My Historical Global War AAR

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Burma. French Indo-China. Southern (Nationalist) China.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. communist China. Korea. Manchuria.

Note that all the Japanese controlled cities in Korea and Manchuria really belong to the communist Chinese.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Formosa. China.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Japan.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Philippines.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Dutch East Indies.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. USSR Main (Central) Front.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. USSR Southern (Caspian Sea) Front.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Eastern Med.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Western Med.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Western Europe.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Victory Totals.

Corrected for the bug that gives Port Arthur to the Japanese.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War. Victory Totals as Compared to the Historical.

Using the historical as a guide, the big winners of the game were Germany and Italy. Nationalist China, CW and, to some extent, the USA performed on par with the historical. Free France was really a non-player and the one objective it did have was won the CW. Japan and USSR were the big losers. It's interesting the communist China is included with the Soviets. If you look at the situation in Asia at the end of the war, communist China controlled not only north China but all of Korea and Manchuria.

[rkr1958]

July/August 1945. End of the War.

I'm not sure why anyone would want the game, but I've included the last save of this game before it ended. It's saved in the allied HQ re-org phase of impulse 11. It's not possible to save the game once you get past the end of turn. To end the game as it did, you'll need to set die rolls under the player's interface and enter a "1" for the end of turn roll.

In summary, this AAR was a labor of love. It was a lot or work and I enjoyed it all. But more so, I really enjoyed playing the game. I wish to thank all of you who followed, and especially those of you who provided feedback on both my play and on the game. I learned so much about the rules, tactics and strategy of (M)WiF as I progressed through the game. Thanks in no small part to you, the MWiF community.

Thanks again ... and please feel free to continue to provide constructive criticism on this game. That's the way I learn!

Now I'm going to go watch some college football! [8D]

[composer99]

Well, it looks like the Allies got the job done with Japan. Not much to say there.

Some thoughts for the Allies for future endeavours in the European Theatre:

(1) Italy
I think you already realised how difficult it is to stay ashore in France if you invade too early.

Far better, if you are invading somewhere in a desperate bid to save the USSR, to invade Italy, since it's much harder for the Axis to get the Allies off, and conquering Italy itself is relatively easy. If the CW builds AMPH early, and the Axis build almost exclusively against Barbarossa, the Commonwealth can even get an invasion off in 1941.

(2) Strategic Bombing
One thing the Allies needed to do more of was strategic bombing. A sustained campaign with many bombers would have forced Luftwaffe assets to be deployed throughout Germany, and resulted in fewer German units for the USSR and Western Allies to fight, courtesy of the reduced German production.

(3) USSR Attacks!
As I recall, there was a stage in the game - maybe around summer 1943? summer 1944? don't quite remember - where the German effort vs. the USSR had stagnated, except in the Caucasus, and the Red Army had rebuilt in the north, while the Luftwaffe was still a few hexes away and couldn't contribute.

At that point, which I think I commented on in passing, the USSR should have launched some attacks with the goal of killing German units. That they didn't was one of the factors allowing the Germans to eventually resume the offensive in force (the others being massive German production and the Axis success vs. the Allies in France).

[Centuur]

I did already mentioned it, but there were to many offensives build by the Allies. The number of CW and US planes was to low to be able to kill of the German airforce (which is also why strategic bombardment is so important, as stated by composer99).

And I totally agree with the fact that the USSR was somewhat passive in this game. Always look for tactical opportunities to kill of a lone German unit without cover of the Luftwaffe.

The moment Netplay gets running, get someone to play against you.

[rkr1958]

@composer99, @Centuur, Thanks for taking the time to follow my AAR and especially for all the great advice and constructive criticism!

ORIGINAL: composer99

Well, it looks like the Allies got the job done with Japan. Not much to say there.

Some thoughts for the Allies for future endeavours in the European Theatre:

(1) Italy
I think you already realised how difficult it is to stay ashore in France if you invade too early.

Far better, if you are invading somewhere in a desperate bid to save the USSR, to invade Italy, since it's much harder for the Axis to get the Allies off, and conquering Italy itself is relatively easy. If the CW builds AMPH early, and the Axis build almost exclusively against Barbarossa, the Commonwealth can even get an invasion off in 1941.

Noted and lesson learned. I should have used the historical model as the guide and launched a proper Husky. As the Western Allies, I thought I could get a quick and cheap knockout of Vichy and possibly even all of France. The Western Allies weren't strong enough at that point of the game to do what they tried.

