Total World War: Strategy Guide

CrazyG

This is directed towards newer players, right? If the goal is to make it easier for a new player to get started, I'd even consider just outright telling them what to do, even if its overly simplified advice.

As a newer player I really wanted advice on what to build and research. So saying things like "for Italy you always research Special Warfare first is a good idea" in my opinion. I'd give more advice on what to build. For Italy most players seem to build a battleship round 1, but not much fleet after that. The United Kingdom is able to retreat through the Suez Canal so its mostly pointless trying to sink her fleet.

An example of what seems really useful to me (just minor nations). With Danube Axis build 1 material and 2 infantry turn 1. Build 4 infantry every turn after that.
With Vichy France build 1 material and 2 infantry turn one. After that build a fighter (or naval fighter) every turn and some infantry to defend France.
With Finland build infantry and artillery. Don't build more fortifications with your starting material.

Yes its oversimplified advice, but these are reasonable strategies. Players are smart enough to change these later in the game, or try other options once they get more experience.
I think this would help newer players take their turns faster, which is an issue when trying to play a game with new guys (who have to battle calculate everywhere they move until the terrain is more familiar.)

redrum

@crazyg Yeah, mostly for players that have played other TripleA games but new to TWW. It assumes they've read the manual and have at least looked at the map but are looking for some basic strategy guidance. I don't want it to be too prescriptive around telling players exactly what to build given that the map has continued to evolve and it could easily become outdated. Goal is to provide them general guidance on objectives, technology, and production for each nation.

So for Italy technology, I provided priorities of: Production, Special Warfare, Improved Destroyers (if Allies have subs in the Med), Improved Production. I think that is a good starting list for a new player. For Italy unit production, I provided: initially cost effective naval and air forces (upgrade initial hull to battleship then subs, destroyers, naval fighters) to push the UK fleet out of the Med then focus on transports and infantry/marines to pressure Egypt. I think that gives pretty solid direction without going to the level of saying build exactly this type and number of units.

CrazyG

@redrum
Honestly I don't think a new player is worried about having an up to date strategy. As a newer player I was just trying to move my units around without making horrible mistakes. I think too long to get special warfare with Italy is a really good example of a potentially horrible mistake.

You should probably spell out RC as research center if its a new player guide.

redrum

@crazyg Yeah, I'm trying to minimize abbreviations so good catch on RC. I get that it doesn't have to be perfect and if it gets a little out of date then for new players it isn't that big of a deal though I'd like it to also be useful to mid level players that have played a few games but are struggling. I think for more detailed examples of first turn attacks/moves/production a save game is more useful then typing it all out (which I'll probably look to include). This is meant to give general direction for early/mid/late game so players have a sense of priorities/objectives.

I tend to recommend production over special warfare for newer players especially for the weaker powers as new players tend to struggle with remembering materials. For some of the minors, it could be worth just specifying what to build like your example given they are so limited but it would be fairly difficult to be that prescriptive for say germany/japan/uk beyond the first turn or 2.

oigroig78

All your considerations are very wellcome! Many thanks!

Hepps

@redrum Looks good so far. Your explanations for china are concise and give good direction.

General_Zod

@redrum

Looks good, I particularly like the way you broke the down "objectives" by early, mid and late game.

This will be the most useful to a seasoned TripleA gamer who never tried TWW as well.

Then they can make their own calls as they see fit once they have an idea how the typical game evolves.

Once suggestion, maybe mention that when playing AI, that it will play radically differently from what your describing.

Centurio

Good work redrum!
I am currently studying the rules for TWW because I like the map and the idea very much.
Your strategy guide helps me a lot, and I am happy to read more about how to start as an Axis player and how the answer of the allies looks like. Keep up the good work!

redrum

USA section added. Feedback welcome. I tried to just focus on a balanced approach so it could be relatively perscriptive and not overwhelming with too many options.

zlefin

Might be good to mention the lend-lease zone in queensland; letting the US give another fighter/turn to britain.

redrum

@zlefin I considered it but most straightforward USA strategies only really use the Labrador L&L. Even most advanced strategies don't use the Queensland L&L zone much. Its just too far away to be worth it in most cases. So decided to ignore it for this guide to keep things simple.

BTW, are you an experienced TWW player?

zlefin

used to be pretty good awhile ago; haven't played it since I came back to triplea a couple months ago, so I don't know how the meta has changed since, and I haven't played with the 2.8 branch.

redrum

@zlefin Ah, I don't think the meta has changed that much but 2.8 has a lot of cool features. Definitely recommend giving it a spin and if you're into PBEM/PBF then we could start up a game sometime.

oigroig78

Thanks for continuing the guide, it’s a perfect tool for beginners, and a useful way to improve skills!!!

redrum

Russia is up.

Hepps

@redrum Well written. Really covers the challenges facing Russia well.

CrazyG

I really like how you mentioned buying artillery or tanks. I see newer players only building infantry (NWO style) which gives Germany way too much freedom.

Hepps

@redrum At some point... once you are done all the nations it might be helpful to reorganize them by either; turn order, or faction. Or both.

EG.

Germany
Japan
Italy

Russia
China
Britain
United States

OR

Germany
Russia
Japan
China
Britain
Italy
United States

redrum

@hepps Yeah, I'm open to re-ordering them to probably turn order. Though if I did that I'd probably add a little field to give a difficulty rating for each. And thanks for the image love.

redrum

I added a bit about watching out for Italian can openers as well.

@Hepps I reworked some of the image placement and formatting. Open to suggestions.