Are you sick of walking miles before seeing any action?
Why does the enemy have anti-tank guns?
Why is there barbed wire?
Are you using the Supply Truck to get to your destination?
And are you being yelled at by Rafterman?
Then this guide is for you!


First play the original game with bots, or try a Practice Game.
Note: the original game offers the possibility to play against bots, while Darkest Hour doesn't.

Darkest Hour; because your first hour is your darkest!
Some recommendations for new players
Stuff the game should tell you but don't

It's always a good idea to join the DH Discord group[discord.com] regardless if you need help or not! It's a very active community, there is a #newbie-help-desk channel and everyone is very welcoming.


When applicable, I have added screenshots.
Use the Guide Index on the right side to navigate.
Enjoy reading!

Kind regards,
yellowfellow

There are three sorts of maps: Push, Advance, Clash.
The nomenclature is not set in stone though; some Push maps may be named Advance, etc.


Just like the original Red Orchestra game, you pick your class and start fighting.
Possible ways to win:

• Exhausting the enemy reinforcements (kill as much as possible)
  
• Preventing the enemy from capturing capture area's.
  
• Capturing ALL capture area's.

There are some map-specific quirks though:

• Capturing a capture area may reward your team with extra reinforcements.
  
• New respawn area's appear when a capture area is captured.
  
• Sometimes one team can only attack while the other team can only defend capture area's. So a defending team cannot recapture a lost capture area.

• Bigger maps
  
• Vehicles
  
• Logistics and construction
  
• No new respawn points when capture area is captured.
  
• Most Advance maps; one team attacks, other team defends.

The same with Advance maps, BUT...

• Lost capture areas may be recaptured.

• Press F2 to vote for a map.

Squad mechanics were implemented to promote working together to acquire superior firepower over the enemy in the right place at the right moment.
Every squad has a Squad Leader (SL), squad members, and usually an Assistant Squad Leader (ASL) too.


A SL can:

• Build things (check chapter 4: 'How to build stuff')
  
• Put markers on map
  
• Give orders (check section 3: 'How to lead a squad')

A SL should:

• Lead the squad.
  
• Give orders.
  
• And a lot more, so a SL should read chapter 3: 'How to lead a squad'.

An ASL can:

• Build things (check chapter 4: 'How to build stuff')
  
• Put markers on map

An ASL should:

• Build things
  
• Put markers on map
  
• Communicate
  
• Sometimes be a regular squad member

A regular squad member can:

• Ask the SL to appoint him ASL.

A squad member should:

• Follow the directions of the SL
  
• Communicate
  
• Call out enemy tanks/infantry/etc.
  
• Help fellow squad members
  
• Fight the enemy!

• It is best to learn how to be a good squad member first. (practice your K98/Mosin/Garand skills)
  
• If there are many squads and remember some of the player names, you may often notice that some experienced players are in one squad. Try to join that squad.
  
• If you've joined a squad and notice there are no Rally Points (check section 'How to lead a squad'), then likely your SL is new to the game and doesn't know how to place Rally Points. Join another squad.
  
• Leave the tanks alone for now. But if you really want to play tanks; refresh your knowledge about real WWII tank specifications and check out this Tanking guide :D and Darkest Hour 8.0. Vehicles data sheet.

This chapter will explain how to lead your squad:

• 3.1 How to become a Squad Leader
  
• 3.2 Setting a rally point for temporary respawns
  
• 3.3 Marking things on the map and giving orders
  
• 3.4 Managing squad members
  
• 3.5 Example

And ends with some tips.

• Create a new squad.
  
• Volunteer when the current squad leader leaves.
  
• Current SL appoints you as new SL.

A rally point (RP) is a temporary spawn point for your own squad.
A white icon of a backpack will appear on the bottom right corner of the screen. Press J to create a new RP.

• Far enough from previous RP.
  
• Enough time has passed since creating a previous RP.
  
• You cannot place a RP in capture areas yet to be captured.
  
• Outside friendly territory (blue line), you will need 1 extra squad member near you to place a RP.

