Battle of the Noobs - Pavia (Axis) vs KZ (allies)

[KorutZelva]

Hello. I'm KZ you may remember me from such films as 'KZ vs the Taxman' and 'KZ vs Rannug II, rumble in the jungle'.

Been watching Indy Heidel world war two week by week series on youtube and felt like picking up Strategic Command again.

I'm rusty as hell and have not been paying attention to what the meta is these days. Looking at other people AAR intimidates me since they pull off all these crazy stunts I'd never be able to pull off. So I accepted Pavia offer of a noob vs noob battle.

Long time watcher may remember that my trademark was an aggressive diplo game in SC: War in europe (so much so that if the diplo aspect as been nerfed towards majors compared to war in europe... you might have me to thank for). This monkey is too old to learn new tricks so I'll be bringing the same strategy back to see if its still viable post-nerf.

So sit back and enjoy the unbridled disaster of two noob flailing at each other.

You can also catch the war from Pavia Point of view in his youtube series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... QFGU6Uqsyi

[KorutZelva]

Turn 1 - Asia

Chinese and Japanese force duke it out, Chinese retreat in the north but raid an airfield in the center.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 1 - Europe

In Poland, the poles punish german overagression by cutting the supplies of the germany units approaching Warsaw. The situation is hopeless but Germany may be delayed one extra turn to re-established supplies. Poland sold its plane to buy a diplo chit... I considered buying another one by selling the southern army but ultimately I preferred marching it to Presov to cut supplies.

[Pavia]

Pavia from its operational base in Spain.

I look out just to say hello and thank KorutZelva for the chance to play this game. I am sure that I will enjoy the change, and that, although I suspect that my opponent will achieve victory, it will be an interesting battle.

Thank you very much KorutZelva

[KorutZelva]

Turn 2, Poland falls on schedule. Germany brushed any supply issues and just blasted the Warsaw garrison without much problem. Made my first big mistake in letting India enter the war at its own pace... Forgot I could only use its diplochits once it was belligerent. Doh!

800mpp were invested in Diplo by the allies so far.

[BaggieMania]

Always fun to watch a new AAR, and dont be intimidated by some of those guys in the other AARs, they are out of reach to most of us But I have managed to pick a few tricks here and there from them.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 3 - I'm realizing how one-sided the benefit are of the India declaration of war are. Now that its mobilization is stuck at 25% the Indian convoy sends a paltry 8mpp. Wow... and all I get is an understrength army?? Feeling gipped here... German massing along the French-Belgian border... hostility seems imminent, let's hope for bad weather.

German subs have been busy in the atlantic with the UK and french navy hot on their tail. They have took some damage but have evaded destruction so far.

In Asia the Nanning path holds. Supplies are poor for the Japanese at that location and so far no air support was provided for this push during the last turn.

[The Land]

ORIGINAL: KorutZelva

Turn 2, Poland falls on schedule. Germany brushed any supply issues and just blasted the Warsaw garrison without much problem.

Yeah, from this position the HQ on Lodz will stop the group south of Warsaw suffering from low supply, plus nothing will stop the panzers approaching from the NW. Plenty of strikes to eliminate Warsaw.

Good luck with the AAR!

[KorutZelva]

Turn 5 - December 1939. All is quiet on the western front. Allied command predict hostilities will only resume in March. Churchill lobbying of the USA finally pays dividend, and the USA moves 5% towards the allies. Roosevelt talks of implementing lend-lease in the coming months. Axis had not invested in diplomacy at all so far (perhaps waiting to see if the target of the diplomatic pressure was the USSR or the USA) we will see if they jump into the fray now. Unchecked I will bring up USA chances of getting swayed to 50% next turn. (Could have been 60% with India!!!!)

In Asia Japan hammers the mountain tile next to chengsha. Nanning front holds and the Japanese offensive have petered out there. Attempts to bring the carrier force to bear on the theater there were unfruitful. Chinese airforce have not been involved past the first few weeks of fighting.

[KorutZelva]

ORIGINAL: The Land

ORIGINAL: KorutZelva

Turn 2, Poland falls on schedule. Germany brushed any supply issues and just blasted the Warsaw garrison without much problem.

Yeah, from this position the HQ on Lodz will stop the group south of Warsaw suffering from low supply, plus nothing will stop the panzers approaching from the NW. Plenty of strikes to eliminate Warsaw.

Good luck with the AAR!

Sadly! It had rained on Pavia's turn too!

