Ash (Entente) vs KorutZelva (CP) - Classic AAR: "Get better" edition

[AshFall]

Turn 38: 25th of September 1915

Ottoman Morale at the start of turn: 3784 (17%)

Hm. 490 Morale lost… that means it counts on both the enemy and your own turn. If I accept the armistice the Ottomans have 8 of my turns left until collapse, given no further losses or changes. It also means KZ isnt boosting their morale by paying for it.

The Ottoman theatre of war is now of little consequence save for their slow march towards collapse. Dubail assaults the remaining Ottomans in mesopotamia, damaging Von Sanders as well as the cavalry unit and corps present there.

Due to mud and misery progress on the western front slows. Only a single German corps is destroyed, De Cary (5) is replaced by Petain (7) in preparation for the assault and possible counter assault.



More worrying, the German tech advantage is starting to show. They have deeper trenches than any Entente power, by a fair margin of research…

In response the French invest in Armored Warfare. To be followed by a chit in Infantry warfare (just developed to lvl 1) and Logistics. Britain reinvests in infantry weapons.

The Serbs retreat is hampered by mud, I cant pull the troops out of the country in one move as it is. I back away a little, send the Greek corps to bolster the Serbs and disembark Hamilton with the first British forces.



Minor Clashes with the Austrian navy results in slight damage from submarines to the Goeben and the austrian Destroyer Warsadiner is damaged by the Indomitable,

The Russians retreat while inflicting minor damage on the Germans. In the Ukraine the loss of a corps surrounding the Austrian cavalry does not save it from demise. Unfortunately, we were unable to destroy the exposed Austrian corps.


The Russians lost three corps this turn, that’s not good. The Austrians now also have improved infantry weapons, also not good.

All in all, this is going from bad to worse…

The Russians in response invest another chit into Infantry warfare (Just developed to 1) and buy back two of their destroyed corps.

I dont know whether Infantry warfare or Command is more important or better… hm, what do you guys think?

Ottoman Morale at the end of turn: 3339, 15%

[operating]

Have been enjoying your AAR.[;)] My version of SCWWI is of the tile map which did not suit me well to keep an interest in it, however after reviewing your campaign I'm considering getting the current version with hexes. Have not tried MP in SCWWI although did many MP campaigns with CTGW of which posted a number of AARs at the Matrix CTGW forum. Your strategy with Russia is of interest and your explanations about chits is very helpful. Surprised to see the easy rollup of the OE. Keep up the good work...[:)]

[AshFall]

ORIGINAL: operating

Have been enjoying your AAR.[;)] My version of SCWWI is of the tile map which did not suit me well to keep an interest in it, however after reviewing your campaign I'm considering getting the current version with hexes. Have not tried MP in SCWWI although did many MP campaigns with CTGW of which posted a number of AARs at the Matrix CTGW forum. Your strategy with Russia is of interest and your explanations about chits is very helpful. Surprised to see the easy rollup of the OE. Keep up the good work...[:)]

Hey!

Thank you so much, that has to be the best compliment one can get for an AAR, appreciate it a lot. Always good to help inspire someone to try the game.

If you have any questions about mechanics, thinking or strategy feel free to write here in the thread and I'll answer as well as I can.

The floor is of course open for anyone reading to do the same, just be a little careful with phrasing and what questions you ask if you follow the other AAR, as to not give anything away that I shouldnt know,

[AshFall]

Oh, also, if any answers I give to questions or thoughts I have about strategy or systems are completely off in the general sense I welcome any veterans of the game in commenting and making this the "get better" AAR it is meant to be.

[AshFall]

Turn 40: 23rd of October 1915

Attacks continue in the west despite the foul weather. Metz falls, a significant symbolic victory as the first German objective of any consequence taken by any Entente forces since the outbreak of the war.



The guns are moved up to continue broad offensive support, they are exposed behind damaged corps in low Entrenchment (since forces moving into trenches only gain half the entrenchments maximum value) but the German forces here are not strong enough to counter attack and destroy them.

