An advanced beginners AAR, and what i've learned so far and hope to learn

[Banjo]

Impulse 4 Nov/Dec 39

Due to weather, at the same point in the pre reload, this was impulse 3.

This is the point in the pre reload game that was last played. No actions had been determined.

The Japanese have an engineer and art units to transport. For this impulse, with the snow, it is a good time to move the ground units and maybe make an attack. I need to determine if I can move enough land units with a combined to accomplish both. If on the next Axis impulse the weather turns to rain, the troops will be at a standstill and the ships can move. Land action it is.

Germany wants to take advantage of the bad weather to sortie some naval units, but have good weather to begin moving west to France. The same logic for the Japanese will apply here also. Land

Italy, combined.

[Banjo]

Naval air.

Italy flies to cover her convoys, Germany flies to the North Sea. Since the Luftwaffe will be moving west in the rebase phase, they will have more than enough fighters to cover the factories and a few to send to the North Sea if needed.

[Banjo]

The CW has an option to initiate combat with the German NAV air unit. The Courageous is in the North Sea also, with two 1 class CV air units. Its snowing, and the naval aspect of the game is my weak point. Not enough of this type of thing happens so early in the game, so I really dont remember exactly how it works. I have just been pushing buttons and whatever happens happens without understanding why. So now is the time to sit down with the manuals and start learning why.

My instinct tells me not to fly, that the weather is too bad for an interception. We have seen how wrong my assumptions have been so far.

[Banjo]

After spending a bit of time trying to find what I wanted to know about doing searches at sea, and the modifiers to the sea box numbers and die rolls, I think I understand it now. I had to make my own hand written chart for my own reference, since there is non easily accessable in the game menu or without finding the correct book and age number. It seems a bit byzantine way of finding it out in my opinion. The manuals are great, but I find it odd that there is information concerning this and many other things are spread out in three different books that relate to the same thing. I know there is a video that explains the books, but I think that I am like many people who prefer to dive right in and start playing without spending hours just to learn the most simple things about the game.

Its just a product of being a DIY guy who lives by the motto, when all else fails, read the instructions. I have found even with this monster of a game that that has many advantages also, so it is a double edge sword.

[Banjo]

Now what the heck was I doing in the game?[&:]

[Banjo]

Three of the slower moving inf units were sent via railroad west from Poland.
The newly arrived militia in Korea was railed to Shangai to protect the factory and port left unguarded when its garrison was railed last turn.

Its time to look at the Sian front for land movement now.

[Banjo]

Another planning graphic.

I am finding that this really helps keep things straight in my head.

This gets the forces to the starting line. A fine weather impulse will be needed in order to give the air a chance to do their work, and remove the weather modifiers.

If the chinese move, then this changes the whole thing, but the ofrces will still be in position to strike. A move by the Chinese by the 3-3 to reinforce the garrison would increase the chances of them losing two units if things go well for the Japanese. A successful attack on either the militia or garrison, puts the mountains south and east at great risk.

Playing both sides, this graphic will help the Chinese planning also.

[Banjo]

2A in the graphic represents a 2 factor artillery unit. Other numbers are strength factors. These are underneath the top counter.

[Banjo]

Sian after the moves.

I had to move the 1-3 div into the mt hex, in order to put the blue militia back into supply.

Now we wait for the weather and or what the Chicoms decide to do.

The weather really plays havoc with the supply situation in China. Partisan activity when it happens will make it worse.

This early in the game, I can not afford to weaken the attack on Sian, as the other forces are spread almost dangerously thin. Not from any real threat of Nationalist attack, but possible partisan attacks, and eventual nationalist reinforcemnent.

I love the challenge for all three of the sides involved here. I am finding that China is really a chess match or game of Go.

[Banjo]

I need to show the situation near Changsa to shed some light on how thin things are.

The Japanese HQ is covering the gap between Nanyang and Changsa, next to Wuhan.