You can also place a RP through the tactical menu:

1. Press and hold CAPSLOCK to open the tactical menu
   
2. Click Rally Point.

"This rally point is active."

Extra info:

• Depending on the size of your squad, there is only a limited amount of respawns.
  
• Players who aren't in your squad, cannot use it to spawn.
  
• A rally point can be overrun by the enemy. It will then disappear.
  
• A flag on the bag shows to which team it belongs. It comes in handy to identify rally points of same team squads.
  
• Placing a RP on an objective adds an extra 15 seconds waiting penalty to spawn.
  
• If you spot an enemy RP, a couple of shots should destroy it.
  
• If you place a RP behind enemy lines (red line), enemy will see your RP on their map.

SL's and ASL's can mark enemy tanks, vehicles, AT guns, and infantry on the map for other team members to see.
SL's can put Attack/Defend markers to order your squad.

You can use the tactical menu to give quick orders:

1. Press and hold CAPSLOCK to open the Tactical Menu.
   
2. Use one of the tactical options.

A quick way to give orders in battle.

A slower but more precise way to do this, is using your tactical map:

1. Press O to open your tactical map.
   
2. Press SPACE to enable your mouse on the map.
   
3. Right-click to put a marker.

Another way is using your game menu:

1. Press ESC to open game menu
   
2. Open the menu map and right-click to put a marker.

This is the menu map. It's accessed by the first tab next to the squads tab.

Extra info:

• All team members can see the enemy markers. But only your squad can see the order markers.
  
• Only SL's and ASL's can create markers. If someone tells you he spotted a tank, it's your task to mark it on the map!
  
• You can remove markers the same way you add them.

You can change your squad's name:

• Click on the current name to start typing.

In this example, I've named my squad "Left Flank Push":
Feel free to change your squad's name throughout the game.

Extra info:

• You can click the padlock to LOCK your squad so no other players can join your squad.
  
• You can kick a squad member from your squad. Right-click on his name for the drop-down menu.
  
• You can make a squad member a Squad Leader or Assistant Squad Leader the same way.

Like mentioned in the section "How to build stuff", the SL can appoint a squad member as an Assistant Squad Leader (ASL). An ASL can build stuff just like you. This way you can lead your squad while the ASL proceeds building things.


In this example, I am near a capture area called "Le Mesnil Entrance".
My team, the British, must defend this area.

• To get squad members here more quick, I've set up a Rally Point behind "Le Mesnil Entrance". There are 10 respawns left.
  
• I spotted an enemy tank on our left flank, so I marked it on the map.
  
• The same for enemy infantry in front of us.
  
• Since I don't expect an immediate attack on our position, I've ordered my squad to attack the crossroads near an enemy capture area called "Cambes Wood". I've marked the attack order on the map.
  
• The enemy knows that we're attacking from the North-East, so they will likely have set up defenses with this in mind. I've ordered the ASL to build a Platoon HQ in the North-West, so that we and other squads can easily flank the enemy.

"Jerries in the open!"

• Don't forget to set up Rally Points regularly. It beats walking for miles...
  
• Set up Rally Points in hidden places like bushes. Otherwise an enemy straggler might spot it and overrun it.
  
• Don't forget to set up a back-up Rally Point so that your squad has somewhere to spawn if the primary Rally Point gets overrun.
  
• Having a microphone helps. (Press Home/End/Insert/Delete to switch channels.)
  
• Keep your squad together.
  
• If you made a mistake, don't be afraid to change your plan and orders.
  
• Always have an order active.
  
• If you don't know how to lead tankers, keep the amount of tanker squadmates at the minimum as possible, tell them to join another squad. Because most tankers often do their own thing.
  
• There will always be complainers. Don't let nagging squadmates influence you as a SL negatively. Invite them to take over your role as SL, this usually shuts them up.
  
• Don't feel bad when things aren't going the way you want. The enemy is doing his best as well you know. A losing battle can be a good game too.
  
• The ultimate goal of you as SL is to have fun! And to provide your squadmates fun and joy too!

Don't be afraid to ask your squad if anyone else wants to be the SL. But if nobody replies...
Take this opportunity to learn! And good luck!