The Germans have brought up additional guns as well. If they bring enough infantry corps this could turn very ugly.

France has now reached their research ceiling. Prioritizing Industry (2), Production (2), Shell production (2), Trenches (3), Armored warfare (3) and Infantry warfare (2). Interestingly they are 40% along to lvl 2 infantry weapons, and now have a chit in tank development as well. I’m hoping the mobility and tank techs together will produce some good results in late 1916 or 1917. The British are investing in Industry. I’m going to focus them towards aerial techs in the future, making sure that the research bonuses between majors work as much as possible to my advantage.

In the middle east Dubail damages the Ottoman forces around Baghdad, making sure (along with the reduction of Baghdads supply through siege) that they will not pose an obstacle if I need to collapse the Ottomans urgently for some reason. Yudenich is digging in and holding. Hamilton is moving his forces to Greece.

I’m hoping the Serbs will be able to hold for another turn or two despite the presence of upgraded artillery. With any luck, the terrible terrain, weather and ZOCs of troops will hinder an attack on the capital for long enough that weather will clear and I can evacuate the remaining Serbs. I maintain far fetched fantasies of moving the Brits up and taking Serbia back. I’m well aware they’re fantasies.




I’ll send the Serbs money through Salonica nonetheless, just in case. Hamilton is setting up to defend Greece against the Bulgarian entry and the central powers once Serbia falls. There are five more corps slated for this theatre so far.

The blow I feared fell on the Russians on the eastward axis, corps destroyed and a fair bit of damage. I desperation I pray for really bad weather, and prioritize upgrading their weapons (just developed and reinvested immediately this turn) so that they have some chance at all against the Central Powers army coming for them.



The Northeast is looking equally dicey. Bad weather plz?

[AshFall]

Turn 42: 20th of November 1915

Disaster.

Of course, after mud and repeated mud for me KZ has clear weather to play around in.

Russias East front is decimated. I knew when I had made some of those moves that it was a mistake, but no take backsies…

The situation is now absolutely dreadful.

I provide before and after pictures for context.

Well, a flurry of activity and operational movement to attempt to stabilize the situation, along with two newly rebuilt corps.



At least I manage to bring down the one exposed Austrian corps, the counterstroke will likely destroy the entirity of that army including Brusilov unless weather saves my butt.

The foremost area of concern in the Northeast is Riga, which is in artillery range of the enemy.




Nothing to do but hope for winter.

Bad as that is it does not carry the sting of the Balkans. I had mud here for several turns straight. That meant I could not get the corps around Uskub out of the country in one move, and moving the two that surrounded the capital would have meant instant conquest.

It’s fall, and the subsequent surrender of Serbia and loss of all those corps is a serious blow. I should have evacuated last turn, and tried to get at least one more corps out. Ugh. These are the darkest days of the Great War for the entente so far.

Also shown, last ditch gamble to attempt to influence Romania to my side. I can’t prevent the entry of Bulgaria, but I could perhaps score some brownie points on that other Minor. Alas, it was not to be. A pointless waste.



The sudden reduction of all Greek resources also hurts, of course it was the Major Capital of Uskub bolstering them.

The West gathers its’ strength for another attack, and to the sound of guns that have not been silent since August another two German corps are scattered. To preserve stores of ammunition for another strike they are then ordered to hold fire. The guns of August are resting, for a while.

A russian undersea scouting mission reveals no shenanigans ongoing in the German fleet.



Given the developments in Russia Dubail is given the order to deliver the killing stroke to the Ottomans, their buffer will last only another three turns in any case and I need the troops that are locked in the caucasus right now.



General French oversees the last of the exodus of Troops from the west bank, leaving only minor garrisons.

In the War Office a plan to involve the Arabs by promising them their own state is gathering dust in a desk drawer, never realized…

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what to do next.

Unfortunately I would be surprised if Russia survives 1916, given that KZ goes for Lenin. If he does not, they may survive until summer 1917, depending.

