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hannaj wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:01 pm Ok just for the first 2 turns:

You can move a corps in Przemyl, and you also still have the 3rd cavalary. The first turns you can hold Lemberg, Russia should actually pay a high price to get it.

Without the Flensburg corps you can still put 1-2 corps from the initial mobilization to the east.

As for a game between two strong players you can see the tournament final https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=412154
Entente had no chance, it was only frustrating (at least if I was Entente I would have been frustrated, and I was vs. Fafnir as Entente and vice versa).
In that game Entente had at least a bit of success in Galicia at the beginning, never experienced that, and it was not for long either.

I think Michael (mdsmall) has solved the Serbian gambit (to some extent) by changing the map and spawn points in his ICARUS 7.0 mod. Do let me know if you want to test it.

the test with shri resulted in serbia surrender in fall and game subsequently conceded by entente. problem not solved.

hannaj wrote: Tue Jan 27, 2026 8:19 pm the test with shri resulted in serbia surrender in fall and game subsequently conceded by entente. problem not solved.

Serbia does need help, if Belgrade falls it triggers an avalanche.
Maybe the Serbian armies can all start united up-front or at full strength and lose their chit in Tech to compensate for the MPPs given.

After more play testing, I would like to reemphasize that I think the game is broken, i.e. out of balance in favor of CP,
so that it is over (or just frustrating) for Entente by mid/end 1915 (if both players are playing similarly good).

To put it in a bit wider perspective this is because of the trinity of

1) Initial advantage of CP troops yields substantial MPP, plunder and Bulgarian troops gain
with Schlieffen plan in Belgium and Serbian Blitz.

2) Experience harvesting for CP generals to lvl 2 and higher will perpetuate the intial advantage.

3) Early advantage in German artillery (research chits/available money) further enhances the imbalance by mid 1915.

Before the better longterm perspectives of the Entente kick in, the game is fully lost already.

Think this needs to be fixed.

hannaj

Thanks, I will be looking into this when I prepare the next patch.

Hi Bill,

hannaj and I have been discussing this too, in terms of the Central Powers advantages - for the same reasons - in the Icarus mod. I have introduced a different map for Serbia and Montenegro in Version 7.0 and some small but significant changes in Serbia's starting positions, but the issue remains.

In the next version of the mod - 7.1. - I plan to increase the strength of the Serbian detachment on Belgrade from 6 to 8 points, which should make it very difficult for Austria-Hungary to take out Belgrade in the first turn (which is key to the Serbian blitz). I also plan to cap generals experience (for all powers) to 2 points rather than 3. I am looking at a couple of other adjustments to the arrival of Entente artillery as well to help them blunt the initial CP blitz.

Cheers,

Michael

*deleted*, was answered above

BillRunacre wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 9:02 am Thanks, I will be looking into this when I prepare the next patch.

Hi Bill,

there was no change regarding the balance in patch 1.17, was there?
Or was it just not mentioned in the list of changes?


hannaj

hannaj wrote: Tue Sep 22, 2026 7:57 pm

BillRunacre wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 9:02 am Thanks, I will be looking into this when I prepare the next patch.

Hi Bill,

there was no change regarding the balance in patch 1.17, was there?
Or was it just not mentioned in the list of changes?


hannaj

It was in the previous version, v1.16.05.

- Reduced Bulgaria's mobilization from the capture of Belgrade from 10-20% to 8-15%; the per turn
trigger for the continuous occupation of Belgrade from 35 to 30%; and the mobilization effect for
occupying Nish, Warsaw and being within 2 hexes of Uskub reduced from 8-15% to 6-14%
(hannaj).

Ah that is great and very much appreciated.

Thank you!

hannaj