Getting Hearts of Iron 2 soon

**Kennylz** · November 11, 2008, 11:46 PM

I know it's a relatively old game by now, but I have a love of WW2 and felt like I really needed to play this game before I go mad with the lack of grand WW2 strategy titles out there. I also know HoI3 is in developement, but I don't intend to wait. I've ordered my copy of HoI. The only problem is, it is just the game, not with any expansions, such as Doomsday.

Tell me, do I need to get it to enjoy the game? Also, what are the must have mods for the game?

I also wouldn't mind some basic pointers, because I'd hate to be completely lost when I first begin playing. Is the game like Europa Universalis? Those were fun games, but war sucked pretty bad to me, so if the war is the same as in those games I might just hold off...

**Lawrence of Arabia** · November 12, 2008, 12:07 AM

The war in HoI is far more complex and confusing. I don't play HoI very much because I don't understand the game very well.

Given that, I think Doomsday is a must-have for the game.

**Spart** · November 12, 2008, 06:20 AM

Doomsday is a standalone expansion, meaning it includes the whole thing, so.. Getting just HoI2 is unwise.

If you've played Paradox games before, you'll be familiar with the basics of HoI2. Afterall it's pretty simple, just read the manual and try things out with the campaign. The warfare is basically very easy, but has a lot of depth if you really want to start micromanaging.

At the moment I'm only using GIP and SKIF graphical enhancement mods for Doomsday, but there are many mods that radically change the gameplay, like World in flames.

**Alkarin** · December 01, 2008, 03:45 AM

graphical enhancments? have a screenshot?

**Spart** · December 01, 2008, 07:22 AM

Well, here are screens from GIP, which adds color pics, new interface and flags (might add some sprites too I think):
http://gipmod.wordpress.com/screenshots/

SKIF adds unit icons for pretty much all units in the game.

**Alkarin** · December 01, 2008, 05:00 PM

do they work for the regular version of HOI2? (not DD or armageddon)

**Hookah Smoking Caterpiller** · December 01, 2008, 08:54 PM

Try starting out as some one who you can do well with, Germany, or America, possibly the USSR, stear clear of the UK and Japan until you've built up your skills and have cut your teeth a little

**hellheaven1987** · December 01, 2008, 08:55 PM

The best nation to play in HoI2 first run is Canadia.

Next is Italy.

**Celsius** · December 01, 2008, 09:32 PM

Italia is very fun.

**hellheaven1987** · December 01, 2008, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Celsius

Italia is very fun.

Yap, but you can also play in peaceful, boring way for Italy.

Which is good for beginner since no one would declare war against Italy - only you declare war against others (I even declare war against Germany when USSR was in Poland).

**Hookah Smoking Caterpiller** · December 02, 2008, 08:50 AM

Italy is fun if you join the allies...

**Celsius** · December 02, 2008, 11:03 AM

Then you get to go into Europe and take Germany and Yugoslavia.

**Hookah Smoking Caterpiller** · December 02, 2008, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Celsius

Then you get to go into Europe and take Germany and Yugoslavia.

Yup, steal austria and the Axis flavoured balkans

**Celsius** · December 02, 2008, 08:04 PM

Be sure to take Turkey and Syria for that black gold we call oil

**hellheaven1987** · December 02, 2008, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by Celsius

Be sure to take Turkey and Syria for that black gold we call oil

Turkey has nothing to offer and Syria usually got independant from that gay France.

Besides, holding Syria is not an easy task for newbie; basically you are fighting a two fronts war against British there and there is thin chance you can even send reinforcement...

But steamroll Egypt is not impossible; in fact I have seen quite a time AI Italy success that...

Oh, you can also play Germany and assisst Italy to steamroll Middle East; the trick is you need to conquer British Isles first before ask Italy join your evil alliance (which British usually has no man in Egypt and Middle East, so Italian can have a walk into that area).

**Ishoss** · December 03, 2008, 12:39 PM

Yeah, Syria/Iraq and the middle East can be hell if Britain decides to reinforce it. Blitz it, FAST.

**Celsius** · December 03, 2008, 08:32 PM

Or delcare war on French held syria while it's in Vichy France hands

**hellheaven1987** · December 03, 2008, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Celsius

Or delcare war on French held syria while it's in Vichy France hands

That is actually a great strategy.

I have played Italy the Conqueror before, basically just fight Repulican Spain during Spanish Civil War (guarantee independance is a nice diplomacy here), fight Greece and Yugoslavia at 1939, then attack Vichy France in 1942. The bad thing about this strategy is Germany may attack you if you attack Yugoslavia or Vichy.