AAR AH Advanced Third Reich mod v0.5 beta

[pzgndr]

I just posted my updated mod to Scenario Design and Modding forum. What follows is a brief AAR for an AI-AI game at default difficulty level.

** 1939 **

1939-09-01 (ACTIVITY)
Poland: Germany Declared War On Poland

1939-11-24 (ACTIVITY)
Poland: Poland Surrendered
Germany: Germany Occupies Western Poland
Russia: Russia Occupies Eastern Poland
Canada: Canada Declares War On Germany
Canada: Canadian Supply Convoys To Britain Begin

Screenshot shows situation in September 1939. Axis AI usually conquers Poland by end of September, but occasionally not. This is one of those games. Bad weather sets in and Poland holds out until November.

[pzgndr]

** 1940 **

1940-04-12 (ACTIVITY)
Norway: Pro-Allied Coup in Norway

1940-04-12 (ACTIVITY)
Netherlands: Germany Declared War On Netherlands
Denmark: Germany Declared War On Denmark
Luxembourg: Germany Declared War On Luxembourg
Denmark: Denmark Surrendered
Netherlands: Netherlands Surrendered

1940-05-10 (ACTIVITY)
Belgium: Germany Declared War On Belgium
Belgium: Belgium Surrendered

1940-06-07 (ACTIVITY)
Luxembourg: Luxembourg Surrendered
Italy: Italy Prepares For War

1940-07-05 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia Fights Over Bessarabia

1940-07-05 (ACTIVITY)
Norway: Norway Surrendered
Italy: Italy Joins The Axis
Russia: Russia Annexes Bessarabia From Romania

1940-08-02 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia Invades Baltic States
Russia: Russia Occupies Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia

1940-10-25 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Alarmed by Axis Capture of Alexandria
Spain: Spain Encouraged by Axis Capture of Alexandria

1940-12-20 (ACTIVITY)
France: French Morale Is Shattered By The Occupation Of Paris

Screenshot shows situation in June 1940. Note there was an Allied coup in Norway; it can go either way. Germany has amphibious transports loaded and ready to react, ultimately securing Norway in July. But this distraction affects the campaign in France, and between the delays and bad weather in the Fall this means France holds out until the end of 1940. Usually France falls by late Summer 1940. However, the delays also distract Britain from its defense of Egypt and we see Axis taking Alexandria.

[pzgndr]

** 1941 **

1941-01-17 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Germany Creates Vichy France
France: France Surrendered
Vichy France: Vichy French Government Installed
Algeria: Algerian Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Morocco: Moroccan Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Syria: Syrian Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Tunisia: Tunisian Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
United States: United States Alarmed by Axis Capture of Suez
Spain: Spain Encouraged by Axis Capture of Suez
Vichy France: Vichy France Encouraged by Axis Control of Suez
Vichy France: Vichy France Encouraged by Axis Control of Alexandria
Iraq: VARIANT - Pro-Allied Coup in Iraq
Syria: VARIANT - Syria Becomes Free French
Iraq: Middle East Supply Convoys To Britain Begin

1941-02-14 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Lend Lease Convoys To Britain Begin

1941-02-14 (ACTIVITY)
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Signs Tripartite Pact

1941-03-14 (ACTIVITY)
Hungary: Hungary Signs Tripartite Pact
Hungary: Hungary Joins The Axis
Romania: Romania Signs Tripartite Pact
Romania: Romania Joins The Axis
Yugoslavia: Yugoslavia Signs Tripartite Pact
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Prepares For War

1941-03-14 (ACTIVITY)
Yugoslavia: VARIANT - Pro-Axis Coup in Yugoslavia

1941-04-11 (ACTIVITY)
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Joins The Axis

1941-06-06 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia And Germany Are At War
Greece: Italy Declared War On Greece

1941-07-04 (ACTIVITY)
Finland: Finland Joins The Axis
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. United States -> Allies 5%

1941-08-01 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Prepares For War

1941-08-29 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Joins The Allies

1941-10-24 (ACTIVITY)
Egypt: Egypt Surrendered


Screenshot shows situation in July 1941. Axis DOWs Russia in June, so this shows the opening blitz. Germany should be doing a bit better, but there are still units in Norway and action in Egypt. Note United States enters early in August 1940. Between the captures of Alexandria and Suez plus a successful diplomatic result, USA responds.

[pzgndr]

1941, Part II.

