AAR - PBEM Game 2 (The FIRST public AAR)

[MButtazoni]

it amazes me how people can draw conclusions (and form opinions) about the AI when this AAR is based on a 100% PBEM game.

let's just say the AI makes less mistakes than i've made in this game.[>:]

[Zakhal]

This game should be perfect for multiplayer (pbem). More so than the realtime HoI for instance. Playing this game only against AI would be a shame.

[VI66_slith]

BiN is Battles in Normandy, cousin to Korsun Pocket.



http://www.battlesinnormandy.com/main.asp

[MButtazoni]

Here's the Force Pool and Production Queue for the end of the Spring 41 turn.

[paullus99]

Germany Summer 1941 -

Our brave German troops marched back into Scotland this season, cementing our control of the English Isles. With the emplacement of artillery & more troops, we believe our position to be secure (for the short term).

The Luftwaffe was able to destroy the lone English light fleet guarding Norway, and with our new transports, we were able to reclaim that land for the Volk. We sent reinforcements there as well to prevent any attempts for a quick recapture.

Our new & improved U-Boats scattered across the Atlantic, hunting down merchants and were very successful. More subs are on the way.

In the Med, we didn't do much as we are waiting on new ship contruction to retake these vital waters.

In the Middle East & India, we repositioned some troops, torpedoed another merchant fleet, and wait for our Japanese allies. Its a deadlock at the moment - English colonial reinforcements have made the territories a little more secure & we don't want to take a chance in losing any more troops than necessary right now.

Production and research continues & some repair work has begun on captured resources & industry.

[Hoplosternum]

The game seems really good. I for one am not unhappy to see Sealion working as it occured both times after the UK Navy was caught away from home (or at least the North Sea). The UK player has agreed that he made a mistake, the same one - twice [;)] So I don't think that is a problem.

However I am a little worried about what incentive there is - or rather the lack of one - for the Axis to attack either the US or USSR. It seems that the Germans will be getting much stronger compared to the USSR the longer they wait. Plus it gives them longer to strangle the Commonwealth lessening their threat to the Continent when Germany and Russia do fight. Japan seems quite strong production wise but even so why take on the US before China is dealt with? Any thoughts?

PS - This AAR has been great but assuming the UK has fallen for good this time any results we see from now on are likely to be pretty scewed in the Axis favour. Any chance of you calling this one and starting again so that we can have a look at a more normal German-Russian war and US-Japan conflict?

[DerekP]

ORIGINAL: paullus99

Germany Summer 1941 -

Our brave German troops marched back into Scotland this season, cementing our control of the English Isles. With the emplacement of artillery & more troops, we believe our position to be secure (for the short term).

The Luftwaffe was able to destroy the lone English light fleet guarding Norway, and with our new transports, we were able to reclaim that land for the Volk. We sent reinforcements there as well to prevent any attempts for a quick recapture.

Our new & improved U-Boats scattered across the Atlantic, hunting down merchants and were very successful. More subs are on the way.

In the Med, we didn't do much as we are waiting on new ship contruction to retake these vital waters.

In the Middle East & India, we repositioned some troops, torpedoed another merchant fleet, and wait for our Japanese allies. Its a deadlock at the moment - English colonial reinforcements have made the territories a little more secure & we don't want to take a chance in losing any more troops than necessary right now.

Production and research continues & some repair work has begun on captured resources & industry.

Hmmmm.......methinks ship contruction is a tad too easy (and quick) if you can support the U boat and the Z plan campaign at the same time

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Hoplosternum

However I am a little worried about what incentive there is - or rather the lack of one - for the Axis to attack either the US or USSR. It seems that the Germans will be getting much stronger compared to the USSR the longer they wait. Plus it gives them longer to strangle the Commonwealth lessening their threat to the Continent when Germany and Russia do fight. Japan seems quite strong production wise but even so why take on the US before China is dealt with? Any thoughts?

Well, as I said it's a fine balance, or rather it *should* be a fine balance (this being a playtest). As you see I (as USSR) did get some production up in the last turns. Axis (as per current set of rules) need 50% more production to end the game with decisive victory. When I looked last time they had like 10% more production so I guess they will have to attack somewhere to either destroy allied production capabilities or get some more for themselves.

PS - This AAR has been great but assuming the UK has fallen for good this time any results we see from now on are likely to be pretty scewed in the Axis favour. Any chance of you calling this one and starting again so that we can have a look at a more normal German-Russian war and US-Japan conflict?

