Hey HoI2 Vets, is this possible?

[Kennylz]

I'm probably going to get into another couple campaigns in HoI2 as the cold winter sets in and was hoping to try some very peculiar things. I remember seeing a lot of seemingly impossible stuff accomplished by people back when HoI2 was at its peak and I didn't have the game yet, so I'll ask.

1. Is it possible to bring the US into the war on the side of the Axis? It would be ridiculously easy combat wise probably, but would be fascinating. I don't know how I'd get my relations with Germany high enough, and Japan is event-triggered to DoW, aren't they? Probably doesn't help that I'm using the Total Realism Project mod. Might have to play Vanilla.

2. I tried a game as Republican Spain, and then I surrendered to the Nationalists, but IC got cut in half, and early on, so I was just a crippled Nationalist Spain with a weak Portugal puppet. Any way to play Nationalist Spain successfuly? I don't know why I lost so much IC, because the factories in my provinces didn't add up to what I was recievin.

3. Any guides out there for micro, or minor powers? They are very fun to play as, but I know that I could be doing a lot better.

4. Have you ever done any unusual things in HoI2? I'd love some old screenshots you have, or stories. I want to learn some things to enjoy my next games better. I've learned the game, but haven't mastered it.

[hellheaven1987]

1. Is it possible to bring the US into the war on the side of the Axis? It would be ridiculously easy combat wise probably, but would be fascinating. I don't know how I'd get my relations with Germany high enough, and Japan is event-triggered to DoW, aren't they? Probably doesn't help that I'm using the Total Realism Project mod. Might have to play Vanilla.

It is possible, but only if you playing as US.

Japan's DoW on US is not related with Axis most time; in fact, to have Pearl Harbor event it requires a lot of prerequirement (like China cannot be conquered, oil embargo must on) and normally it would not fulfill.

However, Japan can join Allies though.

2. I tried a game as Republican Spain, and then I surrendered to the Nationalists, but IC got cut in half, and early on, so I was just a crippled Nationalist Spain with a weak Portugal puppet. Any way to play Nationalist Spain successfuly? I don't know why I lost so much IC, because the factories in my provinces didn't add up to what I was recievin.

To win Spanish Civil War, it largely depends on what European countries did.

If a lot of countries chose to aid your faction, you got more troops at starting; also, you can directly ask assistant by join either Axis (Nationalist) or Allies (Republican).

Once you did that it is just a walk-through; but it is nasty for Allies though since France would declare war on Germany in early 1937 if you ask Allies' help.

Either way, Spain is a nice nation to become super-power; the tip is you need at least 100 IC to build an effective army. So once you win the war disband everything you got and building industry.

3. Any guides out there for micro, or minor powers? They are very fun to play as, but I know that I could be doing a lot better.

Try HoI2 Wiki.

But again, you need at least 100 IC to be saved to crush other super-powers.

4. Have you ever done any unusual things in HoI2? I'd love some old screenshots you have, or stories. I want to learn some things to enjoy my next games better. I've learned the game, but haven't mastered it.

A bunch, like France declared war on Germany in 1937, Polish Crusade against USSR, China crushed Japan in 1940, British invasion of Balkan at 1943...

Things like USSR vs Allies in WWII is really not rare; however some events like Pear Harbor is sooooo rare that I only saw it once (and only time Japan joined Axis).

[Aonghus G. Friedhold]

I joined the war on the Axis side as Greece, and stretched to India before falling apart from rebellions and U.S. attacks.

[Pious Agnost]

When you've seen Mexico and Canada conquer the United States with nothing more than a little resource gifting, you know nothing is impossible in this game

[hellheaven1987]

When you've seen Mexico and Canada conquer the United States with nothing more than a little resource gifting, you know nothing is impossible in this game

Na, it depends when those two want to attack US.

US before 1942 is an empty land.

[Pious Agnost]

Na, it depends when those two want to attack US.

US before 1942 is an empty land.

I know, I enjoy doing the quick-annex of the U.S exploit before they can become a main power, but I was just using Mexico (Did a majority of the work) and Canada conquering the U.S as an example

[Kennylz]

When I played as Republican Spain I was prompted with the option to surrender to the Nationalists. I did, then I inherited a beautiful Spanish nation as the allies with a completely useless 13 IC. Is this because I picked the easy route instead of war? 100 IC isn't even a possibility for me.

[Pious Agnost]

When I played as Republican Spain I was prompted with the option to surrender to the Nationalists. I did, then I inherited a beautiful Spanish nation as the allies with a completely useless 13 IC. Is this because I picked the easy route instead of war? 100 IC isn't even a possibility for me.

Yes, to even become a credible nation, you must annex them

[vizi]

To win as Nationalist Spain you just need to fight the Republicans into small encirclements against other nations and coastal provinces that don't have victory points.

You don't have to take every territory. And once you can herd them into bad provinces and take away their IC rich provinces you will find that you will have plenty of supplies and start to take over.

I also make what militia units I can. They will help turn the tide if you can't take them out early.

[Kennylz]

I'll be taking another shot as National Spain then, making sure to fight it out instead of taking the 'easy' route. Which turns out to be shooting yourself in the knees.

[hellheaven1987]

I'll be taking another shot as National Spain then, making sure to fight it out instead of taking the 'easy' route. Which turns out to be shooting yourself in the knees.

Na no.

I guess it is just because the IC was not recovered yet at that time.

And I assume you annex Republican.

