Lost the war with Rumburg again (what did I do wrong?)

[Generaloberst Yukari Akiyama]

This time I followed different guides to make sure I would win and I was honestly quite confident I'd succeed.

This is what I did:

Planned economy Dictator.
Neutral in foreign policies (Wehlen joined my war but not Agnland despite the trade agreement).
built Highway in Agnolia (hoping it would help them coming to my side).
Followed every Iosif strategy pincer -> Thornbourg.
Kept Gendarmerie under Military.
Increased military budget and modernized + removed conscription (picked airforce as priority branch).
Synergised military production (despite debt crisis).
Even had Soll to show up at my war meeting (not sure if matters I read elsewhere it would boost morale).
Still puzzled about Agnolia not coming at all, nothing was said about it, but I got Wehlen to reinforce my own frontline then I got them to defend Tsarzbourgh together with my Gendarmerie.
Denounced Rumburgian nuclear weapon sites and hurt their economy through sanctions.
Why did I still lose? I don't understand, I made sure to go above and beyond to ensure a victory here, I was so sure of it. What did I overlook?

Also those ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Agnolia opportunists betrayed us despite me trying to coddle up to them in whatever possible way except going against my electoral principles, but I built that Highway only for them, got them to accept a fairer trade and even strongly supported their claim on the island contended with Valgsland. Why didn't they join? I wanted to get them to assault Dome.

[cxado]

Did you actually get an alliance with Agnolia? Cause that's a separate thing than just a trade deal. Just a trade deal isn't enough for them to help you.

You might need more than just Wehlen and Agnolia - I know sometimes I think Lespia won't join the war if they think you'll lose/are weak.

Or maybe Agnolia decided to ghost you when you went planned economy dictator, they like market economy democracy etc.

[MoreEvilSquid]

You definitely (prior to 3.0 anyway) could win the war with Agnolia as your only ally, even without Wehlen, especially if you upgraded your military in any way and you built the highway so they get there in time.

Sounds like you didn't actually get an alliance during the trade talks somehow? Van Hoorten should offer it if he likes you, which if you built the highway, agreed to his improved trade deal AND agreed to support his claim on the island, he should be loving you. It's still possible to choose to NOT ally with him, which sounds like what happened.

If you definitely chose the alliance but it didn't count it for some reason, then that sounds like another bug has crept in...

I've actually also heard that if you modernise your military and choose all the right strategies that you can even defeat Rumburg all by yourself - or at least this was possible at one point, not sure if that's still the case..

[ANKH]

never workv with your allies. always give them their own assignment to distract Rumburg while you do the real fighting. Also this has gotten a lot tougher sinthe 2.0 update. you're economy has to be in the sordish recovery, it also helps to have rumburg kicked out of omec so they dont have the oil to fuel thier army

[Mellow]

Originally posted by ANKH:

never workv with your allies. always give them their own assignment to distract Rumburg while you do the real fighting. Also this has gotten a lot tougher sinthe 2.0 update. you're economy has to be in the sordish recovery, it also helps to have rumburg kicked out of omec so they dont have the oil to fuel thier army

how can you kick them out of omec?

[Generaloberst Yukari Akiyama]

Originally posted by MoreEvilSquid:

You definitely (prior to 3.0 anyway) could win the war with Agnolia as your only ally, even without Wehlen, especially if you upgraded your military in any way and you built the highway so they get there in time.

Sounds like you didn't actually get an alliance during the trade talks somehow? Van Hoorten should offer it if he likes you, which if you built the highway, agreed to his improved trade deal AND agreed to support his claim on the island, he should be loving you. It's still possible to choose to NOT ally with him, which sounds like what happened.

If you definitely chose the alliance but it didn't count it for some reason, then that sounds like another bug has crept in...

I've actually also heard that if you modernise your military and choose all the right strategies that you can even defeat Rumburg all by yourself - or at least this was possible at one point, not sure if that's still the case..

Indeed I did not but I only realized this at the end, I'm 100% sure I never had the option to ally with them infact as I never had that line of talk neither at the meeting with him nor afterwards I simply took for granted that with the treaty and my recognition of Agnolia sovereignity over the island, alliance would be a matter of fact and they would have come to my aid at the required time.