ORIGINAL: composer99
(2) Strategic Bombing
One thing the Allies needed to do more of was strategic bombing. A sustained campaign with many bombers would have forced Luftwaffe assets to be deployed throughout Germany, and resulted in fewer German units for the USSR and Western Allies to fight, courtesy of the reduced German production.

Agreed. Again, the historical model seems to be a good guide. That is, overwhelming allied air power with a sustained and brutal strategic bombing campaign.

ORIGINAL: composer99
(3) USSR Attacks!
As I recall, there was a stage in the game - maybe around summer 1943? summer 1944? don't quite remember - where the German effort vs. the USSR had stagnated, except in the Caucasus, and the Red Army had rebuilt in the north, while the Luftwaffe was still a few hexes away and couldn't contribute.

At that point, which I think I commented on in passing, the USSR should have launched some attacks with the goal of killing German units. That they didn't was one of the factors allowing the Germans to eventually resume the offensive in force (the others being massive German production and the Axis success vs. the Allies in France).

I was too passive with the Soviets. I thought if I could bide my time and get through 1942, that the Soviets were home free. I see now that they need to do some damage to the Germans and can't be that passive.

ORIGINAL: Centuur

I did already mentioned it, but there were to many offensives build by the Allies. The number of CW and US planes was to low to be able to kill of the German airforce (which is also why strategic bombardment is so important, as stated by composer99).

Agreed. What's a good rule of thumb for the number offensive chits to use / build as a function of major power / year?

ORIGINAL: Centuur
And I totally agree with the fact that the USSR was somewhat passive in this game. Always look for tactical opportunities to kill of a lone German unit without cover of the Luftwaffe.

Agreed.

ORIGINAL: Centuur
The moment Netplay gets running, get someone to play against you.

I'm still looking forward to a good AI, but agree with you totally that the best way to learn a game, especially one as complicated as (M)WiF is to play against better players. I've found that getting thumped is my best teacher. So I look at taking a beating as a learning opportunity. And, I generally have a lot of those. [:)]

[rkr1958]

Back to the optional rules discussion for my next game. I've decide to give carrier planes a go too, as well as Food in Flames. No AAR this time though. By my (rough) estimate, doing my AAR (screen caps and postings) probably tripled the time it took to play the game. I just want to play the game and enjoy all the other great AARs at a leisurely pace! [8D]

[Centuur]

On your question on offensive chits, I give you my opinion on offensives.

As the Axis, I tend to never build an offensive. The only exception to this, is if it looks like the USSR is on the ropes and Leningrad needs to be taken. That, however, won't happen in normal games a lot.

For the Allies, first priority is to get naval transportation (you can't have enough TRS/AMPH on the map. The CW, Free French and the US need to empty those pools). Second is to get air superiority. That means that the Allies have to have at least 1,5 times as many air as the Axis. Especially long range FTR's to escort the bombers are very important to have. Third they need to have enough land units to do the Germans any harm. If you follow the strategic choices the Wallies historically made (Italy first), you should not have need of an offensive. Italy is a nightmare to defend, provided the Allies don't lose Gibraltar and Suez...

If all those are in position (and that takes quite a while), the US is the nation which should build an offensives every turn when 1944 starts. A few might be build be the CW and the USSR during the last year of the game.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

On your question on offensive chits, I give you my opinion on offensives.

As the Axis, I tend to never build an offensive. The only exception to this, is if it looks like the USSR is on the ropes and Leningrad needs to be taken. That, however, won't happen in normal games a lot.

For the Allies, first priority is to get naval transportation (you can't have enough TRS/AMPH on the map. The CW, Free French and the US need to empty those pools). Second is to get air superiority. That means that the Allies have to have at least 1,5 times as many air as the Axis. Especially long range FTR's to escort the bombers are very important to have. Third they need to have enough land units to do the Germans any harm. If you follow the strategic choices the Wallies historically made (Italy first), you should not have need of an offensive. Italy is a nightmare to defend, provided the Allies don't lose Gibraltar and Suez...

If all those are in position (and that takes quite a while), the US is the nation which should build an offensives every turn when 1944 starts. A few might be build be the CW and the USSR during the last year of the game.

Peter, Thanks! I guess I was seduced by the power of the o-chit this last game. I need to be stronger. [;)]