Hoi2

[Timo]

I got it. Trying to get used to it... It's a big improvement to the first, but it takes getting used to the new systems and stuff. I don't know if I like the technology research method yet...

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/heartsofiron2.asp

[bocian]

I really liked EU 1 and 2, for some reason HOI just didn't hold my interest for long.

I wonder if they're working on true sequel to the EU series.

[Bulair]

HOI2 is a very interesting game, much more difficult and bug-free than the previous one.It's just my type of strategy, but it still is so damn slow, even when the speed is "extremly fast".

[Awar]

I had some problems with both EU1 and EU2, regarding the mouse speed and movement.
I tried many different drivers for everything, patches, etc. but I couldn't play the game.
It's a shame, it seems I missed out on a lot.

I'm not exactly a fan of the WW2 period.

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Bulair

HOI2 is a very interesting game, much more difficult and bug-free than the previous one.It's just my type of strategy, but it still is so damn slow, even when the speed is "extremly fast".

I am glad. There is so much going on, much more than in Hearts of Iron I.
So I will prefer to take my time and do this right than to go fast and mess-up or completely ignore the aspects of the indepthness of the game (i.e., industry, tech, upgrades, allocating IC, movement of divisions in coordination to the weather and to help neighbor unites, and adding/removing various batalions as needed/un-needed, etc.). I tried to play as Sweden (my 2nd favourite nation in the first game) and I found it extreamly difficult, and wond up becoming a governemnt of "Leftwing Radicals" - something I didn't intend, though was the only option of Leftwing Authoritarian or Democracy. I chose the latter because I abhore Democracy, and wanted to eventually just Großdeutschland in their war agianst the Allied Aggressors or may join Finland in the winter war if my forces were ready in time for winter 1939-40. My two concorent games are still in like 1938 with Sweden and 1940 with Germany. These are the first two I have played and I am going slow for a few reasons: (a) To learn all about the new systems of play and components. (b) To make as few mistakes as possible while doing so. (c) To enjoy the new features, while trying to formulate a strategy and figure out how to take advantage of the new features (such as the increased battalions, like the heavy armored ones and the Assualt Guns, etc.); also trying to take into account of things like the weather, climate, terrain, cooperating armies/corps/divisions that can defend/attack supporting one another.


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All in all I find that when play either of the two countries that I have tried, it is WAY more realistic than the first game. In the first game, for either of those countries, I could build a large force in a short period of time, that way larger than historically would've been possible. This is especially the case for Sweden, where I could conquer Norway and join the Axis before Germany even thought of invading Norway. Then I would turn on the USSR and take it's norther areas in Baltic and Artic, and maybe take Finland (if it was conquered after Winter War or didn't join with Axis). You see, this isn't really possible in HOI2, because it is some much more constrained to a historical realism that wasn't put in the first game. Industry and money really matter a lot in HOI2 whereas in HOI, they weren't really important for major nations (except Gasoline for Germany). Also the climate, weather, and infrastruction have a more realistic impact on the troops and their movement/abilities than the first game implimented.



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All in all - so far I am impressed with the improvements and like what I see. I still am having a hard to getting the tech-tree down, and deciding which is the best time to research what, but I am getting used to it. Sweden is only allowed to have one research team at a time, which I find terrible. They already start off with out-dated technology, and have limited reasources to get "pumped up" if they should need to go to war. I think they should be able to have 3 cocurrent teams, 2 at the very least. I do like the great amount of research that went into getting the info for the research teams (e.g., IG Farben, Porsche, Opel, and Mauser, etc. are research teams for Germany). Each team has there only skill level, and abilities, which is quite cool once you get the hang of it and know which group should research what, it makes it all go faster with research having the "right guys on the team."



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Anyhow, that's my review so far. If you liked HOI, EU2 or Victoria, then you should try this, it combines the best of Victoria and EU2 with HOI. Like more indepth politics and ability to change ones own goverment's policies by slide-bar (which was in EU2). It also has MP (military police) battalions to subdue or rather prevent partisan actions. And yes, there are partisans in HOI2, unlike the first (which was supposed to have them but didn't).

Also there is a "adhoc-patch" (they call it an "Enhancement" instead of "Patch") for HOI2 - version 1.1 that can be downloaded. It isn't on the Paradox sites so one must look for it on the forums. I'll give you the direct link though, for some reason Paradox had it up, but took it down - maybe they will realse their own better one later and decided a "dueling" patch wasn't a good idea (which it isn't but I can't wait for Paradox's slow arses). BTW - on the topic of them, their forums have been going down frequently. Perhaps the same host as Stirpes. j/k They were up today, though so I d/led the patch for a site they linked to. I am also waiting for a No Time-limit Mod, there is one, but they've to post it up, and keep it to themselves (i.e., the mod people). One must give them an e-mail to send it to, but no luck for me so far.

