Matrix Games Forums

Redan,
 
I am glad you are enjoying the AAR.  There is one I did against the AI involving an Early Attack on Russia which will give you a feel for play against the AI, as it was when I played it.  The AI has been modified since, but it does not play with the skill of Mr. Gardner.  This campaign has shown me just how much this game system can do.  There are issues with the PBEM interface, but with good faith on all players part it can work.  I am playing another PBEM at the same time, and again I have the allies.  The differences, and similiarties, in the two games is giving me a feel for the possibilities of play.  For example in this game the AI is limited to neutrals, but it could run one of the Alliances.  I think a three player PBEM with each player taking an alliance would be fun too, or even multiple players per alliance, each taking a nation.
 
I would consider bypassing the PBEM interface and simply mailing the turns to one another.  The play of the inter-turn could be recorded and sent to all.  Those interested in PBEM could consider ways to improve it before the next version comes out.
 
Chuck

19400709 : GB : We advance to the north in Great Britain, but not engaging the enemy. In North Africa we have a success when assault captures Tobruk. We have evacuated the last unit from France. We have a few divisions in Portugal, with Spanish attacks anticipated.

France : We pull back in the North, and pull back on Marseille in the South. Pressure from so many directions.

Portugal : Prepare for combat.

Neutrals : The USSR looks on the European situation with increasing alarm. The USA spends more on research, and upgrades infantry units.

19400601 : GB : We push the invaders back in Scotland and move beyond Tobruk in the desert. We are leaving garrisons behind us in the North African cities, because the Axis have proved willing to take big chances and not to be afraid of expeditions away from the main fronts. In Portugal we now have three divisions defending Lisbon, but here, again the German expedition in northern Great Britain has drawn forces away. The Spanish are approaching, but not yet in great force, that we can see.

France : Simultaneous attacks in the south from Italy, and in the center have broken our lines. We have pulled in around Paris, with the left flank anchored on Le Harve. In the South we have fallen back on Marseille, but Lyon has been taken, and the staff feels there are powerful Panzer units in this area ready to gut the heart of France. The British are back in Great Britain now, and we have halted the supplies to the Soviets who never raised a hand to aid us.

Portugal : Our whole army is back in Portugal now, and both divisions have been cross-trained with the British.

Neutrals : The USSR is bulding some Guards units. The USA continues research.

Some notes on fog of war : Gary's expedition to northern Great Britain made a huge difference in how I played this game.  Those reading this account know I was shocked, and promptly reacted to the perceived threat, but, did my perception match the reality?  At this point the three divisions I see now are all I have seen, and I can look four hexes into the pocket.  In any case the British have left France and France is falling.  Would the British aid have allowed France to hold against the Germans, Italians and Spanish? I doubt it, but Gary's thrust prevented me from aiding the French as I would have wished. Normally little Churchillian expeditions like this would be the province of the British. Gary has used them masterfully.  This game's fog of war provision calls for subtle usage and Gary has used the fog very well.
 
I also point out that Gary captured Denmark.  How?

19400724 : GB : The home islands are cleared! The invasion was a raid, and its consequences were huge. We are rushing troops to Portugal, and trying to move forward in North Africa, but protecting the home islands has a high priority. France is in desperate straits, and we see the day coming when we will be all alone facing a Europe under the Nazi heel.

France : We concentrate our defense around Paris and Marseille. The Germans are running freely across the center of the country.

Portugal : The British and Portugese divisions prepare to defend Lisbon.

Neutrals : The USSR builds more Guards units, as the USA continues to research.

19400801 : GB : France is in dire straits, and we can do little to help. In fact, convoys of French war materials are arriving in our ports as the Diehard French government fights on. We have three fronts, the first is the home islands, where we take garrisoning very seriously after the episode of the German raid. The second is the Iberian Peninsula, where we feel confident against the Spanish but are troubled by the thought of German troops arriving. The third is North Africa, where we push along into Libya but again worry lest the Germans send an Afrika Korps there.

