What to do about Yugoslavia?

[LoneRunner]

I noticed a post indicating that encouraging Yugoslavia to join the Axis was a good investment. The Axis would gain several okay Yugoslavian units, Yugoslavia would contribute to the German economy, and Yugoslavia would not need to garrisoned for partisans.

I tested this strategy against the computer on veteran, 39 scenario. After the fall of France, Germany, Italy, and Japan invested 450 MPPs to influence Yugoslavia into the Axis.

Three turns later Yugoslavia joined the Axis. Woohoo.

However, the British supported a coup. So immediately after joining the Axis, Yugoslavia switched to the Allies. Now, after spending 450 MPPs, I'm facing a supplied Yugoslavia army that will take two to three turns to conquer.

If I had declared war on Yugoslavia, I would have saved 450 MPPs and faced an unsupplied army and been able to roll over them in one turn.

The British coup has a 50% chance of success. That seems like a pretty huge risk to take when the Axis is scrounging for MPPs.

Am I missing something? Any advice would be welcome.

[Platoonist]

I had almost the same scenario you just described happen to me. A bundle of MPPs up in smoke and I still have to pull off an invasion. Consequently, I don't invest in Yugoslavia anymore.

[HamburgerMeat]

I would not recommend trying to get Yugoslavia, as you will be taking that land for MPP anyway when the UK supports the coup. If you're going to use minor diplomacy as axis, try to get countries that you typically won't get on your warpath (turkey, spain)

[Platoonist]

I guess this explains why an enraged Hitler ordered Belgrade to be plastered by Luftwaffe bombers. He was probably cheesed off about losing those MPPS too.

[Aussiematto]

I think it used to be, in an earlier version, that getting Yugoslavia to join Axis was possible (or, was it in SC: WIE?). Now, I concur w the wise advice. Conquer it!

PS - I do like how, in the game, if you can work out how, you can make countries collapse and surrender within 1 turn at low cost, simply by speed and fear. This does feel v realistic

[LoneRunner]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll have to continue to conquer Yugoslavia the old fashioned way.

Good point about Spain and Turkey, HamburgerMeat. Looks like I need to game those two options against the AI.

[Tanaka]

I never understand why any Axis player would want a Spanish ally. Because when I do it is where the allied player lands every time because it is so weak.

[Will952]

That's very weird. In WiE the coup only triggers when Yugoslavia is leaning Axis but not fully mobilized. Being able to coup it when it has joined the Axis would indeed make any diplo investment a total gamble.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

Forget all the Diplo non-sense with Yugo!!! Smash 'em up! You got Jaws on your side. Indiana Jones (aka Han Solo and American Graffiti guy) and that little hottie, Barbara Bach don't stand a chance against Panzers

[Platoonist]

ORIGINAL: ElvisJJonesRambo

Forget all the Diplo non-sense with Yugo!!! Smash 'em up! You got Jaws on your side. Indiana Jones (aka Han Solo and American Graffiti guy) and that little hottie, Barbara Bach don't stand a chance against Panzers

Not only do you have Jaws, you have his nemesis, Captain Quint. (Without the muttonchops and the dirty baseball cap.)

[Platoonist]

ORIGINAL: Tanaka

I never understand why any Axis player would want a Spanish ally. Because when I do it is where the allied player lands every time because it is so weak.

I think the allure comes from getting a shot at taking Gibraltar from the easiest angle. I think some may be under the illusion that Spain is still a major military power, but turning off the fog of war and looking at what's actually there should dispel that idea.

After the Yugo-disaster I've kinda given up on diplomacy for the most part unless I'm running a huge surplus in MPPs. I'd rather invest them in sure things like research and unit procurement.

[crispy131313]

ORIGINAL: Will952

That's very weird. In WiE the coup only triggers when Yugoslavia is leaning Axis but not fully mobilized. Being able to coup it when it has joined the Axis would indeed make any diplo investment a total gamble.