Anyway... Good Game... I recommend for people who love that time-era or people who like strategy games or games which allow you to rule and country and conquer the world (if you'd like).

HOI2 - Main Forums
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...play.php?f=255

HOI2 - version 1.1 "Enhancement" - Try the 3rd link posted, that is a direct link to the file to be d/led
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...d.php?t=180604

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Awar

I had some problems with both EU1 and EU2, regarding the mouse speed and movement.

EU2 had no problem with me for "mouse movement". Do you mean the speed at which the cursor moves across the screen? If so, wasn't there an option for that? (maybe not, it's been a while since I played that game)

It's a shame, it seems I missed out on a lot.

You did. I loved EU2, I might go back to it, if I get bored with the newer games I have gotten reccently. (that happens to me, I get bored, the go back and play my old games, then get bored and go back to playing new games - it's a cycle of mine - I still play Age of Empires:RoR sometimes)

I'm not exactly a fan of the WW2 period.

A Serbian, not a fan of the WWII period? You must be kidding me?

[Timo]

Also, AWAR - you should get Victoria... 1836-1918 (or around there).
It's a great game, like the other Paradox has put out. Newer than HOI, it was the latest to comeout, before HOI2. (that's talking about the global-strategy games they make, only though)

In Victoria, you can be as Serbia... if you want.

[Bulair]

Well I started the game with Germany, I was able to crush Poland and France without major problems and didn't want to start a war with the USSR, I started developing techs, but then out of nowhere the USSR attacked my borders.They had 200 division more and penetrated in Poland.Even though I had superior technology I wasn't able to step them in any way, they were just too powerful, I managed to encircle some divisions with my Panzertruppen, but still new division kept coming.I was allied with Italy, Bulgaria and Hungary, but they didn't do anything.I decided to entrench my troops on the borders and it seemed to help, but then the soviets concentrated huge amounts of troops in three provinces and penetrated through my lines.That was the end of Germany,superior technology cannot stop massive invasions.

[Timo]

Originally Posted by bocian

I wonder if they're working on true sequel to the EU series.

By stating this as you have, I suppose you know of the little bonus version to EU2 that they realised in some countries which has added features to the game, and a seperate type of game all together. I was a special pack, I think. I haven't gotten this myself, because I had already gotten EU2 at the time and didn't see the need to spend money on what was really nothing more than a few enhancements. I don't know if they are goin to do a new EU serious, I would like that, one that is like the HOI2/Victoria style and in the time period of EU2. I think that would be interesting, but hard to do, considering much of the time period (1400s+) aren't known, like they are in Victoria and HOI2; I'm especially talking about the non-european countries here. The tech-tree and "divisions" or armies of a medieval period would be intereting to see - though that would be hard to reproduce for a game, I think. It isn't as recent as the 19th or 20th century - not to mention it covers a great many centuries with much change (and includes aspects such as religion vs. religion).

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Bulair

Well I started the game with Germany, I was able to crush Poland and France without major problems and didn't want to start a war with the USSR, I started developing techs, but then out of nowhere the USSR attacked my borders.

That happens frequently in HOI, the first game. What was your relations with the USSR? What was the beligerancy lev el of either Germany or USSR? Did you do something to provoke and attack? Maybe trying to establish "friendly" relations after the annexation of Poland/Balitic states will prevent such a backlash. I don't know. I didn't have this experience yet, but I am only in the first months of 1940 with Germany. I want to avoid war with them untill I get England. (I ignored Denmark, Norway and Balkans). I have alliances with Hungry, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, N. Spain, and Portugal - perhaps the USSR has been afriad so far to attack me.



Just a tip, make trade deals for money and then use the money to establish allainces/non-agression pacts or to coup or influence nations.

They had 200 division more and penetrated in Poland.Even though I had superior technology I wasn't able to step them in any way, they were just too powerful, I managed to encircle some divisions with my Panzertruppen, but still new division kept coming.

Did you use the option to support you troops in defence/counter-attack?
Did you priority build defences on your border (i.e., build then and then select to be on top of querie list). Otherwise, they obviously had better weapons/troops or strategy doctrines. Make sure to have plenty of artilery/engineer battalions which aid in denfence vs. infantry (esp. in case of artillery, i.e., it's good for killing infantry).

That was the end of Germany,superior technology cannot stop massive invasions.