The blue militia unit if it moves to SE or E, enabling the HQ to enter Wuhan, will go out of supply. The HQ id supplying the Changsa forces. If it moves into Wuhan, the it opens the gap for the Nationalist cav units. To pull the Changsa forces even one unit back to cover it, gives the Nationalists a free move to take valuable ground from the Japanese.

If the cav does move into the mountains, then they are out of supply I belive, but the Japanese would be hard pressed to bring in troops needed for Sian.

There is a 5-5 motorized inf in Peking earmarked for partisan duty. Its a fast mover, that is also protecting the factory in Peking, and rail junction for now.

I just realised that Peking is a blue factory and not a factor for Japanese production, but the rail junction is. There are some other production issues I need to look into when Japan gets a naval movement this turn.

This being done, its time to call it a night.

[Banjo]

Japan still has air rebasing to do this turn to get them into protected hexes.

[Banjo]

The Germans move west

I havn't shown a screenshot of the eastern front yet. Both sides are still redeploying.

[Banjo]

Everyone redeploys air closer to their fronts. Italy moves a bomber to Libya.

The impulse ends.

The start of The second Allied impulse.

[Banjo]

Everyone has chosen combined this turn.

Naval moves:

5-3 inf from Algeria lands in Mareilles.
Spitfire unloaded in Malta, two CW convoys dock in Bermuda.
1 US convoy into the Caribbean, and the bomber and fighter unloaded in Hawaii.

[Banjo]

The CW move the Manchester militia toward Portsmouth.
The French begin moving forces that arrived at the begining of the turn to the border.
Nothing has changed in the Japanese disposition facing the Nationals, so there is no need to upset the balance.

Next up is to look at Sian.

[Banjo]

The storms are going to prevent the Japanese from making any progress in their next impulse. The Chicoms are in position until they either recieve reinforcements next turn, or the weather breaks and the Japanese act, so there is no need for them to move this turn either.

The USSR moves armor back for the Moscow reserve, as does a lonely AT unit.

Nothing really changes from the eastern front screenshot earlier.

[Banjo]

There is a 7-3 inf on a transport in the North Sea. I began sending the BEF to France, before I read up on the naval search rules last night, and in hindsight, I messed up the move. There is a transport and motor inf unit in France, so the inf cannot debark until the transport in France leaves. The Germans are not ina position to hit the west yet, so there is no threat. There is ample escorts for the inf at sea, combined with the bad weather it would be a bad move for the Germans to battle a stronger force at sea.

The weather is ripe for a German SCS raid attempt on the convoys. I could have moved some more CW SCS into potential sea areas in anticipation, but I do not have enough experience in the naval tactics yet to be comfortable in doing so. For now, it will be reaction to the attempts by Germany to begin the learning process.

[Banjo]

Second Axis impulse.

Japan naval
Germany and Italy combined.

Italy transports a 4-5 motorized inf to Tripoli, to polssibly move into Tunisia and Algeria when they enter the fray. The Algerian resource would be nice. Will have to give this consideration as time moves on.

[Banjo]

With the bad weather hindering the westward move ment from Poland, Its time to get some SCS with long legs, and can run real fast into the North Atlantic for some convoy work.

[Banjo]

What I want to do with the raiding force is not happening. Time to go read the manual again. I can get them into the North Sea, but not a higher box than 0. I suspect that it has to do with storms. I tried to do it a few different ways that I thought would work to no avail.

My original intent picking the higher range and movement SCSs was to get them into a box greater than zero. It is a long shot for intercepting a convoy I am guessing even if the weather clears up. As with my comments concerning the CW raider intercptors that I did not sortie, wanting to react instead. This was going to be what they were going to react to.

This is a training exersize for me, and it needs to be an exersize that has a reasonable maybe slim chance of success. To me this is not the zero box for the raiders. I can not get them there then the "exersize will be canceled, and the raiders will not sail.

Time to hit the books.