Eastern Storm: Carnage (A) vs. Baelfiin (R)

[CarnageINC]

I've decided to start another game, this one is with Baelfiin. Again, being an 'Axis Fanboy', I'm the Axis powers against the 'evil' Soviet Empire. This game will most likely have a slow pace than the game with Redmarkus. Red's game is the priority due to being first on the dance card [;)].

There are no house rules to this game due to the newest patch taking care of most issues that have arrisen. I look forward to playing Baelfiin. May we both have a good challenge and fun.

[CarnageINC]

General situation at the start of this game is one I'm almost happy with. I destroyed 3900 Soviet aircraft and did well in the center. Hopefully I didn't over extend myself like I did in Red's game.

In the north I gambled a bit and exposed myself to possible isolation of the 4th Pzr. Grp. [:-] I guess it all depends upon Baelfiin's movements.

In the center things went accord to my vision so I'm content with it. I did send a panzer corps and motorized division from 2nd Pzr. Grp. to the south, those will be integrated into the 1st Pzr Grp.

In the south I designed the attack to expose my two southern panzer divisions to be isolated so I'm not overly concerned since I air supplied them as much as possible. I have obviously cut off all rail lines out of the Lvov pocket and will next turn consolidate my hold on the pocket.

[Flaviusx]

Hate to tell you this, Carnage, but the Sovs can reestablish supply to the whole Lvov pocket. We'll see if Baelfiin spots the move.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Hate to tell you this, Carnage, but the Sovs can reestablish supply to the whole Lvov pocket. We'll see if Baelfiin spots the move.

Yeah, I'm sure he'll see the move in the south. I didn't do a stellar job on it as Q-Ball did on Bletchley Geek. Q's drive south sure was nice and wide. I had to many holds in the center of the southern drive so I ended up doubling up on some more stubborn opposition.

[Flaviusx]

If you had left that panzer division east of Borschev on Borschev, I think it would have been airtight.

Edit: NM, no that wouldn't quite fix it.

[CarnageINC]

My biggest mistake on that drive is I couldn't make up my mind to use a 2nd Pzr Corps in the opening blitz stage after the infantry opened up the route.  That killed the wide drive I was looking for because all the held attacks....darn Soviet mechanized divisions in mid-drive [:@]

[BletchleyGeek]

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC
My biggest mistake on that drive is I couldn't make up my mind to use a 2nd Pzr Corps in the opening blitz stage after the infantry opened up the route.  That killed the wide drive I was looking for because all the held attacks....darn Soviet mechanized divisions in mid-drive [:@]

Hmmm, did you tweak air doctrines or do any manual attacks on Soviet airbases? Q-Ball had excellent air support all along, perhaps he had more of the Luftwaffe available. I got just 6 Helds over the whole front...

[Q-Ball]

RE: Lvov pocket, I think the key on that is to use the Panzer Corps from Pz Gp 2 to attack all the units north of Tarnopol; you need those out of the way, in order to create a path. You need to carefully plan them too, to leave enough MPs left to put the unit in position to hold the pocket closed. Doesn't need to be airtight, usually a unit every 3 hexes or so to exert ZOC.

I think you need the 2 Panzer Divisions of Pz Gp 1 closest to the border to be completely free from any attacking, and be able to make a clean run for the border. I send one south and nail that Sec Regt right on the border, and the other I swing west a bit to widen the pocket.

RE: Airpower, in my game vs. BG, I stopped airbase attacks after awhile. I toasted all the airbases close to the frontier, but decided to stop and save planes for ground support. I was never good at killing Soviet planes on the ground, and at any rate, the Soviet airforce is all junk at that stage, so who cares.

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Hate to tell you this, Carnage, but the Sovs can reestablish supply to the whole Lvov pocket. We'll see if Baelfiin spots the move.

I'm playing Baelfin's Russians -In Jan 42 At the moment.

I think he can be relied upon not to miss any chance to free or create pockets. My hardest Russian opponent to date - a compliment to him, as I'm judging against a high standard.

Carnage - you need to be careful and aggressive at the same time. LOL.

[Klydon]

Gonna have some issues up north too since Riga is still there in port supply. Unfortunately, that means all that extra Russian territory will not flip and any followup attacks means the units will rout out of the pocket.

What I did was practice my opening moves several times with both players set as human. I would run the Germans first, then switch to the Russians and do my best to break the pockets, etc. It helps a ton.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: sillyflower

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Hate to tell you this, Carnage, but the Sovs can reestablish supply to the whole Lvov pocket. We'll see if Baelfiin spots the move.

I'm playing Baelfin's Russians -In Jan 42 At the moment.

I think he can be relied upon not to miss any chance to free or create pockets. My hardest Russian opponent to date - a compliment to him, as I'm judging against a high standard.

Carnage - you need to be careful and aggressive at the same time. LOL.

I'm glad to hear that Baelfiin is a good player [:)]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Gonna have some issues up north too since Riga is still there in port supply. Unfortunately, that means all that extra Russian territory will not flip and any followup attacks means the units will rout out of the pocket.

What I did was practice my opening moves several times with both players set as human. I would run the Germans first, then switch to the Russians and do my best to break the pockets, etc. It helps a ton.