We will be starting new games don't worry [8D] but we'd like to see what will happen here, I don't think this game is necesarilly over though Axis have very good position (also I, as USSR would like to feel some actual combat even if that means getting kicked in the face by German hob nailed boot).[:D]

Oleg

[MButtazoni]

Hmmmm.......methinks ship contruction is a tad too easy (and quick) if you can support the U boat and the Z plan campaign at the same time

note though, we've played a year and a half of the game already

[Hanal]

With the type of Victory Conditions this game has, as long as the USA isn't invaded, and Russia remains in play, the Allies will still have a chance for victory no matter how bleak it looks on the map....

[paullus99]

Basically, my fleet consisted of several light fleet units (basic cruisers & destroyers), the U-Boats (which until recently were going under a lot faster than I could build them), Bismark & the other heavy fleet units (I've only had two build so far, Tirpitz won't be ready for another year).

Since each turn is 3 months, I can produce transports, subs, and light fleets at a good clip (every other turn I believe), but that is still 6 months of production.

If you look at the scale - that's not bad at all. I got very lucky this game & don't expect to have the same opportunities again. I certainly wouldn't be as far as I am in the Middle East if I hadn't pulled Sealion when I did.

[bigbabyhead]

Here goes nothing. The contraints on Japan's resources force me at this point to do something, and I'm hemmed in such that I need to either attack USSR or the US.

Landwar in China and the South pacific has begun. I think I got about half the fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor with no damage to my air wings, I didn't have enough supplies to pull the fleet back and still take some of the islands in the south, so they're going to pay dearly when Mr. Buttazoni gets his turn file.

I cleared out some of fleets and their escorts from the areas north of Australia, but the WA will have them back really fast. I have about one more turn to get as much of my military out into place as possible before I have to focus on breaking the inevitable blockades.

Hopefully my resources grab will make up for it, but I didn't put myself in the position I would like to be in. This is my first game playing as Japan, and one of the things I really like about this game is that each of the players has a really unique gameplay experience. My other Japan games are going much better as a result of what I'm learning here.

[Becket]

Based solely on the production screen that Ollie posted, I think the Axis will have to risk an assault on one of the richer areas -- either the SRA or territory of the USSR. However, note that Paullus's gains will allow him to potentially strike right at the heart of the Cacausus area or through the Ukraine, at his choosing. Luckily for the USSR that fog of war is off, so he can watch for the build up and try to respond accordingly.

[Becket]

Wow! I posted before the IJN assault began -- does this now free up the USSR and the US to attack anywhere, or can they only attack Japan?

[MButtazoni]

it unfreezes all the US frozen areas, so the WA's can attack GE and JA.

IF JA did attack RU then the Central and Eastern zones of RU are unfrozen allowing RU to fight against JA. (i don't think JA did this, hard to tell from the screenshot tho)

Persia is an interseting problem that i've posted on the Dev board already. RU is frozen so it cannot move troops to the areas just north of Persia (and west of the Caspian Sea). There are also no factories in this immediate area so RU cannot build units there either. it's been noted and it's in the hands of a higher power now.

[Becket]

BTW, thanks to you all for going above and beyond the call of duty on this AAR with so many screenshots. It is very much appreciated!

[Oleg Mastruko]

Soviets here again. No we are not unfrozen. Japs didn't attack us. Since our Far Eastern forces are in good shape it would not be advisable for Japs to over-extend their forces in that manner. They seem to remember the lessons we gave them at Nomonhan. So we are still completely frozen. But the production did go up - still we are doubful that it'll be enough to stop the German onslaught when it comes.

I wouldn't say USSR is lucky that the FOW is off - quite the contrary. Without the FOW German player may attack at the point of his choosing, while I am frozen and can't do anything until his first strike (which will no doubt be devastating).

Below is the victory screen taken during my turn...

BUT I did build some new factories at the end of my turn, so perhaps the situation is slightly better for Allies now? Once you hit the End turn button you see what's been built, but you can't go back to victory screen to check how the VP situation is changed.

Oleg

[paullus99]

Ok, now things are going to get interesting - a good thing I've got a few more subs coming off the production lines this year....

All hell is about to break loose......

[Zakhal]

As an allied player I might wanna try going full for Japan first. With the help of USSR if that is possible. I doubt germany can do much to stop that.

Once the russo-germanic war begins then prepare for the invasion of europe.

[bigbabyhead]

ORIGINAL: Zakhal

As an allied player I might wanna try going full for Japan first. With the help of USSR if that is possible. I doubt germany can do much to stop that.

Once the russo-germanic war begins then prepare for the invasion of europe.

I hate to admit it, but in this particular game that'd probably work just fine. I've learned a lot about playing Japan, but the side effect is that I'm nowhere near as strong as I could be at this point.

We'll see whether the WA player is holding a grudge for what happened in England and Africa...