Shattered Empires 1914, Entente vs Central Powers PO

[gwgardner]

Raindem's Shattered Empires 1914 WW1 scenario, in his description "Shattered Empires covers WWI start to finish. It deals with the European and Near Eastern theaters at 10k/hex, bi-weekly turns. Units are at the divisional level, grouped into corps sized formations. With lots of units and 116 Turns"

[gwgardner]

Turn 3
Aug 29th 1914

Germans driving through Belgium, have bypassed and invested Namur and Charleroi. Their cavalry probes drove the BEF cavalry out of Arras.

Cavalry are out on both sides as probes and screens.

The BEF perhaps advanced too far initially and will have to regroup, covering the shattered French 5th Armee's flank.

[gwgardner]

The entire French - Belgian front is shattered, truth be told, and a general fallback is ordered.

[gwgardner]

The French right is in the best order, with the 2nd, 1st and 9th all in danger of being flanked but with somewhat cohesive lines, but will have to fall back to cover the French left, and attempt to plug the growing gaps.

Mobilization continues, and 18 more French and 4 British infantry divisions are expected to be available by late September, plus cavalry and artillery, and logistical support.

[gwgardner]

On the Serbian front, the Austrians have probed eastward from Loznica, but withdrawn back to their original positions, after meeting resistance from the Serb 2nd Army. The Belgrade front has so far seen only artillery duels.

[gwgardner]

Eastern Front

Mobilization is the keyword in the East. All of August has been taken up mustering troops and moving them primarily by rail to the front. Cavalry probes all along the front, by both sides, little actual combat otherwise.

Samsonov's 2nd Army has seen the most action so far, probing into East Prussia towards Soldau and Orelburg.

[gwgardner]

after Central Powers turn 8
Dec 7

The Central Powers PO has exerted it's entire effort in West so far, approaching to within 30 miles of the eastern outskirts of Paris. The French 3rd and 4th Armies were shattered in September, allowing a rapid German cavalry probe towards Paris, but that was beaten back rather handily by French cavalry and newly mobilized infantry.

After bringing forward its infantry, the Germans renewed their offensive against a newly formed French 6th Army, which has come to the aid of the now very weak 3rd and 4th Armies. The enemy has again approached to within 30 miles of Paris from the east, but French recon does not show a strong German line to back up the most advanced units.

On the Eastern Front, neither the Germans or Austrians have made any serious offensive effort. The Russian Army is advancing cautiously all along the borders.

[gwgardner]

...

[gwgardner]

The BEF established a strong position along the Somme, but the Germans have just pushed across on the left flank.

[gwgardner]

The Ottoman Empire declared war against the Entente in late October, and immediately the British Indian 1st Corps began an advance towards Basra.

[gwgardner]

British cavalry has quickly advanced to the border of Egypt with Palestine, and into Iran towards Tehran.

[gwgardner]

Serbia continues to entrench, expecting an Austrian offensive. So far there has been no sign of Austrian troop movements towards the border, beyond the initial probes.

[gwgardner]

Russian 1st and 2nd Armies are pushing into East Prussia, clearing the frontier defenses. 1st Army has met scattered and unsupported German 8th Army probes. The German PO has yet to organize any discernable offensive strength there.

[gwgardner]

Along the Austrian frontier, much the same story. The 9th Army has moved impressively towards Lemberg. Elsewhere, border guards are being cleared, and Russian forces are advancing along roads, securing supply lines.

[player note: I have used the Russian cavalry to advance deep into enemy territories, in the East, cutting rail lines, probing for enemy concentrations. I suggest a house rule, which I have not followed unfortunately, to somehow restrict such deep cavalry raids. I'm afraid any PO offensive efforts are going to be seriously hampered by RR destruction.]

[gwgardner]

Overall, 4 months into the war, the Central Powers PO has done a respectable job in the West, and very poor in the East. I'm guessing the PO tracks will shift to the East at some point soon.

One thing I wonder about is the infantry movement points. In a two-week turn, I can move an infantry division four or five hundred miles overland. Similarly, the British cavalry have moved halfway to Tehran in one turn, from the Persian Gulf. I have done no studies of the historical movements, so really don't know if these types of movements are realistic, or should be reduced, or should merit a house rule.

[rhinobones]

Overall, 4 months into the war, the Central Powers PO has done a respectable job in the West, and very poor in the East. I'm guessing the PO tracks will shift to the East at some point soon.

It’s been a while since I was in contact with Raindem regarding test of Shattered Empires, but at that time he was not intending to build a PO opponent. The scenario is just too complex. With the version you are playing has he incorporated a viable Central Powers PO?

Regards

[gwgardner]

Yes, PO for both sides, but the Central Powers is said to be better. I'm expecting the hammer to come down in the East once the West stabilizes.

[gwgardner]

After playing another turn, and then pausing to take a look at the Central Powers position, I've concluded that the TOAW PO system is simply not up to the task of reasonably managing such a big scenario. It's December, Namur is still not taken. No rail repair into Belgium beyond Namur, masses of German infantry in Bavaria and the Rhineland, but not near the front. A bare Eastern Front. No action on the Austrian fronts, Serbia or Russia.

I admire the work that went into the scenario, and imagine it would be great multiplayer, but I just don't want to play multiplayer at this point, and playing against the PO is little more than undefended attacking. Same experience I had against the PO for the Eastern Front scenario.

I don't want to denigrate the scenarios. If I could delete these AAR attempts at solo play against the PO, I would. My bad.

[Raindem]

Just checking to make sure you started the scenario with a Central Powers PO selected in the new game dialog. There are Turn 1 events that make certain adjustments for a PO game. If you start the game hotseat, and then switch to PO, it won't play correctly.

[gwgardner]

Yes, I started with the PO selected for the Central Powers.