Originally posted by ANKH:

never workv with your allies. always give them their own assignment to distract Rumburg while you do the real fighting. Also this has gotten a lot tougher sinthe 2.0 update. you're economy has to be in the sordish recovery, it also helps to have rumburg kicked out of omec so they dont have the oil to fuel thier army

I was told that in order for Iosef pincer strategy to work I absolutely needed at least one ally to help me with my plan, previously I tried to send Wehlen on its own operation on Lars and Merdon and I equally lost.

My economy is not doing good, or better, I have green military production and a stable uptrend *despite* the debt crisis and a tremendously negative budget.
During the war meeting Soll said something about the need to have both stable production *and* good infrastructure for our logistical network to support the dash on Thornburg. Since I had infra in the red for not having built either Morna or Benfi I reloaded the game and expanded the Benfi airport in the hope of getting infrastructure in the green. We'll see if that's enough to overturn the result of the war.

I also decided to prepare the Sordish war machine in the eve of our plane getting shot down by Rumburg since I read that doing so would grant a bonus to my military and could eventually mitigate the bad effects of high debt/bad economy.

I also couldn't get Rumburg out of OMEC because I actively partook into Operation Beartrap as I took the Total Bl*d Death route in order to root out their threat and ensure my ally Wehlen can march their troops through to help in the war. That and I tend to prefer getting rid of "Livia".

Originally posted by Mellow:

Originally posted by ANKH:

never workv with your allies. always give them their own assignment to distract Rumburg while you do the real fighting. Also this has gotten a lot tougher sinthe 2.0 update. you're economy has to be in the sordish recovery, it also helps to have rumburg kicked out of omec so they dont have the oil to fuel thier army

how can you kick them out of omec?

Apparently you want to not cooperate extensively with Smolak to solve the Bludish question via military means (shutting down your borders) and to not have the spy killed when Lucian finds her out but arresting her and use that line about Rumburgian spies at the One to One or whatever is called intreview in Kyrute. During the interview you have to take the most peaceful-sounding options and try to paint Rumburg as the aggressor by any mean necessary while downplaying your own geopolitical involvements if necessary, for instance if you support Agnolia with the island you can still say you'd only support a peacekeeping mission and invite both parts to the diplomatic table.

[LahnaMan]

I managed to win the war as a Sollist Autocrat. State of emergency and TBD via Operation Beartrap and Bergia integration and empowered Ministry of Interior. I went with planned economy and traded + allied with Wehlen and Valgsland. I built the L-1 high-speed railroad and invested in Sordish MIC. Economy wasn't in depression but it hadn't gone to recovery either.

[Generaloberst Yukari Akiyama]

Originally posted by LahnaMan:

I managed to win the war as a Sollist Autocrat. State of emergency and TBD via Operation Beartrap and Bergia integration and empowered Ministry of Interior. I went with planned economy and traded + allied with Wehlen and Valgsland. I built the L-1 high-speed railroad and invested in Sordish MIC. Economy wasn't in depression but it hadn't gone to recovery either.

I'm on Dictator run, no emergency powers, took out Orso and most of the judges, Soll even supported me in the end and shows up at war meeting. I didn't want to ally with either Valgsland and Lespia because I don't want to end up under the sphere of either ATO or Contana.

[LahnaMan]

The only way to end up in the sphere of a super power is if you join either ATO or CSP. Allying with Valgsland is viable even as a Sollist as long as you have planned economy and haven't banned the Red Youth + haven't taken Agnolia's side in the island dispute.

[Iforgotmynames]

To go back to the OP question, I think the economy might be the problem. I you didn't get the sordish recovery event, the war is very difficult to Win.
If you are doing a dictator run, I recommand removing the independance of the central bank by decree (if you have the strong decrees), it helps a lot if you trigger the debt crisis.

[Generaloberst Yukari Akiyama]

Originally posted by Iforgotmynames:

To go back to the OP question, I think the economy might be the problem. I you didn't get the sordish recovery event, the war is very difficult to Win.
If you are doing a dictator run, I recommand removing the independance of the central bank by decree (if you have the strong decrees), it helps a lot if you trigger the debt crisis.

Indeed on the Discord they said that in the new version economy plays a vital role in the success of the war. A bummer because I followed guides where it was said that as long as you listened to Iosef economy wasn't that important since the war relied on other factors such as speed of execution.

I just have to do a new run from scratch.

[LahnaMan]

It's also possible to win the war with Valken Kruger's ideas as well. I managed to do it in my previous state of emergency playthrough.

