Elite Difficulty Ironman France in 2022 - Can I Win? | Hearts of Iron 4 | Alex the Rambler

[@thomasflakker6124]

It is frustrating that the effectiveness of a defense doesn't really factor into war participation. Though that does correlate well with real life. The side taking land has greater consideration than those holding it.

[@JJLiu-xc3kg]

For ages Roosevelt personally hated the French, even needing Churchill’s wrangling before allowing them a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. So...pretty realistic honestly

[@alpha3488]

@@JJLiu-xc3kg Irl France didn't mount an effective defense

[@MrStarFlex]

Taking into concideration ongoing events in the real world... i would like to disagree with your statement :)

[@victorconway444]

@@JJLiu-xc3kg I think the Soviets also did some "wrangling" to get France in. They were already seeing the writing on the wall with the US, UK, and China (at the time Nationalist China) in the Security Council. And due to De Gaulle and the French government's aggressively independent attitude towards the former two, the Soviets favored the French as a "neutral" member who could mediate with the west. The French Communist Party was also very politically influential in post-liberation France due to their role in the resistance, so the Soviets probably anticipated a future communist ally out of them as well.

[@bayuadhi3671]

@@victorconway444 but surprise!! RoC is lost the civil war against PRC and PRC was now a member of UNSC

[@dude_27_5]

Alex building train lines doesn't actually give supply - the supply hubs themselves do - build the supply's closer to the front line I think that's how it works

[@joemouton1194]

Supply hubs and ports too?

[@justinwhite4995]

@@joemouton1194 Yep. It's supply hubs and ports.

[@AfricanRituals]

He could also try increasing motorization of the nearest supply hub, that increases the supply range

[@SuperSmith]

@@AfricanRituals that tiny alp zone is out of reach of motorized supply

[@rasulshikhali]

First thing I do playing France is building that supply hub in the alps

[@toba1378]

Hello Alex! I see you're a bit confused about the supply. The reason you weren't getting supply in the French Alpes is because you did not have a supply hub close enough. Railways carry supply but do not distribute it; supply is only distributed at supply hubs or ports (and floating harbours); the reason the italians could get supply is because there is a supply hub in piedmont! Hope I could help!

[@bad_dragon]

"i have not an idiot" and if this doesnt mean "i am not an idiot", then i probably am. alex 2022 you were so close painfully close

[@leonristovski3595]

would it be Je ne idiot pas ?

[@maximinnaudon9983]

@@leonristovski3595 No it would be “Je ne suis pas un idiot”.

[@ghostari2581]

I think he said "Je n'est pas un idiot", so more "I is not an idiot", close enough for me

[@leonristovski3595]

@@ghostari2581 he said je ne pas un idiot

[@kendokaaa]

@@ghostari2581 "je n'est" isn't a thing, so it can only be "je n'ai". To have and to be are two common verbs to mix up

[@hatless_spider]

Alex: "How could this possibly go wrong?" at the start of the video. Clearly it must be foreshadowing

[@flamingarrow9444]

Yes

[@michaelandersen-kk4fc]

Alpine hexes to far from supply centers, no point in upgrading railroads, when they go to no where. always build up supply in the alpes. you are not producing enough rifles, but loosing alot to attrition.

[@AlextheRambler]

*France Elite Ironman, can I do it? Edit: I know I spoke French incorrectly, it was meant to be a joke*

[@wunderwaffe2822]

Of course you can, Alexandre le Ramblóur

[@henriquemachado9941]

Of course, cheating off camera is a good way of doing it.

[@somemeansfish8987]

Seeing 2022 I thought you were going to go wacky and play millennium dawn or something!Still a cool video though.

[@glauberglousger6643]

No, you, can’t, A guy called Alex the Rambler Can

[@feedingsnakesiguess597]

Oui

[@zachgamr99]

tip for the future. I find holding the alps a bit easier is to move the northern troops back a bit towards the swiss border so that you're in another supply zone and therefore your troops get supply. Otherwise, you pretty much have to build a new supply hub in the alps to keep the middle/northern troops fed. Build some forts and boom you just lose a few worthless tiles that the Italians now have to hold and they also lose supply.

