Hey all, Mike, Joe, and myself have installed the 1.4 patch and have been playing. I am Italy (of course), Joe is Germany, and Mike is Japan. We're int 1940 now. I've had to edit the save-game files to remove the USA and Switzerland from the Allies. For some reason, the USA was still able to join in 1937 and we would prefer to keep them out until a more historical date. Switzerland should also NEVER join an alliance. Using the Save Game I also forced Romania and Hungary into the Axis Alliance, since for some reason they were drifting towards the Allies. Apart from the goofy alliances, (Brazil and Argentina are carving up South America against the countries that aligned themselves to the Allies down there) things have been going rather well for the Axis. The Germans had the Anschluss of Austria, and then also the Czechslovakia events trigger (creating the country of Slovakia) while also taking Poland and signing the Ribbentov Pack - very historical in those regards. Including the Allies declaring war on the Axis. Italy had success against Ethiopia, and also took out Albania and Yugoslavia via war, annexing both. Japan took on the Chinese factions and, despite much better resistance by them, conquered the Chinas in about 3 months. By this point, Motorized Divisions were being created by both Italians and Germans. These Motorized Divisions won the initial battle in Egypt, sending the British into a long retreat as the faster moving Mot. Infantry out gained the British. Only at the City of Alexander did any resistance form, but both the British and Iraqi division there were surrounded and wiped out. The Mot. Divisions then split up - one group heading south towards East Africa and splitting up even more to go West Africa, the other group moving over the Suez and towards French Syria and Iraq. Very little resistance was found in these parts, and the Italians had soon taken most of French Syria and all of Iraq. In Europe, the Lowlands were eaten up and then German troops rolled into France. Denmark, Sweden, Norway (all Allies) were also consumed by the German beast, forming a holding line against the Finns. Vichy France was created. For some reason, when the surrender events happen, Japan is considered the head of the alliance, so a small corner of Syria is now Japanese, surrounded by Italy. Vichy France was then invaded by the Italians and annexed, giving their territories to the Italians (most of Africa). French and British East Africa were cut off from supplies and taken, while Italian troops moving down east Africa encountered stiff resistance. The last Belgium territories are being taken over, along with the last French territories. The UK has been invaded and will surrender and Ireland is close behind. Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey have also all fallen to the Italians. Over in Asia, Japan is busy Island-Hopping towards New Zealand and Australia, using recently-turned-Italian Islands to help moved. Frenc Indochina had fallen, as has everything in Asia belonging to the Allies. The Japanese have pushed deep into India, but due to problems at home, the UK has very few troops there. Now, as we commence mop-up operations in our respective theatres, we're shifting our focus to combat with Russia. As Italy, I will take Persia, forming a land connection with Japan, and making the Axis alliance truly stretch over the entire world. Economies are being tuned to pump out infantry and tank divisions to face the massive Russian Army. Carriers are also being built - the USA has already produced 16 main carriers and probably 16 Escort Carriers, on top of other ships now. They have a fleet of at least 200. The Axis, combined, is closer tot 80 ships total, having taken heavy losses sinking the French, British, and Greek fleets.
They really should make neutrality play some role in Nations joining factions, or perhaps make it so that large distances from factions result in a negative gain in alignment.
Yeah, it seems to be an issue. Once one country joins the Allies, it influences other countries and they join. Some how, countries that are 'drifting towards the Axis' are able to join the Allies.
Yeah, I have too. And Communist China joining the Commitern (which happened in our game). Easy to fix though - edit the savegame file and remove the country from the alliance, then change "exile=yes" to "=no"...load up the game and the 'puppet or annex' window pops up. Since Allies surrender to Japan in our game, Japan got all of french territory not claimed by anyone, no Vichy. I discovered the event-id for Vichy france, loaded our MP game in SP as France, and triggered the event, which gave the rest of France to Germany and created Vichy France. Joe as Germany has taken out the UK but we are 'land grabbing' from the UK before Annexing them (all provinces will go to Japan). Once we do, most of the little countries should allow me to Annex them.
Since I don't need to do anything more in India, I have recently been considering sending a corp over to German held Britain. From there transporting them (with carrier escorts) to Nova Scotia, then trigger the annexation of the UK. Gives us a base to launch a Canadian Invasion. Well, not really. Once the UK gets annexed, Japan will hold at least one province in every continent except Australia (provided Brazil doesn't take the one in South America), which will occur as soon as my transports are done unloading troops in New Zealand.
This game really needs to allow players to give territory. Its weird, in the game files there are lines stating the minimum sell price of provinces...
