Good luck, Safe-Keeper.
When I play this game, I like to pre-plan, but things always change, there is always the proverbial monkey wrench in the gears.
Just be ready to improvise and adapt.
Invading the Swedes would be good for a boost in trade goods and IC etc.
Like you said alignment issues will make that hard.
The threat produced by Germany, and Russia (Faction leaders in close proximity, with massive armies) tends to keep them firmly in allied hands, but I am sure spies can be used to reduce neutrality, but doing so costs IC, and leaves your own country open to be being subverted by other factions.
A friend of mine, pointed out to me that Americas arrival in Europe depends on how well Japan does in China in the early game.
Pearl Harbor and all. He has seen it come as late as 1944, and another thing to note is, America is really democratic, and pre war they have really oppressive laws that hamper troop recruiting. (they also have the most IC, so when they do piss them off...Oh boy..)
They are also far from any real countries that provide threat modifiers, it seems they are not scripted to jump in unless provoked, just as the Japanese are scripted to eventually provoke them. (Barring any drastic alignment things, like a crafty player converting them to axis or commintern)
Even playing as America, it is really difficult to jump in the war.
I really love this game. Can't you tell?
