Matrix Games Forums

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear eriador08,

thanks for your interest.
If you enjoyed the previous games, you will also enjoy this one for sure.[/font][/center]

Wow, it's been a while since I used this account. Following your AAR with huge interest, werter HvS!

I think 1AP for 1 entrenchment point is not a good decision. In a previous game you needed one full turn for this.
How do you see is a game more static? Especially in the Eastern front?
I'm looking at Galicia front and afraid of this. I think previous game was really balanced in this component.

Really enjoying this AAR. I appreciate the fact that you have exposed a few new mechanics that the Classic release did not have. I also have noticed quite a few more decisions, which is great. This release looks like it will give WW1 a very good representation. Can't wait for the next post!

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear Hjalfnar,

nice to see you here as well.


Dear ArtDen,

it takes a unit 1 AP to build entrenchments. This does not mean that a unit a already fully entrenched; it just means the trenches are build.
It still takes a while until the unit is fully entrenched.


Dear vonspee,

Thanks for your interest.
I will continue to highlight new features.
I might post Turn 4 later today.[/font][/center]

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 4 (AI)

22.08.1914



I did not loose a unit, but 13 strength points in total.
Unfortunately I don't have the MPPs to refresh these units, so I have to remove them from the frontline.



There are 6 visible Russian corps against 3 German.
I need to react.
Königsberg must not fall to the enemy, this would hurt my NM in a way I cannot recover from.



Everything fine in Poland.
During the AI turn, I have seen that the AI did operate a couple of units to Warzaw which is exactly what I was hoping for.



The Russians dig in which might be the best idea in the long run.
The III Cavalry Corps is lucky to survive.



A Serbian attack is halted with losses on both sides.


[/font][/center]

Hey HvS,

thanks for your interesting AAR. One Question regaridng the western front: Wouldn't it be better, to retreat in Elsaß-Lothringen one Hex back to the line Straßburg - Mühlhausen? It wouldn't be longer than your line, but it should be easier to defend because of the Defence Boni from Straßburg (City) and Mühlhausen (Fortress). Maybe you could avoid some of those nasty losses you had this turn...

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear Kardinalinfant,

in general you are right. Straßburg and the Fortified town Mühlhausen would be much better to defend.
But I have made the experience that with progress in Trench Warfare attacks down there get less.
The French have huge losses as well, so I can get away with this.
But the final and deciding reason is: I need to advance sooner or later.
To conquer Verdun, you need a lot of artillery.
To conquer Verdun and keep it, you need to control the surrounding hexes.
If I retreat now, I would have to take these hexes back sooner or later, and this means a lot effort.
In my eyes taking losses in defending these hexes is less effort than taking them back in 1915.
[/font][/center]

Thanks for this AAR! I'm hooked already.

I follow this AAR with high interest

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 5

29.08.1914



Another corps lost... and I cannot buy it back at the moment.



Here we can see the effect of the new feature for cut off units: the Russian detachment suffers a loss of 2 strength points.
There is a random factor behind this: it can be 0, 1 or 2 points.



This went perfect.
Ypern and Lille conquered, Antwerpen decimated and French marines driven back.

For those who think this was quite easy: please keep in mind I did not conduct any offensive actions against the French army.
No Schlieffen plan, no Marne-Schlacht. May be there are other ways of doing this, but I am happy with this one.

In RL, Germany did the Marne-Schlacht and lost.
Then they did the Race to the Sea and lost as well.
I prefer to do just one of these two and be successfull.



A combined strike of the German I Korps and the I Reserve Korps destroy one of the Russian attackers.
Now there are 5 Russian corps and 4 German, and this is way better than 6:3.



This is the second part of the need feature for cut off units: attacks against them cause more casualties.
An attack by a German cavalry corps had a forecast of 0:6.
So it is very easy to destroy these units.

Apart from this, another Russian cavalry corps is destroyed.
So I destroyed a total of 2 cavalry corps and 2 detachments.
All other visible units are corps, so their destruction will more difficult.

My next target is to drive the Russians back behind the river Weichsel until year's end.



I have established a closed front line, and I have two corps in reserve.
I am pretty sure the AI will focus on destroying one of my units, so I need replacements.



