HITMAN202...the Krauts versus A-1 challenging

[HITMAN202]

As 1970's WITE devotee (and of other mega eastern front games,) I was excited to see WITE resurrected and bought the game 2 months ago. I've been following AAR's closely, learning from so many AAR pro's, and I've decided to throw my hat in the ring in an AAR against the A-1 set on challenging. The biggest reason I do this is to have many questions answered (questions that other Noobies have and don't ask (or don't know to ask), in this AAR.

I'm an admirer of Q-Ball's thoughtful planning and Pelton's aggressive Axis play and strive to mimic them. I will destroy the A-1 set at challenging. (not !!!)

I'm benefiting from Fulkerson's play against the German A-1 (I agree that the A-1 cheats in a way..that is does things thru the game system that human players can't..ie bulds forts rapidly out of thin air, and Total Noobies's ongoing game (he's getting abuse by the Rusky A-1) and so...

Air.. set parameters copying those in "Axis War Diary"...plan 1) AGN ... crash Leningrad directly with the mech paving the way for infantry.. 2} AGC.. crash Moscow directly bypassing the Dneper...and 3) AGS .. Lvov pocket without any AGC mech support.

[Baelfiin]

Should be fun to watch hitman 8)

[HITMAN202]

Baelfiin ( ??? means ) I left you out in my praise. You may be a good cross of Q-Ball (seems to be a great gentleman} and Pelton (who I would like to watch my back in a fist fight.)

[Peltonx]

Good luck and as long as you play German side I got your back, if you play russian side expect a knife in the back heeheh

[HITMAN202]

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[HITMAN202]

Well here goes I messed up the first post.. this isn't easy to post.. but here goes. I will use only hasty attacks (I think I only did 3 deliberate) to save infantry movement points and to rout units to spaces I made early with mech units (when able and particularly at AGS) to maximize pockets (which are the key to the Germans.)

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I did something different at Brest Litovsk to form a pocket to kill,not rout 6-8 units

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And made the Lvov pocket, but needed AGC mech regiment (only)

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My casualties (and the Soviets) are low because I will not attack any units in the pockets until they are secure and will use only Sec, allies, or low quality infantry to do so.

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I'll use, in the future, work sheets like Amir to keep the stats and a running average of each unit type morale, since it's crucial (I think Pelton is spot on).

[HITMAN202]

I have a new unit (secret weapon that the Ruskies will face...

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I can't lose with this sucker. (this is a picture on a good day !!)

[HITMAN202]

Well.. anyone can copy a few opening moves...but at some point you got to play WITE yourself. I've not played with "fog" much, and it is very uncomfortable not to know the strength of a unit before getting in its ZOC. Does anyone have tips beside carpet bombing nearby hexes with recon (which often doesn't help much... is that a factor in the challenging mode ???)

AGN...I had two huge pockets (a super big one southwest of Riga) that slowed my infantry down. Usually in the Lenin scenario I get get 10 + infantry across the Daugava in a bunch to hit Pskov in a bad way on the 4 th turn as at the same time I throw a Panzer build up to clear the way to Leningrad for those same dudes to follow on turn 5. Its not going to happen. Yet few Ruskys escaped AGN and I grabbed Pskov (never did it before) with PzLVI. A-1 is not aggressive and gives ground quickly, that's why I throw PzLVI at Pskov. I'll back off PzXXXXI (add the Mech unit) to build up on the 4 th turn and throw at Moscow to clear the way on turn 5. When I have thrown the PzXXXXI at Lenin on turn 4 it gets kind of scary with everything strung out betix the two cities, but A-1 seldoms causes problems. But this is challenging level A-1 (I've never done..or fog.. never done before) so... A few pro's talk about isolating Leningrad by cutting its rails to the east, but the terrain is so crappy and the A-1 swarms isolated mech units so bad ... I'll smash the door in... but I do have a secret...later. Also I and II Corp have two new stud CO's (as Pelton recommended)

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I've never had 9 th Army (green dudes) fly so fast, but I messed up the center corridor for AGC southern bunch to go to Smolesk and they're lagging. But the pocket below Minsk is a surprise. Routed units in the Pripet Marsh hang on its northern edge and usually are untouchable. Not this game with an 8 bagger. Add my ploy around Brest Lotvisk, this adds up to 20 units and almost 100,000 men. Things are looking good. Best of all PzXXXIX will build up next turn to go to Moscow. On turn 3 !!! How close to Moscow. A thing about buildups... its a three move think ahead. At the end of 1 think where the units at the end of 2 will meet the buildup criteria on move 3, execute the buildup on 3 and kill on 4. Pelton is crazy with it (too good.) But the big thing is give yourself a 5 move point margin of error. Because it isn't just adding up the numbers. ZOC, weather changes and little terrain costs are often overlooked.

