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Turn 13.

19th of June. Breakthrough?



The Austro-Hungarian National Morale drops to 45%. 8% down from the previous CP turn. It seems that the Dual Monarchy will collapse quicker than expected, even with the additional resources devoted to the improvement of civilian morale.

Germany, France, Russia and UK have now researched trench warfare level 3, which means that the frontlines have become static now. No significant advances are possible without the support of heavy artillery.



The main events took place in Poland, where Hindenburg's army took the fortress of Novo-Georgievsk. Again there was a cooperation between the air force and the artillerymen. Enormous quantities of ammunition have been used in this attack ( six salvoes ):



The Russian XIII corps lost 30% of it's strength and morale just from the artillery fire. German infantry managed to take the fortress without heavy loses.



Capture of fortress which guards the western approaches to Warsaw, is a big success. But this may be too little, too late, due to the inevitable collapse of Austro-Hungary.



There was no action in Romania and in the West. Our artillery on those fronts is still undergoing the upgrades.



In the Caucasus, Russian hordes advance in strength. They have a numerical superiority over Ottoman forces, but the terrain favours defenders. For now, Ottoman Empire is doing pretty well, compared to Austro-Hungary.

Entente Turn 12: This was a somewhat quiet turn. Russian gets a Dreadnought in the Baltic, a Fighter for Poland and a Detachment for Sevastopol for a later sea invasion.

Ivanov destroyed another Russian Infantry Corps and took the fort by Warsaw. With his superior artillery tech, infantry morale level and HQ quality, there is nothing that I can do at this point to stop him. I rebuild a destroyed Infantry Corps.

The Russians destroy an AH Corps in Galacia.

In the Black Sea, much to my surprise, the Russian Sub by the port of Zonguldak is damaged. My naval ambushes didn’t work. I am withdrawing to repair and prepare for an invasion of vacant Zonguldak.

In the Caucasus, the Russians bomb Erzurum. Mountain Corps attack and damage the Ottoman Corps, but don’t take the city.

The Romanians better prepare their defensive line.

The Serbs assists the Romanians on defense, advance and build another detachment.

The French Sub attack and sink the damaged AH Dreadnought in port. To my knowledge, the entire AH Navy has now been sunk. The Entente now have naval supremacy in the Adriatic Sea. Entente ships move to resupply, repair and upgrade.

Two French Destroyers in the South of France fully repair. The upgraded UK Destroyer in Gibraltar patrols the convoy line North to England. The escorting UK Destroyer heading South meets and confirms that the convoy line in that area is clear. The transported Haig HQ and two UK Infantry Corps from England now naval cruise safely at speed towards Egypt.

Mesopotamia is stable.

The UK Artillery slowly moves forward in Egypt.

A UK Dreadnought and a Light Cruiser in Britain are upgraded to ASW Level 1. Upgraded ships return to the Blockade Lines.

Two UK Destroyer/Seaplane Carrier groups patrol two Atlantic convoy lines looking for U-Boats, but find nothing.

The UK gets a Fighter in England and transports an Artillery unit to France.

Peace on the Western Front is like Christmas for the French. Three new French Corps arrive. I now have a double line of units in France.

I am deliberately not moving any Entente Artillery units close enough to the front lines to fire. Each shell now will only do about 3% morale damage. However, when I have Heavy Artillery Tech Level 1, each shell removes an entrenchment level and may do a point of damage. At this point, I only get one shell per turn (to a maximum of 10). Therefore, I am saving my precious artillery ammunition for later.

The French invests one further point in Industrial Tech and in Production Tech. The French invest one point in Advanced Fighters. The Russians invest one additional point in Heavy Artillery. The UK is getting behind in tech investment. The UK invests one point in Heavy Artillery. The French achieve Level 1 in Industrial Tech (more MPP’s!). The Russians achieve a Level (1) in Infantry Warfare (+10% morale for Russian ground units). Unfortunately, the Germans already Level 2.

For screen shots, please see https://postimg.cc/gallery/1m7xpgbwu/

Those mod counters are excellent.

Both colorful and informative without being as distracting as the 3D counters. Is the map also a mod ? When the game comes out I hope the mod will be pinned to the forum.

How long is the average turn take?

I don't care much about grafic-mods, but this one is a beatuy.
But I don't understand the AH morale. 8% in one turn without major events like loosing vienna? What's the Russian morale?