So what is the best use for them, meanwhile? I’m going to try something drastic, the kind of silliness that wins or loses games. I think it’s essential, if I want to win in the long run, that the entente remains a threesome when Russia is all tuckered out and has to go for a lie down.

To that end I’m investing cautiously this turn into diplomacy versus the USA. 150, I.e. one chit each, from Britain and France. Unless I hit off that it wont be apparent what I am doing and it might cause KZ to invest somewhere else.

This also means the immediate lifting of the far blockade. I dont want to risk that sabotaging diplomatic gains I make.

I will need the US in the war as soon as possible to allow their economy to get into gear and their troops time to muster.

[operating]

If a faction surrenders (Russia in this case) does the captured hexes it possesses go back to the original owners? If OE surrenders can Entente units pass through it's (OE) borders?

I was just wondering if it would be worth it for the French to link with Russian borders in Mesopotamia?

[AshFall]

ORIGINAL: operating

If a faction surrenders (Russia in this case) does the captured hexes it possesses go back to the original owners? If OE surrenders can Entente units pass through it's (OE) borders?

I was just wondering if it would be worth it for the French to link with Russian borders in Mesopotamia?

For the major powers it's different depending on the major.

If their last capital (it often move when the first one is captured) is captured I think all majors surrender outright and their territory becomes the conquered and occupied territory of the principal enemy major power.

I'll take the ottomans and Russia as examples, probably the most complex two.

When the Ottomans national morale falls low enough the Entente gets a decision event about whether or not to accept their offer of Armistice. If denied they get a hefty national morale bonus.

If they are defeated by their national Morale falling to 0 a part of their country becomes Russian national territory and all their subsidiaries become British occupied territory (I think). If the Armistice is in effect the rest of their core territory becomes inactive. If the armistice was denied it becomes British occupied territory.

I'm not sure what happens if their capital is taken by Russia for example, I think the entire core becomes Russian conquered territory?

Russia is similar, breaking into parts and new states if they are defeated through a failure of national morale. Not sure if their capitals are taken, possibly their entire territory becomes occupied. A frightening prospect for the entente.

Interesting thought about moving French troops through the caucasus. It would take a long, long time due to the lack of railroads there.

[operating]

I believe Russia occupies Mosul, what I was inferring was that France makes border contact there, not in the Caucasus (just in case both OE and Russia are knocked out of the war).

[AshFall]

Turn 44: December 18th, 1915

The west is quiet aside from some minor attacks by the germans against weakened IVth corps by Luxemburg. Guns are cooling down and receiving service, stocks replenishing. Everyone knows that the killing will start again soon.



The French reinforce many damaged corps, but channel immense funds towards the funding of political movements in the US. An entire diplomatic corps is setting up “War embassies” across the pond.

In this the Brits are a little slower, preoccupied by moving their Army of the Mediterranean to Greece.



Still, their contribution is growing. 4 chits (20%, 600mpps) from France and 3 chits (15%, 450mpps) from Britain. The Russians, for reasons that will become clear, have been unable to muster the necessary funds...



It does look like Austria has invested two diplomatic chits somewhere, unclear exactly where. The Ottomans also invested two, but if I understand correctly they will cease to be effective when the Ottomans withdraw from the war.

These charts are hard to read accurately, which turn exactly were these chits spent? Some soft of slider or way to get more exact dates and turns by mouse hover would be welcome. Equally in the MPP/Losses etc graphs, that get hard to read when losses ever escalate into the thousands.

German attacks on Riga fail to dislodge the Russians there, and they shift to allow both reinforcement and some recovery of entrenchment.

The Central Powers chase Brusilov relentlessly, destroy the plane and fighter wing waiting to escort him to safety, massacre most of his staff, and in one of those small unlikely stories of individuals in war he is barely rescued by a Russian corps a week later (at 1 str). He had then led a small cadre of clerks and support personnel through the freezing weather and snow, hounded by Austrian cavalry at one point shooting pursuers horses at point blank with his service pistol. In later years “The plane that never left” would become a national top seller of daring ambushes, nerve wracking pursuits and the war on the knife edge between the will of man and the needs of the body.



