Matrix Games Forums

1. Axis AI: If Turkey Joins Axis, have the AI Afrika Corps appear in Turkey; instead of Libya, and strike south to Egypt. Better supply and more MPPs.

I found that if Italy and Germany both invest in Diplomacy vs Turkey there is a good chance of Turkey turning Axis. It would add variation if the AI used diplomacy against Turkey instead of Spain.

2. Axis AI: The Axis push towards Cairo is predictable and hindered by Malta. I would like to see an Axis AI only event for the Axis to seize Malta. Historically, the Germans decided to make an airdrop on Create instead of Malta. What if they choose to take Malta instead?

3. I would like to see a Decision event where the UK and France could decide to remain neutral and watch a German-Soviet war while they prepare their nations for war.

4. Allied AI: I have found that having France and UK invest in Diplomacy vs the US can payoff; if the Axis does not counter it. The downside to this is that it leads them open to a Sea Lion and an earlier fall of France.

I don't understand how #3 could work. 2 of the scenarios this would be impossible without rewriting the campaigns. The earliest campaign still wouldn't make much sense as you'd end up with a world not at war.

In my MOD of the Standard Campaign, this is a Decision Event.

Note: Historically, Germany did not expect UK and France to declare war with the invasion of Poland, as they had not followed through on earlier threats to do so.

1. France and UK start at 85% mobilization, if they decide to remain neutral their mobilization drops to 75% and drops again to 20% to 25% when Germany DOWs the USSR. If Germany attacks any Western European country the UK and France declares war on Germany, and the USSR DOWs Germany. So Germany has a strong incentive not to attack any country in Western Europe; Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, France.

2. If France and UK decide to remain neutral the USSR begins mobilizing for war. They will be fully mobilized by late March or early April 1940. So Germany needs to attack the USSR early. Furthmore, if England or France is at War with Germany then the USSR DOWs Germany. Once more the Axis has a strong incentive not to DOW the Western powers with the Decision Event; if UK and France select Neutrality.

3. If France and the UK remains neutral this also triggers mobilization #3 events that activate Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and Romania.

Essentially, France and UK can declare war on Germany (Historical Option) OR stand back and watch a German-Soviet war (which Germany had planned for). It makes for a really different campaign.

A decision to remain neutral required new Axis AI scripts with Link condition for Diplomacy (Axis focus on Turkey not Spain), Offensive, Fleet (move German fleets to Baltic sea to sink Russian fleet, and move Italian fleet to Black Sea; if Turkey joins Axis), Research (no naval research) and Production (i.e. no navy production) to focus the Axis AI on an Eastern Front focused campaign. Also, the Axis AI does not honor the agreement to Partition Poland - this increases USSR war readiness and allows Germany to launch their attack from farther East.

Its a challenging war for both sides as both sides enter the war with smaller armies. (i.e. they lose a year of production to prepare to war). Germany has to win quickly, before the greater Soviet production can make itself felt (especially with the low cost of rebuilding destroyed units).

I have yet to decide when to have the UK and France start mobilizing for war if they selected the neutrality option. It will before the USSR surrenders, but if so when? Does each fall of a National Morale Objective trigger a boost in UK/French war mobilization? Or should it be date based?

While I see the Notes button on the screenshot above i remembered how much I like it, and how more often I would see it shown, on every DE, even on every pop up.
With the historical background information. With the developers commentary. Etc.

ORIGINAL: Xwormwood

While I see the Notes button on the screenshot above i remembered how much I like it, and how more often I would see it shown, on every DE, even on every pop up.
With the historical background information. With the developers commentary. Etc.

Some historical background on the event above - as to why Germany did not believe UK would declare war over the German invasion of Poland:

"Ribbentrop, was the Nazi 'British expert', and repeatedly advised Hitler that Britain would not go to war for Poland.

The German Ambassador in London, Herbert von Dirksen, reported that Chamberlain knew "the social structure of Britain, even the conception of the British Empire, would not survive the chaos of even a victorious war" (which was, in retrospect, true).

Ribbentrop provided translations from pro-appeasement newspapers like the Daily Mail and the Daily Express and convinced Hitler that the British government controlled the British press, as the Nazis did theirs.

The Germans had broken the British diplomatic codes and were reading the messages between the Foreign Office in London to and from the Embassy in Warsaw showing tension in Anglo-Polish relations over the Danzig question.

On the basis of von Ribbentropp's advice, the code-breaking intelligence, and his own instinct, Hitler believed that the British were bluffing."

Here is another Historical Decision event for the US.

If US Decides to Embargo trade with Japan - the Pearl Harbor Event occurs and the US likely enters the war in December 1941.
If US Decides not to embargo trade with Japan - Pearl Harbor Event does not occur, US war entry is delayed by 12 months and the US receives a 200 MPP per turn bonus; starting in 1943, because no resources are diverted to the war in the Pacific.

ORIGINAL: EdwinP

ORIGINAL: Xwormwood

While I see the Notes button on the screenshot above i remembered how much I like it, and how more often I would see it shown, on every DE, even on every pop up.
With the historical background information. With the developers commentary. Etc.

Some historical background on the event above - as to why Germany did not believe UK would declare war over the German invasion of Poland:

"Ribbentrop, was the Nazi 'British expert', and repeatedly advised Hitler that Britain would not go to war for Poland.

The German Ambassador in London, Herbert von Dirksen, reported that Chamberlain knew "the social structure of Britain, even the conception of the British Empire, would not survive the chaos of even a victorious war" (which was, in retrospect, true).

Ribbentrop provided translations from pro-appeasement newspapers like the Daily Mail and the Daily Express and convinced Hitler that the British government controlled the British press, as the Nazis did theirs.

