Good Starting Nations.

[Fallen0114]

I really struggle to find a good nation to start with, anybody got any suggestions? If so, then why?

[EtheralFalcon]

hungary as you have room to expand early and a range of alliances to choose from

[big man]

Brazil's a good starter nation because it's big enough to help out whichever side it joins (I'd suggest Allies because they have control of the Atlantic and thus can block Axis invasions) but still small enough to be easilly controled by a new player.

[whthawke66]

I prefer to play the majors, especially Germany. Great flexibility in how you build the forces and choose to prosecute the war. However, the sheer amount of stuff to keep track of may be daunting for a beginning player.

[Cyrr]

I'm new but did a lot of reading the last weeks. I think to learn the basics and to not get lost in many many things I would start in you case with a country from the regional powers. Here a link to the different countries:
http://www.paradoxian.org/hoi3wiki/Country_guides

[Shadow0603]

Originally posted by whthawke66:

I prefer to play the majors, especially Germany. Great flexibility in how you build the forces and choose to prosecute the war. However, the sheer amount of stuff to keep track of may be daunting for a beginning player.

In fact, not much flexibility to Germany. USSR is programmed to attack, so you will need a strong army. Germany does not have a lot of manpower, so you need to relay on mechanized units and aviation. If you try to build strategic aviation or grand fleet you have a problem. Of course if you control units by yourself you can make wonders, but it is not fair to stupid AI and boring. :) The situation is worse if you get allies along the border, as Persia and Turkey, because they need protection.
Really flexible is USA - which can do everything and UK - it is protected by sea.

[The Mighty Mallard]

Typically, if you're trying to learn the game mechanics, Brazil is the best choice. Very strong ressource base and poised to ramp quickly. If you're trying to explore the combat mechanics, Hungary (allied with Italy) is a great place to start since they start off with an army able to compete with the Yugoslavians.

It really depends on what your trying to learn. I've not found a better option for the naval mechanics than the US, which is always a daunting task.

[PCPhoenixGaming]

Germany.

[DazzaLCFC]

def brazil

[bradford342]

I wana say Japan they have alot of IC and when you play as them you don't exsacally have to join the axis either.

[dhbaer]

I would say Germany. Even as a novice you should be able to produce enough panzer and infantry divisions to take down Russia. The problem I always get when I play other nations is that when it comes to Barbarossa, the AI seems to kick it off when only a fraction of it's troops are on the Russian border causing your game to be pointless afterwards.

[Hans]

Germany

[The_Dominator]

Bulgaria, Greece, or Yugoslavia because you have room to expand and a decent army.

[Kim the Rocker]

I'd say Yugoslavia/Romania and join Axis. They start with a decent army, it is fairly obv what you want to research/build and you can start to get a feel of the combat when the fight with Soviet starts. Basicly conquer the balkans and w8 for the fight with Soviet. => ull learn basic combat + building + research without being overwhelmed (as with the majors) and you won't be completely bored as with Brazil, also Brazil requires Naval which i'd say is a little more advanced topic.

[voleur65]

As Romania, you have to give in to German demands made on behalf of Hungary and the demands of Russia on Bessarabia. However, you do get interesting builds without much research, basically lower tier German technology. You can make gains with the Germans in Russia but if you think you can hold them without German assistance, you will find it not so easily done and the Germans do not care if you live or die. You are fodder for the Russian bullets. Yugoslavia is interesting because you really can hold your own if you become an Axis member but you do not expand much. Greece, Albania (if the Italians have not already). You pretty much have to join the Axis as either nation because if you don't, you will be smashed by them if they want your territory.

Voleur

[Yields only go down]

France is easy, If you expand the maginot line ofc.