFH HPP AAR

[SKOTy]

I will try it at the evening or tomorrow. If I am not wrong HPP has such goal but you have to wait 3 months before adding another wargoal. I have to take a look whether the region Valencia is located is land connected to south-western France.

If I would not use wargoal for kicking them out of allies will they attack me after truce ends? I've realized that Iv'e probably never used different wargoal than conquer or puppet.

 

[red_KLG]

In vanilla you can change wargoals after 1 month. HPP changed that?

IMO this vanilla (and HPP) feature of rolling wargoals is rather a-historical. I would expect that a war is declared with pre-defined objectives, and that the loser is forced to abandon its alliances.

In any case if Spain survives the war (intact or not) as an independent nation, it will probably end up in the Allies diplomatic side so you should consider some diplomatic points to influence them.

 

[SKOTy]

Quick update: only useful wargoal I can use against Spain is conquer and they do join Allies on DoW.

 

[red_KLG]

Quick update: only useful wargoal I can use against Spain is conquer and they do join Allies on DoW.

What are other available ones?

 

[SKOTy]

Puppet, Concede defeat and Cut down to size. Concede defeat should kick target out of alliances and I don't know many about cut down to size. Maybe someone from HPP team will enlighten us.

 

[red_KLG]

So, concede defeat would allow you to pass through Spain, get Gibraltar and then have Spain out of the Allies (but within their sphere of influence). Btw, why do you insist on access on the Med? Eventually you ll get South France and you can still have Suez/Gibraltar. Even when playing Italy having the Med blocked through those two access points (and Casablanca) means that there is no need for garissons in the Med Ports.

Regarding Cut to Size, Ikarases (ab)used p) the mechanic and ended up with an annexed Germany part of the Greater Czechoslovakia... No idea if they fixed though

 

[Ikarases]

Regarding Cut to Size, Ikarases (ab)used p) the mechanic and ended up with an annexed Germany part of the Greater Czechoslovakia... No idea if they fixed though

What? Czechoslovakia annexing half of Germany is perfectly plausible

Anyway, I think it's time to deal with Pétain. What kind of always made me sad was that Vichy has no techs, no convoys (thus a great deal of its overseas resources is stuck), far too big army to feed it and nobody likes to trade with it :sad:

 

[SKOTy]

Game goals:

• Lure as many countries into Axis as possible, conquer or puppet the rest

If Spain refuses to join the Axis I will have to conquer them. Maybe SSmith or Bromgev know of some condition which has to be met in order to Sanjurjo Spain joins the Axis?

Anyway, I think it's time to deal with Pétain. What kind of always made me sad was that Vichy has no techs, no convoys (thus a great deal of its overseas resources is stuck), far too big army to feed it and nobody likes to trade with it :sad:

Theres an event which fires after England falls which allows you to parcel France, I don't know how it work with Vichy France however, I've tried it only on France without Fall of France wargoal.

 

[SSmith]

If Spain refuses to join the Axis I will have to conquer them. Maybe SSmith or Bromgev know of some condition which has to be met in order to Sanjurjo Spain joins the Axis?

I checked and there are no specific pre-conditions that have to be met before Spain can join the Axis, just the basic threat/neutrality requirements. If you load as Spain you will probably see where the problem is.

 

[SKOTy]

They are actually aligned in my corner and aligning to Axis and their neutrality is low enought because I raise threat on UK from 1936. I have option to invite them to Axis but odds of joining are Impossible.

 

[SSmith]

OK, looking at some of the generic code governing the Spanish reaction, I think the problem is that they neighbour the UK (an Axis enemy) but they don't know that they also neighbour Germany and so they fear they won't have enough support. Of course they are your neighbour because you occupy France but I don't think the function understands that. I will have to think how to solve this.

For now, if you really want to get Spain into the Axis, you could put this code at the bottom of the SPA.lua file in your \Hearts of Iron III\tfh\mod\HPP\script\country folder. Keep a safe copy before you change it because it's only for use in this specific case.

function P.DiploScore_InviteToFaction(score, ai, actor, recipient, observer)
	
	if observer == recipient then		-- We are being invited
		if tostring(actor) == "GER"	-- by Germany
		then
			score = 100
		end
	end
	
	return score
end

return AI_SPA

Just to be sure you don't introduce any script bugs, keep an eye on the system.log file in your \Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron III\HPP\logs folder.