[@oLii96x]

What is very helpful as France ist to concentrate on the "devaluate the franc" focus branch. You get a lot of civ factories from them and when finished, can start building more military factories. It slows you down at other focus branches, but a larger industry is better in the long run. France can be a industrial powerhouse with this strategy, because additionally, it is the main producer of steel in the world. Every democratic country therefore trades it with you (and the US too). Ultimately, France can have about 150 civ factories in mid game

[@kassaran2092]

That's a trap. Devalue the Franc is usually my third or fourth priority. Typically I fortify the Alps manually and build up my Factories manually. With about 550 hours in this game playing only as France (because I hate myself), I've gotten very good at anticipating the oncoming tide. I've also grown weary with my role as the punching bag of Germany and Italy, but I plan to do a 'going my own way' run to see how it works. Typically I rush Strengthen Government because it provides plenty of PP and take France Leads to grab the Soviet Peace Deal in 1938. If you time it to align with the growing Axis territorial claims, I've found that they're more likely to take the deal than not. Also, Rearmament typically isn't worth until late '37 into '38 and even when you get it, getting the Infantry and Artillery discounts is key to creating strong templates quickly. The economic revitalization of the Metropolitan heartland, tied with the foci of simply stabilizing France's government is going to drag everything else out typically into an easy win

[@Xunek.]

CAS only attacks if there is a fight on the ground, not during a stand off

[@codycraig8805]

Your failure to properly understand the supply system never fails to baffle me. *Railroads* do not provide supply on their own, they merely transfer supply to *Supply Hubs* , *Supply Hubs* act as points from which supply is distributed to provinces nearby. Supply is transfered on railroads from the Capitol. The higher level of railroad, the more supply that can be transferred. The higher level of *infrastructure* in a region determines how much supply can be distributed to each province in range of the *Supplyhub*

[@ninas0997]

Thanks, now I finally understood the supply sistem

[@BORLMBK]

I like how he’s been playing the game for years but still needs people in the comments to explain features to him

[@Bitt3rSteel]

Je ne SUIS pas un idiot, but otherwise...highly entertaining

[@brendanobrien8198]

"Why is France so bad? Am I doing things wrong? I don't think I am." - Leader of France, 1937

[@MrSedatePiano]

Alex playing as France?! Can't afford to miss this one!

[@CarlosianBigWang]

An elite run as Japan or India would be fantastic to see! Love the consistent and steady work you have been putting out this year Alex.

[@awesome1121]

You should do an elite Ironman series

[@bridel2851]

23:37 the irony of France encircling at dunkerque the germans

[@BengVideo]

"THE CAS IS NOT DOING ANYTHING!" Strange to hear this and not CAS is King

[@안호성-p6z]

I love how Alex says "I'm not an idiot" incorrectly in French. Oh the irony XD (was he saying 'je n'ai pas un idiot' or 'je n'est pas un idiot'?)

[@joker345172]

He probably wanted to say "je ne SUIS pas un idiot", but he messed that up. Love the irony lol

[@DoctorX149]

He was saying "Je n'ai pas un idiot," I believe, but it wouldn't matter! The correct phrase is "je ne suis pas un idiot!"

[@applebottomjeans04]

Bonjour Alex, At the beginning you said "je n'ai pas un idiot" which means "I do not have an idiot" The correct way to say "I am not an idiot" would be "je ne suis pas un idiot" J'adore votre vidéos et espère que je peut regarde plus des vidéos à l'avenir.

[@wilhelmhetrick8948]

That war participation thing is why I absolutely will never play HOI without PLPC. How the game calculates war score is perhaps one of the dumbest systems I've ever seen. I actually think my dog could come up with a better system.

[@lodofuchs3346]

I got 1.6k Hours in the game and I have the same problem that you mentioned. I know I can finish something,but I just lose interest. Usually because a game loses the challenge or the scenario gets boring. Let's say I'm doing a historical Germany game,taking Poland or even France still makes somewhat fun,but killing the soviets or UK is no fun,since I have already done it,I know I can do it again,so it's just kinda a huge amount of time spent for nothing. There is no fun in the fight,and there is no more rush of euphoria when you finally cap them.

[@samueljohnston2516]

Yeh I feel the same at 1.8k hours, rarely ever do I finish the soviets off as germany out of boredom, I rarely finish any conquest as any country. Have been playing a lot on expert AI to make it more interesting but even then there is no competition. I play expert AI as soviets, turn every buff on - challenging templates, aggressive germany, no attrition, crazy bonuses to production and fuel usage - the full hog and I can still defend against them so damn easy. I play expert AI as germany and push into soviets - it just becomes a stalemate and grind because my tanks cant push GIGA defense infantry, let alone the poor supply, which is fixable but i dont want to wait for supply hubs to build and transports are no good when soviets have 40k planes against my non-existant air force in like 42 bc of production bonus. But still no fun in the fight like you said. I think if there was ever a buff to making the game more interesting it would have to be that AI knew how to make and use tanks effectively to make encirclements. Other then that if I play hoi4 casually then its on a mod. p.s. im not complaining, still a good game, I guess everything just isnt as fun when i know what to train, what to build, how many civs to build as each country etc. Multiplayer and mods probably best answer to this issue tho.

