Too Stupid for HOI 3?

[MemnonOfRhodes]

Seems I can't even finish the German invasion of Poland, even though the Northern African scenario went without problems.

I can't tell what going on, I try to cut off the forces south of Danzig, but in East Prussia my divisions are getting their asses kicked for some reason...

Same for Japan, I start the game,and I just black-out not knowing where to start.

[Amalric]

First of hello,
i can´t say much, because a lack of info. first Your division composition?
I usually use Inf.div.: 3 inf and one arty. Tankdivisions: 1 tank, 2 mot. and 1 eng.
For the invasion of Poland, i use two infdiv. pro province, for eastprussia i build also 11 infdiv., ship them too eastprussia.
The techs are very important.
read here for more info. http://forum.paradoxplaza.com

[MemnonOfRhodes]

First of hello,
i can´t say much, because a lack of info. first Your division composition?
I usually use Inf.div.: 3 inf and one arty. Tankdivisions: 1 tank, 2 mot. and 1 eng.
For the invasion of Poland, i use two infdiv. pro province, for eastprussia i build also 11 infdiv., ship them too eastprussia.
The techs are very important.
read here for more info. http://forum.paradoxplaza.com

I was talking about the scenario, so you start with a preset army...

[Halbard]

perhaps...

[TheBromgrev]

Try either this tutorial AAR: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...torial-Take-2.

Or this video tutorial: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...ideo-Tutorials

[Eneru112]

It's not that I'm too stupid for HoI

HoI is just too stupid for me

YEEEAAAH.

[MemnonOfRhodes]

Try either this tutorial AAR: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...torial-Take-2.

Or this video tutorial: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...ideo-Tutorials

Already watched those, it's not the game mechanics I'm having problems with.
Take Japan for example..

So I basically going for a 2 front war with China (landing in the South), but so many questions arise just from planning this war..

What units should I use in the North?
Should I research Marines before invading China?
How many engineers do I need?
Is it wise to use Armor? (terrain)
Or do I need motorised/mechanized for the large distances?
Build Battleships or Carriers during this war?
Do I need an airforce?
What about supply?



Or am I just thinking too far ahead?

[TheBromgrev]

What units should I use in the North?

The units you start with. One option is to put your cavalry and mobile units in Dalian and land them in Qingdao a week or two after Shanxi surrenders (3.05 or earlier) or after the war starts (3.06) for a big encirclement.

In the south, use the pre-war period to build up a bunch of infantry w/o support attachments. At least 20 divisions. These guys should invade Shanghai and take out Nanjing to kill China's supply system. If you have 3.06 taking Nanjing won't affect China's supply situation, as its capital is moved via a new decision.

Should I research Marines before invading China?

Yes. Even if you don't use them right away, marines are useful to have.

How many engineers do I need?

None. Engineers are over-rated. Yes, their % bonuses are good, but the raw attack values of ART are worth more despite the penalties in bad terrain. Engineers also consume fuel, making them even less attractive for Japan.

Is it wise to use Armor? (terrain)

No. They are supply-heavy, require fuel, and China's bad terrain negates their speed advantage. Armor is good against the USSR and US though, so consider tanks a priority for the late-game and not to be used early.

Or do I need motorised/mechanized for the large distances?

Same deal as tanks.

Build Battleships or Carriers during this war?

Carrier + light cruiser fleets are the kings of the sea in this game. No need for new battleships unless you want to roleplay. Your starting battleships are great for shore bombardment though, so you should keep them around.

Do I need an airforce?

Yes, though what you start with is enough for China. You'll want to prioritize operational range over all else, so use multi-roles instead of interceptors and TAC instead of CAS. There aren't enough air fields for those shorter-ranged planes to be effective in Asia.

You can use your CAGs as dive bombers too. Since you'll have naval superiority against China you can move your carriers along the coast as needed and use its CAGs for ground support. This really helps your troops and levels up your CAGs.

What about supply?

If you have 3.05 or earlier then supply will be your biggest headache. In 3.06 I added more ports, but China is stronger to compensate. The overall strategy is still the same though: the northern front is a distraction, and your main attack will come from Shanghai 2-3 weeks after the war starts, in order to ensure that the Chinese troops are all up north.

Or am I just thinking too far ahead?

You're asking the right questions. All of the above and more can be found in the HOI3 wiki here: http://www.paradoxian.org/hoi3wiki/Main_Page

[MemnonOfRhodes]

Already combed out the Wiki and even watched a few let's plays on youtube, it's just that something seems the be lacking with every plan...
Also tried to get the 3.06 patch, but even though I'm logged in, I can't acces the page...

[TheBromgrev]

You need to have HOI3 registered to get access to the beta patch; the expansions being registered aren't enough. There are some balance issues with the latest beta that have to be addressed and a new beta patch made, so it won't go public until July at the earliest according to the PI developers.

After you register, you can access the modding forum. I wrote some country guides for the HPP mod, which can be found here. The guides are pretty details, and even though they're for the mod most of the overall strategy tips can apply to the base game too.