 

[SKOTy]

I don't really insist on Spain joining Axis, I was mostly wondering about the fact that when Franco is in charge of Spanish State it joins without hesitation and when Sanjurjo is in charge they don't want to.

Whether will I use the modified script or not depends on if you are going to introduce some changes to Spanish AI as I don't want to introduce some my custom changes.

 

[SSmith]

I will do something about it but not until the next release.

 

[SKOTy]

9. Unternehmen Parsifal, part 1
(alias invasion to Spain)



I've decided that Spain has to fall because they don't want to join the Axis. This will provide me access to Gibraltar and ports inside Mediterranean which will be essential for my campaign in north Africa. My goal is to control Suez before Italy joins the war.

First, news from the World: Pakistan declared independence on India and joins Axis. I am afraid they will be soon annexed by India.

War on Spain has been declared with conquer war goal used - as I've said in introduction to this AAR World will either join Axis or will be annexed.
One border province is left unguarded and my armies immediately exploit this fact.

First signs of British expedition forces. Immediately after declaring war Spain joins allies. War in Spain will hopefully be good opportunity to crush some of BEF.

Progress is slow, very slow when comparing to my other offensives. Slow speed is explained by difficult terrain and winter. Control of first port in Mediterranean is established and supplies can flow from there.

Sweden decides to help Finland in winter war.

Two pockets are created. East one is about to collapse and shatter, but west one is still supplied via ports and is full of BEF.
Initial fights except the ones in mountains was quick and decisive for German panzers as Spanish lack firepower to pierce their armor and weren't mobilized.

I've saw at least 4 British divisions in west pocket. Good for me they can't pierce my tanks armor so I can test how armor/piercing mechanic hotfix works.

Look who's in charge of Spanish bombers.

Spanish ships are more like target practice for Kriegsmarine. They can't match power of my 4 new battleships.

I've decided that second front in Spain will be open by amphibious invasion in Valencia. After battle for Valencia is over I will ship one full infantry corps from Genoa which is currently awaiting its deployment in Africa.

Last battle for east pocket.

German panzers has dug in behind rivers while waiting for forces used in east pocket. This division was forced to retreat but British forces has paid high price for this province.
I would say hotfix works pretty well, as before hotfix this lone division would be able to defend the position and repel attacks.

German panzers are advancing near the Spain-Portugal border and preparing ground for phase two of Unternehmen Parsifal.

Japan have noticed situation in Europe and quickly seized Indochina, former French colony. I am afraid it will be no use for them as they're still stuck in fighting with China.

One of German panzer divisions exploited lack of defenses near Madrid and entered undefended capital of Spain. However in few hours angered Spanish defenders has arrived and German panzer division quickly retreated. Unfortunately Madrid was not occupied long enough to induce national unity hit.

North Spanish front advances and brings some encirclements. So far 4 divisions have been overrun apart from these trapped in encirclements.

2nd Kriegsmarineflottille is repaired from minor clashes with Spanish navy and seeks equal enemy for itself, supported by naval bombers I hope for some British causalities. This battle ends with two UK screens sunk and some German screens damaged so I order fleet to station in Brest for repairs as size of Kriegsmarine is limited and I don't want to lose even a screen.


I absolutely need at least two more transport fleets capable of carrying whole infantry corps for successful campaign in Mediterranean and for future Sea Lion. I am in no hurry in finishing Spain campaign as I am already in possession of port in Mediterranean so my Afrikacorps operations can start.

 

[guillec87]

Just catched up! Great update! I dont like the invasion of Spain though

 

[SKOTy]

Just catched up! Great update! I dont like the invasion of Spain though

Welcome abroad, I've said in the beginning I will conquer countries that don't want to join the Axis, I personally would like to have Spain in the Axis. On the other hand I am now in possession of port in Med which allows my Afrikakorps campaign to begin.