The coup probably happened the turn that “Yugoslavia prepares for war” there is always a turn delay between the Axis getting that final diplo bumb and actually joining.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

What should be allowed, when Yugoslavia joins whichever side, the owner should be allowed to vary the setup location of units.

Show me the way to go home,
I'm tired and I want to go to bed,
Cos I had a little drink about an hour ago,
And it's gone right to me head,
No matter where I roam,
On land or sea or foam,
You will always hear me singing this song,
Show me the way to go home.

[LoneRunner]

Crispy is correct. I ran through the scenario twice from a saved game just to make sure. Both tries gave the same result (yeah, bad luck for the Axis).

As the Axis, after the fall of France, I invested 450 MPPs in diplomacy to influence Yugoslavia. Two turns later the British supported a coup. The next turn I got the message that Yugoslavia joined the Axis. That message was immediately followed with a message that said the coup was successful and Yugoslavia joined the Allies. Perhaps the timing was such that Yugoslavia never actually got into the Axis prior to the successful coup.

Anyway, I'm done with diplomacy with Yugoslavia as the Axis. But then as Axis I've never been much for diplomacy. My standard strategy is kill them all.

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

ORIGINAL: Tanaka

I never understand why any Axis player would want a Spanish ally. Because when I do it is where the allied player lands every time because it is so weak.

I think the allure comes from getting a shot at taking Gibraltar from the easiest angle. I think some may be under the illusion that Spain is still a major military power, but turning off the fog of war and looking at what's actually there should dispel that idea.

After the Yugo-disaster I've kinda given up on diplomacy for the most part unless I'm running a huge surplus in MPPs. I'd rather invest them in sure things like research and unit procurement.

Yep and Spain was made even weaker in WAW they lost the armor unit they had among other things in WIE...

[Erse]

Wait what? Please tell me this isn't true. I invested so many MPPs into Yugoslavia in the game I'm currently playing to get them to join me. The strategy guide even says, that the Coup can only fire if Yugoslavia is not fully mobilized Axis. I swear if they join the Allies now it's game over for me. My whole army's already set up for the invasion of Barbarossa, if Yugo joins the Allies now it'll take months to defeat them.

[Platoonist]

ORIGINAL: Erse

Wait what? Please tell me this isn't true. I invested so many MPPs into Yugoslavia in the game I'm currently playing to get them to join me. The strategy guide even says, that the Coup can only fire if Yugoslavia is not fully mobilized Axis. I swear if they join the Allies now it's game over for me. My whole army's already set up for the invasion of Barbarossa, if Yugo joins the Allies now it'll take months to defeat them.

You have our sympathies if the investment falls through. In retrospect it does seem to be too much of a gamble. However, if you actually score the Golden Ticket and win Yugoslavia over to your side, let us know about it. I'd like to think that it's possible to get the Yugo-Slavs as an ally.

[Erse]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

ORIGINAL: Erse

Wait what? Please tell me this isn't true. I invested so many MPPs into Yugoslavia in the game I'm currently playing to get them to join me. The strategy guide even says, that the Coup can only fire if Yugoslavia is not fully mobilized Axis. I swear if they join the Allies now it's game over for me. My whole army's already set up for the invasion of Barbarossa, if Yugo joins the Allies now it'll take months to defeat them.

You have our sympathies if the investment falls through. In retrospect it does seem to be too much of a gamble. However, if you actually score the Golden Ticket and win Yugoslavia over to your side, let us know about it. I'd like to think that it's possible to get the Yugo-Slavs as an ally.

So it turns out my buddy, who I'm playing against, is a good guy and didn't do the Coup.
Sadly, this means he'll have an excuse to point at when I finally beat him for the first time [;)][;)]

[ThunderLizard11]

I used to invest in flipping Yugo and had about an 80% success rate. Nice when it happens but now I use diplo for other targets and just smash Yugo.

[Tanaka]

Yep no reason to ever diplo Yugoslavia at all. I think the rule should be that if you do flip Yugo with diplomacy points no allied coup is allowed.