Initiative .. Strat .. Econ .. Pol and Military

[IrishGuards]

Initiative .. When palying a Strategic .. Economic .. and Political and Military Game ....
First the weakness is political in CEaW ... no ramifications of DoW's ..
Then again the Axis never really DoWs many of the countries it invaded in the early stages of the War.. Historically
Sphere of Influence had a huge impact on majors and minors aligning .. And defending incursions into neutrals .. nay for long neutral .. [:D]
Spain or Turkey .. np ..
Subs attacking Cv's in port .. Prein is on the loose in the Med ..
OOB set ..
Sept 1, 1939 ..
In order to be offensive .. and not just react .. and it is true most Wargamers would say I am offensive .. [;)]
Axis must seize the initiative .. this is a must .. [8|]
No choice .. how you choose to go about it is another matter ...
And then most Wargamers who know me would say I am very offensive ,,, [:'(]
IDG

[firepowerjohan]

For some, diplomacy is the most fun part in the game and for others they just want the war setup and go out fight without diplomatic actions turning the whole war. It was a design decision so I would not see it as a flaw. I think it is great that we get more WW2 games to choose from and with slightly with different focus. Those who wants to make history and want more diplomatic what-ifs can do that and those who want a fair and square competetive game vs another human can have that as well. For the future we are planning to include more diplomatic options to suit both kinds of player and best is if it is optional so game plays well both with or without [:)]

Still, the current rules of the game with oil and manpower means it is in fact a cost invading something so any special penalty would simply be too much. For example, I rarely see Spain get invaded in Human vs Human games despite its large production base and even Sweden seems to be let alone most of the times. Another point is that invading a country is sometimes tough and weakens your effort elsewhere. Move your air to support invasion of Sweden or Spain and you will see yourself being stalled in Egypt or losing the Battle of Britain. For Axis, it is very hard already to expand.

[IrishGuards]

[;)]

[Stryder]

as the axis, the lack of oil is a huge deal... it affects what units you build, what pieces you move 1st (if you are low on oil), and has on occasion stalled my whole invasion of Russia... The Russian AI defends Rostov very well in the games I have played and I have not gotten oil in the Caucasus's in 42 yet..have better luck coming through the Middle East... I don't miss the lack of politics at all... most WWII games with politics just mean it is one more thing that needs to be tweaked or is something for people to complain about.. that's why I am glad Asia/pacific was left out of game.... it becomes too much for me to focus on (game is less fun) and not an AI on earth can manage a good challenge for a game of that scale and this level of detail.(IMHO)

[targul]

ORIGINAL: jfarber

as the axis, the lack of oil is a huge deal... it affects what units you build, what pieces you move 1st (if you are low on oil), and has on occasion stalled my whole invasion of Russia... The Russian AI defends Rostov very well in the games I have played and I have not gotten oil in the Caucasus's in 42 yet..have better luck coming through the Middle East... I don't miss the lack of politics at all... most WWII games with politics just mean it is one more thing that needs to be tweaked or is something for people to complain about.. that's why I am glad Asia/pacific was left out of game.... it becomes too much for me to focus on (game is less fun) and not an AI on earth can manage a good challenge for a game of that scale and this level of detail.(IMHO)

I am surprised I have NEVER run out of oil. Seems unlimited to my Germans.

So far game runs okay without Politics but someone will surely come up with some way to screw it up simply because there are no political reprecussions to insanity.

[targul]

Found a flaw with the lack of politics. 
 
It is Oct 41 and I am finally ready to invade Russia.  But why?  I can wait until 42 build, bypass the first winter, and since they cant augment there troops until they are active they will be weaker while I invade with much superior troops and many more. 
 
I am going to give this a try.  Had I known the Soviets do not activate until you invade I would have invaded England there was nothing to stop me.  No Russian hoards at me back. 
 
I am just going to build and watch Invasion will start immediately after winter unless they actually do something before.
 
It also means I should have sent some fast German's to run across the desert and into Russia oil field on round one of the assualt since the Allies just sit in Egypt until you attack and then they sit there until they are dead. 

[IrishGuards]

3 or 4 turns after June 22 ... Russia will DoW Axis ..
And if you have ever been to the oil fields in the Middlle East ,,,, Arm costs a fortune in Oil .. and you don't need em .. Mot and Inf .. maybe w leader ..
And it takes a very long time ..[X(]
IDG

[targul]

Dang it November came and the Russians went to war well least they didnt attack but I surely will.

[targul]

January 28, 1942 Port Said falls to a purely Italian campaign in Africa.  Italian ships are now moving to the Atlantic.  3 armies move to Beirut to clear that nest of of evil.
 
Remaining Italians will begin to return to Albania for the attack on Greece.

[targul]

May 8th and end of winter.  Russian winter is a piece of cake for the Axis once more.  They capture up to Smolenski after there late start. 
 
Allies have made a landing in France with 4 armies so far.  I brought 3 fighters and 2 motorized infantry to contend with the problem.  The Allies landing is faltering.  No supply and an inability to capture a port is leaving them stranded.  It is nice when the try to bring there battered Navy up gives me added targets for my land based fighters.
 
