Magicmissile (Axis) vs Harrybanana (Allied) No HB for now :)

[MagicMissile]

Ok for several reason I am doing some more AARs.

1) Since Harrybanana is doing one as well readers can get both perspectives.
2) To show how things have changed with the new rules
3) Some more stats for the BoA

I realise readers will get 2 and 3 from HBs AAR but anyway [:)].

I wont make it superdetailed as I do that with my other games vs ComadrejaKorp

Screenshot after turn 2.

Luxemburg turn 1 and Poland and Denmark turn 2. Probably more people have seen this but if you move the northern armour maximum move on turn 1 to the west it can reach Copenhagen on the hex in turn 2. Poland now when one can use more airforce should always fall on turn 2 it feels like.

Next thing I am considering is Norway on turn 3. You can land and have air and HQ support so should work. My only problem is I have never liked to take Norway there are more reason now than before but still. All those merchants to Britain it hurts [:)].

Can also mention that my submarines did not find a single convoy. Did not take any losses and did not inflict any not the best start for them but it is a long way yet.

[MagicMissile]

September 29 1939

I did take Norway in the end. Mostly because I want to try the air raiders new rule later in the game.

And a nice day at work for the subs [:)]. 70-0 in Axis favour so far see if I have the energy to keep track [:)].

And now go to sleep see you in the Spring 1940.

[MagicMissile]

A bit of a funny situation. The French navy sailed and unfortunately sunk the Deutschland but when Norway surrendered a minefield appeared so now the whole french fleet is trapped. I will use it for target practice [:)]. Will cost some air to sink it all but feels a bit gamey just to leave them.

[kennonlightfoot]

I noticed this possibility of getting trapped by the mine field but I wasn't sure of the timing. Did the mine field appear instantly (on same turn that Germany takes Oslo) or on the next German turn? In other words, was there any way for the Allied fleets to leave the area when they saw Oslo taken?

[malkarma]

They appear as soon as Norway is conquered. Since the conquer take effect at the end of the axis turn, the allies naval units will always be trapped there.

[MagicMissile]

May 24 1940

With my nice games with ComadrejaKorp coming to an end these games with HB will now be main AARs.

We are at May 1940.

In summary

I have taken Norway HB did not.
I lost 20 airpoints to sink the French fleet. HB have no similar losses
My subs are doing a lot worse than his German subs are.
We have both realised you actually dont need to take the Netherlands any longer you can do that later.
None of us got any cold in Marcha and April but I got rain in May HB did not.

So in conclusion comparing the two games HBs bad boys are doing slightly better than mine so far. But absolutely not by a game changing difference. I also thought and HB commented the same that we seem to have a fairly similar playstyle.

Losses so far pretty light but that will end now when I have to try and get through hordes of allied units in hopefully no more than 4-5 turns. We will see if it can be done.

As maybe can be seen I have changed my build a little bit. I have tried to copy ComadrejaKorp and I have 9 mobile corps instead of the 6 I usually have. And I have not built any airunits.

My plan for the game is I will not do anything special after France. I will only build subs and mobile units skip airplanes and I will attack the Sovietunion with 18 mobile units 13 German and 5 Italian. Need to try something new and I want to see if the Axis can support oilwise such a force and will they or will they not stomp the Red Army.

[MagicMissile]

June 21 1940

I make slow and steady progress and advance on a broad front. Trying to not make too many mistakes. This turn I shattered a British corps. Always make me happpy I hate British units in France . My mech unit have stumbled on the UK mech reserves I hope it will live to see another day. If there is no para I think it will but you never know [:)]. The 9 mech works fine I think you can rotate out units that get a bit tired and let the recover a bit.

The allied air is doing good. All my fighters were around 100 effectiveness still lost like 3:2 against French air I dont understand it. Possibly if they were 41 tech mine are still 40 tech. Anyway not seen such bad results, shame on the Luftwaffe [:)].

[MagicMissile]

July 5 1940

France will surrender next turn. Fighting for Paris was hard. I also lost my mech corps to a shatter. A bit annoying as it was in perfect shape and had I though ample retreat room but HB got it somehow. I hope my 4 strength arm corps will survive this turn. But try to kill it would be costly for any British unit as the French will disappear next turn.

[MagicMissile]

July 19 1940

France falls. The British leave. I follow to make sure they actually leave [:)]. I turn some units towards the Netherlands and rail some to Italy.

Some comments about the French campaign in these two games and in general.

* The campaigns in these two games almost identical outcomes. The Germans in both games lost 1 mech corps to a shatter result. The German losses are very similar as well. Both had a fairly big British commitment but not as all in as one can do.

* But HB have done better as he has achieved the same German losses but smaller losses to his allied. I will lose 3 British inf corps and HB lost 1 might be 2 but it is doubtful. But UK losses in both cases not that bad.

* In the air I got outfought as well. I have never seen the allies shoting down 2:1. I had only 4 fighters (usually have 6) in this game but they were pumped on supply trucks. I know in the first round I lost and I think that started a snowball effect as my units were probably at lower strength than his also my units were on 1940 tech possibly the British had 1941. In the other game though my allies are also being shoot down to 2:1 so can I blame only bad luck or am I doing soemthing wrong or HB something right that is the question [:)]

* But this is a bit interesting. Despite me losing in the airwar my losses are still smaller or similar to many other games I have played. That is because before the allied had 2 chances to contest the German airforce in 39 over the Netherlands and 40 over Belgium/France. But now with no Netherlands in 1939 there is only one campaign to fight in the air. So Germany will most likely take lower losses in general than before. Which ties in to the balance discussion that not allowing the Netherlands to be taken in 1939 might actually lead to a stronger Germany going east in 41.

*And as many probably already have understood there is now no reason to go into the Netherlands at all. You can do that after France is gone.

What is not good for me is that HBs British are doing really well no land no air losses and my subs are really doing so so so Britain will probably be strong early in this game and that is obviosusly bad news [:)].

[MagicMissile]

July 19 1940

And in Egypt the Italians roll in. I am mostly posturing but the Egypt garrison does not seem to be completely ready so there might be a small opening. I railed 2 arm corps to Italy to use in Africa possibly.

[ncc1701e]

I count 5 arm and 4 mech in May 1940. How are you doing this miracle? Are you disbanding some inf corps after Poland?

[MagicMissile]

It is easier then its ever been now I would say since German losses in 39 are a lot lower than before. You dont need to disband anything. Set replacment to 0 and on turn 2 build 1 arm corps on turn 3 after taking Poland set all inf into garrison mode you should have enough to build 2 arm corps. After that since your production is like 200 every 3 turns you can build 2 mech every 3 turns. When those 7 units are built you can spend it on other stuff subs an airunit maybe buy supplytrucks and as spring gets closer reactivate all the garrisoned units. You can even continue producing mobile units so maybe have 10 in May and 11 in June. Of course you wont buy any air and maybe no subs in that case.

[ncc1701e]

Thanks, now that the Netherlands is not on turn 2 anymore, I will try this with the new beta coming with Russian changes.

[MagicMissile]

September 27 1940

I invaded and conquered Yugoslavia. Otherwise playing very passive. No Vichy no Egypt. My only goal is to see if my 18 mech army can inflict enough damage on the Soviets next summer.

BoA have started to bite a bit but HB got so many merchants from Norway and other countries so a lot more have to go down before there will be any trouble for him.

[MagicMissile]

September 27 1940

And in Egypt standoff for now.