[Celsius]

1. Is very possible. Now you go and take Canada yes?

2. Yes, there is a way. Try the HoI Wiki for more info

3. HoI Wiki

4. I have learned that editing files on speed can increase your blitzkrieg tactics.

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

4. Have you ever done any unusual things in HoI2? I'd love some old screenshots you have, or stories. I want to learn some things to enjoy my next games better. I've learned the game, but haven't mastered it.

Poland defeating Germany in 1939, The USSR outflanking germany via Scandinavia, Japan conquring most of Siberia and eastern Russia, Communist China overruning much of China in 1936.

Japan rarely joins the Axis because unlike in RL this means imediate war with the USSR which (usually) means the defeat of Manchuria and Soviet hordes rampaging across china. This would be why, as Japan, I refuse to join the Axis, nor do I DoW on the USA till I have conqured much of Asia the Pacific and the Middle East.

[sephodwyrm]

China crushed Japan in 1940

The norm is to do so in 1938.
Unless you're talking about the Japanese mainland. Then I can forgive you.

[hellheaven1987]

The norm is to do so in 1938.
Unless you're talking about the Japanese mainland. Then I can forgive you.

In DD and Armagen Japan is very tough to crush playing as China (here I mean Chinese AI).

Not sure about HoI2 since I never touch it before.

[sephodwyrm]

In DD and Armagen Japan is very tough to crush

It is possible by doing a few editing / tricks or S/L.

The trick is first MOD the Guangxi clique war "peace" so that they won't be begging for it in an event. Occupy the entirety and absorb their troops. The next thing would be to move the troops to the coastal landing provinces, and to bash Yunnan clique. You might have to do a few more editing by making Shanxi clique ally with Yunnan (which I did, though some people are lucky enough to have it happen). And then after you destroyed all the warlords you'd have 100+ divs which you can fully upgrade to 1936 infantry. I went for human wave, though infiltration is probably best for China which would be INF heavy.

Yeah, it's cheating. =P I consider it cheating.
A Shanxi allied with Japan will give them another 10+ divs which they would upgrade. What does this mean? This means that instead of gaining those 10+, you lose them to the enemy, making a total difference of close to 30+ divs. And that 30+ divs can make/break you.

[hellheaven1987]

It is possible by doing a few editing / tricks or S/L.

The trick is first MOD the Guangxi clique war "peace" so that they won't be begging for it in an event. Occupy the entirety and absorb their troops. The next thing would be to move the troops to the coastal landing provinces, and to bash Yunnan clique. You might have to do a few more editing by making Shanxi clique ally with Yunnan (which I did, though some people are lucky enough to have it happen). And then after you destroyed all the warlords you'd have 100+ divs which you can fully upgrade to 1936 infantry. I went for human wave, though infiltration is probably best for China which would be INF heavy.

Yeah, it's cheating. =P I consider it cheating.
A Shanxi allied with Japan will give them another 10+ divs which they would upgrade. What does this mean? This means that instead of gaining those 10+, you lose them to the enemy, making a total difference of close to 30+ divs. And that 30+ divs can make/break you.

...

It cheats so heavily that I don't even feel honor to crush Japan.

Man, stop cheating...

[sephodwyrm]

Man, stop cheating...

Or you can use the unstoppable horde of Chinese MON and INF. That would probably take until mid 1939. It can still be done. I did that in most cases but found cheating to be more fun.

A few things of note if you're honorable:
- Use the Baoding, Shijiazhuang and Tianjin pocket. Keep little forces there but a lot of reserves in the surrounding. Allow the IJA to smash through into the region and then swallow them. I did this a couple of times. You might need to do it a few more times to reduce the size of the IJA. The AI is stupid and would do it repeatedly. Over and over...

- Use HQ. Have HQ. HQs mean everything.

- Train your major generals. Have lots of 1 div armies and once they get some experience and skill level you can promote them. You'd need these generals to fight a lot of other people. Otherwise the game becomes boring afterwards

- Download CCIP

- Use Cruizergs...which is cheating as well...

[Kennylz]

My last two campaigns have been utter failures. Not because I got wiped out, but because I was too efficient, and then everything went stupid. Playing as Nationalist Spain I won the civil war, puppeted Portugal, built up for war, and then when WW2 broke out I took some French land, and then immediately warred with Vichy. Germany wanted to ally them and immediately war on me, so I reloaded and hurried up and conquered most of Vichy, allied with Germany and then got D-Dayed by England and America. Nothing I could do. The Axis and Allies were out to get me, no other easy targets.

Then I played as Poland and went to war with Germany just as soon as they started talking to Austria, and my unasked for best bud France helped out and took the West half of Germany, me with the East. Nothing to do for the rest of the game because everyone was either guaranteeing or allied with everyone else and I was always just not strong enough to take anyone else on.

I'm taking a shot as Romania now. I've learned to bide my time. I'm not going to be able to WC, but hopefully I'll make a relatively good ally to Hitler and see if I can't help him when he has problems with Russia. The plan is to unify the Balkans, take out Turkey, and then when Barbarossa hits I cut the Russians off down the middle from the south.

It will be a long, tedious game, with a few incredibly risky spots. I'm having problems successfully isolating Balkan nations though, since I tried to take out both Bulgaria and Hungary, but both times WW2 broke out too early and Germany got creamed because I was pulling the trigger too fast. I just hope I can conquer fast enough once the hits the fan. As long as I get an alliance with Germany and guard my narrow Russian border good enough my one big threat should be nullified and allow me to take out all those minor powers.

[sephodwyrm]

Pointers:
1. Use HQ
2. Don't waste MP...research techs that boost MP
3. Have at least 80 divs. I don't know if it's possible with Romania.