This chapter explains how to build stuff:

• 4.1 Conditions
  
• 4.2 The Supply Truck
  
• 4.3 Using the Supply Truck
  
• 4.4 Building the Platoon HQ
  
• 4.5 Amount of supplies
  
• 4.6 Loading/unloading supplies
  
• 4.7 ASL
  
• 4.8 What to build first

And ends with some tips.


These conditions must be met in order to even start thinking about building stuff:

• You are a SL or ASL.
  
• The map allows logistics. (usually Advance and Clash maps)

This is a Supply Truck. If you're Allied: hide it! But if you're Axis: shoot it!

1. Create a squad to become SL or join a squad and become ASL
   
2. Choose a class
   
3. Choose "logistics" vehicle
   
4. Choose a vehicle spawnpoint
   
5. spawn with the Supply Truck.

Unfortunately, some clueless (or not so clueless) players use it as a taxi.

Note: Spawning a Supply Truck, just like every vehicle, may come at a cost of reinforcements points.

1. Find a spot close to the frontline but out of sight.
   
2. Press CAPSLOCK to open the tactical menu. A circular menu will appear in the middle of the screen.
   
3. The bottom right option is where the construction menu is.

Use the tactical menu to access the construction menu.


There are many things you could build. But for now, you're going to build a Platoon HQ since most constructions are built the same way.

Function:

• Spawn point for the whole team.
  
• Radio access to artillery

Conditions:

• Squad must have 2 members minimum
  
• Needs to be constructed after placing
  
• Enough distance from capture areas and other Platoon HQ's
  
• Destroyable by:
  
  • 2 enemies using their shovel
    
  • Heavy explosions like: from a tank, artillery, light/heavy satchel charge
    
  • Driven over by a tank

1. In the construction menu, find option Platoon HQ
   
2. Once you click the option Platoon HQ, a green silhouette appears:

If it's green you can place it. If it's red, you can't.

Extra info:

• If the silhouette is red, then there's something wrong. A description below it usually says why. If it's green, go ahead and place it!
  
• Press Q or E to rotate the silhouette.
  
• If you have misplaced the construction, you can destroy/remove it by using your shovel. (middle mouse-click to use melee on your shovel)

This Platoon HQ is still unfinished.

The Platoon HQ is NOT finished yet.

• Use your shovel to start digging. This finalizes the Platoon HQ.
  
• It's faster when more players are digging.

The white shovel icon shows you can start digging to finalize the construction.


Congratulations, you've managed to build your first Platoon HQ.
However, building a Platoon HQ costs supplies:

• Supplies are taken from the Supply Truck when it's nearby enough.
  
• On the top of the screen a number shows how many supplies are left.

Supply Cache

• Build a Supply Cache to replace the Supply Truck.
  
• The Supply Cache generates supplies over time and allows you to build stuff in the immediate vicinity.

Ok, the Platoon HQ you've built has proven its worth and the frontline has moved forward. It's time to build a new Platoon HQ further down the road.

• Load up the Supply Truck with supplies from the Supply Cache

Use the keys R and B to load/unload.

Extra info:

• A freshly spawned Supply Truck holds the maximum of 2000 supplies.
  
• If the Supply Truck is on fire, quickly unload the supplies at a Supply Cache before everything goes up in flames!

Alright, you happened to be a born leader who prefers to lead his troops towards victory. Obviously you can't do that while digging trenches and filling sandbags. So you can appoint a squad member to be your second in command: the Assistant Squad Leader. He will be able to build things too!

• Go to the game menu with the list of squad members
  
• Right-click on the squad member you want to appoint as ASL.

An often used strategy is an ASL with an accomplice building stuff. All the while you're leading your men at the frontline (read section 'How to lead your squad')

1. Set Rally Point
   
2. Supply cache / Platoon HQ
   
3. Platoon HQ / Supply cache

Anything else is optional and depends on the map/goal:

• Vehicle Spawn (tankers will love this!)
  
