Historical context vs player behavior

[klips]

Some doubts after finished third campaign (2x Axis).

Should the non-neutral countries automatically join the war as a response for what human player does? If Germany attacks Holland, should Belgium join the Allies? What if Germany attacks Spain? Should Portugal start to fear and become either neutral country or join the Allies? What if Germany attacks Romania or Yugoslavia as I did?

I personally think that various countries should respond randomly depending on what (and how!) human player behaves.

Historical context programmed in the game makes it somewhat linear and predictable and I want more uncertainty!

Besides some minor annoyances I love this game! [:D]

Cheers.

[Dave Ferguson]

Great minds think alike, I was pondering the Holland problem whilst in the supermarket this morning!
 
With only a few games started I have already noticed that the human german player has already worked out a optimum way to attack France. You DOW Holland first and occupy it WITHOUT a DOW on Belgium. So you can attack holland with minimum forces and then set up your deployment to attack Belgium, Then when you DOW Belgium, its army is almost wiped out and you have advanced beyond Brussels. The French can do nothing about this, there can be no Dyle Plan.
 
This looks very gamey to me, OK, you can DOW Belgium but not Holland, this reflects the situation in WW1 but in WW2 a DOW on holland would most likely result in Belgium becoming an active allied nation. Mainly because there is no military reason for Germany to invade Holland except to attack Belgium!
 
We could start invoking house rules, e.g if you DOW Holland you MUST DOW Belgium on the same turn.
 
In Iberia Portugal would be very alarmed at a german invasion of Spain and would probably ask for British help as Portugal and the UK have a long history of alliance and friendship.
 
these political issues might be dealt with later as I notice there is a political section in the script file!
 
Dave

[Dave Ferguson]

And what about Norway? The allies were planning an invasion and the germans just beat them to it!

[dave74]

I agree with this, especially the belgium/holland point which in pbem is a problem.

[klips]

Useful tip: I always conquer Denmark on the first turn with a single battleship and a garrison unit. This opens up my way to the North Sea and Atlantic and has no real political impact.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: klips

Useful tip: I always conquer Denmark on the first turn with a single battleship and a garrison unit. This opens up my way to the North Sea and Atlantic and has no real political impact.

I hadn't thought of that one yet!

Are the Danes weak enough to cave with just a bombardment and an attack by a garrison? If so, it would closely reflect history where they caved without a fight.

[IrishGuards]

I can't possibly see how the Danes get knocked out on T1 ... Impossible .. German's dont have a unit at sea ...
And yes there are a few gamey situations going on ...
I have a new 1 for attacking Holland ...
IDG

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: IrishDragoonGuards

I can't possibly see how the Danes get knocked out on T1 ... Impossible .. German's dont have a unit at sea ...
And yes there are a few gamey situations going on ...
I have a new 1 for attacking Holland ...
IDG

You don't need a units at sea to attack the Danes. There is a land route right from Germany.

[Syagrius]

You can attack Copenhagen by land, no transport required.

[IrishGuards]

On turn 1 ... where are these units ... I nay think so ...!!!
IDG

[Syagrius]

I agree that if you declare war to either Holland or Belgium the other one should join the allies so that Allied armies can push into the low countries.

[klips]

Useful tip: I always conquer Denmark on the first turn with a single battleship and a garrison unit. [...]

Oh.. maybe it was second or third turn... doesn't really matter - Denmark was conquered finally with no losses on my side.

You can find BB in Kiel (I assume it's Schleswig-Holstein that surprisingly attacked Westerplatte in Gdansk/Danzig when the war began, more interesing info on Schleswig-Holstein).

[targul]

The garrison cannot kill the defending Dane even with the Battleship.  I know I tried because I didnt know the unit I moved there was a garrison not a real combat unit.
 
Jim