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That Brest Litovsk pocket.... is ate up. Most of the time 7-10 units with 35-45,000 live to cause future hurt. Like I said along with the Minsk pocket, I've got up to 20 units that will not be in the fight for awhile. And some good units to boot !!! Now I've got to get to Rovno to get that next pocket. It may take two turns ....

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I have left the big Lvov practically untouched. The A-1 will sit and rot and I will comply. You have to tighten the pocket to prevent retreats when you finally start to attack , so I get the allies to help out. Another big pocket at Proskurov. I know a human wouldn't allow this, but I still got to handle the Germans well. I've got over 80 units surrounded at the end of turn 2. But I eventually can't copy what the pro's do... and that's what I am basically doing.

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The final stats (like Emir's but not as good) and watching the morale average will be interesting

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[Baelfiin]

Looks like you are making some progress especialy vs leningrad.

I might have missed it in the post but why are you waiting to clear those pockets?

[HITMAN202]

I had often used in the LVOV pocket OKH German divisions, Slovakians, and the SEC's to whip up on the Ruskys and lost a ton of men and morale (yes, even holds) while just getting the dudes to retreat. They're not going to run away, by turns 4 or 5 you can get them to surrender by a mere stare. Now in AGN I have to get II Corp on the move, so leaving the Sec units to clean up is no big deal. In AGC the more you mess with the pockets with your stud infantry the less time you have to mess with Moscow. I'm nothing but a Noobe, so my opinions are probably off, but why run up casualties when you can wait on Mother Nature to rot the bunch.

[HITMAN202]

Turn Three...

The appearance of this AAR will improve. My 16 year-old son (5th of 6 and only boy) is teaching me how to use Paint, Photocopy, etc... for the first time. He thinks I am a poor student.

I can no longer copy the best (Q-Ball, Pelton, Baelfiin, TVD (who's now the talk of the town), etc..) and have to show my own plans.

I'm struggling to keep the German Army command structure clean. For example I sent XXIII (9th Army) north and wish I hadn't (kept it with AGC.) I transferred its divisions to other AGN Corps and sent the HQ unit back to AGC to oversee OKH reinforcements. But I think I need XXIII divisions to head north to quickly pressure Leningrad (more than putting pressure on Smolensk), but AP points are precious to the Krauts. Yet all three Army Group advances look like a cow herd stampeding.

AGN... I'm flying to Leningrad, will take Pskov as an afterthought, but carefully planning HQ buildup with PZ XXXXI (four divisions)(code name Kill Bill-1) on turn 4 to be on the outskirts of Leningrad and paving the way for AGN on turn 5. Its silly to worry about space west of Pskov (its worthless) and I have a feeling that a right hook at Leningrad is too slow . My approach forces the Soviet to declare their attentions in defending Leningrad or not. Having to redirect most of AGN thru Velikie Luki to Moscow is easy and these units will easily catch up with AGC's infantry slow trudge to Moscow.

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Bealfiin ..I'll find time in the next 2-3 turns to kill that last ruskie south of the Daugava. Why slow up key units heading to Leningrad ??? Later you'll see why (at least playing the A-1)


AGC... I'm heading to Moscow and will not be slowed by the Dnepr. Problem with this it narrows my adavance (less wide, easier to -obstruct) but so be it (for now.) First HQ buildup for AGC next turn (Kill Bill -2 code name) Pz XXXIX {4 corp) and I getting excited pre... can't say it. I think I have 15-16 Pz divisions heading to Smolensk !!!!

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AGS

Pockets, pockets and more pockets.. Lvov will die on the vine...I'm maybe wrong not to keep a more infantry back to clean. But like Pelton... East...East...East. I isolated Vinnista to boot. Looks great.. !!! I bet Pelton is proud of me !!!! This game is easy...not...