• Radio
  
• Anti-tank guns
  
• Sandbags, bunkers, foxholes (foxholes are free!)
  
• Barbed wire, Czech hedgehogs, dragon's teeth
  
• Watchtower
  
• Shell ammo cache next to Anti-tank guns
  
• Ammo and grenade cache
  
• Panzerfaust cache

If you've read this far, I'm sure you got the idea that a supply truck is pretty darn important.
Use this information wisely to support your team. Victory may very well depend on it!

• If you're a SL; set a Rally Point at your building location.
  
• If you're a SL; don't forget to appoint someone ASL.
  
• If you're a SL; don't forget to lead your squad (check section 'How to lead your squad'). Unless your squad is a construction unit only.
  
• You can request the SL to appoint you as ASL if no one has done so yet.
  
• Try building different things, and you will find out many are useful for defensive purposes.
  
• You could build several Supply Caches throughout the map, which will allow other SL's to easily build defenses and ammo crates too.
  
• The same amount of supplies is supplied to all your team's Supply Caches. So a total of one Supply Cache generates supplies quickly, while a total of many Supply Caches generates supplies slowly.
  
• A radio is handy for SL's who wish to call in artillery strikes.
  
• A watchtower can betray your Platoon HQ's position.
  
• If your team is attacking, try to build a hidden Platoon HQ at the enemy flank.
  
• If your team is defending, build a secondary Platoon HQ and defenses at the second line in case the frontline is breached.
  
• The Supply Truck is unarmoured. One well-aimed bullet is able to kill the driver.
  
• Don't forget to cover the flanks and rear when you're building defenses.
  
• Don't forget to build barbed wire and Czech hedgehogs to stop enemy troop and tank charges. Excellent locations would be around capture area's, narrow passages and bridges.

Things you should do:

• Build stuff that is not easily spotted by the enemy.
  
• Hide the Supply Truck after use.

Things you should NOT do:

• Leaving the Supply Truck in plain sight.
  
• Building a Platoon HQ in plain sight.
  
• Building an AT gun in plain sight.
  
• Leaving the Supply Truck behind enemy lines because you used it as a taxi.

If you don't know the map really good, or if you don't want to lead:

• Let someone else be the SL.
  
• And please don't steal someone else's Supply Truck!

This chapter is INCOMPLETE.
This chapter lists details of every possible construction.


Template:
Faction:
Supply cost:
Construction:
Destruction:
Function:
Extra info:



Faction:
Axis, USSR, USA, GB
Supply cost:
750
Construction:
Needs shoveling.
Minimum 3 squad members in squad
Destruction:
Tank shell, driven over by tank, satchel, geballte Ladung, panzerfaust, 2 enemies shoveling.
Function:
Respawn point for team infantry
Radio
Extra info:
Access only through entrance

Dear players of Darkest Hour,


When I was a noob, Rafterman had been raging as usual. I figured I did something wrong (I stole his Supply Truck), so I searched for a guide. I was surprised that I couldn't find any guides on Supply Trucks, so to his dismay I kept stealing them.

Until one day, a samaritan showed me the way: I happened to be a passenger of a Supply Truck he was driving. He drove through the French hedgerows like a true American, asking how long I had been playing this game while dodging enemy fire, until we came to a secluded spot. He had decided to make me ASL and teach me how to build stuff. I can't remember your name, but if you're reading this: thank you.

After learning how everything worked, the lack of any guides still bothered me because I saw so many players not knowing the mechanics either (There's a lot of Supply Truck stealing going on!). That is why I decided to create this guide.

However, this does not mean that I'm a good SL. Hah! Far from it. Sometimes I still forget planting rally points! But eh... I'm learning, and I hope this guide will help you learning as well.

If you have any suggestions, feedback, or tips on this guide; comment below, and I will try to improve it. If you want to help expanding and adding sections, send me a message.

I hope you enjoyed reading my guide.
May it help you enjoy this wonderful game to the fullest!


Yours truly,
yellowfellow


PS: Darkest Hour has a discord group[discord.gg]. Come join us! The community is very active and welcoming.


And as always, have fun playing!. ;-)