Screenshot shows situation in October 1941 just before Egypt surrenders. Note that Greece continues to hold out, and will continue to hold out for quite a while longer.

[pzgndr]

** 1942 **

1942-01-16 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russian Winter Strikes


Screenshot shows the situation in the north in September 1942. Axis AI should be doing better but continues to be distracted by Greece holding out and actions in Egypt.

[pzgndr]

1942, Part II.

Screenshot shows the situation in the south in September 1942. Note here that the Allied AI has reinforced the Middle East via Iraq, including some American units. The Allies have held at the Suez Canal and are preparing a counter-offensive.

[pzgndr]

** 1943 **

1943-01-15 (ACTIVITY)
Morocco: United States Declared War On Morocco
Russia: Russia Rebuilds Damaged Industry In The Urals

1943-01-15 (ACTIVITY)
Tunisia: VARIANT - Tunisia Joins the Axis Alliance

1943-02-12 (ACTIVITY)
Algeria: United States Declared War On Algeria
Algeria: Algeria Surrendered
Morocco: Morocco Surrendered
Vichy France: Vichy France Prepares For War

1943-02-12 (ACTIVITY)
Vichy France: Vichy France Joins The Axis

1943-04-09 (ACTIVITY)
Tunisia: Tunisia Surrendered

1943-06-04 (ACTIVITY)
Egypt: Allies Liberate Egypt

1943-06-04 (ACTIVITY)
Greece: Greece Surrendered

1943-07-02 (ACTIVITY)
Spain: Spain Alarmed by Axis Loss of Africa
Turkey: Turkey Reacts to Allies Control of Tripoli

1943-08-27 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Severe Axis Supply Shortages In North Africa


Screenshot shows the situation in September 1943. North Africa is almost cleared of Axis units and the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy are beginning.

[pzgndr]

** 1944 **

1944-01-14 (ACTIVITY)
Italy: Italy Surrenders Unconditionally To The Allies
Germany: Germany Assumes Immediate Control of Northern Italy

1944-09-22 (ACTIVITY)
France: Allies Liberate France
France: Allies Liberate France (Vichy France Surrenders)

1944-12-15 (ACTIVITY)
Luxembourg: Allies Liberate Luxembourg


Screenshot shows situation in August 1944. Allies invaded France in June, and Paris will be liberated in September. Italy surrendered at the beginning of 1944 but Germany continues to defend Rome. Note the Axis AI here is tending to defend more in the east and in Italy than in France; it can go either way.

[pzgndr]

** 1945 **

1945-06-01 (ACTIVITY)
Belgium: Allies Liberate Belgium

1945-06-01 (ACTIVITY)
Belgium: Belgium Surrendered

1945-06-29 (ACTIVITY)
Belgium: Allies Liberate Belgium

Game ends in September 1945.


Screenshot shows situation in June 1945. Allied AI is closing in on Germany on all sides. Overall a pretty good game.

[pzgndr]

Some observations and comments.

This mod has a lot of variability regarding chances of Axis/Allied coups in Norway and Yugoslavia. Vichy French colonies (Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia) may or may not become Free French. Etc. In this AAR, the Allied coup in Norway affected Axis performance in 1940 noticeably and had a ripple effect on Axis performance during Barbarossa in Russia in 1941. On the bright side, the Axis AI made some stunning gains in Egypt but failed to push beyond the Suez Canal.

Considering the Axis AI sluggish performance in Russia and early entry of the United States, Russia should have been more aggressive but AI sluggishness works both ways. The Allies nevertheless continued to make steady gains throughout the second half and managed to get an Allied Marginal Victory. Barely.

Again, this was a hands-off AI-AI game at default (intermediate) difficulty level. I think it's ready for prime time now, but it really needs some additional playtesting by human players playing against the AI at the veteran (+1) difficulty level. The AI gets some additional bonuses at the increased difficulty, plus there are other scripted possibilities for more challenging AI operations like Sea Lion, Spain, Turkey, etc. If interested, please check out this mod and see how it goes. I'd greatly appreciate feedback from any completed Axis and Allied games to see if the play balance is good enough or if things need adjustment one way or another. Based on whatever feedback I can get over the next several months, I will touch up the 1939 campaign as needed and then go ahead and develop the 1941, 1942 and 1944 campaigns like I have before. And, update the Design Notes. That's the plan. Maybe I can wrap this all up by the end of the year, maybe not. We shall see. Enjoy!

[sapper32]

Will give it a go against the AI thanks for the AAR and the mod