Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: composer99
The dreaded 14 result on the 2d10 Assault CRT has ripped the guts out of many an offence. 9 bps lost leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

That's an awfull result which almost halts the German offensive!
In this configuration, Germany doesn't have that many units to throw in that are close to the theater of that offensive!

+8 was not a bad odd, by all means!

I'm still wondering on the next move...

Germany slow but steady failure in that war is rather daunting. In comparison, Japan has done quite well!

I'll have to review the whole thing to understand where I failed... Or possibly that was mostly due to a few bad rolls at critical moments ?

One thing is clear anyway: the attack on Egypt with the two marines was a large mistake considering I expected to attack Spain, even though it looked smart at the time (but would I be saying that if the british counterattack had failed and Egypt was ready to fall ?).

These marines could now have invaded near Valentia and be threatening Madrid, with the support of the two para corps. At the least, this would have opened a second front that could be easily reinforced in later turns. This can still be done with the paras only, but the threat is much lower.

Another thing seems clear too: there are problems of timing within the German army, both in production (where are these necessary engineers which are needed to make the German fleet useful ?) and unit positionning. Somehow I always feel that the required units are not in the right position.

ORIGINAL: yvesp
(where are these necessary engineers which are needed to make the German fleet useful ?)

I do not use the construction engineer rule. In my opinion, it is the most annoying optional rule in the game. It does not favor any side -- it is against the players, of all sides. No matter which side you play, this rule will create frustration. The rule makes everyone lose.

I do not use the construction engineer rule. In my opinion, it is the most annoying optional rule in the game. It does not favor any side -- it is against the players, of all sides. No matter which side you play, this rule will create frustration. The rule makes everyone lose.

Concurring here. Me and my buddy looked at this rule and thought - if we got Combat Engineers units, why should they be civil engineers? Especially with the amount you have of Engineers, it looked quite silly.
Unless, at any given point you get to produce Civil Engineers as non combat units to enable repairs ... but that looks even more silly imo!

ORIGINAL: yvesp
These marines could now have invaded near Valentia and be threatening Madrid, with the support of the two para corps. At the least, this would have opened a second front that could be easily reinforced in later turns. This can still be done with the paras only, but the threat is much lower.

Another thing seems clear too: there are problems of timing within the German army, both in production (where are these necessary engineers which are needed to make the German fleet useful ?) and unit positionning. Somehow I always feel that the required units are not in the right position.

Provided the CW doesn't send in its own units to cover for the Spanish, it appears the paradrop coupled with seaborne reinforcement will unhinge the Spanish line - or at least allow the Axis to attack from additional hexsides. So that's not too bad. Obviously the Marines would make it more of a sure thing.

Getting production timing right is a science and an art; and every time I've played I've always felt short of units (except land units for the USSR in the Decline & Fall scenario), even when I'm not.

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

ORIGINAL: yvesp
(where are these necessary engineers which are needed to make the German fleet useful ?)

I do not use the construction engineer rule. In my opinion, it is the most annoying optional rule in the game. It does not favor any side -- it is against the players, of all sides. No matter which side you play, this rule will create frustration. The rule makes everyone lose.

It doesn't matter: I use it because it requires planning.
It also means that losing your last engineer may not be a triffle matter.
Clearly, I failed here with Germany.

Yves

ORIGINAL: composer99
Getting production timing right is a science and an art; and every time I've played I've always felt short of units (except land units for the USSR in the Decline & Fall scenario), even when I'm not.

Yes, but I've never felt it as acute as when playing this western strategy for Germany:

* I feel short of subs for an efficient campaign (and anyway, it seems that the britsh sea lanes, while vulnerable) are protected well enough: only a streak of luck seem able to dent it seriously
* I feel short of bombers for an efficient land campaign
* I feel short of land units for both garrisonning against Russia and making a serious land campaign ; at the same time, prosecuting a land campaign in Spain AND Yugoslavia/Greece may not be the smartest thing ; however, not doing so would really be losing too much time!
* I of course feel short of surface ships
* I have more navs than required : I'll have to find a serious use for them!
* I have possibly a bit too many fighters, considering that the commonwealth has so few bombers...

Following the German blunder, the Commonwealth chooses a naval action ; this lets move transportts to bring in reinforcements in Spain, which, unlike France, is worth defending. With its mountainous countryside, it is not a pushover. Especially not when the Pyreneans are not yet broken!

They also, as always, try to disrupt the Italian convoys in the Italian sea.

They fail...

And get punished when unwisely, they try again.

In Mandchuria, Russia declines to attack the Japanese after these reinforce the only weak spot easily accessible. This move wasn't made with joy but the Japanese, but clearly peace would now not be granted, but war could possibly be deterred.

Old British fighters move north from Gibraltar while the now famous Hampden are brought back from Egypt. Germany hesitates for its choice of action. The British fighter would prevent any attept at paradrop, or at least make it extremely risky. No attck seems doable on Spain this impulse.

However, the attack on Greece must proceed as fast as possible, Guderian must move South, and some units stranded in Yugoslavia must now very fast move to a city to be sent in France to replace the losses in the previous impulse.

Reluctantly, I choose a land impulse. I'd have liked a combined, if only to try and intercept the British reinforcement en route from Britain. But nothing is ensured there either...

Spain has received strong support from the Commonwealth. But Germany has ideas of its own. It again takes a land action.

Germnay launches now several attacks.
On the first one, it captures Athen, which will seal the fate of Greece.

On the Mediteranean coast of Spain, the Italians paradrop, and with the support of the fleet and German troops, conquer a foothold in Spain.

Near Bilbao, Germany attacks again, and soften up the new defensors.

However, the British pilots work wonders on their old Hurricanes.
Emils goes down, while the now famous Hampden delivers its load.

And once more, the Spanish manage to keep the Germans at bay.
After losing their marines, the Germans lose their paratroopers.

A large allied fleet sails to the Mediteranean but fails to find the Italian navy.

In the meantime, Bagdad repulses a paratrooper assault.
July is not the month for paratroopers...

Considering the situation, the axis decides that only Germany is going to act. Italy dreams of an end of turn ; it would like to avoid a fight against the large allied fleet.

Besides, the Japanese have nothing to do.

Germany then seize the opportunity that the allied fleets are away to raid the Bay of Biscay. Going further is not practical, as this would push the fleet down to the 1 box.

It meets the British high seas watchers.

which are happy to get away with only some damage...