Call to Arms 1914 Jazon vs Racndoc

[Jazon]

Hi!
This is my After Action Report from game against Racndoc. This is my second Multiplayer game in Call to Arms scenario, and first as Entente. Before I started I read thoroughly all thread on this forum called “Things you should know before MP”. I must admit many of the stuff written over there opened my eyes for aspects of the game I didn’t even noticed before.
Since this is my first time as Entente I didn’t have any Grand Plan for the war, my guts only told me “don’t do anything stupid”. So my major attitude is defense, at least till 1915.

August 8 1914 , Turn 1
The first note I took about this game was, believe it or not: ... WTF. I just watched replay of Central Powers turn, and my first thought was, literally, WTF!?
I just realized Racndoc had practiced his opening move before. In France, he got two hexes to Paris! Initially I didn’t understand, how it was possible. Later I looked at the map carefully again, and spotted German cavalry unit. He must have breakthrough French forward position, run a cavalry raid to capture terrain, and then let this Pikelhauben wave get in, using force march order. I was shocked and confused. I was expecting rough attack at the beginning, but I didn’t expect to see three German Corps just 2 hexes away from Paris!
The other Blitz my opponent performed was raid in The Baltic. Russian Fleet suffered heavy loses and was practically blocked in the Finnish Bay. Again, I was terrified by this bold and aggressive move.
This situation, let me think - apparently Racndoc had his clear and tested strategy. I needed to do something unpredictable, to get him off from his plan, so I decided not to hold Turkish Battleship in UK, which caused 3k damage to Russian morale, but significantly delayed Ottomans joining the war. Actually I guess it was worth it even just in MPP’s, because each turn with neutral Turkey gives 30MPP’s for Dardanelles trade for the Tsar.
On Eastern front, in Central Poland nothing really happened. In Serbia Austro-Hungarians only hold the line, however I did spot one German Core near Sarajevo. I also noticed AH U-boot swam into Mediterranean.

August 8 turn 1.jpg (260.94 KiB) Viewed 3426 times

[Jazon]

Turn 2 August 22 1914
France: I counterattacked at Paris gates, destroyed one German Core, and established a defense line.
Serbia: I counterattacked and destroyed one AH core at outskirts of Belgrade. I started FR-SER convoy, but the convoy line was mined by my opponent.
Eastern Front: I was calmly mobilizing forces. In Galicia I’ve tried to find the gap in AH lines by stretching the front line. Germans continued to shell Russian warships in Gulf of Finland ports. So far aim for Russians is to tie as many German forces as possible. Question is where to send corps mobilized around Moscow.
Northern Sea: Destroyer and submarine I spotted last turn disappeared. I need to hunt them down!
The Science Front: I recall Heavy Bombers chit for Russia and Industrial Technology for Serbia. To tell the truth I didn’t know I can do it before I read Things that you should know before multiplayer match... In this turn I put one chit for Trench Warfare for each country I had. I wanted to put more, but there was just not enough MPP’s.
At this stage I wasn’t sure where the Schwerpunkt of this war was yet...

[BillRunacre]

That's a pretty amazing first CP turn! Looking forward to seeing how this goes.

[Jazon]

Hi Bill!
Indeed, first turn CP advance in France was like a kick in the nuts! I was in awe.

Turn 3 September 5 1914
France: British Expeditionary Force was annihilated by another bold German attack. I was devastated. Two UK cores didn’t even get a chance to see some action. They were tore apart by Teutonic fury, just after they deployed in Flanders. I immediately bought one of them as replacement.
However, “race to the sea” kept Germans busy so much, that they needed to leave Belgians alone. I saw an opportunity to make a counterattack. I used Recon Planes to soften up Wurst eaters first. French forces presented some Elan, and wiped out two German Infantry Cores and a Cavalry Core. Front line become to look like a bottleneck, and I was determined to squeeze it up!
Serbia: I improved my positions around Belgrade, and awaited attack.
Eastern Front: I continued my strategy of stretching out lines, hoping that threat of flank attack will provoke Germans to recall some of their forces from the West. I was saving Russian lives, they will be needed later. At that point, with their low stats, they would be nothing more then cannon fodder. I spotted German Artillery Unit in Thorn, and that gave me a feeling that Racndoc main focus will be in the East. Russian mobilization continued, two cores appeared at the rear, but l didn’t have a clue where to put them next.
Northern Sea: I spotted an U-boot and a Destroyer passing Iceland, but didn’t got enough ships to pursue. Instead I set a double blockade - close and distant, hoping to reduce German morale as soon as possible.
Science Front: My main focus was Trench Warfare. I made 1 chit for Serbia[ 2 in total at that time], and reached 3 chits per country for France, UK and Russia.