The Germans had broken the British diplomatic codes and were reading the messages between the Foreign Office in London to and from the Embassy in Warsaw showing tension in Anglo-Polish relations over the Danzig question.

On the basis of von Ribbentropp's advice, the code-breaking intelligence, and his own instinct, Hitler believed that the British were bluffing."

Infos like that would be so awesome. I even would purchase them via DLC, like for 5 or 10 bucks.

Hello Mr. EdwinP, have you done something like this or considered it - Based on recent developments in the defeat of Poland relating to the use of mechanized forces [specifically Tanks], the French government reconsiders their Armor Doctrine and authorizes the formation of a new Mechanized Force to better combat an expected German attack.

If you say YES, three French Mechanized Corps will be formed at half strength at a cost of 500 MPP's [at 50 per turn for 10 turns]. If you say NO, there will be no change to the French Order of Battle.

Note: The French government obtained extensive intelligence pertaining to the German attack on Poland and Germany's use of Mechanized forces to swiftly defeat the Polish military, yet they choose to ignore this intelligence [and the advise of some of their military advisors] and retain their WWI-like organization. This option gives the player the opportunity to possibly overcome some of France's shortcomings in May 1940, but at a cost of MPP's and time.

What do you think ?

ORIGINAL: EdwinP

In my MOD of the Standard Campaign, this is a Decision Event.

Note: Historically, Germany did not expect UK and France to declare war with the invasion of Poland, as they had not followed through on earlier threats to do so.

1. France and UK start at 85% mobilization, if they decide to remain neutral their mobilization drops to 75% and drops again to 20% to 25% when Germany DOWs the USSR. If Germany attacks any Western European country the UK and France declares war on Germany, and the USSR DOWs Germany. So Germany has a strong incentive not to attack any country in Western Europe; Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, France.

2. If France and UK decide to remain neutral the USSR begins mobilizing for war. They will be fully mobilized by late March or early April 1940. So Germany needs to attack the USSR early. Furthmore, if England or France is at War with Germany then the USSR DOWs Germany. Once more the Axis has a strong incentive not to DOW the Western powers with the Decision Event; if UK and France select Neutrality.

3. If France and the UK remains neutral this also triggers mobilization #3 events that activate Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and Romania.

Essentially, France and UK can declare war on Germany (Historical Option) OR stand back and watch a German-Soviet war (which Germany had planned for). It makes for a really different campaign.

A decision to remain neutral required new Axis AI scripts with Link condition for Diplomacy (Axis focus on Turkey not Spain), Offensive, Fleet (move German fleets to Baltic sea to sink Russian fleet, and move Italian fleet to Black Sea; if Turkey joins Axis), Research (no naval research) and Production (i.e. no navy production) to focus the Axis AI on an Eastern Front focused campaign. Also, the Axis AI does not honor the agreement to Partition Poland - this increases USSR war readiness and allows Germany to launch their attack from farther East.

Its a challenging war for both sides as both sides enter the war with smaller armies. (i.e. they lose a year of production to prepare to war). Germany has to win quickly, before the greater Soviet production can make itself felt (especially with the low cost of rebuilding destroyed units).

This sounds rather ambitious. The problem with a so unhistorical course of war will presumably be the game balancing. Your mod should receive a for the axis as well as for the allies attractive game expiry not to flow too much into a sort of role play. But if all that functions - cool.
How do you want to integrate the historical behaviour of the Italians into the game? Their strong expansion attempts around the Mediterranean and Africa - which they also speed up without big arrangements with the Germans - collide almost necessarily with the vital interests of the Empire. I believe the current game engine supports no separate war between England/Italy and Germany/Russia. Or have you already inserted a reason for the restraint of Italy? Possibly a preventive occupation of Italy by German troops via Decision Event?

In this mod, Italy is assumed to join the Triparte alliance, with the primary aim of fighting the communists.

Thus far the game appears to be balanced between the Axis; Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, vs the USSR.

The one area that I have to more fully test is the endgame - when should France, UK and the USA enter the war? What if the USSR loses, can France, UK and the USA defeat the Axis in Europe. Unlike the USSR these powers have had time to research and build their armies.

ORIGINAL: EdwinP

In this mod, Italy is assumed to join the Triparte alliance, with the primary aim of fighting the communists.

Thus far the game appears to be balanced between the Axis; Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, vs the USSR.

The one area that I have to more fully test is the endgame - when should France, UK and the USA enter the war? What if the USSR loses, can France, UK and the USA defeat the Axis in Europe. Unlike the USSR these powers have had time to research and build their armies.

Ok. The Italians will be the "science fiction" part of the campaign, right? [;)]
Yes, balancing the endgame will be a problem because the current map focus Russia as a main power. You'll have to script some bonus units and ressources for the USA in case of a late dow and a surrender of Russia. They have to be really strong as a new main power because Germany will be a jaggernaut after the conquest of Russia...

ORIGINAL: TheBattlefield

Ok. The Italians will be the "science fiction" part of the campaign, right? [;)]
Yes, balancing the endgame will be a problem because the current map focus Russia as a main power. You'll have to script some bonus units and ressources for the USA in case of a late dow and a surrender of Russia. They have to be really strong as a new main power because Germany will be a jaggernaut after the conquest of Russia...

In this scenario it is assumed that the Japanese do not strike south, as the UK is not occupied by a war with Germany. This means that the US Pacific Fleets are available to aid the US in the Atlantic AND US production is increased by 50% as it does not have to divert 1/3 to the Pacific and 2/3 to the European theaters.

Thus 100% will go to fighting the war in Europe.

Well, I am curious on this. In the forum it sounds as if still many other Mods might be in preparation.
I will begin with the conversion of my Battlefield Europe Mod for SC3 right after a publication of the purchase version. We are already in the final sprint of the beta test. Have fun! [:)]