HOI4: French Strategy Guide

[LtlMacMcG]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFVe58TPtI8&feature=youtu.be

A quick guide on how to be successful and get the little entente achievement. (Don't mind in the guide where we go with Britain, the guide does involve one restart -- I always play Ironman--that picks up at the same spot with no real change to strategy except going with the little entente).

[Bernie_Wiseman]

starting with france = lose

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by Jabberwok (ITA):

starting with france = lose

You didn't watch my video then, did you? :P

[Gudabeg]

Why didnt you build any civilian factories to boost your construction speed?

Also I am pretty sure you can switch your army doctrine to another tree.

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by Being Gneiss Rocks!:

Why didnt you build any civilian factories to boost your construction speed?

The Return on Investment for that comes too late......we need to be ready to go in time to enter the war when Germany makes a play for the Czecholslovakia. Don't get me wrong, some math genious might run the numbers and conclude building 2-3 right away is helpful..........but my 'off the cuff rough math" says it isn't.

Just 6 military factorys DOUBLES your initial military production capacity.......that isn't somethign you want to wait on civilian factories for in my opinion.

As for switching Doctrine Trees---I will try to do so, but I tried and believe you cannot with the French. Some countries are locked into a Tree I am pretty sure (Germany is locked into Mobile Doctrine, for example)

[Entstehung]

Finally, someone made a video. Thanks!

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by Entstehung:

Finally, someone made a video. Thanks!

Sure thing, hope you like/liked it!

[TheHostName]

nope no country is locked in a doctrin tree and with the military factories you are completely right the military factaries are more than nessesary

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by TheHostName:

nope no country is locked in a doctrin tree and with the military factories you are completely right the military factaries are more than nessesary

I didn't realize that about doctrine....I will have to check it out!

[j_south]

I have had allot of success with France and every time I wait until the go round the Maginot then I curb stomp them due to the way I build my northern forces usually have Germany done and dusted by late 1940 early 41 my best Kill to death ratio so far is killing 7 million Germans and Italians for loss of about 450K, to be honest, I usually have more difficulty with Japan than Germany but so far my record is finishing the war and defeating all the majors as France on Feb 11th 1942 and most of that was building up invasion force for Japan, to be honest doctrines are great but you can make up for crappy doctrines with brute force and ignorance regardless you can easily hold the Maginot with 15-20 Garrison divisions same with Alpines (although that's arguably harder as the forts are not as good) have 10 Garrison divisions on Spanish border and another 10 on the Swiss as last 5 games in a row the Germans have tried to go through Switzerland (even if the don't nice to have a strategic reserve that can easily back up either the Maginot or the Alps) and have 40 breakthrough divisions with as much soft attack as you can muster and you can destroy the Germans hell I've whipped them as Belgium. If you know what you're doing especially on historical focus the game is super easy allot easier than HOI3 and having about 3k hours on HOI3 under my belt I already had a few ideas of what to do but used to play France on the hardest difficulty on HOI3 so already knew what worked. I have no intention of telling my build although did share it with a friend as it's so OP it's ridiculous and if Paradox saw it they would hit it with the nerf bat

[Entstehung]

I can't get the acheivement because someone always changes their government...

[Phoenix VII]

When I played France, I won by going Defensive Doctrine and expanding the Maginot Line to Belgium and the Alps. The Germans got smart and tried to take Switzerland but I sent troops down there and the Swiss AI gave almost all their troops to me, so it was easy for me to organize a good defense in the Swiss mountains. I let the Axis bleed themselves out attacking me for 2 years and then I invaded Germany and took it over in 1942 after they pulled some troops away to invade Yugoslavia (an invasion which failed, btw).

The Maginot Line has a weakness though, the province north of Strasbourg can be attacked from at least 4, maybe 5 different German provinces so you might want to construct a new Level 10 Fort in the province SW of it so you can afford to lose it, that's what I did after losing my first game. If you go Defensive Focus then the Fortification NF below it makes constructing forts quicker.

I'm sure there are other strategies. In fact, expanding the Maginot Line to Belgium and upgrading the forts there to Level 10 turned out to be mostly a waste. While the forts on the Belgian border did play a role in halting the German offense through Belgium for me, a British counterattack sometime in late 1940 meant that my northern troops spent most of the war inside Belgium, away from the forts. Next time, I'll probably either only upgrade the forts to Level 6 which should still be good enough and much quicker, or maybe be more offensive and counterattack the Germans as they advance through Belgium.

I'd also recommend using the Superior Firepower land doctrine as France, I went Grand Battle Plan/Assault and sort of regret it since France has a strong industry once you get it off the ground and your tanks, artillery, Close Air Support planes, and infantry will all benefit significantly from it.