I will launch an attack in the next turn.
Once I have conquered Valjevo, one more corps will be diverted to the Italian front.
I need at least 4 corps there.



Germany invests in shell production.



AH invests in Infantry Weapons.



The Ottomans invest in Trench Warfare.



I need to capture more resources.
Lodz, Lille and Briey will help, but this is not enough.



This is something I have to deal with in 1916.



Once the Russian threat is gone, I can send the Hochseeflotte to the Nordsee.
But this will take time.[/font][/center]

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 6 (AI)

05.09.1914



French forces occupy every single hex from Straßburg to Lille.
This means two problems for me.
The first: once the French are entrenched, I cannot attack without artillery.
And I need to attack sooner or later if I want to conquer Verdun.
The second: the French can launch attacks against my positions when they attack with Prepared Attack Bonus.

Consequence: I need to punch a few holes into their frontline.

Side aspect: the AI did focus on the front from Lille to Straßburg and did not put too much effort in the area around Boulogne.
This is where I will put my focus in the next turn.



Without the IV Corps in Königsberg, the Russian cavalry would have slipped through and Memel would have been cut off.
The AI is very good in finding holes and cutting off single units.
This is why I will try to have closed frontlines in later stages of the war.



More Russian troops appear and dig in behind the river Weichsel.



This unit was in good shape and in an entrenched position.
But this did not help against five attack waves.
This is why I need to have two reserve units behind the front line.



Serbian supply is just at 6 in the western part of the front, so the combat values of the two western units are not very high.
This means potential losses for the attacker would be too high, and so the AI hesitates to attack.


[/font][/center]

This is highly pedantic, and I may be wrong, but I think I detect a map error on the Balkan coastline.

Cattaro (modern Kotor) appears on the map West of Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik). In fact Kotor is east of Dubrovnik, and basically next to Cetinje. Cattaro would be the correct name for the port next to Cetinje - though if that port needs to be a convoy destination, don't use Cattaro as it was an Austro-Hungarian naval base, it would be better to give Montenegro the hex under Cetinje and put a port named Bar on it.

In terms of map error...I noticed that the in-game Serbia has a strip of land leading to the Adriatic Sea, with a port next to the Cetinje.
IRL before WWI Serbia did not have any direct access to the Adriatic, it was a landlocked country, and the coastline north of Montenegro was entirely belong to A-H.

Although it is possible that this is a game design, for Serbia need to have supplies from France...but I still think this strip of Adriatic access is somehow strange.

ORIGINAL: eightroomofelixir

In terms of map error...I noticed that the in-game Serbia has a strip of land leading to the Adriatic Sea, with a port next to the Cetinje.
IRL before WWI Serbia did not have any direct access to the Adriatic, it was a landlocked country, and the coastline north of Montenegro was entirely belong to A-H.

Although it is possible that this is a game design, for Serbia need to have supplies from France...but I still think this strip of Adriatic access is somehow strange.

Oh, good point. I'd assumed that was Austro-Hungarian territory west of Montenegro which the Entente had taken.

But you seem to be right - that looks like completely ahistorical Serbian territory. The convoy should go through Montenegro somehow. (Maybe add the extra port at Bar, and make the port itself Serbian-owned - it wasn't, of course, but if the terminal hex ownership affects the convoy this might be necessary)

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 7

12.09.1914



Another AH corps I cannot buy back at the moment.
My lines in Galicia get thinner.



Albania will be in the war soon.
Unfortunately on the wrong side.



This will help to fight the Russian Fleet in the Baltic.
In the early stages of the war, subs are very difficult to sink, so they can stand many attacks.



In the west, three different things happen in one turn.

1. Attrition
German troops destroy 3 French corps.
I lost 10 strength points, the French lost 25.
I will not do this unless I can achieve a ratio of 1:2 or better.

2. Antwerpen conquered
Belgium will surrender after this turn, and I will receive more than 100 MPPs of plunder.

3. German troops close in on Boulogne.
Maybe the most important success.
If I can capture Boulogne in 1914, this would be a major step ahead.



In East Prussia, I need to be defensive at the moment.
In Turn 9, I will receive 2 fresh corps.



In Poland, my troops entrench themselves in front of Warschau.
I want to attack the fortress in Turn 11.. as soon as my artillery is in range.