September 5 1914-turn 3.jpg (353.81 KiB) Viewed 3357 times

[Jazon]

Turn 4 September 19 1914
France: In replay I saw that two French Cores were killed by Germans. Well, C’est la vie, I was determined to continue my offensive to crush the “bottleneck”. I destroyed two German Cores in revenge. Also I moved UK Infantry and Cavalry Core to Antwerpia to strengthen the Belgians. Even without HQ support they ought to provide the other end of the “Bottleneck”. Only holding Lile kept Germans out of the encirclement. I was sure next turn I will crush them!
I also arranged Indian Cavalry Corps to sail to France and formed extra British marines unit in London.
Northern Sea: I kept blockade and set additional mines. Also I sent a raider to Norway-Germany Convoy, north to the blockade line.
Serbia: Passive, only on Adriatic I finally killed this AH U-boot. Also I set a 4 hex long blockade to secure France-Serbia convoy route. That also would keep AH fleet in their bases.
Eastern Front: I kept calm, although German kept hitting Russian Imperial Fleet in its bases. North to Peremysl Austro-Hungarians made a furious attack against Russian IX Corps, which survived it only with one strength point, I withdrew it immediately for regeneration. I spread my positions far West, to endanger Cracow, in order to force Racndoc to secure this direction. Also in East Prussia I advanced one hex further whole line, 5 cores and entrenched. I did not attack. Purely to make my opponent confused. Let him worry what it was about!
Science Front: I bought Infantry Weapons chit, both for UK and Russia. By mistake I also clicked Infantry Warfare for Russia. Well, I hoped it will pay off in the future. I also bought additional chit for Anti-Submarine Warfare for UK, reaching 2 chits invested.

September19 turn 4.jpg (392.25 KiB) Viewed 3340 times

[BillRunacre]

Recapturing Reims will be pretty useful, Paris is safe for now!

[Jazon]

Turn 5 October 10th, 1914
Autumn hit hard, and almost all Europe was covered by mud. This condition prevented any major maneuver in this turn.
France: Germans destroyed French Cavalry and Infantry Core. It turned out that I couldn’t encircle those Boche who reached the sea. I still held north of Belgium with Antwerp though.
Eastern Front: In the north I captured Memel and destroyed a detachment there. Germans stepped back one hex in Prussia, accordingly I stepped forward and entrenched. I had 3 cores in Reserve at Moscow then.I kept them as strategic reserve.
Serbia: All quiet.
Northern Sea: I traced an U-boot south to the blockade and tried to destroy it, however without success.
Science Front: Serbia added another chit to trench warfare. The French started developing Infantry Weapons.

Turn 6 November 7 1914
France: The mud was gone. That encouraged Germans to adjust the front. They attacked in northern Belgium and wiped out British Cavalry and Infantry Core, also one Belgian detachment. I thought all this affair in Antwerp was rather silly from my side. Well history likes to repeat itself, and Brits indeed performed in Charge of the Light Brigade style. Antwerp was still defended by Belgian Core.
I tried to counterattack with the French forces, but although I killed one German core, Elan was definitely gone. I’ve sent British reinforcements to Havre.
Northern Sea: All quiet.
Serbia: All quiet.
Eastern front: In order to bring relief in the West I sent Russians to storm East Prussia. I reached outskirts of Konigsberg, destroyed one German detachment there, and one German core near Thorn. I also damaged another German core near Allenstein. I decided to keep the pressure. I wanted to see if Racndoc had any reserves, that he could bring into play.
Science Front: France invested one chit in Science&Intelligence.

NOvember 7 Trun 6.jpg (371.28 KiB) Viewed 3309 times

[Bavre]

...
Before I started I read thoroughly all thread on this forum called “Things you should know before MP”. I must admit many of the stuff written over there opened my eyes for aspects of the game I didn’t even noticed before.
...

Glad you found it helpful!
Btw, the strategy your oppoent is using is on old classic, poineered by Dazo in this thread:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 5&t=360035
You can also see a variant in this video from ~ min 15 on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql3DtVv ... OHqDrBFC87

In essence it is based on two game mechanics:
The tile swap and forcemarch technique you already mentioned and the fact that attacks directly after a movement (without deselecting the unit) do not cost action points. That way you can do "drive by" attacks on the Belgian capital and still move deep into France.

Very exiting match so far and it's good to see some variation again in the applied strategies.

