See the map for reference.
I had a fortunate setup. My initial city, Hexacon, was in a generally rainy area with plentiful resources with docile minor powers to east and to west and a relatively unpopulated unclaimed area to the north. The other three majors in the game were both some distance from me initially.
First order of business was to conquer the neighboring minors. I went east first (1, Klaestron) and then west 2, Genestone) and had no trouble overwhelming those two minors. I then consolidated while expanding northward (3) against light unorganized resistance.
After consolidation, I struck east again (4) toward Hogan, and for the first time encountered more than token resistance, especially since they were able to create a solid front south of Hogan between the two bodies of water. In the end I overpowered them and added Hogan.
At this time I decided to create a new zone north of Hexacon where I had been expanding, so that is how Baroth came into being. I mainly did it just for the experience of doing it. I'm not sure it was needed. Administrative strain in Hexacon was 12, and the new zone did not lower the strain.
From there I went northward (5) toward some attractive resources and perks and directly encountered Naxhausen, which immediately attacked me, setting off my firt and so far only war against a major power. I had thought it would be Primafel, which has wanted tribute, but they stood by and it was Naxhausen, which had remained cold but done nothing to provoke me, that started a war.
During this time I had been engaging in lots of diplomacy with Lozericca. I see them as a threat but potential ally because they are so strong. Our relations have been great, but I keep getting a message when I try to create a non-aggression pact that the faction in power isn't interested. I'm not sure what to play to overcome that. So I have watched them but tried to do nothing to provoke them. I have paid Primafel small sums every so often, and increased my friendship with them. If paying them some keeps them off my back, then so be it. Is that a bad idea? Once again, I'm not sure. (Note -- It is fun not to be sure in this game, for things to be somewhat unpredictable.)
It was also at this time that I encountered a minor regime of big ugly arachnids, as noted on the map. We backed off from each other, and I've left them alone, and they've left me alone. Is that going to come back to bite me in the rear? I don't know.
So the war with Naxhausen started north of Hogan. I was torn between trying to make peace, trying to engage in a limited war, and going for broke. Since it was the first game where I had gotten past the start, I decided to go for broke, just to see what would happen.
As shown, I initiated a two-pronged offensive into Naxhausen, with the stronger thrust with my armor (a few independent units) on the left. I took Castello and just last turn took Flint. I was helped by the armies of Lozericca, which was also at war with Naxhausen. I flanked the main force from Naxhausen with my armor by creating an opening in the center and then wheeling left, and pinned it against the Lozericcan border and annihilated it. It was easy to take Flint after that. In fact it was a race against the Lozericcan forces to see who would capture Flint. Naxhausen tried to send new forces, but as you can see on the map, they arrived too late.
Meanwhile Primafel started its own offensive against Naxhausen, causing the Naxhausen forces on my right to retreat or vanish or something in the last turn. They are just no longer there.
So that is the situation at turn 70.
A couple of comments.
Logistics. I had no real problems with logistics until my offensive northward. Then I had to contend with what others have described in the road network of a major AI power. As my road network connected with their, I had to start creating a lot of roadblocks to funnel logistics where I wanted them to go. At one point I had serious concerns about supplying my offensive, but I solved it and was able to keep pushing forward. In the end though I had to do major management during just two turns, not every turn as some have suggested.
Units. In my first fights with Naxhausen, I realized their infantry was higher quality than mine. I went to work upgrading my infantry, and that helped. I also fielded more armor than Naxhausen. That made a big difference.
As for units, I have 3 MG Infantry Brigades and 2 RPG Infantry Corps and 1 Siege Infantry Brigade. Why? To be honest, I was just trying different things to see how they worked. I have some independent artillery, mobile, mechanized, and recon units. I also field 3 light tank regiments, 2 medium tank battalions, and 1 light tank division. I have not assigned them to major formations. Is that the most efficient way to do it? Probably not. But it has worked so far. I'm used to attaching units to bigger formations in other games, but I just haven't seen the real need here. I've upgraded just about everything I use at least once.
Resources and Food. I've had no problem at all. In fact I've made a lot of money selling metals and rare metals. I had plentiful resources from the start.
Politics, profile, the economy, all that stuff. I've just muddled through that. The worst time was right after I captured Hogan. My popularity was slipping. Everyone was mad at me. I was losing a lot of money and asked for some advice on the board. I followed the advice -- basically I had raised salaries too much as an expedient to keep people happy and I needed to throw in some taxes while lowering salaries -- and it worked. People got mad at me but things stabilized quickly. Now I am loved by my people and my leaders and my commanders. I am just finishing the Age of Revolution, and I had no problems with that at all. But don't ask me for advice on things. I know I have made a mess of a lot of things.
So now I'm wondering what to do next. Do I continue my invasion of Naxhausen all the way to the end? I have a major power on each flank and have left those flanks open while hoping that one or both wouldn't attack me. So far that has worked. It also appears that at some point I will have to take on Lozericca to get a win. I have been second to them in victory points right up until the turn I took Flint, last turn. It would be great to get Primafel fighting Lozericca. And what about the spiders. Are they going to be content to just sit there?
I will try to put together an update when I hit 100 turns.
