Paradox Interactive games

Ah, Just got HOI III, first HOI game, but familiar enough with the rest.

So I deceided to start a game as Australia, nice and far away, but some combat near me later in the game. So I spent the first few years building up. Japan during this period gets completly wrecked by Commie China, and is incredibly weak (and is thus NOT going to provide me with some military experiance to play around with), this is due to a bug in the game (or a few, the hotfix causes my game to crash more often).

So when the main war comes around I'm wanting in on that action. So whilst I prepare my fleet and Expeditionary forces, Germany beats up Poland, Italy beats up France (and loses ALL its gains in the Vichy event :/). Germany then appears to have had the secret plan of preparing to invade the UK, which they pull off :|. And Italian Ethiopia puppet and master are going crazy. Thus I launch my first intervention at Ethiopia. Which I destroy pretty handidly. Then on up to Italian North african holdings.

Then in a daring game of chance, I land in Sicily, easy. Then in Naples, easy. Then in Rome, hmmm this is easy no-one seems to be around, ah well. Finally waiting for my main forces to coalace near Rome the Italians think I might be a bit of a problem and send some troops down.

Thus I have a bit of fun crushing them. Then land some troops in Sardinia and Genoa. Then the italians capitulate, or rather give me all their mainland holdings but without surrendering to the vile australians, yeah all 5 of you.

In the mean-time, the UK with not much else to do but attend parties has managed to get most the world on their side. Thus the USA lands in france, and crushes everything in their way, currently in Poland with Yugoslavia coming in to help.

I'm thinking of launching a fleet to take back the UK, or rather I'm waiting on my fleet to repair itself and searching out the situation with some fighters.

However I need some help, the vast untapped potential of Italy can solve all my resource issues and my leadership problems (i.e. its not very high at all). Thus How the heck does the convoy system work? I keep assigning convoys and some escorts but the ships don't "Stick" to the route and come back to the convoy pool, bug? WAD?

EDIT: Or was that last problem what the hotfix was meant to fix?

 

Jus starting to notice those convoy problems, myself, in HOI2 as France.

My Supplies Needed is at around 20, but when Algiers runs out of supplies it jumps to like 35. So I assign like 80 ships to supply Algiers, but they don't actually run the route. They just go back to the pool. Wtf?

 

Do you have the auto-convoy options on?

 

I sometimes wonder about the HoI2 convoy system, I have supplies being sent to areas Berlin is connected to by land... and now that I expanded across the oceans I can't produce ENOUGH convoys apparently xD Like, seriously, i bult 500 convoy ships and they all disappeared instantly into the system! The game seems to have a gigantic number of routes it wants to take.

 

I dunno, as France I have built maybe 20-40 convoy boats (i dont understand how it works very well ) and then discovered I have approx. 330 idling. Just sittin' in the pool waiting to be deployed haha

 

Sometimes deleting your convoys will cause the AI to re-allocate them correctly.

 

I've tried that once, seemed to fix one or two, I'll have another bash at it.

 

I think it also keeps some routes in the list where there is a depot but none is needed anymore (certain Islands I've been capping). I've stopped caring about partisans, they aren't going away and I have 100 militia units (I got cheap, they don't seem to be that good as police >.>) in western russia who really have not helped.

 

I think militia are better than garrisons, not only to they cost less they also can MOVE, which helps if you don't want to put a garrison unit in every province. Of course they are weaker but who cares if you can use a couple of them on one province. Also very good to protect beaches.

 

Their suppression is so tiny though. Garrisons are much better for anti-partisan activity, especially if you pair them with MP brigades.

 

Garrisons also have Defensiveness.

 

Exactly. Garrisons are the best for their purpose, that is to defend your non-frontline provinces. Militia is also decent, but for the most part, I find it useless.

 

So what exactly do the following mods do?

CORE

Stony Road

any other major mod

It seems like all of the HoI2 mods suffer from a complete fricking lack of information on exactly what the mod does.

 

I know CORE adds a ton to the tech tree, more units, more ministers, some graphical and scenario changes. Not sure about Stony Road.