These battle hardened fighter are destroying the Allied fighters.  I normally lose 1 air to there 4.  They try but they are seriously outmatched. 
 
Italian fleet is steam toward France and should be able to engage is 3 more turns have to stop a turn in France for upgrades of surface ships.
 
 

[Vypuero]

Targul - are you just beating up on the poor AI?  What difficulty level?  I don't think anything you mention is an issue.

[targul]

ORIGINAL: Vypuero

Targul - are you just beating up on the poor AI?  What difficulty level?  I don't think anything you mention is an issue.

No I am not beating up on the AI. I think the AI is doing well. This AI thing started when the British docked each and every ship of there Atlantic fleet in Hague. As they landed them my land units killed them. I considered that strange behavior and thought it was a problem with the AI.

But as I have continued the game waiting for the AI to dock each ship turn after turn resulted in a tremdous delay on getting into France which delayed Russia.

What does appear strange is even though I invaded Russia in the Winter of 41 it still resulted in me being at about the same place as I would have been had I simply left the English Navy live.

This game is at the +2 for the Allies. Last game was at +1 and that one I defeated easily.

I intend play one game at each level to max for each side and see how it fairs.

No way to test the differences without playing them and seeing what it does.

But I also believe when the AI does something very strange like docking each of there ships at the Hague as I kill them eachtime it should be metioned to the developers so they can see if that was intended or should be tweaked to do something different.

Far as I know that was intended by them. I must say it sort of worked since they seem to have alot of that navy back in 42.

The one thing I will say about there AI is it is second best out there that I have played. If they get the med and africa working it could potential be the best available.

[YohanTM2]

Why would a human not take Spain?
 
You want to walk into Vichy anyway. Use only INF and Air and it does not cost you much oil.
 
Thinking Sweden is also an easy target, gonna work on that.
 
 

[targul]

Spain actually has a good size army.  It can easily be supported by British troops.  I was playing IDG and he took it is one game but I really didnt see where the reward was worth the cost.
 
But he then didnt have time for Yugoslavia or Greece so more difficult fight with same or less reward.

[IrishGuards]

Nay .. thats crap .. I took Yugo ... Greece .. nay wanted it ....
And as I remember .. thats when you made a post about being cut off from supply in Spain w at least 3 UK corps ... when Spain surrendered ... You could have help a port or city and decided not to I guess ...[:'(]
And what did I gain ... [:)]
6 PP or so per turn .. from late 40 to the end of the game this is huge .. and the losses inflicted on UK ... 3 or 4 corps .. not cheap .. and whatever the Uk sunk into reinforcing the Spanish Units ...
Besides that the most important outcome ... Trying to throw the Uk off for a bit .. and having a very good understanding of where your UK fleet was in the Med .. [:D]
IDG

[targul]

Sorry IDG you did not attack Yugoslavia or Greece. Which I understood since you where running later then I think you like. I also thought the points received points vs cost of time and units was not worthwhile compared to the ease of taking Yugoslavia.

What really surprised me was that you didnt attack Gibralta which I thought was your objective.

As to the loss of the British units had I known supply disappeared those would not have been lost. But didnt have a rulebook so I was running on normal games not the way this game works.

None of which mattered since you won easily. Russia just laid down and died.

BTW, I am finding the Russians have been improved in this patch significantly. The players in the games I am in are having a much more difficult time there. No one has taken Moscow yet. Pleaty of battles in the area but no collapses.

[IrishGuards]

What really surprised me was that you didnt attack Gibralta which I thought was your objective. ... From the high sorcerer .. to the knave IDG .. [&o]

Thats exactly what that exercise was all about ... you thought that I had this goal and had to commit troops ...

It's called strategy .. and Yes I did take Yugo .. Not Greece though ... I calls this selective memory ... [X(]
IDG

[targul]

Now you took Yugo and not Greece last post you took both.

Make up your mind I havent changed mine.

[IrishGuards]

U C but do not observe Obi-Wan .. Methinks yee should check agin ..
On both counts ... 1st thing I know .. In all the games I have played ... So far ... [:'(]

As Axis I have never attacked Greece ... Why bother .. 3 PP a turn and a whole lotta crap to deal with .... If Italy nay hold Aegean .. and this is a limited tactical DoW on a minor .. Its not like WiE .. Nay Para .. Crete .. ???

That I get a permanent transport in the Aeg .. when I conq Greece .. But .. I like it when The Allies must git to Italy ...
Take NAfr .. np .. 3 PP loss for Italy .. for what 2 inf corps and the 2nd best Italian land unit in game ... Nay .. 4 PP to ship em out ...
Egypt is was and always be .. Strategic .. Malta .. Gib .. Of course .. It's how you portray them that counts .. In this games terms ..
So unless they give the keel's laid for the Lottorio class BB's and allow lending resources to the Axis in this game also ... [:)]
So maybe wee C a Italian CV .. ever .. labs also ... instead of subs .. ???? [:D]
I C a very big problem with Italy ..
It's Napoleonics .. deny your center .. right .. left ..
IDG

[IrishGuards]

Irish was here .. [:'(]
IDG