Matrix Games Forums

The following, is mostly related to the Axis Allies during the 1939-1940 time-frame.

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You have a diplomacy system that requires players to invest in "chits" to gain random adjustments to a country's current mobilization level.

It is assumed that once a country reaches 90%+ mobilization level, they will officially mobilize for war and join whatever side they have aligned with.

Couple that with the current event scripts regarding the Axis Allies and you get some rather un-intuitive results.

Historically, the following are the dates that various Axis Allies joined the Axis Powers or signed the Tripartite Pact:

Hungary: 20 Nov 1940
Romania: 23 Nov 1940
Slovakia: 24 Nov 1940
Bulgaria: 1 March 1941
Finland: 25 Jun 1941 - (never signed, but joined the war against USSR)

These dates will be considered the baseline dates of joining the Axis, presuming other prerequisites follow the historic time-table.

There is one event (DE 611) involving the disposition of Eastern European Territories, in dispute, that have an impact on subsequent CG3 events related to joining the Axis. That is, rather territories were ceded in favor of:

1) Hungary / Bulgaria
2) Romania
with Romania being on the losing side, historically.

Currently, the event system bypasses all Axis Allied accumulated mobilization levels (my biggest complaint) and arbitarily has these countries join the Axis, based on the results of DE 611 as follows:

Hungary:
1) 20 Oct 1940
2) 1 Dec 1940+ (35%)
Romania:
1) 30 Aug 1940+ (50%)
2) 23 Nov 1940
Bulgaria:
1) 8 Feb 1941
2) 1 Mar 1941+ (35%)
Finland:
Once at war with USSR

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The current diplomatic system, presents the impression that the Axis can have some influence and even advance the dates that these Axis Allies ultimately join the Axis. But, in reality, that is the furthest from the truth, as any investment in Axis Allied diplomacy will only deem fruitful rewards if they are pushed to 90%+ mobilization levels. (otherwise it is a complete waste of MPPs)

What I would expect would be the baseline dates are advanced, on a turn-by-turn basis, on any positive diplomatic result -and- pushed-back on any negative diplomatic result. (similar to how the USA and USSR are currently treated)

The current implementation is not fairly applying the diplomatic system, consistently across all countries -and- further obfuscates the fact in the absence of a deep-dive into the event-scripting system.

This is disappointing.

To followup, a consequence of this is that events that impact an Axis Allies' mobilization level are highly unlikely to do anything, such as when the USSR Seizes Bessarabia.

Romania starts the 1939 Scenario at Axis(60%).

The result of accepting DE 418 will change this to Axis(70%). (still 20% away from the 90% required)

Other "AXIS" sources of mobilization changes for Romania are:
3-5%, Fall of France
7-10%, Axis DoW On USSR (too late to be considered)

So, as it is now, there are no real negative consequences for the Allies to seize Bessarabia, not even an advancement in Romania's entry into the war.

; Event for increased Romanian activation:
{
#NAME= DE 418 - The USSR Seizes Bessarabia (Romania->Axis)
#POPUP=
#IMAGE=
#SOUND=
#FLAG= 1
#TYPE= 1
#AI= 0
#GV= 1[1,100]
#LINK= 418[1]
#LEVEL= 0
#COUNTRY_ID= 93
#TRIGGER= 100
#DATE= 1940/06/28
;10-10% activation increase towards Axis
#MOBILIZATION= [10,10] [1]
;Set variable conditions:
;1st Line - USSR politically aligned with Allies but not fully mobilized
#VARIABLE_CONDITION= 116 [2] [0] [0]
}

To fix this, an alternative is needed.

Going with the Romanian baseline target date of 23 Nov 1940 (when they officially joined the Axis) and the associated historical conditions of:
1) a starting 1939 mobilization of 60%
2) Ceding territory to Hungary / Bulgaria
3) Relinquishing Bessarabia to USSR (bringing mobilization to 70%)
4) Fall of France (presumed to occur) averaged at 4% (bringing mobilization to 74%)
5) for a difference of 16% (to reach the required 90%)
6) 22 turns (1 Sep 1939 to 23 Nov 1940) or 16 turns (12 Dec 1939 to 23 Nov 1940)

We are looking at roughly a 1% mobilization increase per turn needed. (in lieu of the current, arbitrary war_entry events)

Doing it this way would make investments in diplomacy chits relevant, as well as a decision to not seize Bessarabia by the USSR.

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Obviously some balancing, tweaking would be needed as Bessarabia would sway Romanian entry into the war by 10 turns (way too much). But the concept is sound.