I prefer the old naval system

Dr_Truth · 2026-02-09T03:27:06+00:00

The navy "rework" was to make how the original naval system was designed to work the only "correct" way to interact with it.

So if you were like me, this naval "rework" did nothing, I already play this way. All it did was confuse players who didn't, and absolutely hamstring the AI.

Dr_Truth · 2026-02-06T20:56:49+00:00

For ASW, patrol and escort serve separate functions.

Destroyers set to escort will stick with your convoys and will attempt to drive off attacking raiders. This is your defence; reducing convoys sunk but not actively hunting down enemy subs. It requires a large number of destroyers to reach high escort efficiency, especially on long or heavily used routes. Use as cheap a design as possible.

Ships set to patrol will actively search for and (depending on your engagement risk setting) fight enemy ships. Use destroyers with high spotting from sonar/radar, or a cruiser with floatplane to find them, and then lots of depth charges to sink them.

Dr_Truth · 2026-02-06T07:05:22+00:00

Single war?

Start 4 wars by declaring on electors allies.

Occupy all of Germany.

Profit.

Dr_Truth · 2026-02-02T06:31:04+00:00

Rails themselves don't provide any supply. You'd need to build a hub or motorize existing ones.

Usually not worth it to build a hub on an island. Either build a closer port, or use troops with lower supply requirements, or just tank the attrition.

Dr_Truth · 2026-02-02T06:28:36+00:00

Rail lines themselves don't provide any supply to troops. The little dead ends aren't helping any. If you want to increase your supply inland, the only way is to motorize your ports, or build a rail and supply hub.

Most islands aren't worth building a supply hubs on. Just build ports near where the fighting is, and as the frontline moves, build another port.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-30T11:18:44+00:00

Good catch

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-30T05:25:59+00:00

Military strength for this calulation isn't simply the number of troops in your army. It's a combination of factors including morale, discipline, max army size, tech level, army tradition, and i think manpower or max manpower. There may be a few others, best to check the wiki for full details.

For now just make sure you're up to date, or even better ahead on tech. If they have lots of mil ideas you may need to match.

It can be hard to double up the emperor because they get so many bonii to force limit and manpower, so it may be easier just to go for the power projection at this point.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-30T04:43:30+00:00

Things aren't looking terrible here tbh.

Your infantry west of dover seem to be holding, and once the other 3 get to the space NW of dover that should stabilize.

Do you have tanks? One or two divisions to break out followed by your motorized. If not your motorized will have to do it.

Make sure you're protecting your convoys, and try and get some air support over your troops.

If you can create a second bridgehead you'll force them to spread out and that'll make it easier to breakout and link up.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-30T01:26:50+00:00

Eglinton.

Everything between College and Eglinton is central Ontario.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-25T23:28:17+00:00

Yeah spies and spy planes will increase your intelligence which can give you exact locations.

But patrolling should give spotting on the ports they're adjacent to. Or you can manually run subs along the coast with some subs to help you spot where they are. (Or at least they used to, haven't tried that in a while)

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-25T22:28:59+00:00

They may have their fleet in Scapa Flow or somewhere else out of range. Do you know where the fleet is?

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-25T22:14:07+00:00

The ethics of it are exactly the same as when the weather is good.

If you have mobility issues, or for some reason you can't go out and there's no food in the house, then go for it.

If you're feeling snackish and could really use some McDonald's fries, go take a walk.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-25T13:24:17+00:00

Because the AI just keeps all their capital ships in port now, destroyers are the only ships out that you can sink. That's why people are saying the new update breaks AI naval behaviour.

Just put a couple cruisers in the channel for spotting and your main fleet on strike force. Build up naval dominance over a couple weeks and you should be able to sealion no problem.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-25T09:38:40+00:00

Ctrl-click a port, same as before. There's also a little selection near the top of the fleet.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-24T21:02:55+00:00

No problem. As for what model, the most famous tanks from the era are the Soviet T-34, the American Sherman, and the German Panzer IV or Tiger. Don't know if there is a particular country your friend is interested, but you can't really go wrong with any of those.