Brusilov is already rebuilding his command staff.

Every scrap of industrial capacity that Russia possess is bent towards the replenishment and stability of its' army and men. They will divert resources towards diplomatic endeavors soon, but staving off collapse takes priority.

Despite this, the jig is up. The USA moves 6% towards the entente. The Maths is this, unless I am mistaken. 35% chance to influence (a "hit"), now 30% as one of the French chits are consumed by the "hit". Each hit will result in a 3-8% alignment shift, but each hit has a 30% chance to result in a larger swing of 12-20% or so.

This game of cat and mouse and random chance will be closely monitored.

I was also extremely happy to see a breakthrough in Industrial technology and infantry warfare. The former especially, since I have been kicking myself a bit over the third chit there since learning that Russia (Unlike Germany, France and the UK) has a degrading progression curve. The others apparently have a median 5% progression regardless of current tech level, but Russia degrades one per level and now only has a median of 3% per chit. That third chit does, however, significantly increase the chance of a breakthrough from 6 to 9% per turn.

[AshFall]

ORIGINAL: operating

I believe Russia occupies Mosul, what I was inferring was that France makes border contact there, not in the Caucasus (just in case both OE and Russia are knocked out of the war).

Ah, right! Unfortunately they do not. Their southernmost border becomes Van as far as I remember. I'll screenshot after the Ottomans collapse!

[AshFall]

Turn 46: January, 1916


A new year, the same miserable war.

On the west front the New year is celebrated through the festive firing of heavy shells upon the German corps blocking the way towards Mulhausen. The artillery here had 6/7 shells, and would gain 2. Firing three and gaining two seems a reasonable prospect! A german corps is blown off the line near Luxemburg.



The western entente is now fully invested into diplomacy towards the USA, 50% chance of a hit each turn.

The Russian scramble to stabilize the fronts continue. Cheeky German cavalry strikes through and hurts another Russian headquarters unit on the southeast front,it is in turn driven off with moderate losses.



Yudenich arrives in the Northeast to take command of the defense of Riga.

There seems to have been some organizational confusion when the Ottomans withdrew from the war. A sizable contingent of Russian forces were stuck on the wrong side of the new borders, and the Ottomans are refusing them passage to Russia. Moving them through conquered territory is going to take forever.



What should I do here? Just disband them for some quick cash?

Hamilton moves his forces up, seeing predominantly Austrian and Bulgarian units on the line. If that remains the case we should be able to conduct a counter offensive here.



The reason for this is Hamiltons extremely high experience, I dont think the Austrian commanders have as much and the Bulgarian definitely doesnt. Neither are better than base command 6 either.

Readiness = (((Unit Strength + HQ Rating) / 2 + Unit Morale / 10 + HQ Experience) / 2) * 10

Readiness is the most important statistic for unit effectiveness.

Let’s say both units have 70% morale full strength and a leader rating of 6, but the Austrian/Bulgarian HQ has no experience vs Hamiltons 3.

Austrian: (((10+6) / 2 + 70/10 + 0) / 2) * 10 = 75%
Hamilton: (((10+6) / 2 + 70/10 + 3) / 2) * 10 = 90%

What this comes out to is that each increase in infantry warfare, and each point of commander XP is “worth” 5% readiness. Each point of commander skill is worth 2.5%

Given that Hamilton is likely at least the equal or better of the opposing commanders and probably with better XP that is a nice advantage.

Add this to the effect of National Morale. Austria is below 75%, and has morale multiplied by 0.9. I think the UK is still at 90-95%, so should still multiply by either 1.0 or 0.95.

The USA moves another 7% towards the entente. Go go go!

The Russians get that third Industry hit, nice. It's not worth continuing the investment here, so I'll reassign some chits.

[Robotron]

How feasible would an Entente reverse-Schlieffen into Belgium be at this point in the game or in the near future in terms of manpower/production ability?