Defensive first also in Galicia.. refresh and hold the line.
I am pretty sure I will loose another corps there, and I need to buy back some corps sooner or later.



Another Serbian corps is gone.
But I need to refresh in the next turn.



Germany buys another chit in Shell production.
AH buys a chit in Command & Control, they need it.
The Ottomans buy another 2 chits in Trench Warfare.
[/font][/center]

Sadly I cannot see the pictures. Is this just me?

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 8 (AI)

19.09.1914



Just a few attacks by French units.
The AI is smart enough to establish a closed frontline.
As soon as every hex from Lille to Straßburg is entrenched, the AI will start more attacks.



In the Baltic Sea, the first encounter between Naval forces has started.
Two Russian DDs and a CL attack two German subs.
One dives, one is slightly damaged.
These two subs are baits, I want the Russian to attack.
Every DD or CL I can sink lowers the Russian ability to hunt my subs.
And it will help my NM.

In East Prussia, the German I Corps escaped destruction.
Fortunately I get 2 fresh corps in Turn 9.



This situation in Poland is a marvellous expample of crucial factors in military confrontations.

The Russians have 10 corps.
Germany has 3 corps, 3 cavalry corps, 2 detachments, 1 Heacy artillery and 2 Recon Bombers.
So the Russian side is slightly stronger.
But 5 of their corps are bound to cities or fortresses, so the AI can just use 5 corps.
My units are entrenched behind rivers, and the Russians do not have artillery.
In other words: I have the initiave, and the AI can only react.



In Galicia, the situation is vice versa.
Both forces have the same strength, but my units have a long frontline to defend.
So the Russian have the initiative, and I can do nothing but react.



Serbian troops attack my positions and cause losses on both sides.
None of my units is threatened, but all of my units are damaged.
So I need to refresh them next turn, and this will cost precious time.
I need to take Valjevo as soon as possible.
Then I can divert one corps to the Italian front.
[/font][/center]

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 9

26.09.1914



I need to buy back a AH corps this turn, otherwise I will get overrun in Galicia.



Two German corps will help a lot in East Prussia.



Although it consumes half of my income per turn, I need to buy a corps.



A major success in the west!
German units capture Boulogne and win the Race to the Sea!

For all readers who wonder why I did this: in previous tests I have made the experience that the AI usually kills units in corners or bulges.
This is why I don't occupy the empty hex south of Metz.
If I send a unit in there, it will be gone immediately, and in the long run I cannot afford these losses.
This is why the most important target in the west is too create a frontline from Boulogne to Metz without any corners or bulges.

If I have researched Trench Warfare 3, this will be easier.
But at the moment sending units into these positions would mean their certain destruction.



The first Battle of the Baltic is clearly won by the Hochseeflotte.
Russia looses two Destroyers and a Light Cruiser.
At the moment, Russia has no Destroyers left (just one Light Cruiser), so it cannot fight my subs.

And there is a second effect: sinking these three ships brought me 800 NM points, and this improves my NM by 1,6%.
This is a very good way to cope with the negative effects of the British distant blockade.

But the victory was not easy:
I used 3 DN, a BB, a CC, two subs and 3 DDs.
These units lost 13 strength points, and I need to repair them.
This will cost me a lot of MPPs, but it was worth it.

In East Prussia, the situation looks much better now.
I cannot mount an offensive, but at least Königsberg looks safe.



My Heavy Artillery is ready to de-entrench the fortress next turn.
I want to drive the Russians behind the Weichsel until the end of this year.



Two AH corps destroy a damaged Russian corps.
This takes pressure away from the oils wells.



Unless something extraordinary happens, I will launch a massive attack on Valjevo in the next turn.



Germany buys another chit in Shell Production, the Ottomans buy a chit in Infantry Weapons.
[/font][/center]

[center][font="Times New Roman"]


Turn 10 (AI)

10.10.1914



The French launch a couple of attacks.
Unless they bring Heavy Artillery, my positions are not threatened.



In the Baltic Sea, the Russian Navy does not strike back due to bad weather.

In East Prussia, I need to replace the detachment in Memel with a corps.
Otherwise the AI will continue its attack until Memel falls.

In Poland, the AI refreshes and digs in.



Without retreating, the IV Corps would have been destroyed.



This will hinder my attack on Valjevo.
[/font][/center]