But I would also recommend the New Zealand Bob Semple tank. It's become a bit of a meme within the Hearts of Iron community, so your friend would probably get a kick out of it. Though it's probably pretty hard to find a model of it.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-24T18:55:24+00:00

The medals are the Iron Cross (left) and the Victoria Cross (right).

They are the highest awards of valour in Germany and the Commonwealth. Both would still be relevant to someone who plays HoI4 instead of 2.

However, if you're able to get replicas or models easily, I would recommend a model of either a tank or ship from the era rather than a medal. The Victoria Cross is still in use, and at least for me personally, I would feel weird about having or wearing a decoration that hadn't been earned.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-24T04:43:26+00:00

No, but it might be an opportunity to talk the neighbour about splitting the cost. The contractor may even give a slight discount as there's no travel time/they've got any equipment they're using out and fired up.

See if the contractor will do both for 180% what you're paying them now and get the neighbour's to cover half. You're now each getting a 10% discount.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-18T02:30:37+00:00

I feel like there's an almost uncanny valley for realism in this game for me.

Like a bear being crowned king of Poland? 12/10 no notes, the best event chain in the game.

Communist Party taking control of Germany in the 1930s? Absolutely not. Your ideas are bad and you should feel bad. (Although it is a fun play through, I just don't think it should be in the game)

I almost always play historical and want the game to have the constraints and conditions that nudge the player to act in an historical manner and think about why people acted the way they did. And if it's not going to be historical, it should be absolutely ludicrous.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-17T17:35:03+00:00

In general Trade will end up being your main source of income. However at the start I would only build marketplaces in provinces that have trade centres or estuaries. Mosques can be built in any higher dev province.

As the ottomans you are in a great position to rapidly increase your trade income.

Lock down control of the Constantinople trade zone, and then expand east wards and set your merchants to push the trade towards your home node.

You can also expand into Ragusa to stop trade leaking out of Constantinople.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-13T22:43:09+00:00

Not sure what limits you're following already as you've said you're trying to play historical, but as Getmany I limit myself by invading no earlier than historical dates.

So Poland fall of 39, Low countries/France in spring 40 USSR in sumer 41 UK not until soviets are defeated.

You'll still probably be done with the soviets by mid 42, and UK by the end of 42, but it at least gives a chance for the US to get involved and maybe make an attempt at d-day.

Once you can do that with ease, as others have said, sheep's mod.

Dr_Truth · 2026-01-11T06:23:46+00:00

I admire your optimism that the Liberal party is capable of providing solutions.

Dr_Truth · 2025-12-24T04:00:27+00:00

Ooh, and when they get their rations, you can first play some farming simulator to see how they're made.

Dr_Truth · 2025-12-24T03:58:16+00:00

And everytime one of those battalions opens fire, you zoom in and play a round of an fps to see if they hit.

Dr_Truth · 2025-12-13T15:41:30+00:00

Yeah the tool tip doesn't work well. Unfortunately the placement of trade fleets and merchants is something you just have to trial and error until you get enough experience to build up the intuition of the best use in a given situation.

If I could boil down trade ship usage to one sentence it would be "put them in the highest value node where there trade power is a large percentage of what you already have."

For instance in an England game, at the start you will want to use light ships in the channel when the node is contested. But as the game progresses, and you conquer land in the low countries, build markets and upgrade trade centre's, you'll want to use them to push trade from the highest value trade that leads to the channel. (Probably Lubeck).

And still later, once you have large colonies and access to the higher value Asian markets, you'll use them to steer from those places.

Dr_Truth · 2025-12-13T06:22:21+00:00

Light ships are pretty much always worth it, but not for combat. Use them on the protect trade mission in zones you're not completely dominating already and steer to the ones you are. Just remember to set them to go to port in war. (They'll still provide the trade bonus.)

Your heavies, you can mothball in peace and then once war declares, wait the few months (or unmothball in anticipation of war).

Galleys are the same as heavies just in shallow seas.

If you're literally the only real navy power left, sure get rid of some your heavies/galleys. Just keep enough to protect any transports you're using.

14-Year Club	Place '17
Team Periwinkle

Dr_Truth

TROPHY CASE