It looks like Russia is not going down anytime soon, at least that's my impression, so drawing away German forces from the east could outweigh any diplomatic hit on the US for attacking Belgium, if such a thing exists in this game.

Also I'd just disband the Russian troops on former Turkish territories if they can't reach the Balkans they will take forever to be moved back to mother Russia.

[AshFall]

ORIGINAL: Robotron

How feasible would an Entente reverse-Schlieffen into Belgium be at this point in the game or in the near future in terms of manpower/production ability?

It looks like Russia is not going down anytime soon, at least that's my impression, so drawing away German forces from the east could outweigh any diplomatic hit on the US for attacking Belgium, if such a thing exists in this game.

Also I'd just disband the Russian troops on former Turkish territories if they can't reach the Balkans they will take forever to be moved back to mother Russia.

I thought about an attack through Belgium for quite some time.

I think it's something you either want to do in 1915, gathering the Brits and French there without spending them elsewhere and delivering a hammer at both Belgium and the Netherlands. Or you do it after the USA has entered the war, I think they bring several NM boosts with them both on entry and when their troops arrive in Europe. This is currently the plan if both Minors are still in play by then. If the US hasnt entered yet and KZ feels he wants to attack Belgium he'll give them a little push in the process.

The NM penalty for attacking Belgium (through which you only gain an additional two squares to attack from if the enemy is ready for it) is pretty terrible, and US mobilization also takes a fairly bad hit. You get the same again attacking the Netherlands I think. That's the "I dont care about diplomacy, die die die" route .

The view I took in the end is this one.

The way both KZ and I have played this so far it's a long Endurance match between Germany and the UK/France. Currently the scores stand;
Germany: 73% (0.9 readiness modifier)
Austria: 52% (0.9 modifier)

UK: 96% (1.0)
France: 80% (0.95)
Russia: 49% (0.85)

Given my inferior tech I want to preserve the NM advantages for as long as possible to help my combat odds as well as generally preserve my NM for the endgame slugfest where we will (if it goes to my plan) both bleed white and he'll give up first.

Right now that's looking pretty decent, but a lot can happen. If KZ conquers Russia outright that would give him a very strong economical advantage, unless the US is in full swing and teched up.

If KZ goes with Lenin the Russians probably wont last until the end of 1916, possibly spring 17. They're bleeding a lot, and will bleed more when he takes the NM objectives in the North east. Lenin accelerates the fall of Russia by quite a bit, socialist agitation is bad news for a tottering Tzarite empire.

[AshFall]

Turn 48: March 16th, 1916

The west opens the curtains to a familiar tune, Mud and artillery fire.

Hard fighting opens the way towards Mulhausen. I try to get a corps in there with enough AP to turn the entrenchments around, but miscalculate and only manage to disturb my own entrenchments and put a worse British corps in that exposed position. Mud is a pain in the butt.



Quite a few Germans are gathering here, looks like reinforcements from at least Serbia and possibly some from the Galician area. I’m a little worried about a German attack through Belgium, but dont want to overreact and weaken my own offensive capabilities. I’ll take a closer look next turn to make sure.

The French, given that this is one of the last “long turns” this side of the year that allows more rapid production of units “turn wise” buy back three destroyed infantry corps. Best to make sure we have a healthy army.

Hamilton has somehow lost half an experience point, I’m not sure why. Probably because the auto-assist led the detachment defending Tirana which suffered several defeats.




Lord French (rated 3), who has acted as chief administrator and logistician in the middle east (effectively a “give hamilton supply 8" dummy) is blamed, perhaps unjustly, for the delays in logistics and deployment that led to the untimely surrender of Serbia. He is recalled for a talk with His Majesty (British speak for “sacked”) and replaced by Plumer (rated 7).

These initial probing offensives prove that we will need much more, and more advanced, artillery if we are to make any headway here. 2:2 odds just aren’t good enough. Investments are therefore made into artillery research (a second chit despite it already being at 74%). The Brits keep up the steady stream of cash straight into the pockets of ever friendlier US politicians (reinvesting the fifth chit in diplomacy).