[@lodofuchs3346]

@@samueljohnston2516 Yeah multiplayer helps a lot. Also since fighting isn't really fun, I usually seek for good story,but it's very rare in hoi4. Not many modders or focus trees make you feel like you're actually playing a unique country. For the mod,I really advise Kaiserreich. Does have a lot of issues, but it can have challenging wars and hard political decisions. You have to play a monarchist or fascist Bulgaria at least once,I think that was the most fun I had in months with the game

[@youtuberobbedmeofmyname]

I hate fighting Soviets as everyone except Germany. After about 300 hours I figured out the best way to kill Russia is to pre-empt 3 Collab Governments before attempting. Especially since NSB, you just suffer going to the Urals/Central Asia trying to grab Chelyabinsk and whatever other 1 point city.

[@hopin8krzys]

Many people already pointed it out already, but in short about supplies: hubs and ports give supplies to units. Trains and railways give supplies to hubs (and ports, but they use convoys if they can). Infrastructure increases supply per province in range of hub. Trucks increase the supply range of a hub. Bit convoluted As for cas, there is aerial combat width in battles, but its a bit weird - the limit counts planes, but not wings, but limits wings, not planes (with a minimum of one). So, lets say combat width is 300 and you have 4 wings, 100 planes each. 3 wings will get to the battle because 300 is the plane limit. But if you have one wing with 1000 planes, it will get to the battle, because its just one wing, and deal massive damage. So in general keep fighters in wings of 100, but cas as big as you can Informations from tests by 71Cloak and Feedback And a suggestion - maybe you could play with OWB mod. Combat there is mostly "early game", I mean, there is little of big slug world wars that are boring. Try out Mexico or Texas especially. Or maybe even northwest, just not California (being reworked now and is mainly about one big war with Legion)

[@MechWarrior894]

“Alex the Rambler.exe has stopped working. Are you having a giraffe?” That killed me. XD

[@Lolaso-sq7pb]

2:05 He literally said “I don’t have an idiot” 😂

[@SubaruPieter]

I believe you have to build supply hubs closer to the front lines for better supply, as the railways just bring supplies from hub to hub, and the supply hubs distribute the supplies to divisions that are near. That's just how I understand it, and I'm still figuring things out.

[@ZvenoBlox]

U can send volunteers as France if u do the focus "intervention in Spain" or something called like that.

[@Buurk.]

Good now try it in 1939 start date

[@isakhylander]

Italy: look germany! I will break France! Breaks through the one tile, germany is seeing it, then sees the italians fail and says, "this has become a repeat of the first war, well at least we are not at war with the Soviets!

[@Annatar5289]

oh im early! always love a new rambler hoi4 vid. cheers Alex!

[@mash8742]

1. Only supply hubs give supply not the lines themselves 2. Without radar your planes can't find targets 3. If you're not going to tech into breakthrough you are just building up a greater defensive army - it's only a slogfest when you dont build 4 super breakthrough divisions, 200 infantry vs 200 infantry will always be a horrible push 😁

[@menglish59]

Just to add to the first point, the supply comes from the hub, but infrastructure helps spread it better. Railways to connect hubs, infrastructure to get from hubs to the troops

[@meterboy.]

You said: Je n’ai pas un idiot. -> I don’t have an idiot. Right Form: Je ne suis pas un idiot. -> I’m not an idiot. I’m not french but I’ve learned it quite well in school.

[@RicharDD1127]

Now we wait for an elite playthrough of Poland

[@ulli-dulli333]

21:52 the way his fuel just drops when he clicks one button

[@hatless_spider]

23:17 where the honk at lol

[@TMillsMusic]

Definitely more elite difficulty games, any countries! Maybe Czechoslovakia, China or Mexico? The less commonly played countries would be interesting.

[@simonecotiere4886]

I’m actually french and this espisode was really funny to watch 😂

[@Jhawar97]

Finally. Been asking for this for a while.

[@finnlaughman478]

To fix the issue in the alps I’ve found that the best and tbh somehow the cheapest way to fix it is too just build a supply hub there

[@overlord__l2267]

23:19 Matt missed a honker

[@herobrineharry7698]

Even if you don’t understand the supply system, how do you not understand the concept of moving your units - and the line- a tile back

[@Martoto94]

France is actually easy af. Just build forts on your border (to about lvl 4) and only then do the focuses for getting extra forts. This will bump the level to about 7-8 which is a breeze to defend.