[Jazon]

Hi Bavre!
Thanks for comment, I took a look at Dazo's thread, and indeed, Racndoc was initially using Schlieffen Plan. Well that's my first MP game as Entante, so it may look I play very careful, becauset I didn't know what to expect.

Turn 7, December 5th, 1914
Northern Sea: In replay I saw German DD and Sub heading westwards. In my turn I was trying to find them, but they just disappeared.
France: Germans finally conquered Belgium. Western Front stabilized. Indian Cavalry Corps arrived in Marseilles. I changed BEF commander to top-rated gen. Plumer (7).
Serbia: All quiet. Serbian took losses due to Typhus outbreak.
Eastern Front: I stopped Russian advance in fear of losses. My goal was to gain time and relieve Western Front, not to reach Konigsberg. I knew that at this time Russian Army needed time to upgrade its abilities as much as possible before 1915 spring campaign. I reinforced all troops I had.
Diplomacy: Turkey leaned towards CP, reaching 88%. I don’t know if that happened because of CP player manual chosen diplomatic pressure or just by itself, according to game settings.

[Bavre]

...
Diplomacy: Turkey leaned towards CP, reaching 88%. I don’t know if that happened because of CP player manual chosen diplomatic pressure or just by itself, according to game settings.

Turkey eventually always joins the CP, player decissions on both sides can just change to exact point of time.

[Jazon]

Turn 8, January 2nd 1915
All Land Fronts: This turn I used for reinforcement and regrouping. I was also checking the possibilities of tactical attacks, but they seemed pointless. Then I discovered Germans were already on Trench Warfare Level 2.
North Sea: I destroyed one German U-boot north to Denmark.
Science Front: UK, FR, RU, Serbia - all countries reached trench warfare level 1.

Turn 9, February 27
Europe was covered by snow. Ottomans Prepared for War, next turn they would join Central Powers.
North Sea: On replay I spotted one more U-boot. I traced it in Jutland Bay, but wasn’t able to sink it.
Serbia: I reinforced Serbian HQ’s.
France: Front stabilized. I’ve sent UK Marines from London to the Mediterranean.
Eastern Front: I planned to attack in Galicia when spring comes. I used this turn to replace Russian Commanders. I sacked Ruszki and Rannenkampf, hired Kornilov and Yudenich. I still had two cores as strategical reserves in Moscow. I didn’t move them yet, because as Turkey will join CP next turn, I wasn’t sure If I would need them at Caucasian Front.

1915=February 27 Turn 9.jpg (545.61 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

[BillRunacre]

If the Germans can mass artillery on the Western Front then they might well be able to steadily push forwards. This should be fun!

[Jazon]

Turn 10, April 10, 1915
Replay: Turkey joined the war. Ottomans took Kars in Caucasus, and Sinai Peninsula and blocked Suez Canal. It didn’t look good. I sent one Core from UK to Mediterranean.
France&Eastern Front: All quiet, only Russians mobilized in Caucasus and I decided to form artillery unit there (decision).
Serbia: Stagnation, I held Belgrade but it was surrounded from four sides. I guessed it was only a matter of time, when Austro-Hungarians would seize it.
Sea: I spotted a German U-Boot. It attacked my convoys from Canada. It turned out It could even damage the production in Halifax, supply hex lost some of its value. I didn’t even know it was possible.
Anyway, I decided to hold double blockade at all costs, to benefit from German declining morale as soon as possible. I also kept British Dreadnought on German convoy Route to Norway. I didn’t had enough force yet to chase U-boots all over Atlantic, so I needed to accept the losses in convoys.
Research Front: UK gained Anti Submarine Level 1. It cheered me up, because it would help to solve the U-boot question.
Interesting thing: I choose to form additional British Units in Egypt when Ottomans joined the war, this together with Kitchener's New Army decision left UK with no income for next two turns!
Now I remembered there was one more decision active, it costed me MPP’ too. I wonder if other players ever had the same issue?