The terrible weather and deep investment has allowed Russia to stabilize from the breaking point. After hitting the third level of Industry I dont see a point in retaining the remaining two chits. At 4% average progress per turn (2% per chit due to 5-lvl3), and a likely breakthrough of 15% once in 20 turns, it will be 20 turns before they reach lvl 4. They will have withdrawn by then.



I reclaim both chits and manage to replace two destroyed corps. The troops that were stranded in the middle east were officially disbanded and left to make their way home as civilians.

No hit on the US this turn.

[pjg100]

[/quote]

Despite this, the jig is up. The USA moves 6% towards the entente. The Maths is this, unless I am mistaken. 35% chance to influence (a "hit"), now 30% as one of the French chits are consumed by the "hit". Each hit will result in a 3-8% alignment shift, but each hit has a 30% chance to result in a larger swing of 12-20% or so.

I believe that in SCWaW, diplo against majors does not yield an opportunity for the larger hits; you just get the small hits. I don't know whether the same is true of SCWWI but I would assume that it is.

[AshFall]

ORIGINAL: pjg100

I believe that in SCWaW, diplo against majors does not yield an opportunity for the larger hits; you just get the small hits. I don't know whether the same is true of SCWWI but I would assume that it is.

Oh dear, that might be correct yeah! Oh well, slow and steady it is then.

[AshFall]

Turn 50: March, 1916

This was an eventful, and painful, turn. Mass casualties and stinging losses. Let’s get to it!

The west front sees a surge of fighting. The Central powers mount an offensive and push through Metz and near Luxemburg, reaching British artillery positions in the rear and nearly destroying the guns. In retaliation the entente launches a general offensive in the west.



Both german advanced corps are destroyed and their positions reoccupied, another German corps on the outskirts of Strasbourg is hammered by artillery and infantry attacks. Damaged, but not destroyed. The Brits ship new guns to the batteries that remain in place to keep bombarding the Germans into the ground in the weeks to come.

There is no buildup near the border of Belgium, and in fact the Germans are looking fairly thin…

The French invest chits into Armored warfare (3 again after developing lvl 1), and Tank development (now 2) as well as a second chit in artillery. Both they and the brits have reached trenches lvl 4.

The mouth of the Adriatic is a graveyard of Entente ships. A sudden attack by the Central powers navies with newly built torpedo boats to deal with the Entente subs drive the screening metal cigars off and they sink both a Battle cruiser and a dreadnaught. In return the Pas de Calais sea-plane carrier sank the Szent István Dreadnought, just barely. The first ever surface ship to be sunk by ship based aircraft (some 24 years too early).



The Austrians have brought up two guns in Greece, this might get complicated…

The Ententes seaborne woes may multiply. A second russian undersea intel run reveals a submarine at lvl 2 and German ships having shifted position westwards. Importantly, KZ has spent the MPPS to reinforce at least one of his pre dreadnaughts. In response British submarines immediately scout the sea outside Denmark, but finds nothing yet.



The Brits “Plan red” is immediately put into action, several dreadnaughts that have been at harbour since the far blockade was lifted is refitted with torpedo protection belts, and all other ships are shifted away and into harbours to receive refits. Fortunately we are not completely unprepared, in fact Anti submarine warfare is about to hit lvl 3.

That does not mean we will win, the German navy is very large and I have proven truly bad at the naval game so far. Is this the time when the British rise above and find a second gear, or will their ability to fight in this war sink along with their ships?

Russia was equally painful this turn, no less than four corps destroyed by the Germans. They are crumbling quickly.



They do fulfill the pledge towards their allies and bend effort towards bringing the US into the war, 1 chit at 150mpp. Chance now up to 55% per turn.

Russian NM is at 46% at the end of turn.

The US moves another 4%, now 17. Russia gains infantry warfare and command lvl 2, the UK ASW lvl 3 as expected.

[AshFall]

Turn 52: April, 1916

Plan red.

