All submit to Golden Congress! [Random map, 6 AI+, shroud, LIVE]

[Westheim]

End of turn 38; the II Corps expanded its positions again. However, there is activity at Central, and the IX Corps is threatened to become cut off. Reinforcements could not be sent. I don't have any available.

The three southern corps (I, III, VII) were grouped into the Southern Front HQ in Balbofield. No fighting there.

Minor fights in the east. My main concern remains the northwest there.

[Westheim]

End of round 39; the II Corps has broken the Hindu Movement offensive. But the same can't be said about the IX Corps. It was almost cut off between turns and I decided to give up North Hardskinstream and defend behind a creek further east. Engineers from the II Corps will try to blow up the bridges.

The V and VI Corps had minor fighting again in the eastern woods. First Army is after Minister as well as First Org.

[Westheim]

End of round 41; I was obviously wrong about the Hindu offensive. They attacked again and dealt severe damage to the left flank of the II Corps. The 23rd and 54th Tank Divisions arrive just in the nick of time, but just to be save I retreated the artillery that was exposed at the left flank. The IX Corps is behind the river and ready to fight there. If they are beaten there, Metalfall Fir would not be able to be saved.

In the south my engineers connected the VIII Corps with Central Morning via a bridge over the river. The left flank of the VIII Corps (16th and 38th Infantry Divisions) was badly beaten by a First Org tank attack.

Both First Army and First Org are further closing in on the V Corps in Minister. The road is still open, but I have no reinforcements to send there with the exception of some material from the VI Corps. The 42nd Engineer Division and the 73rd Armoured Division are also sent there to make sure the road stays open as long as possible. I lost two villages before, but I don't think I could afford the loss of a city.

[Westheim]

End of round 41; I seriously underestimated the strength of the Hindu Movement. [X(] They are pushing against the II Corps' left flank and squeeze in more and more troops. Counterattacks were unsuccessful for the most part. I destroyed a medium tank II, but lost two light tanks II and armoured cars myself. Three new divisions were formed to stabilize the line at Balbo.

Another center of attention is the V Corps in the east. The VI Corps sent more reinforcements there this turn despite some losses at its own front.

The southern part of my country was mostly quiet. The VIII Corps continues to slice through weakened Third Conglomerate units and the VII Corps joins the battle now.

I researched machinegun II this turn. I was saving PPs for rifle/SMG III, but I can use some extra defensive strength, and machinegun II came for 18 PPs, while rifle/SMG III would cost 78 PPs.

[Westheim]

End of round 42; I actually managed to blow up the Minister front for the second time. First Army infantry occupied the fort on the road from Minister to Minor Valley with a major attack. My 39th and 45th Divisions were eliminated in the attack and the V Corps was almost completely sealed off. This seems to be a game where I always wait one turn too long ... Minister will be abandoned now. The weakened 73rd Infantry Division will try to hold the road to the west, while the corps HQ and the battered units try to escape through the woods. Reinforcements from the VI Corps race north to hold the crossroads at Minister. In Minor Valley, I installed the new XI Corps to organize the defense. Tank reinforcements from the VI Corps were already grouped into the new corps.

Wait? Isn't there a number missing? True. The II Corps was split, and the right wing regrouped into the X Corps. The Hindus still hammered my lines there. I gave up the northern crossroads and will try to hold the southern crossroads. Hindu Movement units also appeared in front of the IX Corps.

The VIII Corps has advanced a bit again, but I have to drain their reinforcements now, after I have two major offensives directed at me.

[Westheim]

End of round 43; things are starting to become very difficult here. The II Corps still holds his line, as well as the IX and X Corps, but the Hindu masses continue to flow at them. A massive tank attack ripped a piece of the Hindu line apart, but not enough for a major breakthrough, leave alone an encirclement. I don't have enough motorized units to achieve that. Hindus also started to attack the IV Corps in the far northeast at Tarminister Hole.

The V Corps evaded for the most part, although just barely. The 60th Infantry Division didn't make it and was eliminated. The 34th and 35th Divisions are the only remaining troops left of the V Corps. The 42nd Engineer Division (VI Corps) also made it back, but with only eight survivors, and the First Army is still after them.

The VI Corps will retreat back from Watcher Soul. The airforce was shifted from Bluetimber to Minor Valley, but is only two fighters at the moment. The new Eastern Front HQ was installed in a fort near Bluetimber and had the V, VI, VIII, and XI Corps subordinated.

The VIII Corps still had some fun beating up remains of the Third Conglomerate, but will switch to defense in a suitable position next turn. I encountered the territory of the last unknown enemy there in the deep south: the Twisted Killers. [X(]

The Southern Front (I, III, VII Corps) is in pure defensive mode at the moment, although the VII Corps is currently south of the Central Morning river to guard the right flank of the VIII Corps.

