First of all, this mod is fantastic. Finally, HOI is playable! I've played since HOI 1 and I keep going back to BICE hoping it will be playable with each new update but I gave up on it. The AI couldn't handle production strategies and couldn't manage a front or conduct a war in a manner that made the game challenging or immersive.

- NAVAL: Total War AI still sends division unescorted through hostile sea lanes, but it seems to be less of an issue, and in my playthroughs GB prosecutes the naval war extremely aggressively with doomstacks of BB's and CV's supported by screens. I can never get submarines from La Rochelle to the Atlantic through the Bay of Biscay without all of them being annihilated by DD's but I know the naval game isn't fixable by modders at this time.

- LAND: GB now effectively defends Egypt and pushes the Italians out of North Africa! In my Barbarossa, the Soviets made major efforts to avoid encirclements, and in October were attempting encirclements of their own. I simply could not make risky pincers with small armored corps without risking being cut off. In November, they launched a massive counter-offensive that was perfectly timed and almost shattered my front. By the end of November, AG North was in an advantageous position with static lines and occasional forward movement, AG Center was static but had to abandon an encirclement of Minsk, and AG South collapsed entirely. I tried too long to hold my gains at Dniepropetrovsk before finally falling back on a better defensive line, but by that point as that counter-offensive was stalling and the front seemed to stabilize, a new massive offensive just south of Kiev threatened a massive encirclement which I was unable to stop and I lost 30 divisions, most of my armor and motorized forces, and almost the entire Romanian army. Game over in 1941. This has never happened to me in any playthrough of HOI ever. I was stunned and actually felt physical anxiety as I realized I couldn't salvage the front. I doubt I could have won the war if I'd consolidated on new lines and kept playing. Impressive!

- PRODUCTION: The Soviets had about 25,000 fighters in service during Barbarossa as well as 19 armored divisions at full strength. ~330 divisions total. I was unable to manage even localized control of the air. GB had I believe 10K fighters and were able to force control of the air within their operational reach from British basing, bombing my holdings at will. The Home Fleet doomstack had 14 BB's, 4 CV's, 28 CA's, 4 BC's, and over a hundred screens. I built 4 BB's, 2 BC's, 2 CV's, 4 CVL's, 5 CA's, and about ~60 screens and ~50 SS's. Not sure on total air production but the Luftwaffe was impressive before being attrited to impotence. 12 armored divisions at 50/50 light/medium tanks with two battalions of mechanized inf and three motorized, and 8 motorized divisions. ~160 infantry divisions. This all by November 1941.



How did the Soviets produce so many fighters? GB as well? What is the state of the meta on resources and production, and what strategies do you guys use? I'm up for a challenge but I wanted input before I try again. I'm thinking I'll forego a navy entirely next time as well as most strategic and medium bombers in favor of an all-fighter and CAS Luftwaffe, although that is a little disappointing. I also was brutally crippled by logistical strain during Barbarossa, which is probably the ultimate reason I was unable to defeat the counter-offensive.


Great job to the mod team.