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Causualties are par, but with so many isolated units yet to die...

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Need to update morale (too lazy). I thought the numbers would increase rapidly for the Germans with so many successful attacks. ???

[Peltonx]

Good job on opening moves.

I get an idea what your up against all you can really do is recon allot.

Most units in open and woods hexes will have low cv. Recon at least will report on forts, this also can tell you allot about defensive cv values.

Also playing the russian side in a few small games will give you a very good idea of CV values early in game.

You have to figure as German player infantry are alwasy advancing east so you can use them to "scout" hexes for stronger"high morale" infantry units and mech units.

Pelton

[HITMAN202]

Turn Four

I really need to get a worksheet that lists each step of every game turn so I don't mess up. There's so much to do. And I'm only playing the Axis, who are the easier side. I really have no understanding of forts, no grasp on attrition, and am kind of a like a dog chasing a car, once I make a good pocket, how to reduce it and move on. These hasty attacks that result in "Held" are killing my (and the troops) morale. I've decided never to make another hasty attacks with only a single infantry div with a less than an 80 morale and make more deliberate attacks. This fog of war stuff makes it hard to plan a move. So...

I've messed up 3/4 of my FBD's. AGN's went east instead of north, AGC's is having to cross the Daugava, and AGS is slowed because I failed to clean out the area around Rovno quickly.

AGN

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I've played this scenario 5-6 times and have it down to an art (I think). Pz XXXXI HQ buildup.. run to Leningrad to its goodies. The A=1 seldom takes advantage of my parade.

AGC

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Kill Bill=2 (Pz XXXIX) pass Smolensk, on to Moscow. Pz LVII HQB (buildup) to be throw forward too. I am going to have to clear the path for AGC FDB over the Daugava (then back again.)

AGS

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Should have left more infantry behind to clean up the pockets... messed up on the FBD... and Kiev has a nice pocket trapped. Didn't work well to the south. I have most of AGS infantry hugged together on a picnic in the Ukraine... they should've been chewing up the pockets

Stats

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Things are getting interesting.. but the FDB mess up is just ridiculous

[HITMAN202]

Turn 5.. things have not gone well, planning wise. It was great following EMIR'S clash with Cannonfodder and was glad to here that so many of his plans had to be changed. My ops Kill Bill-1 and 2 are dead. My FBD foul-ups in AGN and AGS have forced me to clean up space between Pskov and Vitsbk with Pz XXXXI (build up) thrown toward Vitsbk. I expected that a AGC Pz unit would be needed to complete the isolation, but not !!!

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Here's the situation between AGN and AGS (by the way, I've never seen that many Ruskies on the corridor from Pskov to Leneingrad ) and the move....

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Also I sent PzLVII south to isolate around 20 Ruskies. I had a impulsive buildup of Pz LVII, planning to throw them at Moscow a turn earlier, but Emir's AAR with the warning of making sure that the mech and infantry work together, killed Kill Bill-2. Good things come from bad planning

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Then in AGS

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I'm not running to Rostov like Pelton, but I am having to slowly reduce the pockets (which I did good at making). I'm killing a lot of units.

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This is going slow, but I am having fun. What a great game by Emir. I learned a lot.

I isolated another 40 units this turn, added to the 40 I have left to toast

[HITMAN202]

..TURN SIX ....

It was great to follow the short AAR Emir/Cannonfodder. It taught me how not to be impulsive with HQ buildups and how fragile the big red army is to Pz Corp. I feel better about my FDB mess-ups as he had one himself. Still my AGN repair unit is way behind, AGC's north FDB has to cross the Daugava twice, and AGS north FDB is still puttering around Rovno.But surpises of all surprises this what i saw at the start of turn 6
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A-1 surrounds AGC with 5 Pz Corp in the vicinity, all gassed up..after my move

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Seventy or so units are isolated and certainly will surrender..also in AGS.. not only are the pockets getting clened out (slowly) but Kiev is isolated

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The problem is in AGN. I wasn't expecting to have Pz XXXXI head toward Velikie Luki to clean out the FBD's advance, so now I have a ton of hexes to clear out in front of the Dava before attacking Leningrad. I've not faced so many Ruskie's in any of my short Leningrad scenarios.

