ORIGINAL: AnalogGamer
Thanks for all that folks. Great info and makes me very hopeful for the future. I have World in Flames bookmarked and will keep tabs on it. I went ahead and got the vanilla version of Hearts of Iron III for ten bucks on steam to get me back into strategic warfare. If this turns out well, I will upgrade and mod it while other games get their finishing touches applied.
I am spending the next week watching YouTube videos and studying the UI. Germany in '36 is my place and time. I am letting the Ai start the game... then pausing and looking at everything it does and why. Immersion to the lowest level is giving me the gestalt of the entire concept. The second-order effects of certain researches for future advantage, and follow-on effects from certain decisions is what I am trying to get a handle on. Germany needs to tech up and increase its efficiencies to be able to take on the Bear in '41. Five years to prepare is pushing it, but I will find a way.
I am hoping to use a semi-Soviet approach for my land formations. Category A, B and C formations. My A's are the tip of the spear who kick the enemy into the next time zone. They are what I am planning for now in 1936 to be built in 1940. They will have the best, and be properly supported, but small in number. B's are flank security, reserves and follow-on. C's are the garrison and line-holders for the ever-expanding front. Punch, encircle, lather, rinse, repeat... until the fall Rasputitsa. Everything I do from 1936 on is preparing for the winter of '41-'42 on the Eastern Front, and the big push of '42. Everything about my Reich needs to peak then. I think I can handle the rest (U.K., keeping the Amis at bay, etc.) from "mental muscle memory" if the simulation is as true as it seems to be so far. If I can find a way to delay until the spring of '42 while retaining a tech and strategic advantage, then all the better. If there is a way to get the Japanese to invade Russia with me I hope to find it. Maybe give them radar or something if the game allows.
Intelligence and Diplomacy now are where I am trying to find the levers to get my advantages for later. I want befuddled, ambivalent Americans and clueless, ill-equipped Soviets. I hope to be able to spend considerable playing time in these areas early, for good effects when it matters.
The Brits will hopefully rot on the vine because I will attempt to use the KM properly.
If I can take Iceland along with Norway... buh-bye England. No need to invade, or waste the Luftwaffe. Just gnaw on whatever they send across the channel. The Kammhuber Line will be in place early and in depth. My 88mm batteries will multiply like a virus across Western Europe, around every strategic target. I don't need ME-262s, just something serviceable for defense.
This is what I like about these sims. Remove the egos, wacko personalities, and outright evil, at the top and Germany can do this. Find the "sweet spot" in tech, then version freeze and build the crap out of it. Economies of scale by '41-'42 is my goal. The Gestapo is replaced by The Department of Human Resources, and ensures all occupied areas have basic human needs met, and are kept productive. My goal is zero uprisings, and minimal/temporary disruptions due to civil unrest. It remains tobe seen if I can accomplish this.