[Včelí medvídek]

Originally posted by LtlMacMcG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFVe58TPtI8&feature=youtu.be

A quick guide on how to be successful and get the little entente achievement. (Don't mind in the guide where we go with Britain, the guide does involve one restart -- I always play Ironman--that picks up at the same spot with no real change to strategy except going with the little entente).

Hehe, just did this achievement yesterday after plenty of tries and different approaches (I was not able defeat germans early or stop allies to interfere too mcuh to eb able get all cores)

Will check it later to see what worked for you:-)

[Silent]

Originally posted by Jabberwok (ITA):

starting with france = lose

If you can win as Poland and Czeckoslovakia, then you can win with France.

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by j_south:

I have had allot of success with France and every time I wait until the go round the Maginot then I curb stomp them due to the way I build my northern forces usually have Germany done and dusted by late 1940 early 41 my best Kill to death ratio so far is killing 7 million Germans and Italians for loss of about 450K, to be honest, I usually have more difficulty with Japan than Germany but so far my record is finishing the war and defeating all the majors as France on Feb 11th 1942 and most of that was building up invasion force for Japan, to be honest doctrines are great but you can make up for crappy doctrines with brute force and ignorance regardless you can easily hold the Maginot with 15-20 Garrison divisions same with Alpines (although that's arguably harder as the forts are not as good) have 10 Garrison divisions on Spanish border and another 10 on the Swiss as last 5 games in a row the Germans have tried to go through Switzerland (even if the don't nice to have a strategic reserve that can easily back up either the Maginot or the Alps) and have 40 breakthrough divisions with as much soft attack as you can muster and you can destroy the Germans hell I've whipped them as Belgium. If you know what you're doing especially on historical focus the game is super easy allot easier than HOI3 and having about 3k hours on HOI3 under my belt I already had a few ideas of what to do but used to play France on the hardest difficulty on HOI3 so already knew what worked. I have no intention of telling my build although did share it with a friend as it's so OP it's ridiculous and if Paradox saw it they would hit it with the nerf bat

Glad to see you are enjoying the game and have such a strategic mind! If your build ever becomes public knowledge I look forward to seeing it one day.

As for me....I never claimed my guide was the best or greatest way...but I have had a lot of succes with it. Also.......there is just apart of me that hates throwning Czeckoslovakia to the wolves.

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by Phoenix VII:

When I played France, I won by going Defensive Doctrine and expanding the Maginot Line to Belgium and the Alps. The Germans got smart and tried to take Switzerland but I sent troops down there and the Swiss AI gave almost all their troops to me, so it was easy for me to organize a good defense in the Swiss mountains. I let the Axis bleed themselves out attacking me for 2 years and then I invaded Germany and took it over in 1942 after they pulled some troops away to invade Yugoslavia (an invasion which failed, btw).

The Maginot Line has a weakness though, the province north of Strasbourg can be attacked from at least 4, maybe 5 different German provinces so you might want to construct a new Level 10 Fort in the province SW of it so you can afford to lose it, that's what I did after losing my first game. If you go Defensive Focus then the Fortification NF below it makes constructing forts quicker.

I'm sure there are other strategies. In fact, expanding the Maginot Line to Belgium and upgrading the forts there to Level 10 turned out to be mostly a waste. While the forts on the Belgian border did play a role in halting the German offense through Belgium for me, a British counterattack sometime in late 1940 meant that my northern troops spent most of the war inside Belgium, away from the forts. Next time, I'll probably either only upgrade the forts to Level 6 which should still be good enough and much quicker, or maybe be more offensive and counterattack the Germans as they advance through Belgium.

I'd also recommend using the Superior Firepower land doctrine as France, I went Grand Battle Plan/Assault and sort of regret it since France has a strong industry once you get it off the ground and your tanks, artillery, Close Air Support planes, and infantry will all benefit significantly from it.

I analyzed extending the maginot line and found it likely to be a waste of resources. I have refined this video and even afterwards have found heavy tanks to be a worthwhille investment. Mobility over static is almost best, in my opinion and according to real world military doctrine.

Look at it this way.....we each have 1000 points of 'someting. You use a defensive strategy that triples your poins but requires you sto spread them out making it 300 points accross 10 locations.

As the attacker...I dedicate all 900 points to attack, 100 pints to hold the line and as a feint, and place 900 points on the weakiest part of your line.

You have more total points, but I just need to beat you in a specific location.

That is an over simplication of military strategy and resource management, but I hope it makes sense.

Regarldless, if you ever make a guide or video let me know....I would love to watch it!