[@zoso8700]

I would like to see some Ironman achievement games, not necessarily Elite difficulty runs. Good stuff either way tho!

[@deutscherstein1639]

Ich gucke die Videos jetzt seit rund 3 Jahren und habe alle HoI IV Videos gesehen die auf diesem Kanal gemacht wurden , aber ich habe noch keinen solchen Start gesehen . Erst der uralte Witz in der Fehlermeldung , und dann Französisch . Hut ab ich wurde überrascht.

[@watercannonscollaboration2281]

“The second kerfuffle of all times”, this made me laugh

[@RyManZZ]

Ahh yes, coffee at 2pm in the morning @3:38

[@maxthexpfarmer3957]

Play China in Elite Difficulty Ironman Mode! This will be a real test of your skill! Can you hold until the United States saves you? Can you perhaps save yourself?

[@TheMoonManBGk]

“Je n'ai pas un idiot” Directly translated means “I don’t have an idiot” (Ig he was trying to say je ne suis pas un idiot but he forgot to use the proper conjugation)

[@unichansgamehub8087]

Most of your cas was in The wrong zone.. they only cas The combat on The tile that combat is on, so you where on defence while your cas was ready for attacking!

[@carter3329]

Alex the Stat Addict! 22:37

[@MaxGabs1920]

"Je n'ai pas une idiot" means "I have an idiot" soooo...

[@andrewsprague4566]

I "don't" have an idiot if I'm correct.

[@leox8305]

(I apologise if im wrong im not french) If i remember right the avoir verb (witch the n'ai part is) means be and have. So technically Alex said it right.

[@longyearbyen9356]

@@leox8305 hey I am french and "avoir" means to have and "être" means to be. You're welcome!

[@polakskia6604]

@@leox8305 As a French I can say that "ai" could be the auxiliary if he said "Je n'ai pas été" but it would mean "I Have not been" in this case "ai" is the first person of the singular of the verb "avoir" which means "Have" conjugated to present and not a composed time so it can not be an auxiliary. I understand that it can be confusing, and also, I am not sure if my English is correct in those sentences.

[@leox8305]

@@polakskia6604 thank you for your correction!

[@obj.071]

2:20 see this face? this face of "get outplayed, son" man.

[@wetwillyis_1881]

I started an MP game with my discord buddies Saturday, and they told me to play as France. I told them no, and showed them what happened the last time I played as France. Alex, vous ne pas un idiot.

[@Omegaastra]

I admire the attempt to speak french, sadly it doesn't really make grammatical sense XD Don't take this comment seriously btw

[@diamondsky3787]

@@Omegaastra Would it be: Alex, vous ne suis pas un idiot?

[@Omegaastra]

@@diamondsky3787 close, but still no

[@diamondsky3787]

@@Omegaastra how would it be then

[@theophilemichaux1228]

@@diamondsky3787 It would be : Alex, vous n'êtes pas un idiot. "suis" is for the first person singular of the verb "être" (be), while "êtes" is the second person plural, which, in this case, is used to address one person the formal way (in france it's called "vouvoyer" because of the "vous" pronoun) You could also say : Alex, tu n'es pas un idiot, which is less formal (second person singular, called "tutoyer" because of "tu") and, in this case, kind of bizarre but correct nonetheless.

[@NovaTheDark]

2:16 well that means "i don't have an idiot", too bad.

[@glauberglousger6643]

3:40 2 PM in the morning? Isn’t that the afternoon... Or, did you mean, 2 AM

[@matija21]

I wanna see Poland Elite difficult game.

[@sroosh.behzadi]

hi alex, beautiful video, very entertaining, keep it up mate

[@sprites75]

good job! and we need to see the left bank french

[@J1ffst3r]

Railways don't provide supply on their own, you need a supply hub to distribute, they aren't just going to yeet the supplies out the windows as the train goes by!

[@gamebou4718]

Love the vids.keep up the hard work.

[@Louis_crct]

In french we don't say ''je n'ai pas un idiot'' that's mean i don't have an idiot in french we say ''je ne suis pas un idiot''

[@CT-3743_DeadEye]

Elite Game as the Netherlands. Get the achievement "Treading the Narrow Path".

[@djsax7203]

Elite Japan, China, or U.S. Love your content, Alex!

[@mathewchristman3435]

Ahh it's my boy, Alex the rambly manbler

[@galethorne]

Je ne suis pas un idiot. This is the good prononciation Alex 👌 And yes, im french 🍻

[@agonius7335]

Now play Czechoslovakia on elite difficulty and if you win we will call you the only true chad.