Hopefully you will see some invasions in the future which you will like

 

[SKOTy]

10. Unternehmen Parsifal, part 2
(alias invasion to Spain)


In this update you'll see demise of Spain and beginning of the Afrikakorps campaign. Unfortunately Fraps refused to take 2 essential screenshots of north Africa :glare:

One of German armies is under attack by Spanish as 4 of their divisions are in danger of being encircled. You can see German infantry rushing to close the pocket. Fights in the north-west part of Spain are hard especially thanks to a lot of BEF.

2nd March 1940 Madrid falls again into hand of German panzer divisions.

1. Kriegsmarineflottille has undergone some necessary repairs in Brest and is again on hunt for Royal Navy. However German naval bombers are nearly out of organization and can not affect outcome of this naval clash in any significant way. This battle ends in 2 British ships sunk - light cruiser HMS Dauntless and battleship HMS Malaya.
Heavily damaged German 1. Kriegsmarineflottille is forced to retreat to Brest for repairs and later to Bordeaux due to continuous British port strikes on Brest.

I am hoping this will somehow help Japan with situation in China as stalemate and bloodshed still continues.

An amphibious invasion in Port Said has occurred. Total of 2 German invasion corps has landed there and they quickly secured Suez canal and then rushed towards two most important Egyptian cities, Alexandria and Cairo. As most of Allied defenders are stationed at border with Italian Africa the progress is swift.
This is the screenshot where Fraps messed up and only available screen from the beginning of the Afrikakorps campaign is this. My apologies for that.

German paratroopers landed in La Coruna in attempt to capture the city as front lines are heavily defended by BEF and the defenders are dug in mountains and behind rivers. Breaking these lines would be costly in terms of German soldier lives and also in matter of time. 1st Kriegsmarineflottille is heading to Cape Oregal to support paratroopers with its might battleships guns.

In south situation is different, most defenders has been already crushed and the rest of them is going to be overrun in pockets. Two German panzer divisions have taken nearly whole Spanish shoreline and most important cities with it.

Gibraltar defenders are bravely attacking nearby passing German panzers. The count of guard divisions is worrying me, 10 guard divisions would be pain to destroy as they will be dig in mountains fit fortifications. I am open to suggestions how to execute Gibraltars fall.

Fleet stationed in Cape Oregal is attacked by Royal Navy fleet, during battle British carrier HMS Furious is sunk and damaged German fleet is forced again to anchor in Bordeaux for repairs, in fact it was not completely repaired when it was ordered to support paradrop in La Coruna.

Campaign in north Africa is going pretty well as defenders were totally unprepared. When Alexandria and Cairo falls Egypt will fall into German hands. In the east you can see German infantry marching towards another 2 of British puppets, Palestine and Transjordan.

2 improtant battles are over. Alexandria has fallen few days before Cairo and is Already occupied which mean when German forces arrive into Cairo Egypt will fall.

10th April so far longest engagement of German army is over and Spain is conquered by Germany, Egypt has also fallen and control of Suez is in German hands.

German armies are rushing towards rest of British puppets in Mediterranean region.



In next update you'll see finishing of Afrikakorps operations in near East and hopefully Gibraltars fall.

 

[Ikarases]

You can either take on those divisions from three provinces (width 28) or you might attack from one province (width 12) and let the British enjoy some stacking penalty before launching an attack from all sides when they won't have any reserves left. I'd prefer the first variant, all-out attack, as that should annihilate them faster

 

[SKOTy]

I need some time for my medium bombers to repair and it would be also nice to have SAG repaired for some shore bombardment. It's a pity that I have only two divisions of mountaineers :-(

 

[Ikarases]

I need some time for my medium bombers to repair and it would be also nice to have SAG repaired for some shore bombardment. It's a pity that I have only two divisions of mountaineers :-(

I think Gibraltar itself can be also subjected to amphibious landing from three sea zones, which would lenghten the front greatly. And you might even load those transports just with HQs, if you don't mind being a little bit gamey