9-player Diplomacy - Italian AAR

[Barthheart]

The Great War has begun. It is both a terrible and exciting prospect. Such carnage to be done, such rewards to be won.

The mighty Italian Army (don't laugh [:-]) has begun to gear up and already has lashed out.

With our allies at our back (hopefully) we will march forward in to history.

Il Duce.


(Thus begins my Italian AAR for the 9 player PBEM game we just started. I will rty to remember to take pictures and post the goings on and thinking behind my actions. If your are in this game please read no further or it will spoil the game. If you are not please feel free to comment but don't give me any hints, however small, on the actions of the other players if they choose to do an ARR as well. And I really hope they do as it will give everyone watching a good idea of the intermeshing of strategies among a large and varied group.)

[03_walk_alot]

The mighty Italian Army ...you bet!!!
Don't you know............ Italian tanks are king of battlefield!!

In the Abyssinian war in 1935...[:)]

[JAMiAM]

Hi Vance,

I wish I could have gotten in on this game, but with my own time constraints (especially around this time of the year) I couldn't. Best of luck and have fun!

I don't know about the current diplomatic maneuvering behind the scenes, but I thought that I would point out that Munich is somewhat isolated from the rest of Germany in this scenario, as it does not have a rail (road) path back to the rest of the country. Whether you use this to your advantage or not, it would be worth noting...[;)]

Other observations are that the corner players have a tremendous advantage over the interior players. Turkey, in particular. It might be a good idea to strike up as best a coalition of interior powers as you can. If you don't stab Germany early, then an Axis of Germany, Italy, and Balkans, might be able to keep the corner players from gobbling them up too easily. France is particularly exposed, so they might be tempted into joining such an alliance, but this would leave you at a disadvantage in terms of expansion.

Damn...I really, really, REALLY, wish I could have played this. Maybe next year another will start and I can get in on some multi-player action...

My own preferences would have been for the peaceful start condition though as that would give everyone a chance to build a little, redeploy, and conduct some more intensive diplomacy before the bullets started flying.

[Barthheart]

Turn 1

Our diplomat has returned from Germany with a signed agreement so at least the Northern border is secure for now. The Army wanted to make a quick grab at Munich, but Supreme Command thought there was more advantage to having an ally at our back. (Jamiam, thought about it [;)])

Other diplomats have been sent to the Balkans ,to secure our right flank, and to Spain to discuss the "France" stituation. Preliminary reports show quite favourable responses to our offers. If each of Germany and the Balkans can secure a peace with additional "corner" nations we may be able to survive the first convulsions of war.

Our first stike was to try and take a bridge in southern France to slow done supplies ands troops. Our planes however, choose the wrong side of the bridge and ended up bombing a port facility with the French Navy at anchor. The AAA from the Navy downed several of our planes. The bridge was not destroyed. A complete failure. The mistaken strike leadere was one of the planes shot done so he has had his punishment. (Short version: I screwed up [:'(]) Not as grand a beginning as I'd hoped.......

Il Duce

[Vic]

Not as grand a beginning as I'd hoped.......

Il Duce

 
haha
sounds eerily familair.

[JAMiAM]

Another thing that I noticed about this scenario is that the Corps that start the game have Supply set at 0%. I was checking out the scenario by doing some solo with Turkey, and couldn't figure out why, despite producing plenty of supplies, several of my units inexplicably ground to a halt a few turns into the game. It took a few turns at 100% supply before they recovered. Be forewarned and check your unit's supply ratings.

[Barthheart]

Yeah, I've noticed that too....[&:]

[Barthheart]

It seems I have the attention of the French.[;)] Well that is what I wanted. I hope this will help the Spanish to the south. This turn was more organizational in nature. Positioning units and HQ’s. The Regia Marina puts to sea. A battleship group shells the French coast in combination with an air-strike… more successful than the last one. (southern purple circle) Our subs and destroyers position to cause supply loses to French NF.

Blocking forces in place in the north and Fenchies shelled near Geneva (northern purple circle) Red line marks mainline of advance. Blue line is shift of blocking (new unit) and main attack forces.

Also, small engineering team created. May use it to build new road through French Alps south of Geneva for easier access to French wine country.[8D]

NF forces continue to reinforce the Libyan borders. Also NF HQ release to own control This means no supplies/units from mainland, produced in Tunis, so no problem with AS.

Production this turn was mostly supply and Aeronautica Militare replacements. I think I’ll try a couple of turns of PP to get to Rifle II just for some extra kick when the main attack begins.

