Tips wanted in getting started

[Grifman]

Ok, I'm having a bit of a time getting started. One really simple question:

How do you decide how to balance production, supply, and research?

Let's just take the WA for example. I don't have any idea how much of each to do. I have a basic idea that I should build up my transports, navy, airforce to take care of the German UBoat threat, but how much? And yet I still need to defend England/Middle East. And I need to research at least some anti-sub tech early on.

But how much? I just don't any idea of how much to emphasize any of this. Are people doing this by the seat of their pants or is there something I need to be looking at? I'm just a bit lost here . . .

[schury]

ORIGINAL: Grifman

Ok, I'm having a bit of a time getting started. One really simple question:

How do you decide how to balance production, supply, and research?

Let's just take the WA for example. I don't have any idea how much of each to do. I have a basic idea that I should build up my transports, navy, airforce to take care of the German UBoat threat, but how much? And yet I still need to defend England/Middle East. And I need to research at least some anti-sub tech early on.

But how much? I just don't any idea of how much to emphasize any of this. Are people doing this by the seat of their pants or is there something I need to be looking at? I'm just a bit lost here . . .

how much...ok that's something about strategy since the game is dynamic .just like chess,you can't tell ahead what to do before your opponent get moved,right?but there do stand some tips.as to russia,i think reaserch first is much better than production.WA,in my opinion,don't bulid fleets,but land forces,the science should have something related to u-boat and combat skills.since you don't always need to repair,just build enough supply,that's ok

[Maginot]

When playing as the Western Allies...

-United Kingdom; should be used for the production of air, and the occasional naval or infantry. I like to put a extra flak up if I see lots of German planes.
-Commonwealth; I usually just build infantry and the occasional artillery or fighter here
-Canada; I use this area to either build Light Fleets or infantry for shipping to Northern Africa or other commonwealth areas
-United States; Do all research here pre-war with Japan. This is the area to place most of your longer building projects, such as fleets and bombers. I almost never build land units here until I'm ready to stage for Overlord

Thats how I usually go about it. Of course, you also have to mix supplies in as well. Moving fleets around can eat up supplies real fast, so I try to have some supplies stock piled in the UK at all times in case I need to chase down a U-Boat.

Also, remember - whenever attempt to land troops amphbiously, you need two transports in the sea-region dirtectly bordering the place your trying to land,

[Grifman]

How do I send Lend Lease to the USSR? The manual index says it's on page 76, but heck if I can find it.

EDIT, never mind, the Table of Contents has on it page 91, which is correct. Must have slipped by the editor

That's a good idea above about what to build where, but I'm still not sure how to split research vs. supply. One turn I ended up with not enough supply to move my fleets - I just sure don't get a feel for this at all. Just using the US I have no idea if I need to split production, research, and supply, 33/33/33, or 40/30/30, or 50/25/25 for example.

I just have no idea.

[schury]

ORIGINAL: Grifman

How do I send Lend Lease to the USSR? The manual index says it's on page 76, but heck if I can find it.

EDIT, never mind, the Table of Contents has on it page 91, which is correct. Must have slipped by the editor

That's a good idea above about what to build where, but I'm still not sure how to split research vs. supply. One turn I ended up with not enough supply to move my fleets - I just sure don't get a feel for this at all. Just using the US I have no idea if I need to split production, research, and supply, 33/33/33, or 40/30/30, or 50/25/25 for example.

I just have no idea.

depends on your opponent and the situation!!!!!
sufficient supply is needed

[CommC]

If you are planning major offensive combat operations or major fleet movements you need a lot of supply, otherwise you can put more into research. You should usually produce combat units up to the limit of your population. Only you can be the judge.

[Grotius]

In the early going as the Western Allies, I try to ensure that I'll have more than 150 supply on hand after I finish my production phase. In practice, that seems to mean I build 5-10 trucks a turn -- enough to replenish what I've spent last turn. As a rule of thumb, I try to have about the same amount invested in research, and often much more. The leftovers go to troops. But I've heard others say they devote 50% to supply, 50% to all else. Me, I have less trouble with the total *amount* of supply as the WAllies than I do with getting it where it's needed (I play on Advanced Supply). So maybe I buy a bit less supply than others, and crank out a bit more research.

Indeed, as soon as my supply and garrison situation is stable, I pump up the research. As early as I can, I go nuts buying research -- as much as 20-25 some turns. At a minimum, I try to get my Light Fleets' ASW up to 3 to counter the U-Boat menace. A human player will just terrorize your transports otherwise. (The AI less so.) It's also quite handy to have aircraft with ASW capability, since they cost only 1 supply to fly (as oppose to several supply to move a light fleet several squares). And obviously you need to pump up your infantry, armor and aircraft to fight the Germans, who will invest in at least the first two of these heavily. The first thing I do every turn is scan the unit data screens to see what (if anything) the enemy has researched in the previous turn.

Against a human, I do build a few units to garrison rear areas, and I have the US fill out its fleet -- maybe more light fleets, maybe one more carrier, maybe a few more subs.

All that said, there's really no substitute for just rolling up your sleeves and experimenting. My first game as the Western Allies was full of mistakes, but I just chalked it up to experience and learned from it.

[Maginot]

As the Western Allies, in the begging years the only main outlets for supplies will be Naval Operations, as well as Operations in North Africa. I have a habbit of being rather aggressive towards U-Boats, so I will often expend my supplies very quickly. However, it only takes on supply to defend a territory. So basically, it all depends how much you are going to be moving navally in the begging (I honestly am not sure of Bomber supply use). It shows you your supply on the right hand side of the screen. As the Western Allies you have the ability to easily crank out quite a bit of supplies in one turn. There is no set order for how to buy supplies, rather it depends on your plans.

In the end, the best way to learn is just play. Set up a game on Normal or Easy. Have the AI control everything but the Western Allies, and play around. Save frequently, and if you make a mistake, reload and try a new production order.

I'm probably not making a lot of sense. Pherhaps someone else can explain it better.

[Grifman]

ORIGINAL: schury

ORIGINAL: Grifman

How do I send Lend Lease to the USSR? The manual index says it's on page 76, but heck if I can find it.

EDIT, never mind, the Table of Contents has on it page 91, which is correct. Must have slipped by the editor

That's a good idea above about what to build where, but I'm still not sure how to split research vs. supply. One turn I ended up with not enough supply to move my fleets - I just sure don't get a feel for this at all. Just using the US I have no idea if I need to split production, research, and supply, 33/33/33, or 40/30/30, or 50/25/25 for example.

I just have no idea.

depends on your opponent and the situation!!!!!
sufficient supply is needed

Thanks for the obvious answer. But given that the situation can change quit a bit over time, that's not telling me much.

[aletoledo]

my overall strat no matter what nation I'm using, is if I'm on the offensive, I'll build a lot of supply. whereas on defense, you only need a single supply for every province, thus units and research take priority then.

this can really be to your advantage when a nation is frozen (russia and usa obviously) since you can pump nearly everything into units and research until they become unfrozen.