Forging massive Imperial Federation in 1937 - Hoi4 UK Speedrun Explained

Introduction

This tutorial outlines the steps to successfully execute a speedrun for forming the Imperial Federation in Hearts of Iron IV as the United Kingdom. The process involves strategic decisions, managing international relations, and military actions. This guide is based on gameplay recorded in the By Blood Alone expansion (v.1.12) and aims to help players achieve the One Empire and Imperial Federation achievements more easily.

Step 1: Prepare for Civil War

• Focus on Reinforcing the Empire: Prioritize taking the "Reinforce the Empire" focus before the civil war starts. This will set the foundation for your strategy.
• Puppet Dominions: Ensure you fully puppet your dominions during the conference to maximize your resources and military strength.

Step 2: Manage Randomness in Gameplay

• Anticipate RNG Elements: Be aware that random events can significantly affect your strategy. For instance, if the USA does not join the war against the Netherlands, it may declare war once the Netherlands is puppeted by France.
• Plan for Cascading Effects: Understand that if the war goes poorly for France, it may not fully puppet the Netherlands, complicating your war goals.

Step 3: Navigate International Relations

• War Goals on France: You cannot directly obtain a war goal on France through the London Naval Treaties. Instead, wait for France to puppet the Netherlands, then you can declare war.
• Manage Allies: Keep in mind that if the USA and France are at war, France will not join the Allies, potentially leaving you at war with minor nations resulting from the Netherlands’ fragmentation.

Step 4: Optimize Civil War Decisions

• Gain Political Power: Ensure you gain enough political power (PP) from civil war decisions to reduce the duration of the civil war and take the "Backroom Stabber" focus.
• Monitor Ethiopia: If Ethiopia falls quickly to Italy, they may enter a civil war while you are engaged, resulting in a puppet you cannot diplomatically annex due to PP constraints.

Step 5: Utilize French Puppets

• Puppet Status: When you release France as a puppet, they may achieve independence after gaining enough autonomy. Avoid sending convoys as it could alter their puppet status, making it harder to diplomatically annex them later.
• Military Divisions: Take advantage of the numerous divisions from puppet France, which are often stationed in overseas territories and can reinforce your military efforts.

Step 6: Focus on Forming the Imperial Federation

• Skip Unite the Anglosphere: If your goal is strictly to form the Imperial Federation and European Union, you can ignore the Unite the Anglosphere focus branch. However, this may slightly delay your military readiness against Germany.

Conclusion

To successfully form the Imperial Federation in Hearts of Iron IV as the UK, focus on early decisions that set the stage for your strategy, manage the unpredictability of international relations, and leverage your puppets effectively. By following these steps, you'll enhance your chances of achieving the One Empire and Imperial Federation achievements. Good luck in your speedrun, and feel free to revisit these steps as you refine your strategy!