France : Spain has now invaded also, in the west, and near Marseille. We defend Paris, and Marseille, but the sharp thrusts of German panzers are carving the country up. We garrison cities in the path of the Germans, but we are weak.

Portugal : British help is arriving, but so are the Spanish.

Neutrals : The USSR builds some Guards again, and screens the borders. The USA researches.

I love this AAR

Good morning, Doom!

I was planning to post it on the Wastelands site when it was completed, but perhaps the forum members there would like to see the rest of the game as it is played. I could push it up to your site now, and update both as we go along.

As much as I enjoyed playing the game documented in the EAoR AAR I am enjoying this more. The unpredictability of Gary's moves makes me think about the game situation in ways I have never considered. For example, I declined the Soviet aggression against the Baltic nations, and the AI, as the Axis, always respects the Baltic neutrals, but it occurs to me that Gary certainly will not feel any compulsion to do so, and now I have a long northern border to fortify. Finland too, may come into play, which I have never yet seen.

In both the PBEM games I am currently playing Spain is a big factor early, which never occurs in games against the AI as Axis.

Such unpredictability is stimulating.

Chuck

19400816 : GB : Portugal is looking pretty good, and North Africa is also showing progress, but all this is subject to change when France falls, as this will release much Axis military force currently in battle there. We built a L2 Motorized division for the desert, and decided to begin research on artillery. We have wanted to do research for quite awhile as the German superiority is significant, but it is hard to deny the operational commanders their current needs.

France : Robbing Peter to pay Paul as we strive to maintain our three citadels in Le Harve, Paris, and Marseille. Le Harve can be taken by the mere expenditure of effort, but Paris and Marseille may hold a bit longer. They may all fall the same turn, but we think not. So much depends on holding as long as possible.

Portugal : We move our forces out front as we seek a position to hold without getting in the way of our more numerous allies.

Neutrals : The Soviet Union has very few PP, but builds some L1 divisions to screen the Baltic borders. The USA waits till it can begin new research.

19400901 : GB : We are very pleased with the Italian decision to leave Nrth Africa. This allows us to secure the vital Suez at a time when control of Gibraltar is threatened. We go on the offensive to try and disrupt the Spanish and Italians in Portugal. It is just a spoiling attack, but may hold their attack off for awhile.

France : Little we can do, with so few units not encircled. Paris and Marseille both hold, but their days are numbered.

Portugal : Our troops advance to battle!

Neutrals : The USSR spends what few PP it has on artillery research. One dvision is built to confront the Finns. The USA waits. The Jugoslavs see Italian troops clustered in force on our borders. The Italians have gained many resources in the attack on France and now, it seems, they want ours.

which never occurs in games against the AI as Axis

 
will think about it

19400916 : GB : Nothing takes the steam out of a limited offensive than the threat of powerful panzer formations on the flank. We have to pull back to shield Lisbon, and cannot see any opportunity for more than defense here for many months. In North Africa we get ready for the fall of France. The naval situation will change radically without the French navy.

France : We shift a unit or two for best defensive position.

Portugal : We move to the threatened flank and take forward positions. We have never faced panzers.

Neutrals : In the USSR we build a Guard motorized division, and look west with interest, not yet alarm. The USA waits. No developments across the Jugoslav borders.

Some thoughts, on facing the Axis alone : This period with France leaving the war, and the Axis able to focus on Great Britain is a hard time for the British. The land units are so weak, and the Panzers seem so strong. No part of the map seems safe, and as the Axis begins to campaign against Gibraltar the chance of the RN being trapped in the Med approaches.

Should there not be a sea area box for the "Cape of Good Hope" and the "Indian Ocean" which would allow transfer of fleet units through the Suez. The Germans and Italians both campaigned in the Indian Ocean, admittedly in a small way. This would prevent all Fleet units from being isolated in the Middle Sea even when holding the Suez. It would make campaigning in North Africa more interesting.

French production points have allowed GB to build a lot of small units, which cannot stand in line of battle with the Germans, but can hold their own with smaller powers. It will be awhile till GB can match German power.

