• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

seattle

Field Marshal
50 Badges
Apr 2, 2004
5.091
4.411
  • Cities: Skylines - Parklife
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet
  • Tyranny: Archon Edition
  • Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Stellaris - Path to Destruction bundle
  • Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit
  • Knights of Honor
  • Surviving Mars
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor
  • Age of Wonders III
  • Cities: Skylines - Green Cities
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Hearts of Iron IV Sign-up
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Shadowrun: Dragonfall
  • Cities: Skylines Industries
  • Imperator: Rome
  • Hearts of Iron IV: Expansion Pass
  • Prison Architect
  • Hearts of Iron IV: La Resistance
  • Battle for Bosporus
  • Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone
  • Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back
  • Hearts of Iron 4: Arms Against Tyranny
  • Semper Fi
  • Crusader Kings II
  • Darkest Hour
  • Europa Universalis III
  • Europa Universalis III: Chronicles
  • Divine Wind
  • For the Motherland
  • Hearts of Iron III
  • Hearts of Iron III: Their Finest Hour
  • Heir to the Throne
  • Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition
  • Majesty 2
  • Majesty 2 Collection
  • Cities in Motion
  • Supreme Ruler 2020
  • Victoria 2
  • Victoria 2: A House Divided
  • Victoria 2: Heart of Darkness
  • 500k Club
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Pillars of Eternity
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Knights of Pen and Paper 2
  • Cities: Skylines - Snowfall
  • Stellaris
Hoi 1.06b, easy/aggressive, Core 0.83

The country is Switzerland, which is not even my first try.
In one of my earliest HoI games I got annhilated in 1937 after DoWing Germany :D

This time I thought to be a little more clever and deceitful.
Without further ado, here is my confession:

- manpower cheat (Switzerland gets 0.8 guys per month with the "man of the people, that means not even one division per year -> impossible not to cheat on that one)
- ressources (also necessary to do some serious business. Switzerland can't even support a real army -> from time to time I got myself some supplies and stuff)
- difficulty (easy, this setting is almost a cheat, but necessary for Switzerland)
- edited save file to join axis, nothing more
- event 1150 (feels better if you're in the axis, no further advantage)

That are all cheats I used.
So what I have achieved in this game was not difficult. Great fun though...
---------------------------------

So much for the introduction:

Game starts 1936.
From this moment forth I concentrated on building the "Alpenfestung" (Hitler's mysterious project of a fortress in the Alps, only I did it in Switzerland).

Until early 1939 I achieved to reach the following in each of Switzerland's four provinces:
- land fort: level 5
- anti air: level 10

After I bought the Messerschmidt 109 from Germany, my country was secure.
Nobody would ever be able to conquer my mountain fortresses nor bomb them. :)

-----------------------

With so much self confidence I even planned on playing an offensive role in Germany's war efforts.

Now everything turned strange:

1.
October 1939
Lithuania demands territory from Russia! And... they get it! One province, Wilno I think.
Russia caves into Lithuania's demands...
Afterwards it took Russia one year and a series of demands to finally get Lithuania.

2.
Mid 1939
Britain offers Poland guarantee of independence.
Poland rejects!
It was not until April 1940 that Germany finally DoWed the Allies and the real war began.

3.
Switzerland attacks!
I had about 25 inf. divs and 6 mountain divs.
In the following weeks some more reinforcements joined my army.

I first took Besancon in the west with 3 units, then Dijon with my proud 9 divs FM attached.
I thought of leaving southern France alone because of Vichy.

Anyway, I cut off Maginot. Suddenly Paris was just one step ahead... so I took it. :D
Never dreamt of achieving so much.
Then I thought to myself, a nice beach would make all Swiss proud.
Went further west but lost the race against the advancing German troops.
No beach, no fun.

So I concentrated my effort on southern France.
After I got Vichy, I finally realized that there won't be a Vichy regime with Switzerland owning Paris and Vichy.
Anyway, take a look at the beautiful picture.
I got my beach, now it's time for some surfing (with the Royal navy presence in the Mediterranian it reminds me of "Apocalypse Now"...).

-------------------------------

What shall I do now?

I plan to get a navy to build a "Swiss Afrika Corps" :rofl:

Any ideas?
At first I thought Switzerland could be a nice handsoff game with Germany being overrun. At this time I would have so great fortresses that Switzerland would never be conquered.

Here comes the picture:

foto-9847-l-.jpg
 
You could go after Italy, it looks like it would be easy to surround their 19 divisions on your front. Or build a navy and go after Spain and then to Africa. It would shorten your supply lines and lessen the time your fledgling navy would have to spend in enemy infested waters
 
Exterous said:
You could go after Italy, it looks like it would be easy to surround their 19 divisions on your front. Or build a navy and go after Spain and then to Africa. It would shorten your supply lines and lessen the time your fledgling navy would have to spend in enemy infested waters

Italy is in the Axis!
They were almost conquered by Britain. Fortunately Germany sent me an army corps (13 divs, von Kluge) which I immediately transferred to Bologna.
Afterwards I turned south...

Spain? Franco won. I don't want to attack a possible future axis partner.

I have a port in Bordeaux, so Northern Africa is tempting.
It's just that I don't have naval nor air techs.
I would need naval bombers and at least a couple of transporters.

Currently I am pretty satisfied with what I have, maybe I will help Germany with "Barbarossa"...
 
I'd go with helping Germany because you'll soon have to retreat to your fortress in Swiss when the Reds come.

Africa is all good until Britain in around 41-43 sends the whole shabang and starts cripling you with their planes and then encircles you with a beach invasion with Matilda tanks! *Shakes fist.

Go after Africa or atleast try to annex France.
 
I say turn on the silly Axis as soon as the Soviets declare war, join the Comintern, cut off the Germans in france and wipe them out and then race Zhukov to Berlin. Or get killed trying. Either way, entertainment galore, huh? :p
 
Lithuania demands territory from Russia! And... they get it! One province, Wilno I think. - Hey them Liths are some real mean buggers, just give 'em what they want!

Britain offers Poland guarantee of independence. oland rejects! - That's because the Poles are learning, every AAR they align with Britain and then get mauled by Germany.

Then I thought to myself, a nice beach would make all Swiss proud. - One of the more flavorful excuses for expansionism. Hard to get a good tan in the Alps.

What shall I do now? - Go after Spain, annexed has a better ring to it than allied; attack Spain, you'll make swiss cheese out of them.

Of course Morpheus' idea has credence, there's a certain joy in backstabbing one's ally ;)
 
Once more about the Italian issue.

I, Switzerland, am in the Axis.
Italy is in the Axis.

The axis is at war with the Allies.

I can't attack Italy, can't leave the alliance whilst being at war.