Turn 10 zima-wiosna 1915 balkany stagnacja.jpg (326.43 KiB) Viewed 3141 times

[Jazon]

Turn 10, April 10, 1915
Replay: Turkey joined the war. Ottomans took Kars in Caucasus, and Sinai Peninsula and blocked Suez Canal. It didn’t look good. I sent one Core from UK to Mediterranean.
France&Eastern Front: All quiet, only Russians mobilized in Caucasus and I decided to form artillery unit there (decision).
Serbia: Stagnation, I held Belgrade but it was surrounded from four sides. I guessed it was only a matter of time, when Austro-Hungarians would seize it.
Sea: I spotted a German U-Boot. It attacked my convoys from Canada. It turned out It could even damage the production in Halifax, supply hex lost some of its value. I didn’t even know it was possible.
Anyway, I decided to hold double blockade at all costs, to benefit from German declining morale as soon as possible. I also kept British Dreadnought on German convoy Route to Norway. I didn’t had enough force yet to chase U-boots all over Atlantic, so I needed to accept the losses in convoys.
Research Front: UK gained Anti Submarine Level 1. It cheered me up, because it would help to solve the U-boot question.
Interesting thing: I choose to form additional British Units in Egypt when Ottomans joined the war, this together with Kitchener's New Army decision left UK with no income for next two turns!
Now I remembered there was one more decision active, it costed me MPP’ too. I wonder if other players ever had the same issue?

Turn 10 zima-wiosna 1915 balkany stagnacja.jpg (326.43 KiB) Viewed 3138 times

[Jazon]

Turn 11, May 8, 1915
Replay: Germans attacked at Eastern Front and slayed one Russian Core. Also this German U-boot close to Canada continued its hunt. Italy joined the War!
North Sea: Now, with ASW on level 1, I gathered four British Destroyers and a Seaplane carrier in Western Britain ports, in order to rearm them to the newest anti-submarine equipment. Then I planned to sent them to deal with this damn U-Boot. I wanted to do this ASAP, but in this turn still there was no income for UK.
British Core continued its voyage to Egypt. Another New Kitchener’s Army Cores appeared in the Isles.
France: Meanwhile, I got flustered. I was checking possibilities of any French offensive, but it seemed that Germans where ahead of me in Trench Warfare. I could only sit in my trenches and repeat Merde!
I bought one artillery unit for France. Hoped It would help to break the stalemate. I also bought a detachment, in order to sent it later to Libya, to cover Libyan partisans. I decided to form French Foreign Legion Corps.
Eastern Front: Russians performed two tactical counterattacks. They killed one German Core near Thorn, and one AH Core in the south. In Caucasus I was attacking in order to retake Kars, I damaged some Turkish units. Actually in this turn I was only active in the East.

May 8 1915 Turn 11.jpg (359.88 KiB) Viewed 3137 times

[Jazon]

Turn 12 June 5, 1915
Replay: Racndoc attacked on the Eastern Front, he killed two Russian Infantry cores and one cavalry core. I explained to myself I shouldn’t panic. Loses were caused mainly because at this moment German Trench Warfare was higher then mine, but as I checked, Russian Empire should soon catch up with TW level. Other important thing was that this U-Boot close to Canada was still hunting down my convoys.
France: I’ve spent all MPP’s to research. I needed to upgrade French military as fast as possible, so they would be able to counterattack against Boche.
Italy: I did a tactical attack, but It was clear, Italy at this stage couldn’t do much.
Eastern Front: I eliminated on German core in the center, made two tactical attacks against Austro-Hungarians in Galicia and small advance in Caucasus against the Ottomans. However nothing to brag about.
Science Front: Italy reached C&C level 1; Russians reached Infantry Warfare 1.

June 5 1915 - Turn12.jpg (462.05 KiB) Viewed 3090 times

[Jazon]

Turn 13, June 1915
Replay: Ottomans blocked Suez Canal with two infantry cores. On eastern front Germans continued to advance and killed two Russian cores.
Mediterranean: I knew I should take the initiative, so I decided to make a strategic attack: I was about to make amphibious assault in Syria. The assault would be perform by British. I thought HQ unit, three infantry cores, one Cavalry core and two Marines divisions should be enough to do the job: capture Damascus and cut off Turkish Forces on Sinai Peninsula. Marines were already in place at Rodos and Lemnos, Infantry cores were dispatched by sea from the British Isles. It would take some time to gather all forces in place.
Serbia: I invested one chit in Infantry Weapons, since infantry is main Serbian force.
Italy: Tactical attack to test enemy’s defense, and keep AH forces in the Alps.
Caucasus: I didn’t know why, but Racndoc decided to withdraw from Kars. I took it back immediately.
Eastern Front: In center I withdrew from Lodz, plan was to slowly go back on Vistula line. Russians desperately needed support. I set 20% MPP’s convoys from UK to Arkhangelsk.
Science Front: All Entente reached Trench warfare level 2.