You don't know what their tech level was or what their doctrines for strategy was either. What difficulty level were you on? Also, did you give permission for the USSR to take the Baltics and Finnish/Romanian territories?
The Russian, I know, have the doctine for massive infantry charges, I forgot the name, but it's not availible for Germany. Also, what was your infantry's "year" (1939 or 1941?). Also it would depend on the support/brigades they had an you had, and the air/naval (depending if coastal province) they had which you didn't. I don't know what to say, except if you get in that possition agian, show me some screenshots.

[Awar]

Originally Posted by Timo

EU2 had no problem with me for "mouse movement". Do you mean the speed at which the cursor moves across the screen? If so, wasn't there an option for that? (maybe not, it's been a while since I played that game)

Thanks, I'm not illiterate
I tried everything... the problem seems to be in the incompatibility of
my motherboard with the game's engine.
During the game, when you move the mouse, the pointer moves
after a few moments latency.

Similar thing happened in few other games, but I fixed it with
re-installing graphics and mb drivers.

You did. I loved EU2, I might go back to it, if I get bored with the newer games I have gotten reccently. (that happens to me, I get bored, the go back and play my old games, then get bored and go back to playing new games - it's a cycle of mine - I still play Age of Empires:RoR sometimes)

Medieval: Total War is calling me to install it again

A Serbian, not a fan of the WWII period? You must be kidding me?

Hmm... I understand you're joking, but don't understand why

[Awar]

Originally Posted by Bulair

I was allied with Italy, Bulgaria and Hungary, but they didn't do anything.

Weird

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Awar

Hmm... I understand you're joking, but don't understand why

I'll speak in a language you can understand... 1337...
Yugoslavia = Pwnd

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Awar

Weird

They should have at least sent expeditionary divisions/corps... right?

[Awar]

Originally Posted by Timo

I'll speak in a language you can understand... 1337...
Yugoslavia = Pwnd

Ze Germans

[Timo]

Well. I annexed Yugoslavia as Germany. Naturaly I gave the portions that Hungry and Bulgaria wanted. I didn't expect, however that Italy would have claims on Dalmatia and most of the Adriatic Coast. So when I created an Independent Croatia, it had only two provences. I then abandoned the Balkans a together. I would've had to place troops in the area and and garrisons, both on anti-partisan duty. This wastes valuble units in an area which has little value for the Reich as a whole. I need my anti-partisans in Poland, France, Beglium, Netherlands, Denmark and Norway - so having them in the Balkans would stretch my garrison units/backup infantery divisions (The ones which I've made for partisan supression with MP battalions). This being so, I abandoned the Balkans. I set up the satilites of Croatia (as mentioned), Slovenia (and gave them an extra ajacent province which was part of Yugoslavia), Bosnia, Serbia (and gave them the only neighboring Yugoslav provence which I had left). These were set up as NS governments. Needless to say that the boards of these nations looked a bit odd.

So I balkanized, the balkans. Next time I will give them indepence before annexing all Yugoslavia, that way Italy won't get the Adriatic provences which would be need for those satilites to have ports (i.e., croatia).

[Awar]

Ah, if only the Fuhrer had your brains, and looks

[Timo]

Originally Posted by Awar

Ah, if only the Fuhrer had your brains, and looks

First of all, what is the comment on my looks? You find me attractive?


Well... historically, I think he wouldn't have trusted the Serbian, Slovenia, and Bosnian governments which I set up to be my satilites. He would've probably been correct too. I doubt the Serbians would not have liked to had Yugoslavia broken up and then Belgrade to be given a "serbian" country with less lands than before and independent neighbors which were under Belgrade control before; also taking into account they are puppets of Germany and must be submissive. This was done with Croatia, because he could be sure of the loyalty of Ante Pavelić (Poglavnik), and the Ustaška movement in Croatia. The liaison between these two governments was also a trusted SS-Man, Friedrich Kasche. There was also a great number of Volksdeutsche in Croatian and a movement for them to fight for the Vaterland, which is something with which Hitler was very sympathic.

So, yes. In my perfect "world" playing the role in this game as Hitler - I can make those satilites and have them independent yet allies, to deal with their own lands, instead of myself having to waste troops from anti-partisan duties. Yet, the real world is not so and the way history happened, is not so easy. You know that already, anyhow.

A question for you:
Would you've supported (or not opposed/revolted) if you were living in Serbia in during WWII, and Germany set up Serbia as a satilite, like it did with Croatia? What are you opinions on that, is basically what I am asking.

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Also, new game:
I saved up my money and did a coup on the USA. It then turned NS and the name changed to California. In another game I couped the UK and it changed to NS and the name to Scotland. These are bugs that either came with the game or with the v1.1 "enhancement" (patch).
One coup I did li