[@simplymatt6140]

You did it! Legend

[@danabendu7294]

Please do japan next

[@azertyazerty2565]

Je n'ai pas idiot --> i have no dumb, it's more like "je ne suis pas idiot"

[@DownrightProudHistory]

Building supply hubs closer to the front gives supply not the railways, Railways connect supply hubs to the capital or other supply hubs

[@cdub35071]

A bit late for the April 1st jokes; France being good at war? Ha good one.

[@oblok100]

I'd like to see an elite anarchist spain

[@maxrlx5467]

Alex The Rambler sounds like Ned Flanders

[@nazbolthatcherite6769]

Now do elite difficulty ussr with max buffed germany and italy. Harder mode: set japan to go monarchist and max buff them too.

[@samueljohnston2516]

Would like to see him try this! Pretty easy tho, just use the 18 width inf div soviets start with and replace the arty with anti air because the buffs to germany pretty much just means they have giga air-force. Anti-air will stop cas from pushing you as theyll have non left eventually. Train 240 divisions for the border with Germany, you'll stop them cold. 120 divisions for Asia is probably overkill and youll attrition, but why not. Then use your left over production into building heavy tanks with anti air as well, you dont need many tanks, just enough divs for encirclements and youll slowly eat them out pretty easily.

[@boyarbeloved]

“je ne pas un idiot” means “i not an idiot” - “je ne suis pas un idiot” means “i am not an idiot”

[@josephbrown6098]

i love your content alex

[@Mayy00nnaise]

railroads dont give supplies, supplyhubs do

[@TJ_Ramen]

Elite Luxembourg gameplay needed

[@nirdec]

I remember a game were (as France) i killed five million germans in the alps after that they were just melting in front of my units

[@dapizzasnake8462]

Everyone: alex is bad at hoi4. Alex:

[@petermillions1176]

You heard the man, he does NOT have an idiot! not sure what that means...

[@OkamiMZ]

Elite with Japan would be nice :)

[@princenoara9666]

Hey Alex, could you maybe try an Italy Elite Playthrough that would be really funny!

[@blitz3391]

You almost had the translation :) You basicaly said "I don't have an idiot". Close enough :p

[@cooperkid5766]

"Coffee at 2 pm in the morning"

[@jeremiahkivi4256]

Alex: *builds forts along Belgian border* Also Alex: "I'm gonna sit behind this river instead" Also, if AA is strong enough, your planes will avoid engaging those units and the other units/industry/infrastructure on that tile. I think you can put your planes on reckless or aggressive or whatever it is to overcome this, but you will take more casualties. Strat bombers are what works from what I understand, as they take reduced damage from AA. I think it's a gameplay mechanic to simulate the high altitude of those aircraft.

[@albinskold8792]

those forts at the belgisn border was from a focus, and it it's safer to give up 6 small tiles to hide in the firest and behind river

[@jeremiahkivi4256]

@@albinskold8792 nah just rush level 5-10 forts and go defensive focus. Germany can't break it. As long as Britain AI isn't completely dumb, then you won't get naval invaded. At least that's how I play my monarchist France against an aggressive fascist Germany. Most recently though, Germany goes Democratic and UK+USA+USSR go fascist... idk if it's a bug or what.

[@albinskold8792]

@@jeremiahkivi4256 YES same usa for the past few games for me have gone facist

[@Everest3000]

NSB has been released for months now, how do you still not understand the supply system whilst playing every day?

[@justthadaniel4412]

23:17 british generals in 1918

[@moontworks2232]

When I play France I delete all the colonial brigades, it helps me have positive number of weapons early. Idk if that helps but you are welcome

[@turbofenec9153]

We say "Je ne suis pas un idiot".

[@carter3329]

Also can we get a stream/vid of Mtg online?! or Mtg Arena?

[@Tyrant.162]

"No, don't be French!" Alex The Rambler, 2022

[@Dasmus]

Console haven't watched but trust me

[@jherinstamps6874]

HOLD THE LINE

[@GrantelHerbert]

Can you load the save game as germany and try to save their desaster? xD

[@fele09]

Elite Italy next!

[@raulisrael7342]

idk why but I love your youtube pfp and your face looks like an old friend of mine

[@stormtrooper2466]

it’s him alex the rambler

[@patricksimpson1157]

I just started up the video and I don't know if this is going to turn out so well.

[@Andre.Ferreira.28]

Elite japan! U almost never focus on the asian front so, I think It could be nice.