Turn 14, July 17 1915
Replay: It was devastating day for Serbians. Belgrade fell under Austro-Hungarian assault. Serbian core which defended the capital, died performing its duty till the last man. In Central Poland Germans continued offensive. It was a killing spree for the Teutons, another two Russian cores were wiped out. It noticed Germans deployed two artillery units on the Eastern Front. It was clear my opponent’s goal was to knock out Russia from the war as soon as possible.
U-Boot near Halifax was still on the loose, affecting UK’s income.
Eastern Front: I was facing serious casualties every turn. I needed to face the bitter truth: withdraw was the only solution to avoid annihilation by Krupp’s shells. I formed a perimeter around Warsaw. Major city with Novogeorgievsk Fortress in vicinity formed a strong point in Russian positions.
Actually since that point in the game I started to buy a Russian Core every turn (sometimes even two), just to fill in the lines. It was pure myasorubka (gore).
I also spotted Racndoc load his German Marines unit into amphibious vessel, they were in Gulf of Riga. I concluded that I would need to sent one Russian Core nearby, just in case.
Sea: Submarine hunting task force left Britain and head to Canada to sink this crazy U-Boot. Forces designed for landing in Syria passed Gibraltar.
Italy: All quiet.
France: All quiet. I used this calm time, to send French Foreign Legion and Colonial Corps to Serbia. In my opinion keeping Germans and Austro Hungarians separated from the Ottomans was a sine qua non condition to achieve victory. If Serbia would fall at least a dozen of enemy cores could be used elsewhere. I was determined to not let that happen. Main idea was to capture Syria by the British and support Serbia by French forces. I didn’t have this idea before I started the game, I just concluded it while playing. Some may said I just copied Winston Churchill’s plan. Anyway It seemed worth trying.
Science Front: Russia developed Industrial Technology level 1 - and actually got quite a lot of MPP’s together with British assistance.
Diplomatic Front: I backed up Greece coup, and pushed them towards joining Entente.

Turn 14 July 17 1915.jpg (308.33 KiB) Viewed 3064 times

[Bavre]

About industry research:
Russia has a giant empire, but sh*t industry efficiency (can be seen by hovering over their flag in the upper left corner).
Industry tech increases that efficiency by a set percentage, 10 or 15%, not sure. Anyway this is a HUGE plus of 120+ MPP per round for Russia. Next best is Germany with a good 60 MPP per tech level.

[Jazon]

Turn 15, July 31 1915
ERRATA: I forgot to mention that last turn in Italy, I didn’t know why, Italian warship was in Trieste. I destroyed it in two attacks performed by Italian Infantry Cores:)
Replay: Russians lost one detachment at outskirts of Warsaw. Actually this turn gave me some breath after all those losses.
Atlantic: 3 British DD and Seaplane Carrier were mid-way to Canada. Other destroyers continued rearming to ASW 1.
Invasion Force: Infantry cores started reaching Egypt. In Marseilles Indian Cavalry Corps boarded ships.
Italy: All quiet. I replaced one of Italian Commanders, and reinforced HQ units- because they started with 8 strength points only, which affected their performance.
France: All quiet. I used it to spend two chits on Artillery weapons and one chit on Shell/Gas production.
Eastern Front: All quiet on Caucasus. Bulgaria reached 55% attitude to join Central Powers. I reinforced Russians, bought a core also put a chit in Trench Warfare.

Turn 16, August 14 1915
Replay: Gulf of Finland were crowded with U-Boots. Russian warships trapped in ports were hit every turn. Germans continued Drang nach Osten, they killed one Russian detachment and two Infantry cores. Novogeorgievsk Fortress fell, German Marines were wandering around Riga, but they didn’t landed. Whole German effort was pointed against the Tsar. Bulgaria reached 66% attitude towards war. It didn’t look good.
Eastern Front: There was panic in Warsaw. Governor ordered to dig in the City. Russians were to weak to counterattack. The only way was to sacrifice men in stubborn defense and buy some time. All Russian MPP’s were spent to cover the losses.
I spotted lone German Destroyer not far from Arkhangelsk, British Admiralty sent one of their submarines to deal with it.
France: All quiet. I only faked some action around Antwerp, some ships were hanging around, pretending to look for a landing spot. I hoped it will drag at least one German core from the front.
Italy: Pasta lovers were enjoying summer sun and reinforcing their under strength cores. They were too weak to attack.
Serbia: All quiet, saving MPP’s to resurrect the core lost in Belgrade.
Invasion Force: Main forces: 3 Infantry Cores and HQ grouped in Alexandria. One Marine Division was heading Cyprus to join another Marine unit. Plan of the operation you can see on the screen attached.

Turn 16 Sierpien 1915 -.jpg (245.01 KiB) Viewed 3035 times

[OldCrowBalthazor]

Can't wait to see how you will hazard the Turks