Diplomats return form Spain and Balkans with signed peace treaties. Scandinavian diplomat arrives and requests peace with Il Duce. Not sure of the motive or benefit but we agree… for now…..

[Barthheart]

ORIGINAL: Vic

Not as grand a beginning as I'd hoped.......

Il Duce

haha
sounds eerily familair.

Hi Vic... no peeking![:-]

[Barthheart]

Things are going better than expected. French fleet sails and kills both of my DD in the Med….. sad but acceptable, they have done their job as lures. Battleship shore bombardment followed by land assaults destroys French unit in southern purple circle, then we march into Marseille and destroy 4 cargo ships!!! [X(] Artillery and air strike reduce unit in bulls-eye. Other units maneuver for further incursions into France.
Now we really need the Spanish and Germans to do their part in the dismemberment of France…..

Soon Italian scientists will make equipment breakthrough and we will have superior troops than the pitiful French…

Italian NA troops cross Libyan borders in both directions hoping to catch France and England by surprise! Fortune favours the bold!!!!

Diplomat sent to Turkey in hopes of peace after Egypt falls.

Il Duce

[Barthheart]

More stunning success against France!! Geneva is under Italian rule! National celabrations have begun!
Also success as sea! The French fleet attacks our navy and limps away with a bloody nose!

A large encirclement has now begun....

[Barthheart]

Production for the up coming season...

[Barthheart]

This time was spent consolidating our gains. French made was weak attacks to get out of the pocket but to no avail. OUr forces were able to push back or destroy many French units. That is the good news....

On the calm surface of the Mediterranean Sea a fierce naval battle took place of the south coast of France. Alas our mighty navy took the worst of it losing 2 ships to his one..... major restructuring is underway in both the makeup and tactical training of the navy.... As a small nation we cannot afford such failures....

Il Duce

[Barthheart]

Some stats... everyone loves stats. And right now they seem to be in our favour.

Il Duce

[Barthheart]

.....
......

Hey! What happend?!? How did I get this beard during a short afternoon nap?!? Time Warp?!?

Anyway... with all our troops disoriented by the time distortion we deside to take this time to re-organize and consolidate our gains. Some French stragglers are pushed across/into the river near Geneva. Some others are being chased around the Alps for sport.

Speaking of sport! We've started to hunt down the last of the French Navy in the Med. Soon we will have a "lake" big enough to get the Andria Doria up to water-skiing speed!

Congrats are offered to the Spainish leader for his fine gains in French soil. And to the Germans, for successfully pushing the Brits back into the sea from wence they came. Maybe they will get the hint to stay on their own grubby little island and off our fine continent!

No photos of the grand Italian Armed Forces at work at this time because of sensitive operations underway.

Il Duce

[Barthheart]

What a fine day!

After the cruching of resistance under the mighty Italian boot in Lyon, Tunis, Sfax and the Alps the ..... no wait .... to harsh...

After the liberation of Lyon, Tunis, Sfax by the friendly Italian Armed Forces (yeah that's it), a small pocket of French resister was rounded up and .... moved (yeah) to other locals as yet undertermined.

The last French BB was sunk in the Med.

Now begins the armoured dagger thrust up into the heart of France.... wait... too harsh again....

Now begins the Great Freedom Campaign where the benevolant Italian troops bring true greatness to the poor French peasants.

Il Duce.

[Barthheart]

Nothing to show today as there are secret plans afoot..... to be revealed next turn!

Spain and ourselves are in a race for Paris. Attcked and destroyed a large number of French troops.... they seem to be having supply problems...[;)]

Il Duce

EDIT: OK, a small shot of the Race for Paris!

[Barthheart]

Ahhhhhh...... Paris in spring...... the sweet smell of cordite and burning buildings...... wonderful sounds of artillery and tanks rumbling in the meadows....

Soon the last of the French resistance will be no more!

Il Duce

[Barthheart]

In North Africa the Italian Army sets out to remake the Roman Empire with a lightening assault across the Lybian-Egyptian frontier! We shall free the poor Egyptian people form the British oppressors!

And maybe continue on into the Middle East.....

Il Duce

[Barthheart]

The Spanish have taken Paris... and given us 80 PP in compensation for letting them get there first. Not a bad deal for now...

In NA the British having an entry point in Alexandera is causing some delays in the liberation of the Egyptian People...... but it will be done!

Il Duce