Production is becoming a problem after the loss of Minister. I'm down to 1.2 PPs per turn, so no advanced research anymore. I once had 10,000+ backup supply in my SHQ in Downion, but this has drained up to just 3,700 right now. The Southern Front does not receive any reinforcements anymore, not even supply (reserves around 2,000) - things are becoming really desperate!

[Westheim]

Same turn, general overview. Note the amount of terrain I have lost to the Hindus. (The far north there was reconned with planes)

[Westheim]

End of round 44; the eastern front was able to catch a breath this turn. No fighting there at all. I'm regrouping and awaiting the attack of the First Army.

The VIII Corps pulled out of its forward positions. I don't know yet where to defend later, but the Trinity Party already attacked the VII Corps and has moved up to Balbofield, where I'm defending the river with very low forces.

The scariest moment happened in the north. The Hindus moved on to Watertimber. I whipped up a few green forces in there since there was literally no unit only close to it. The X Corps had to divert some forces, and the II Corps executed two costly attacks on the Hindus, but its left flank should be safe again.

[Westheim]

End of round 45; the II Corps was successful again the Hindu offensive again and I gained a few hexes again. The IV and X Corps contained the flanking threat in a combined effort. It was just a small motorized unit. I had researched medium tanks earlier last turn, and now put my first medium tank into the II Corps.

In the east, I reduced the corps by one. The V Corps was dissolved after the devastating losses it suffered on the flight from Minister. The 34th Infantry Division was added to the XI Corps, the 35th Tank Division to the VI Corps. The V Corps was emptied into the Eastern Front HQ, safe for a truck, and the HQ shell (with the truck) transferred to Downion. It will be used again once I create a new HQ. Apart from that, not much changed on the eastern front. I just adjusted the line and filled up the battered units again.

The southern front, especially the I and VII Corps, begin to fight the Trinity Party. I used my artillery and airforce with great effect there.

[Westheim]

End of round 46; I'm trying to survive under ever increasing pressure. Right now, I can hold off the Hindus and my eastern buddies, but now the Trinity Party is coming at me full swing. This turn, they tested my river defenses. Those are a colorfully intermingled chaos of units aligned to three different corps and two higher HQs. I also had to blow the second river bridge down there and evacuate parts of my airforce to Central Morning. The VIII Corps is getting more pressure from the First Org to the east. Those guys aren't dumb either. Instead of attacking my fortified positions in the woods held by the VI Corps, they attack through the open plains there. The First Army has also moved up to the fortifications at the Minor Valley crossroads.

I completely ceased the production of PPs and produce less supply than needed, just to fill up my units. The empty HQ at Downion will become the Northern Front HQ with the II, IV, IX, and X Corps.

[Westheim]

End of round 47; never underestimate those Hindus! They crossed the river against the IX Corps this turn, but were beaten back by me. The II Corps found a weak spot at the crossroads and I threw almost everything I had into a major fight, which had me gain a good edge of ground there. Had I more troops, I would try to race northwest towards Central, but this is not gonna happen. However, I'm coming closer to Rainbackhill, a village north of the X Corps ... on a sad note, my 17th Infantry Division was eliminated during the fights.

The east saw minor fighting again. The XI Corps was attacked by First Army forces, but stood firm.

The situation is worse in the south, where the Trinity Party has now finally taken Orion and is hammering onto my VII and VIII Corps. The VII Corps has retreated behind the river now. The VIII Corps will defend the Central Morning area. This corps however has a First Org heavy tank in its rear now. [X(] This is the second enemy I can confirm to have heavy tanks, and this one sits in a vast plains area and just waits for rolling over my VIII Corps there.

[Westheim]

End of round 48; I continued my offensive in the north, however this is a mere bluff since I have nothing in hand anymore, should I receive a major beating there. These medium tanks there did an excellent job though. Some infantry of the IV and X Corps already reached the vicinity of Rainbackhill, but has no offensive punch to get in. Some success was already reached: my tanks rolled over some heavy equipment, including two artillery pieces.

The eastern front saw the same fights as always in the last few turns. No major changes there. The VI and XI just hold their line and do some minor counterattacks if necessary.

The southern front grew this turn. I added the VIII Corps there since its focus has changed a lot in the recent turns. The VII Corps was beaten hard by the Trinity Party. The Third Conglomerate has almost completely vanished from the Orion area, however they are still in the western parts of the map, around my I and III Corps.

Supply could become critical soon ...

[Westheim]

End of round 49; the Trinity Party is testing my defenses again, but the river line holds. The VIII Corps has moved to the east a bit, creating a gap between the VII and VIII Corps at Central Morning, which needs to be filled with units soon. The VIII Corps attacked a First Org heavy tank, taking bad casualties, but he finally surrendered and was destroyed.