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But goodness gracious, with the 90 or more units isolated, how can the Soviets survive. I wasn't expecting this slaughter

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[HITMAN202]

Turn Seven.....

Having followed a ton of AAR's and now doing my own, it's clear that the game gets more difficult for the Axis each turn; that is for the player. Each army group has very different challenges that change each week (with success and failure, good moves and bad) that it is taking me more time for each turn. And the overall strategic planning which has to be made, which I am so oblivious to, I don't know what to do when and why and where with what !!!! Turn 7 and I'm now trying to figure out this garrison thing. In the ancient WITE partisan units cluttered the board and had next to no impact on the game. That is the amount of time you spent in messing with them made that version of WITE less enjoyable. It was a poor "mini-game" within the great big game. Now ??? I'm learning what to do (and attending time to it this turn), but am starting to get that same bad feeling... that I'm wasting time in a bad mini-game. Since I brought it up, I can't decide what's best...to garrison all cities or just the larger ones ??? . And what axis allies unit to use south of the weather line, ?? Help..

But I am grounding the Ruskies to mincemeat...AGC...

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What stands between me and the Kremlin ????....AGN...

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The fighting here is far messier than I've experienced in the scenario... AGS

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But as in AGC... where are the Soviets .... and stats..

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Almost 220 killed divisions alone at the end of turn 7. I'm planning a fine victory parade for Christmas

[HITMAN202]

***Turn 8***

The Nazi steamroller forces on  !!!!

A few things are becoming clear....1) getting the German infantry to the front..particularly toward Moscow... is crucial.   Panzers alone are costly and won't win...2) don't impulsively throw your Panzers forward. ,,1)  They need infantry to open up the routes (to encircle) and clean up the mess (kill the isolated units,)  If you think about using them but are uncertain ... wait,  Either on the O, wait ..you will have more support coming up,,, or on the D, wait...the enemy will be further sucked in.  The one exception is  in creating a path for the infantry thru enemy controlled hexes.

AGN....is very mess



In the Leningrad scenario I had it down pat against the A-1 on "normal"  Turn #1  Pockets formed and get the infantry going... #2  Have 1/2 of the infantry over the Daugava,,3) Infantry close to Pskov, one Pz buildup, the other in Pskov...4) Infantry open Pskov and throw built up Panzer at Leningrad  laying down a pathway for the infantry...5)  Infantry sent after the Pz down the corridor as the Pz disrupt hexes in front of Leningrad...and  6) Infantry starts to hit Leningrad.  Here at turn 8, I'm starting the process, two turns behind.  However, I occupy Novgorod and (a big and) have two hexes  without entrenched units on the east bank of the Volkhov with one occupied by a Pz  division.

AGC is looking great !!!




I'm 8 hexes away from the city and  see no defensive line.  I'm planning to get within 4 hexes of the city (around turn 10) , send one Pz division north and one south of the city , followed  by two others (HQ build up turn 10) on turn 11 to encircle the capital.



I've got this big space east of the swamp that is begging for two Pz's (one from AGC abd one from AGS) to link up, isolating all units west.  There's got to be a load of Ruskies there sunning themselves.

Then  AGS...






Now the stats



The Soviet casualties climbs out of site.  Granted I have no units presently pocketed but the blood  will flow at Leningrad and Moscow.  I stopped keeping a running average of the  morale on the  infantry and armour units, because , to my surprise, the numbers didn't change much.. I thought they would rise dramatically.

[HITMAN202]

**** Turn 9 ****

This is really the start of 10..failed to save 9...frustrated in part in Leningrad. I'm tearing up and making the Volkov River defense null and void, but I've had 2 failed attacks on the city...



I'm launching the first part of the Moscow encirclement this turn




And I've an Pz Corp in AGC to link up with AGS

Stats



Next turn will be exciting

[Seminole]

can you turn on 'view enemy hexes' (hotkey e) on?
Helps to see the front line, especially around Leningrad (are those units in the west cut off, or does he still control that territory via the ports?)

[HITMAN202]

They're in supply. In the scenarios I've played, as long as Talinin is Soviet, the vodka flows.