In honor of all you frog haters...

[Zoupa]

November 1938. I'm gaming the system. By guaranteing the independence of half of Europe, a get a free move to interventionism if anyone declares war on them. I'm almost all the way to the left anyways, but if Italy goes for Albania, I'll be full interventionism. That's important for later, because as a democracy, I need my target country to have some belligerence if I am to declare war.

[Barrister]

Are you really going to invade the US?   

[Zoupa]

That's the plan.  I don't how or when yet. I'm not sure if i can land troops from the Azores. I might have to build up Cayenne as a port and hit Florida first, or I could wait til nuclear weapons and take out NY or Washington. It'll depend on the state of my European Empire.

[Zoupa]

January 1939- Moving to Standing Army, which boosts manpower, org and upgrade time slightly. I'm a bit worried that by focusing all my energies on industrial, infantry and land doctrines to defeat Germany, I'll be way behind on secret weapons, nuclear and jet technology, not to mention Naval and Aircraft research. I decide to set aside 2 tech slots, one for naval doctrine research and one for aircraft design and doctrines. I'm following the British naval tech tree focusing on Battleships. Seems to me the Jap/US route is more powerful, but it focuses on aircraft carriers. My naval tech teams are awful to begin with and barely able to research the Brit tree, so too bad. Anyways, I prefer to sink ships rather than make them retreat. 

[Oexmelin]

Interesting cabinet!

[Zoupa]

Hey I work with what's given to me 

[Zoupa]

March 1939. The Protectorate is declared in former Czech lands, while the Nazis install a puppet regime in Slovakia under a fascist priest. The French public is even more convinced of the dangers of religion in the public sphere, crazy canadians notwithstanding.  It is decided that Slovakia will be purged of its clergy upon its liberation by the Glorious Republican Army of France, Civilizing Mission Department, Central Europe Division. Mainly, I'll puppet Czechoslovakia, or should I say Tchéquoslovaquie and forget Slovakia altogether.

[Oexmelin]

Hmm. Let's see:

A calm Socialist
A fervent Socialist
A dozing Centre-Right
A Crypto-Fascist
A Monarchist
An unprincipled southerner
A business right-winger
A so-so military commander
And Joseph Vuillemin, (whom I don't know...)

[Zoupa]

Late March 1939 - The hungry hungry petit caporal claims and gets Memel. Will all of Europe just bend over and take it?

The year is 50 B.C.  1939 A.D. and Gaul Europe is entirely occupied by the Romans Germans. Well not entirely! One small village nation of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries bloodthirsty degenerates SS who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium... Warsaw, Prague and Vienna...

[Zoupa]

Still March 1939 - The junior partner decides to go for the riches of Albania: vendettas and terrible cheese. You're welcome to them, fascists. Still, it bumps my interventionism to full. Thanks, Muss!

[Zoupa]

Encore March 1939 - In light of recent fascist land grabs, the Brits invite Poland to join the Allies. They accept of course. Despite their despicable choice of government, I decide to help the Poles. Blueprints, money and supplies are sent to Warsaw.

[Zoupa]

April 1939 - The Eyeties take 2 weeks to annex Albania.  I seem to remember it used to take them months in previous games. Oh well. My army is churning out nicely. Puny little airforce is completed.

[Zoupa]

24th of August 1939 - fascists and crypto-fascists finally show their true colors. Poland is dismayed. London shrugs. France rounds up members of the PCF and sends them to Cayenne. All divisions are ordered to proceed to Alsace with due haste. Airforce is on alert in Metz. Crummy Navy under Darlan is sent to patrol off the German coast. The mood is gloomy, the Generals hesitant. Where is the élan?

[Ed Anger]

Ugh. 408 manpower. Prepare to be bled white.

[Habsburg]

So this is HOI3?