Global War Solitaire

[yvesp]

As they do in the Hungarian plains.

Note that Petsamo, in northern Finland was also captured.

[yvesp]

The west front at the start of the second axis impulse in July 44.

Stopping the two allied spearhead will be a real challenge!

Note: edited the image (turn redone) to account for the breakthrough through the forest which just should not have occured. This leaves some more chance of escape for the German troops, which nevertheless are still out of supply.

[yvesp]

On the East front, at the start of the second axis impulse in July 44, everything is more or less under control.

[Courtenay]

I am confused. Are you not playing with motorized movement costs? If you are, how did the Americans manage to advance a second hex through the forest?

[yvesp]

I must admit that I have more and more problems with the end of the game.

For exemple, the game did not let me invade with a unit that could.
I get exceptions everytime I have to reload, which happens when I realize I forgot a move in a remote area and have to redo part of the turn.
I often get exceptions when fleets meet, which doesn't let me play correctly.

I try to get around these bugs one way or the other.
Sometimes I can sometimes not.
But this takes a lot of energy.

It is clear to me that MWIF was put on the market a bit too early.
I feel more like a beta tester than like a player...
I hope this will not kill the sales of the product.

Note that when playing "on the ground", (i.e. a scenario like Barbarossa), there are no problems.
Most of the hard problems are related to the navy.

Well, that said, I will still try to continue this game to completion.

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay
I am confused. Are you not playing with motorized movement costs? If you are, how did the Americans manage to advance a second hex through the forest?

Oohhh...

I'm afraid you're right there.
I did notice something was wrong, but I did not pin it down, and that's it...

That would be a bug, then.

Atghh... I'll have to redo the whole combat in order to get the correct result (i.e. no breakthrough through the forest), that will indeed let the Germn army move away!

I knew there was a good reason why I let these troops as they were!

Thanks!

Yves

[yvesp]

South Japan at the start of the second axis impulse in July 44.

Japan was faced with a problem: either it could take the chance to destroy the US infantry, or it could consolidate its position. Destroying it was not a good option: it could instead destroy the only Japanese defense in this area, and it did not solve the problem that the US could still land units without invading: Two hexes are US controlled, and that's sufficient...

So Japan instead tried to plug the holes.

Of course, the US take the opportunity to reinforce.

At this stage, neither side is ready to engage a combat.

[yvesp]

In Italy, the US has brought reinforcements near Rome with the help of Gort.
This spells bad news for Rome, which did not get captured on the previous turn because the allies completely failed their carpet bombing (notice the nice flyingfortress/superfortress . there is one more in the Rhone Valley, in reach of Rome...

An unintercepted carpet bobing has a 10% chance of vacating the city, a 20% chance of removing 2 units, and a 20% chance of removing one unit... That falls to 0%/20%/20% in case of interception.

Then, there is the simpler ground strike: the three bombers together still have a 80% chance of disorganizing each unit, that is about 50% of disorganizing all three, for a nice +5 to attack.
Well, well...

Also unseen are the two para that are ready to take off, one from Taranto and one from Sardinia.

Despite all of its troops, it doesn't seem unlikely that Italy falls this turn...

[yvesp]

Italy sorties its fleet once again, expecting against all odds to repeat the previous turn, where it could help ground troops. It would be an important asset should the allies try and capture Rome!

Unfortunately, this time they are surprised by the impressive US Mediterranean fleet, led by five carriers and batttleships of the latest designs... They do not even have any air cover: all (or rather, the few) available fighters are now kept on land to protect against the enemy's raids.

[yvesp]

Anti air manages to abort a Catalina.

Note that all planes were not flown as bombers: thes with a 1 rating would have increased the target size, providing for a better AA...

[yvesp]

At the end of the day, the Italians can only count the sunk ships.

But since their navy has no best use now, they will try and stick to that sea area!
And pray for better luck!

[yvesp]

And truly, their prayers were more than heard: on the morning, the Italian fleet falls on two returning transports, all alone...

Needless to say that it is with vengeance that they are sent to the bottom!

[yvesp]

Once more stuck.

I have to go back before the naval combat, and most probably arrange myself so that it doesn't happen at all.
Oh well... It will be two transports not sunk in favor on some defensive bombardment. Likely a good deal for Italy: the US has more than enough transports by now, and the axis is more than willing to bolster its defenses!

OK: Just tried: I'm unstuck. Once more, naval combat suffers...

[yvesp]

Near Rome, a Cigogna protected by a Sagittario successfully immobilize two allied armies, among whom Gort.
This might well save Rome this turn!

[yvesp]

In Germany, Hitler takes in chances in Düsseldorf and orders a counterattack.
This is risky business, especially when the Royal Air Force plugs its nose there.

[yvesp]

But the result is there, and the city recaptured.
Its not sure that this will be a lasting victory: the cost is too steep at this stage. One corps lost is one corps missing somewhere. And disorganized units are now mostly cattle waitng slaughter...

[yvesp]

Oh, good.

I cannot initiate combat in any sea area now without getting an exception.
I can do with it as long as I am not committed against Japan I guess: in Europe, the few that remains are marginal engagements (well, not that marginal when we see the last engagement between the USA and Italy)

Now, SSSR has taken a combined with an offesnive chit (required to advance its army and planes fast enough to match the German retreat before winter settles!

But there is no way to destroy the convoys in the Baltic.
And the USA having chosen a combined could attempt to chase away the Italians (who would supposedly have detroyed the 0 box transports, so now risking very little.) This won't happen...
So now, this bug clearly favors the axis...

Edit: Well, I found a way to still have naval combat sometimes: interception combat still works. So it is enough if I move a ship and decide an interception and fight it through. That's a bit convoluted, but it works around the current bug.

Re-edit: Wrong hope! The game crashes later... Still I will post the combat results. I will try to play using all combat results I had up to now, at least the most impacting aspects. Clearly, I cannot ignore them, even though I cannot have the game play them correctly.

[yvesp]

So, the Americans found the Japanese fleet.

With its tremendous advantage now, it chooses naval air.
The Japanese have nothing to compete with the Corsair US fighter.
Thier fighter force is outclassed ; it should be: it has been so long since any fighter was produced!

[yvesp]

Indeed, the air to air ratio is not in favor of the Japanese!

[yvesp]

The Japanese stick long to hope they could abort the Corsair. But there is nothing to do.
At some point, it becomes pointless.