Personally, I dont like any of the major mods, they tend to overcomplicate the tech tree and make getting units waaaay too difficult.

 

I tried that Europa Universalism 3 game is felt disappointed, confusing, and not very fast and simple like civilization 4. research takes to long, too many options that I hardly even use (fast is too fast, message spam hell), and many things. It's too bad they don't have a good instant option in the game where I could just hit that button to complete research at a cost (or no cost if you cheat).

 

Pause and right clicking on messages allows you to change their settings. Honestly I cheated for research myself, but I'm lazy.

 

Two I've played :

Kaiserriech

This is a mod predicated on German victory in WWI, then Britain and France going Communist, a Karenskii led Russia muddling along after accepting Brest-Litovsk. USA muddles along through a 15 year Depression. IMHO not very good. Events basically end around 1940 or so, and the mod makers are way too fond of dumping dissent on you.

Turtledove

This is based in Harry Turtledove's Settling Accounts series. It's much like the 1936 scenario, except the countries/alliances/events conform to the Turtledove universe instead of OTL. Actually liked this one.

 

The work on the EU2 source code (called For the Glory) is near the end. They have got their own forum now: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=444

It will be released before christmas. Hopefully it will attract old players back to EU2.

 

Victoria 2 announced!!!

 

Another EU3 expansion and some kind of third party EU2 total conversion also announced. Here's a summary of new features etc.

Victoria 2

Estimated release: Q2 2010

* Deep engrossing political simulation, with dozens of different types of governments.
* Detailed economy with over fifty different type of goods and factories.
* Historical game-play on a large map covering the entire world.
* Over 200 different countries can be played, from 1835 to the start of world war 2.
* Advanced Technological system with thousands of inventions to be discovered.
* Possibility to export a save game at the end of the game into HoI3.
* A streamlined interface, which makes the game easily accessible.
* Automation of various tasks, including trade and population promotion.
* Advanced spheres of influences system, where the great powers battle over the control of the world.
* New types of pops, including bureaucrats and artisans.
* Cottage production simulating pre-industrial economies.
* Gunboat Diplomacy, no need for negotiate as a fleet outside a port may be a more
* persuasive argument.
* Overhaul of education, where clergy educates people of the same religion, and each pops have their own literacy levels.
* More reform categories with more options to select from in each.
* New election system with coalition governments and an upper house/senate.
* Historical and Dynamic missions guiding your country through the history.
* Thousands of historical events and decisions.

Europa Universalis III: Heir to the Throne
Expansion to EU3
Estimated release: Unknown

* Intriguing Casus Belli system, where wars have specific goals from start to finish.
* Monarchs now belong to dynasties, with far reaching effects on the diplomatic model.
* More involving and powerful Holy Roman Empire and Papacy options.
* Special diplomatic options for Republics.
* Set your National Focus in a province to enhance growth and strengthen your hold in the region.
* Permanent Terra Incognita removed and replaced with impassable regions.
* Cultural Tradition allows better advisors in the same way that Military Tradition allows better generals and admirals.
* Spheres of Influence simulate the Great Game of the major powers.
* More dynamic pirates. Issue letters of marque to plague the sea zones of rival nations.
* Monarchs need to uphold their legitimacy in the eyes of their subjects
* Many other additions and improvements.


For the Glory
First result of Paradox licensing out the Europa Engine to the community.
Based on EU2 and made by the AGCEEP team
Estimated release: Q4 2009

* Take up the reigns of your country, guide domestic and foreign policy, navigate thousands of historical events, engage in various struggles and lead your country to prosperity – all in the name of glory!
* For the Glory offers full historical immersion, with a completely new in-depth experience with over 10000 historically accurate events.
* Take charge of the mighty Habsburg Empire, the aggressive Swedish state, or the seafaring Portuguese. Build up your empire through trade, diplomacy, colonialism and war.
* Interact with real historical events and persons to determine what path your nation will take.
* Nothing is written in stone, and while a wise leader may choose to follow the path of history, you may also take advantage of opportunities for change.

EDIT:

Oh and a picture of what Europe and the UI might look like in Vicky 2.