Fall Weiss II Western Theater - Axis AAR

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After some time mostly away from the game I've decided to play through a Solo AAR. This is the latest version of Fall Weiss II Western Theater, version 4.0. I've played two games recently of the previous version as the Axis, one game with the Allied handicap set at +2 experience in which I lost to the Allied AI for the first time! and a second match with the Allied handicap set at +1 experience in which I won decisively in late 1944. I was quite taken aback to have lost, so this is a re-match of sorts against the Allied AI. I am once again playing at max settings, wish me luck!

For anyone unfamiliar with Fall Weiss II here are the victory conditions:

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I'll post periodically the overall map:

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Some notes on the existing production Que Germany:

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Let's get down to action! Not a perfect turn, but a good start towards Warsaw and still a possibility of a two turn collapse.

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Aside from Poland there is little movement, I shuffle around Finnish and Italian units, garrison the remainder of the French border and the entirety of the U-boats in the Baltic break sneak into the Norwegian Sea while the German surface fleet remains safely in the Baltic Sea. No upgrades/diplomacy on the first turn, I rather waited to see how politics shake out after the DOW of Poland before making my choice on diplomatic targets. Nothing out of the ordinary in my decision making on turn 1, I spend willingly to edge Franco closer to the Axis, and barter a good working relationship with the Swiss. Turkey, Saudia Arabia, Portugal all protest the war and move towards the Allies as a result, and France and the UK declare war.

[Taxman66]

Is v4.0 available, or still under work?
The thread in the mods forum says v20 and the link (there) to dropbox takes you to download v3.7

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ORIGINAL: Taxman66

Is v4.0 available, or still under work?
The thread in the mods forum says v20 and the link (there) to dropbox takes you to download v3.7

3.7 is still the most recent i've uploaded, this is the next version and i'll upload it soon.

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The UK has opted to bring Portugal into the war, without a much of a military to speak of this is mostly boosting UK MPP while also denying me a future trade partner. Spain has swung sharply towards the Axis in response (51%) and is now the obvious target for diplomacy.

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It was clear Warsaw would not fall this turn, so mop up duties commenced a bit to gain experience.

On the MPP front I am falling all-in on the diplomatic front now, with Portugal in the war and Spain on high alert I commit more resources to Spain to move them towards the Axis camp. With Spain heavily leaning Axis now, Allied diplomacy could lean heavily to counter my own, so I am also going to attempt to sway Greece with my remaining chits to see if my opponent will successfully counter both, depending on my success as chits are freed up I could even go-all in on Greece. On this turn I invest 3 chits in Spain, with 2 remaining for future turns. Germany also invested in Advanced Tanks (selling Advanced Rockets) and Italy invested in Infantry Weapons (selling Long Range Aircraft).

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Greece actually landed in a favorable spot at 18% Allied leaning only after all the dust had settled, but the UK has immediately countered my decision to sway Greece towards the Axis, landing a 8% swing towards the Allies on their only diplomatic chit invested on the turn. Lucky roll! With Italy barred from diplomatically investing in Greece, and 3 of my 5 German chits already invested in Spain I am going to quickly abandon this sub-plot. At minimum the Allies may still divide their attention between Spain and Greece to my benefit!

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Poland Surrenders, and we agree to the Molotv Pact to split Poland with USSR. The Germans took some rather significant losses in the attack on Warsaw, but also gained some valuable experience/morale from mop up duties as well. Germany invests in Infantry Weapons (selling Artillery Weapons) and Italy in Industrial Technology. Italy also agreed to sell naval assets to Sweden for some much needed MPP.

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Germany agrees to peacefully amend the borders of the Molotov Pact, while the British aggressively occupy Irish ports. Ireland is 12% Axis leaning as a result. Italy is proposed with a long consequential decision which I opt against this game. In my opinion Italy has to focus on either Ground, Naval or Air not all three otherwise they end up useless at everything.

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Germany spends the majority of Polish plunder on research; Advanced Aircraft, Production and Industrial Technology. There are a lot of different branches of research, already approaching max investment so will have to really focus on where research next, Ground Attack Bombers will be researched next turn as there is still a long way to go to level 5.

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Quite turn as German units shuffle towards the Western Front. German invests in Ground Attack Weapons and Italy purchases a second chit in Industrial Technology. Finland only has 119 MPP at this time so no investments as of yet. Germany hits a 6% Axis hit on diplomacy, Spain is now 63% Axis.

[BPINisBACK]

Great AAR. Congratulations!

[crispy131313]

December 8, 1939

USSR has invaded Finland, the Finnish accept Sweden's assistance at a high cost (14% swing towards the Allies and non-belligerency), I was hoping to offset this slightly with Germany sending military equipment to Sweden as well (3-6% swing towards the Axis) but I won't get this benefit right away. This is a new event and looks like I scripted the mobilization at a later date DOH! This is why I usually want to do a play though before I upload the new versions. Oh well I'll get the bump a bit later hopefully it doesn't effect my convoy in the mean time. Sweden is now 17% Axis leaning, but Finland will also be able to research Infantry Weapons much sooner.

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Germany continues to build up forces along the Western Front as Sitzkrieg settles in. The Kriegsmarine gets news that Graf Spee has been scuttled and also decides to cancel the Tirpitz Battleship in favor of building more U-boats. Without the Graf Spee and Tirpitz the surface fleet will be significantly weaker for certain. Germany also purchases it's first unit; a Maritime Bomber and assists (hopefully) soon to be Axis Spain in developing more Wolfram Mines for export.

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Another quite turn, Germany invests a 2nd chit in Spying & Intelligence, and both German & Italy spend MPP to bring units up to fighting shape. France and USSR announce boosted military production, and the 1st Canadian Infantry Division arrives in the UK.

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Finland purchases Infantry Weapons I, and Germany a 2nd chit in Advanced Subs. At the same time Germany decides to scrap the Graf Zeppelin carrier, and to deliver the Heavy Cruiser Lutzow. When combined with the cancellation of Tirpitz and the scuttling of Graf Spee (who's fate UK actually decides) this essentially kills Naval Plan Z, I am all in on U-boats. Cash strapped Italy sells even more military assets to shore up their existing ground forces which are sucking up MPPs quickly as war approaches.

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Germany and Italy continue to spend their full MPP to reinforce units on the map. Germany prepares to occupy Norway and Denmark. More good news on the Spanish diplomatic front, Germany gets another 6% hit. Italy also upgrades to Industrial Technology Level I after double chits were applied and achieving multiple research breakthroughs.