[nerevarine9]

Originally posted by ANKH:

never workv with your allies. always give them their own assignment to distract Rumburg while you do the real fighting. Also this has gotten a lot tougher sinthe 2.0 update. you're economy has to be in the sordish recovery, it also helps to have rumburg kicked out of omec so they dont have the oil to fuel thier army

You do not need an economic recovery. I defeated Rumburg in an offensive war while still in a recession (but having prevented the depression). To be clear though, I focused my investments heavily on building up productive capacity by investing in the Conriat industrial zone and the Sordish military industry. Also built the H-3 highway, but it seemed not to make a difference relative to the L-1.

Almost goes without saying, but I funded and modernized the military - focusing on the air force. I chose Iosef's pincer attack and made a gambit for the capital. Valgsland was my chief ally, I had them send in the marines in a diversionary attack.

[Ranger]

I have won with both alone and allied. Only option I have not won with is with Wehlen as they gave up in Bergia. Vehlen = alone victory bigger military, keep conscription, bigger air force with military extra money, Hold back and then capture city as one option then Dome. You need L1 Train good economy military industry. Rumberg must be kicked out of OMC (TV interview be a victim)keep gendarme in the army. At least 2 trade agreements (I avoid Wehlen as makes it diplomatically difficult). Agsland - no alliance or recognising Island. Vagsland - no alliance or Island. Lespia - only if no trade deal with Wehlen. Do not accept money from superpower with Black Tuesday. At International conference must reveal nuclear weapons (so need to accept whistleblower earlier) + get Rumburg banned. Also have military industry and Conrat industry and free prescriptions may have helped. I dont play chess as not sure what it means - it was not an option originally when game launched. 49% Energy definitely best. Economy looks ok when decision to go to war is made but should get stronger before the war starts. I only usually have 2 trade deals Agnolia and one big power - usually get sanctioned by the second big power after trade deal done - no super powers. Super powers alliance secures peace but become just another nation. winning war makes Sordland an energy superpower. (Dome is home to a massive oil industry). Above is winning alone a bit different with each ally. I have it written in a book for each option. If alone I cannot win with pincer move but pincer move works if allied with 2 allies. If Sordland wins alone Agnolia loses the island and joins the capitalist alliance. I hope that helps. Agnolia may not ally with you if you have controlled immigration. If you recognised island then the Communists may not isolate Rumberg enough. If doing the 2 allies route you need both to join, well done for getting Wehlen to get through Bergia, with allies you get rid of conscription, equipment not bigger miliatry, more money for military, choose airforce, Do pincer and go for the capital. With Agnolia do agnland road not train, military industry, good economy, TV interview be a victim (gets Rumberg kicked out of group) I dont recognise island but maybe doesnt matter with Agnoland. Take Whistlerblowers story and reveal at UN meeting. You need military industry - take whistleblower. energy 49% or maybe 20% ok. Not sure if gendarme matters in this one but if in doubt go with Iosef. Whelen alone is the only option I have not won with. I would go with Lespia and Agnolia, Vagsland or Whelan or Agnolia and Whelan, alone, force Rumburg not to attack (same as winning alone but dont attack) or one ally but that can be slightly different again. I hope that helps, if a bit long!!

[Reptiloid]

It was a long time ago, but I won with Agnola, Lespia and Whelen. Had to do a dictator run to remove Bergia autonomy and Bulds, so Smolak could pass. Built tanks, asked Lespia for planes, removed conscription, went with Iosef's plan. GG.

But my knowledge is probably outdated by now. I usually don't bother and just join the NATO or the commies. Cause, well, war gives you a clear election W and I like some alternative endings. Maybe I will go for war when I try autocrat route to get Sol on war council.

[LahnaMan]

Originally posted by Reptiloid:

It was a long time ago, but I won with Agnola, Lespia and Whelen. Had to do a dictator run to remove Bergia autonomy and Bulds, so Smolak could pass. Built tanks, asked Lespia for planes, removed conscription, went with Iosef's plan. GG.

But my knowledge is probably outdated by now. I usually don't bother and just join the NATO or the commies. Cause, well, war gives you a clear election W and I like some alternative endings. Maybe I will go for war when I try autocrat route to get Sol on war council.

I understand that fighting the war as an ATO or a CSP member will trigger a nuclear war.