The Kriegsmarine nearly matches the Royal Navy in numbers, at 34 vs 35 naval vessels total. Of these 1 German vessel is in the Mediterranean, and 3 British. Four French ships are sailing to join the Brits.

The entente barely outnumbers the Kriegsmarine, 35 to 34. The Makeup is completely different though.

I have notes on the German Navy from hotseat up to october 1915, at that point it looks like this:

Germany: 6 destroyers, 3 Pre Dreadnaughts, 2 Battle Cruisers, 4 Dreadnaughts, 2 Armored Cruisers, 3 Light Cruisers and 11 Submarines.

Add the Goeben in the Mediterranean and we have two ships unaccounted for. Possibly a Submarine and a Dreadnaught.

The Entente navy consists of;
British: 7 Dreadnaughts, 3 Battle Cruisers, 4 Pre Dreadnaughts, 3 Submarines, 9 Light Cruisers, 6 Destroyers.

French: Armored Cruiser 2, Destroyers 2.

The biggest problem is of course the submarines, if you’re unprepared. Fortunately, our preparation should mean that moving submarines will only ever damage our ships by 0-2 points. All our non dreadnaught ships will hit 0-2/1-3 back though, and destroyers by 0-2/4-6.

Interestingly, submarines seem to become more effective when stationary and attacking, but not surface ships? Has anyone else noticed this?

If we can deal effectively with the Submarines we have a good chance in the Surface fleet engagements.

A shoutout here to Will, my long time friend and opponent, who once pulled a full kriegsmarine surprise on me back in WWI classic, and showed me what happens with a Royal navy that has done nothing but sun itself on blockade squares for the entire game when a fleet of lvl 3 subs come knocking. It was truly horrible. That experience has taught me to be paranoid when the Kriegsmarine does nothing for an extended length of time. The 200ish mpps it costs to tech up ASW in the meantime is a small price to pay.

I dont want to engage the Kriegsmarine in the North sea where it can easily retreat back to ports, I will instead assemble the fleet west of England, giving me time to refit the last ships and concentrate forces. It will also give me the advantage of ports closeby when they have none.

Scouting shows 11 submarines gathered off the coast of Norway, there is only one vulnerable target within their range, the light cruiser Pathfinder in Scapa flow.



No sign of the Surface fleet near Denmark yet, and several ships spotted still in the Baltic. To improve our awareness airships have been moved to Londonderry in Ireland and Wick in Scotland.

All of the Royal navy is now either gathering west of England or at harbour in France or Britain awaiting refits.

The west front is more bloodshed.



As is Russia but there it is the entente bleeding.



The Germans shift target to the corps next to Riga and break through with cavalry, it is eliminated and the line restored, but all corps are damagd and in low entrenchment. Minsk falls and another cavalry breakthrough drives Everts command staff back in confusion. We cant hit back due to low supply, so the Russians scramble backward and hope the Marshes will save them from the German advance.

In a very welcome first Russian heavy guns are heard in the southeast, heralding the destruction of an Austrian corps.

Guns continue to sound in Greece where Hamilton is finally successful in bringing down an Austrian corps.



The Naval clashes around the Adriatic continue to favour the Central Powers, the Goeben is quickly becoming the scourge of the mediterranean. Another French dreadnaught is sunk, though Combined Entente navy manages to sink an Austrian pre-dreadnaught in return.

To maintain secrecy about our level of preparedness for KZs naval operation in the atlantic, British ships continue to operate with no advanced ASW equipment here.

The British have invested in Aerial warfare (2 chits), the French one chit in ASW, and the Russians bend more effort towards diplomacy on the US as well as gearing up to replace their battered army.

55% chance on the US still.

Russian national Morale at 45% at end of turn, no hit on the US…

[Bavre]

ORIGINAL: AshFall
Interestingly, submarines seem to become more effective when stationary and attacking, but not surface ships? Has anyone else noticed this?

All units (except air and ranged) get a bonus for not moving before attacking. It's something like surface ships < land units < subs. It hurts even more to bump into a sub on your turn, then it gets its huge preparedness bonus plus the ambush bonus.