I know I should do this but I feel kinda like I'm cheating with my opening moves so I don't practice it....much [:(] I have only tried playing 3 GC games since I got the game, the AI is so boring. I also have never even tried playing the Russians, that is a major handicap I know, but I don't like to know what they can do until I find out in the game. Its a cool surprise when it does happen. So I basically limit myself in how good I can do by not doing anything [:D]

[Klydon]

Part of the issue with that is the Germans MUST have a good turn 1 or they are basically screwed in so many ways. The effect of making mistakes on turn 1 just snow balls so badly, its crazy. That doesn't mean the game is lost, but rather it makes it that much harder. The Germans can ill afford mistakes early. (Not that they can afford them at any point, but you know what I am trying to say).

Its all good. [:)]

[1275psi]

Sorry to say this carnage, but I have to say it to be fair to your opponent............are you going to actually finish a game this time?

[Klydon]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Sorry to say this carnage, but I have to say it to be fair to your opponent............are you going to actually finish a game this time?

Nice cheap shot!

Could not send this in a PM or something could you? Instead while you state you are defending his opponent, you make your statement in a place where his opponent is not going to see it.

While you have a pile of posts on the boards, I don't recognize you posting in this particular forum. In case you didn't know, the game just saw a major upgrade to 1.05. With that, the vast majority of AAR's came to a close as players wanted to try the new patch out. Why would you single out 1 player out of a bunch that switched?

Bad form sir. [:-]

[Ketza]

The way the game is changing you cant blame anyone for starting over or surrendering when things go south before they did historically.

To call someone out for not finishing is indeed bad form.

Carnage has great AARs and I enjoy reading them.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Sorry to say this carnage, but I have to say it to be fair to your opponent............are you going to actually finish a game this time?

[&:] WOW Herb [&:]

I'm at a loss on why you would ask this. I don't need to explain things but I will clarify it for you sir.

I played Scott1964 in WitP, that game ended for both of us before it even began. No problem I believe.
I played Treznor and Wirraway Ace with WitP AE. Treznor was in the Air Force and went overseas and never heard from him again, I got burned out playing Ace which was my fault.
Redmarkus and I agreed to stop our first game with WitE because of RL job got in the way. I asked Red to start where we left off just a few weeks ago but we both agreed to start a new game. I asked to play Q-Ball but we both agreed that he way out classed me. I played Aurelian who agreed that I out classed him. Miller41 tried to play a game but was already committed to several other players and agreed we would play when he finished some of them. Then there is this game I'm playing now.

Only 1 out of the 8 games did I not try to see it out till the end. I realize these games, especially WitP, are a major commitment to players so I always ensure that I'm there for the long haul, good or bad. Its not that I haven't tried to finish games, its mostly just the circumstances Herb.

If any of these facts are incorrect please let the others have their say.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Part of the issue with that is the Germans MUST have a good turn 1 or they are basically screwed in so many ways. The effect of making mistakes on turn 1 just snow balls so badly, its crazy. That doesn't mean the game is lost, but rather it makes it that much harder. The Germans can ill afford mistakes early. (Not that they can afford them at any point, but you know what I am trying to say).

Its all good. [:)]

I agree with you on the snow ball effect. I'm seeing this already with my envelopment of the Lvov pocket. If I had done it as well as Q-Ball I would be moving east instead of wasting time securing the pocket. Same thing goes for Riga and Pskov. Not as bad as AGS but still its not perfect.

Once again I advance to far with my panzers [:-]. I'm know that 1st Pzr Div will be cut off at Pskov. I just get to excited or something [:D]. I know Baelfiin is a competent opponent, he is using swamps and rivers well with his checker board defense, which he is using in AGN and AGC. He is using his big mobile units well in AGS. I'm going to have to blast my way through some of them.

I'm going to advance a little different in the south, I'm going to advance the Romanian unsupported by the Germans. I'm going to advance 11th Army north further than I usually do. I hope to cut down south with 1st Pzr Grp when the time is right....don't hold your breath though.[:D]

[Flaviusx]

I would be all over 1. Panzer like white on rice. Not merely cutting it off. Counterattacking and routing it. This is entirely possible to do as early as turn 2.

But he doesn't seem to have 27. Army by Pskov.

Rather than trying to lock down the Lvov pocket, I think you may have been better off driving southwest in the direction of Proskurov and just wreck the rail lines and create yet more space. It is actually possible to bag the Lvov forces this way in a couple of turns. The problem with trying to seal the pocket on turn 2 after narrowly failing to do so on turn 1 is that the Soviet can actually (unlike in turn 1 thanks to crippled MPs) counterattack and quite possibly bust a hole through the pocket.

If you drive deep enough in the Proskurov direction the Lvov forces can't really get away even if they remain temporarily in supply. This also gets your forces moving eastwards.

[1275psi]

For those interested

This is a long game. A very long game. Carnage writes really fun, interesting AARs on certain other forums, on a certain other game.
You get hooked.
Then they stop.
I meant no offence, but simply asked, is he going to go the distance?
carnage, you can read this any way you like, just please, dont tease me anymore.

Also, i fully get it, if a restart happens when a game has "issues"
I don't think this one has anymore

[CarnageINC]

CRITICAL WEHRMACHT MESSAGE