[KorutZelva]

Turn 6 - Jan 1940

Japan narrowly destroys chengsha mountain corp, it is replaced. Carriers take damage trying to wither down Nanning corps. It stays undamaged.

No diplo-movement from the Axis. USA stays still.

Pictures from the front, the Phony War Colorized.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 7 - Feb 1940

Seven turns in... only one diplohit even while not being contested. That's... some bad luck. I'm behind at least 2 hits from average now. Better get three in a row to make up for it.

Chinese forces stop contesting the path to Chengsha.

Things have been quiet the past few turns in the battle of the Atlantic, convoy lanes have been restored.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 8, March 1940

Winter does overtime but Hitler is tired to wait so he orders the troops forward however Dutch and Belgium troops holds on. French implement the Plan Dyle and move behind the river. Too bad France doesn't have more mmp on hand to refit the benelux!
In the East, Germans stick to the original molotov-ribbentrop agreement and move into Lithuania. Anglo-French reinforced the Finns and the Russians are forced to settle with a white peace.

No USA DIPLOHIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Normally I wouldn't reinforce the finns for fear that it would set back russian mobilization but:
-My diplo investment made me short on units, I need hardware now now now.
-Figured it was a good way to show a true newbie experience for a noob vs noob contest.
-Most importantly I was pretty tilted about my lack of diploluck... figured the game owe me some luck. Turns out it doesn't work like that.

The silver lining is that Germany moved into Lithuania witch will make its mobilization break out even. It also starts another diplofire. USA fully pressure, Spain unmoved and finland pro-allies, won't be possible to fix everything.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 9 - Late March, 1940

Germans finally break through dutch and belgian defenses and start probing the french lines.

In the norvegian sea two german subs try to escape from the royal navy, under 5 supply and the combined UK and French navy on their tails

While I've been dealing with my own bad luck (speaking of which, still no USA diplohit this turn, Bill is there a "Anti-KZ diplo" code in the latest patch? ), Pavia has been dealing with bad luck himself in the weather department. After snow, now autumn rain in the spring, silencing the luftwaffe. (was there changes to the west europe weather pattern compared to SC war in europe?)

[Pavia]

Pavia from its operational base
What a disaster my first turn of the invasion of the Benelux.
I hope it is not an impossible bill to pay.
By the way, if you want to put the link to my youtube channel, as a complement to your splendid AAR (which I'm not reading, jjj) no problem.

I am really enjoying the game with you.

[KorutZelva]

ORIGINAL: Pavia

Pavia from its operational base
What a disaster my first turn of the invasion of the Benelux.
I hope it is not an impossible bill to pay.
By the way, if you want to put the link to my youtube channel, as a complement to your splendid AAR (which I'm not reading, jjj) no problem.

I am really enjoying the game with you.

Fun game! Very much off cookie-cutter script!

I edited the first message with a link to youtube channel but people might have missed it. So here's a reminder! See the war from the Pavia-Axis point of view. A must for you spanish speaking wargamers out there!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... QFGU6Uqsyi

[Pavia]

I edited the first message with a link to youtube channel but people might have missed it. So here's a reminder! See the war from the Pavia-Axis point of view. A must for you spanish speaking wargamers out there!

Many thanks.
It is a pleasure to play with you.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 10 - April 1940

Chengsha is evacuated. Japan offensives are concentrated in the south and the other fronts are quiet. China maxed diplo and tech spendings and now are finally starting to buy units.

Norway is conquered, Denmark I'm not sure... did it join via decision or get conquered? I missed that detail. Skirmishes with subs in the norwegian sea, but all three subs have avoided destruction so far.

Germany has to push without the cover of the Luftwaffe due to bad weather, they clear the two french units facing brussels but gets a fair share of causalities in the process, new units will need to be rotated in to maintain the offensive. With the main german push coming from Belgium, the Maginot is abandoned in East to protect the path to Paris. War is declared on Yugoslavia. Italy joins. French and english navies are in position to blockade Lybia's ports.

It finally happened! USA diplohit +8%! Lend-lease starts.

[KorutZelva]

Turn 11 - May 1940

Breakthrough through the Ardennes but head south rather than West leaving the northern half of the Maginot isolated. Wounded UK corp withdraws in good order. One sub finally sunk. Yugo raid Albania, Mussolini loses face. USA stays pat.

China makes selected counter-attacks hoping to train their HQs a bit.

[KorutZelva]

Situation in Asia