1943 Campaign is very fun as Axis

[RodentDung]

I'm trying 1943 campaign recently as Germany vs AI and found it is both difficult and very fun. It starts with the Battle of Kursk for a nice scrap to warm things up. For settings I selected Challenging and adjusted China's supply down to +10 bonus to avoid overstockpiling and gave Japan +1 attack help to ensure it can still get the odd shot in at America's uberteched units.

Has anyone else played this scenario? Its hard cause you gotta balance air defense production with badly needed ground forces and subs to both hold France and Italy while engaging the Russians in a continual punchfest.

I'm thinking it might be better to play Germany and Japan vs AI, cause if Japan is AI it will most probably be taken out by the USA.

How about you folks? Do you only play PBEM now? If you want to have a single player game I recommend this one for a nice tactical challenge. If you like to suffer and be dragged through the mud then this is just what you need. I will try PBEM next week or so and now still must learn more of the game so I don't get beaten down so badly.

[Grotius]

Sounds like a good workout! I'll give it a try.

[RodentDung]

Good luck Grotius! You will need it! Also important is to select 'no end date' and 'no auto victory' so you don't get cut out of the game early. I think the designers want the player to try and hold out only but I want to overcome the allies, especially in Africa, Russia and Pacific Ocean.

I thought more people might be interested in this but looks like they only want to play the 1941 campaign. I think it must get dull only playing one scenario every time.

[aletoledo]

I haven't played much of the other scenarios. I might give it a shot against the AI since you're saying its so nice.

[RodentDung]

Did you try it yet aletoledo and Grotius? Also I should tell you the option no end date must be selected cause it will end in 1945 in midwar if not. I think the designers intend for the axis player to try and just hold out til the end date to be saved by the bell but its much more fun and challenging to try and actually beat the allies.

[Grotius]

I haven't had much time to play the last couple days, but I will try it next time I fire up the game, which should be tonight.

[daskomodo]

I find it's a good way to learn how to attempt to win as Axis by lasting until 1946 or winning as the Allies by 1945.

Anyone win the game as Allies by 1944 yet?

[Grotius]

Well, I finally got around to trying this scenario. I played as Japan (not Germany) against the AI, on Challenging difficulty. It was fun! I managed a Marginal Axis Victory. Both Germany and Japan survived to the end of the game. My Japan was in decent shape; I still held Burma, the SRA, Rabaul, Truk, the Marianas -- really everything but Wake Island and one coastal Chinese province. My German (AI) ally was reduced to three provinces, but Festung West Germany held fast.

I guess I should try this one as Germany/Japan, not just Japan. I was just eager to see how the Pacific War went. I was a bit disappointed that the AI didn't take much territory from me. It satisfied itself with picking off my transports, which was annoying but not life-threatening. Still, it did seem to be making its move toward the end: its CVs arrived, it took Wake Island, and I saw lots of transports headed my way. But it ran out of time.

[RodentDung]

Yeah, playing as Germany is the most fun. Very challenging to try and push back the Russians while keeping the Allies off your beaches. It's a real unit management task. I am pushing into Russia in my game but mostly cause the AI is giving me a break by overprotecting Moscow with like 42 units in it.

Its best to play with no end date checked cause the AI doesn't get around to assaulting Japan until after the 1946 end date is passed. It sounds like the AI might speed this up in the next patch.