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Not so Briefly:
As Germany I impatiently invaded Czech out of the gate in late Spring 1936, and it was a VERY hard fight against a very AGGRESSIVE Czech, including some Czech armor getting all the way to Berlin (whups, I kinda forgot to watch that flank)! I was sweating that for a while, but the Luftwaffe helped tip the balance in favor of my single defending infantry division. Czech forts in the Bohemian Mountains held out far longer than I anticipated, but I finally won the war in by mid July 1936.
Now what to do? I'm going to have to eventually fight the Allies, of course, and they are constantly getting friendlier and friendlier with the Low Countries, as well as getting military access, etc. What to do?
With some deliberately annoying diplomacy, and then a very timely civil war heated up in Spain July 21, 1936. I made an invitation to Nationalist Spain to join me/Italy's military alliance (they declined! Those particularist Spanish!), but my declaration of war on Republican Spain goaded Britain, the Commonwealth, and France into war with me before they were really ready.
I had sent Rommel and 3 seasoned heavy divisions (infantry with artillery brigades, with high experience from the Czech invasion) via transport to Spain. I really thought they would join the alliance! I was stuck when the Spanish told me to take a hike. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise: when Britain declared war on me, those troops were at sea only 3 zones south of Cornwall and already past the French fleet in the Channel. Heh.
Rommel invaded Cornwall in September, 1936, then Berkshire where British resistance stiffened. The German fleet was already at sea, and the threat of landings on the west coast of England pulled the British Fleet in two directions. The Kriegsmarine was able to (for a short while) drive part of the British Home Fleet back into Scapa to lick their wounds. (After that they came back out and kicked my butt back into Wilhelmshafen.)
Fortunately during the Czech war I'd begun mobilizing two armor divisions and eight more heavy infantry divisions, that were coming online in September. Knowing they were going to be available shortly, I threw six infantry divisions (my only reserve!) into transports, and ran the gauntlet of small French combat vessels to get to Dover. I lost a transport, but not before Brauchtisch and his six divisions were ashore. Brauchtisch had the trait “logistics genius” so all the units attached to him were far less affected by lack of supply, allowing my (isolated) armies to fight on decent terms against the British. Rommel and Brauchtisch then just marched up the British Isles against the Home Guard, snapping up airbases and stopping the CONSTANT strategic bombing raids I'd been suffering. Now they are fighting a fierce battle against entrenched home guard and heavy air support in Newcastle.
In France, the successful early French penetrations scared me, capturing most of the Black Forest region. It turned out better than I could have hoped. They frontloaded their invading armies, and left token troops in one sector of the Maginot lines. When my main forces got there from deep in Czechen (just before a French breakout into the Palatinate), I used my fancy new PzI's and recently-developed halftrack tactics (with constant air attacks) to blitzkrieg armor through their frontline, seize the southern Maginot behind them, and then my friends, they were truly SCREWED. (Note: This was in a late beta, actually. I believe as a result of this French troops will be MUCH harder to lure out of the Maginot Defenses, if not impossible.)
Cutoff without supplies or fuel for their tanks, their counterattacks grew feebler while my armies mobilized back in the spring were growing stronger. Once I killed their main armies, it was a matter of methodically stomping the garrisons and cavalry armies roaming France. At this point, finally the Italians ALSO broke through at Toulon, so we were marching side by side until France declared Vichy in December 1936.
It's been a lovely little war. But it was STUPID for me to accept Vichy surrender. I'm desperately short of rubber and oil, and the darn sources are all in French or Brit colonial hands. I'm wondering how I'm going to resolve THAT while faced with a still-strong Poland and a paranoid Russia. Also, the British strategic bombing was not as bad as it would have been in later years, but it still did a lot of damage to the Ruhr. Hmmm.
The US is not too happy either, so I wouldn't say I have it made at this point.
This was against ‘normal’ AI. I tried a scenario later as the Poles in 1936 against a ‘very hard’ AI, and the Germans literally crushed me in no time flat. I’m no Sun Tzu, but I like to think that I can do a decent job against a computer ESPECIALLY if I’m on the defense. By my experience, the AI uses the entire runway: it gains an advantage in every way possible. Politically, diplomatically, and technologically, as well as the more mundane unit tactics (in other words, just kicking your butt if you give it the chance), this AI can put up a fight. But beginners shouldn’t fear. The lower levels of difficulty are distinctly easier.
You can see – diplomacy, resource management, strategic bombing, technology, and tactics – it all seamlessly meshes together into a compelling and engrossing game. Like any Paradox title, this is NOT a simple game. It is NOT Warcraft with Shermans and Tigers. Gamers who are interested in an hour’s beer and pretzels entertainment will be disappointed. But for those who want a deep, thorough, and comprehensive game about World War 2, one that immerses you in the real decisions facing the great leaders of that era, this is the one. It’s also darn educational – even for jaded wargamers that know everything there is to know about WWII. It’s the kind of game that you are not only playing until all hours (like I keep doing against my better judgment), but it keeps you thinking even away from the computer. Hearts of Iron just went gold, so you will all see it very shortly. If you’re smart, you will be playing it immediately thereafter. No bones about it: this is a great game.You can see – diplomacy, resource management, strategic bombing, technology, and tactics – it all seamlessly meshes together into a compelling and engrossing game. Like any Paradox title, this is NOT a simple game. It is NOT Warcraft with Shermans and Tigers. Gamers who are interested in an hour’s beer and pretzels entertainment will be disappointed. But for those who want a deep, thorough, and comprehensive game about World War 2, one that immerses you in the real decisions facing the great leaders of that era, this is the one. It’s also darn educational – even for jaded wargamers that know everything there is to know about WWII. It’s the kind of game that you are not only playing until all hours (like I keep doing against my better judgement), but it keeps you thinking even away from the computer. Hearts of Iron just went gold, so you will all see it very shortly. If you’re smart, you will be playing it immediately thereafter. No bones about it: this is a great game.
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Reviewed by Steve Lieb.