The eastern front saw the usual fighting. The First Army is trying to get through my lines at the connection between the VI and XI Corps. The XI Corps did a small counterattack along the road to maybe rob the First Army units in the woods of supply.

The Northern Front corps continued their attack on Rainbackhill. While the IX and IV Corps on the left and right flank hold their positions against equal or superior forces, the II and X Corps continue to roll onto the village. Note the extremely weakened X Corps (light blue). It's barely more than bones and skins.

[Westheim]

End of round 50; the II and X Corps have a hard time to close in on Rainbackhill. Hindu resistance is still fierce. However, the village is in range of my airforce, I brought artillery in, and some infantry supporting my tanks. I think I could attack next turn.

The First Army has weakened in the east and the XI Corps did a successful attack there. However, I'm not able to move on to Minister.

The Southern Front is purely defensive. The Twisted Killers are moving up in force, scaring the hell out of me.

After two weeks off work, I'm back working now, and I have the same problem again as last winter ... I barely can squeeze in time for AT into my daily schedule ... kind of sad ... [:(]

[Westheim]

End of round 51; supply and reinforcements are drying up more and more. I barely can replace my losses ...

The II, IV, and X Corps encircled Rainbackhill this time, although because of my artillery and airforce bombardments there is barely anything left of the village already. The II Corps has a dangerously exposed gap between its western and eastern wings.

Twisted Killers are moving on Central Morning. For the moment, the VII and VIII Corps were able to push them back in a combined effort. The problem is, that the Trinity Party a) has almost eaten up the Third Conglomerate, and b) has used massive amounts of airforce for the first time now. Seven planes were counted near the mountains at Balbofield. For comparison: my total airforce amounts to 29 planes, 19 fighters and 10 divebombers, of which about 50% are with the Southern Front there.

[Westheim]

End of round 52; the Northern Front occupied Rainbackhill this turn, capturing forces worth more than 100 power points. However, the village is completely destroyed and won't produce much for now. The 27th Infantry Division (II Corps) and 88th Tank Division (IV Corps) even moved a couple of hexes north to recon the terrain. More woods, no production values to be seen so far.

Violence got a little more random in the south. With the advent of Trinity airplanes, the first air battle in history took place over the Central Morning river swamps. My fighters outnumbered those of the enemies 6:2, and one enemy fighter was eliminated, with no losses for my own country. This means I have air superiority in the south (and everywhere else, too), but just to be sure I will move the 78th Airforce Division from the Eastern Front to the south. It's just three planes, but you never know.

[Westheim]

End of round 53; the Hindu resistance in the north ahead of the II, IV, and X Corps is basically broken. The 88th Tank Division drove north and found borders of the First Army, cutting the eastern part of the Hindu Movement's realm off from the main country. The armoured divisions of the II Corps race northwest from Rainbackhill to cut another slice out of the Hindu land.

With this offensive on the run and the IX Corps holding its ground against other Hindu troops, I have more production capacities free to deal with the increasing amount of Trinity Party and Twisted Killers troops that keep flooding my southern front. One pesky little Trinity Party infantry division even crossed the river at Balbofield.

I produce more PP again. I researched into Fighter II, a necessary step now that the Trinity Party also has an airforce, and keep saving for Rifle/SMG III, but I don't expect to get there for at least six more turns.

[Westheim]

End of round 54; the II Corps continues to run northwest, but starts to meet resistance again. The left wing was stopped at the crossroads south of Central, while the armoured spearheads entered heavy forests north of Central, where they are less effective. The IV and X Corps clean up the eastern pocket of Hindu troops.

In the south, it' basically defending at the moment. Both sides have good amounts of artillery now, but I still have air superiority, luckily.

The VI Corps in the east discovered a weak spot in the First Org lines, attacked, and breached a pocket into the Quicksilver defenses. The town itself is cut off, but my biggest concern is that the First Army is on the attack as well! They battered the XI Corps pretty good for two turns in a row now and I may have to shorten my lines there again. Occupying Quicksilver would of course bring some relief here, as it would mean more production capacity.

[Jeffrey H.]

I'm enjoying this AAR Westheim. I often ask myself what the game settings were before the map was generated. Any chance you have a screenie or maybe you can recall what those settings were ? Just curious. 

[Westheim]

Some settings are already there in the first post:

ORIGINAL: Westheim
This time I will try to subjugate the world on a 97% land map, medium settings regarding forests and mountains and so on, I'm hoping for some rough terrain here and there, after I had to play my last game on wide plains surrounded by AIs.

Forest and mountains both were some 40x ... Rivers were a bit less, I don't know, maybe 30-35x, and Swamps around 15-20x. There are 60 cities on the map, size 2(I think, what ever is standard), no roads, no full first tech level, 6 AI+ ... that should basically be it. Oh, yeah, size. No idea, may have to count the hexes, but I'm too lazy. [:D] Something between 50 and 60 square.