France 40 (Leonidas [Germans] v. Hellen [Allies])

[StuccoFresco]

The fall of Chartres must hurt.

[Hellen_slith]

after Allied turn 14 (move is done, had three rounds of combat)

Paris holds! British retake Dunkirk!

The German siege is broken, at northwest and southeast 'burbs of Paris ...
still very strong Germans directly east, there (the 70/99 unit etc.)...

red "V" markers show where Germans retreated, Allies advanced.

[Hellen_slith]

@fter Allies turn 17:

Paris holds. Dunkirk holds.

No SS, forgot, but .... my opponent, via Diplomatic Pouch, noted looks like Allied Victory.
But, news says German Marginal Victory ATM, with only a few moves remaining.

Germans continue assault on Dunkirk, but Brits are holding there.
Seems key to take out Brits in this scene, and also I noted,
also noted Brits showing replacements in southern France (??)

Seems like they would show in Dunkirk area for now, but ... now, we are nearing end of scene.
Allies are trying to find points to claw back a draw, what will the end of scene bring?

Soon we will know! Excellent play, Leonidas my friend

[Hellen_slith]

@ before Allies turn 18:

trying to capture as much info as I can before scenario ends:

German marginal victory at present, major Allied losses shown:

[Hellen_slith]

the map, before Allied last move:

[Hellen_slith]

The scenario has ended, with a well-earned German victory,
but Paris and points west still abide.

This was a fun scene to play, the Germans I think
would have a quicker victory with more pressing and aggressive attack.

Well done, Leonidas! <handshake> and I hope that we can play again soon!
Definitely a scene that bears more play, I think....

[John B.]

Thanks for the AAR!

[Hellen_slith]

Very welcome! I enjoy doing it, is sort of my hobby now, playing TOAW. I see on steam charts, a few dozen or so players counted every day, I hope to see their AARs too.

Such a great game, so many scenarios. I really think, in light of the fact of so many user created scenarios, this is the game par excellen

I still look back fondly upon earlier versions (like II / ACOW) and am compiling as many other AARs that I can find to create sort of a TOAW "encyclopedia" of sorts.

Okay, well, thanks again for the kind words! Have a great gaming day!!

[StuccoFresco]

Much appreciated. The Germans also had a lot of French units semi-surrounded SE of Paris, I see.

[Hellen_slith]

Yes, looking back, the Germans were very strong in this one, and Allies had a very hard row to hoe to even claw a significant loss in this go.

My worthy opponent Leonidas has now a pending challenge on the server, in Arrancourt as German, but that map is surely an Allied victory.

At least I think so, perhaps Leonidas has a special strategy up his sleeve. He is a worthy opponent.

Again, looking back on this one, key to Allies is keeping the Brits on the board ... and I saw Leonidas trying very hard to take them off.

Luckily, I was able to keep Dunkirk in hand, had that not been so, Paris would have fallen.

Some thoughts on scenario design: Belgians and Brits kept appearing for me in South France, that was surprising but did not have much impact on defense of S. France. Key for me was defending Paris, and keeping the railroad open to Chartres was key also for me.

It was a fun game, a good "beer & pretzel" scene.
PPPS: Also, in the scenario ending, mentions Operation Sea Lion (invasion of England proper)
I think it would be interesting to take on that scene in TOAW, to follow up this.

Will post a challenge for that, taking England, as soon as my short Moscow is done against Sandy.
We are on turn 55 or so in that one, almost done, w/ a Soviet OV there ... maybe I do better in Sea Lion next.

Okay, well, have a great gaming day!