19401001 : GB : We reinforce Gibraltar, retrench before Lisbon, and research artillery.

France : Marseille and Brest still hold out. Troops sail daily to Great Britain to continue the fight.

Portugal : Our troops were crushed by the panzers, but gave the British a chance to realign and defend Lisbon.

Neutrals : Yugoslavia is invaded, and pulls back a bit after raising the alarm. The fleet is at sea in case the Italians come out to contest the sea lanes. Two Italian transport fleets have been destroyed by British aircraft and French subs. The USSR does some research. The USA does also.

19401016 : GB : France has fallen, but with an armistice. The French consulted with HM Government before accepting the armistice, and we agreed it was for the best. The French Fleet was scuttled, and a new government was established at Vichy. French convoys delivered 290PP to GB before she fell. We have formed an air force unit, an armored unit, and three or four motorized units out of French troops, under General De Gaulle, a charming fellow, so easy to work with.

Portugal : Lisbon holds, but the rest of the country is subjected.

Neutrals : Jugoslavia gets reports of enemy advances, but no contact yet. The USSR sees more Romanian troops, continues research. USA waits.

19401101 : GB : The enemy has attacked in Portugal, and we send in replacements and reinforcements. We want very badly to hold here, but a concerted effort by the Axis could overwhelm us. More Axis forces move to Gibraltar, but no assault has occured. In North Aftrica we move some units about getting ready for a possibile violation of Vichy France by th Axis. We send a convoy to the USSR with a tiny amount of PP.

Portugal : We send some PP to Great Britain and our troops provide screening behind the front line.

Neutrals : Jugoslavia sees German and Italian troops, infantry only, approaching the front lines, but no battle yet. The Soviet Union continues research although it is very expensive. The question of allocation of PP to unit building and research is such a tough one when one suspects an assault is coming soon. The USA starts a new cyle of research.

19401201 : GB : The Germans pulled out the stops and broke through our lines before Lisbon. Perhaps we should have made them tighter, but if the Axis wants to defeat us here they can apply the power to do so. We evacuate six units and pull the rest in tight.

Portugal : Our last division was destroyed by the attackers. We now depend on Great Britain.

Neutrals : Jugoslavia : We have seen combat, and await more. USSR : We cannot afford more research and build two Guards Motor divisions. USA : Wait. We are sending a very small convoy to Greece.

Some notes on the past year : The Axis, especially the Germans have run roughshod over Europe.  The Fall of Poland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, and the attacks on Portugal and Jugoslavia have netted Gary many production points each turn.  He will try and eliminate Portugal from being the gateway to the continent for the Western Allies.  I am sure he will drive the British off, and garrison Portugal and Spain against amphibious landings.
 
The positive side for the Allies comes from the long period when France was sending production points overseas. Great Britain received 290 and the Soviet Union received 171. This on top of the damage done to Axis forces.  The taking of North Africa is also a plus, and I get a warm feeling every time I see no Germans in Scotland.  Still it can hardly be said that Germny has not had her way with us.

19410101 : GB : The RN evacuated all but a diehard rear guard from Portugal. We hate to lose this splendid portal to the continent. Perhaps HM Government was hasty in encouraging the brave Portugese to enter the fray. Would the Axis have come to the Peninsula anyway? We run some more supplies to the USSR, trying to encourage them to join the battle against the Axis.

Portugal : Some troops leave with the British, to fight to liberate Portugal under their flag.

Neutrals : Jugoslavia digs in, wondering if her hedgehog defense will cause the enemy to rethink their position? The USSR is in a dilemma, not sure how to react to Axis dominance. The world seems to have gone from multinational to bipolar. Our relations with Germany are cemented by the Pact, but Churchill continues to warn that Hitler will turn on us next. We do not believe this, we think. The USA sends a little convoy to Norway and Greece, trying to support the neutrals left.

19410201 : GB : We must abandon Lisbon. We trust we will be back after we defeat these dark powers.

Portugal : Alas.

Neutrals : Jugoslavia : Brace for combat. USSR : Build up more Guards. USA : Continue research.