What do you attack with early game? Machine guns and mortars instead of armor and arty? I am getting bombed by AI early game - okay to develop any fighters or level bombers?
Also, why are engineers so important?
Cheesehead64, against the AI, you need a fighter force early. Against people though, most of the guys that play hardcore multiplayer will agree, that airforces are an expensive luxury. They burn oil like its free, and you just can't afford it against a good agressive tank loving opponent. With just a few well placed fighters and flak I can make sure that you dont get enough kills to justify the oil that you are burning.
Early game build lots of cavalry, and shield them from counter attack with garrison units, they cant take a hit but they pack a great wallop.
Armored cars and light tanks are good early game as well. Or you could be cheeky and purchase medium tank on turn one or two and just go straight to them.
Engineers build forts, airfields, factories, ports, shipyards etc,. I am sure you could find use for much of the stuff they can do. They also blow bridges etc. and if you are lucky you could blow an enemy factory.
They upgrade raw and oil. You want to upgrade your best protected ones first. About three raw upgrades to one oil upgrade until you start to get big.
More raw means that you can run more factories, which means you have more tanks and that means more options.
Balace economy upgrades with the reality that your opponent might choose to rush instead and catch you with no force early game, I myself have been known to do that.
Don't give up, it is like starting to smoke, if you get past the dizziness, it will be really hard for you to quit.
Meanie.