ORIGINAL: Cfant

I don't care much about grafic-mods, but this one is a beatuy.
But I don't understand the AH morale. 8% in one turn without major events like loosing vienna? What's the Russian morale?

Yeah it seems that the territory concessions to Italy set off an unstoppable decline. That might need to be decreased in a patch because as of now it is a no-brainer decision with absolutely no positive effect for A-H by making the concession.

ORIGINAL: nicwb

Those mod counters are excellent.

Both colorful and informative without being as distracting as the 3D counters. Is the map also a mod ? When the game comes out I hope the mod will be pinned to the forum.

Yep, the map is a part of this mod too. As far as I know, the mod will be available immediately, when the game is going to be released [:)]

ORIGINAL: Cfant

But I don't understand the AH morale. 8% in one turn without major events like loosing vienna? What's the Russian morale?

I've checked the next turn, that I still need to complete and funnily enough, now the NM drop was 3%. So there have to be some devilish scripts in play or the effects of MMP for morale event, were delayed by one turn. The Russian NM currently stands firmly at 108% [:)]

Note: as far as I know there were and probably still will be, some changes introduced in comparison to the game version that we use in this AAR.

ORIGINAL: nox165

How long is the average turn take?

Depends on the season - the summer turns are shorter, giving you more time to fight in a good weather, while the winter turns are longer. I'd like to say that the turn lengths are the same as in the WW2 games - from 7 days in summer to 21 days in winter, but I'm not 100% about this.

ORIGINAL: sol_invictus

ORIGINAL: Cfant

I don't care much about grafic-mods, but this one is a beatuy.
But I don't understand the AH morale. 8% in one turn without major events like loosing vienna? What's the Russian morale?

Yeah it seems that the territory concessions to Italy set off an unstoppable decline. That might need to be decreased in a patch because as of now it is a no-brainer decision with absolutely no positive effect for A-H by making the concession.

Well, there's a positive effect from not allowing Italy into the war!

ORIGINAL: The Land

ORIGINAL: sol_invictus

ORIGINAL: Cfant

I don't care much about grafic-mods, but this one is a beatuy.
But I don't understand the AH morale. 8% in one turn without major events like loosing vienna? What's the Russian morale?

Yeah it seems that the territory concessions to Italy set off an unstoppable decline. That might need to be decreased in a patch because as of now it is a no-brainer decision with absolutely no positive effect for A-H by making the concession.

Well, there's a positive effect from not allowing Italy into the war!

True but if it means certain implosion for A-H what's the point![X(]

Turn 14.

10th of July 1915. The hunting season.


The decline of Austro-Hungarian National Morale slowed down a bit ( 3% from the previous CP turn ). Maybe it's a belated effect of the food for morale event? The k.u.k armee at this moment can merely hold the line in the Carpathians and on the border with Serbia. But German army has just commenced a hunting season. Three upgraded artillery units are deployed now on the main fronts. The fourth and last artillery unit is in the build queue. It will be deployed against Russia or against the Brits in Flanders, accordingly to the needs. With all the artillery purchased, the Germans will commence investing now in the air force. It will help to further increase the punching power of their armed forces. We also need to purchase more detachments. A new territory is going to be conquered and it will need to be garrisoned. The Western warmongers will no doubt sooner or later commence their offensives too. It may be a good idea, to keep the garrisons in the first line to absorb the loses and then counterattack, with the elite, second line Eingreif corps, that will be kept in the reserve.


The hunt finally commenced in Romania. Germans captured the Ploesti oil fields, without suffering heavy loses. With the upgraded artillery the life looks much brighter indeed. Some Serb units appeared on the Romanian front. If they decided move voluntarily under the shells of the German war machine, it's a good news from our perspective.




In Poland another Russian corps in front of Warasaw was destroyed. The Main Polish city is expected to fall in a turn or two.



In the West Nancy has been captured for the second time. The Bavarians managed to occupy the city and entrench. If the French decide to recapture it, this will cost them a lost of blood:





In the Caucasus, Russian hordes attacked furiously against Erzerum, bombing the civilians in the process. The Ottoman HQ decided to abandon the damaged city. The good news is, that the three attacking Russian corps suffered heavier loses than the one defending Ottoman corps.

A rare naval battle took place on the Black Sea. Ottoman destroyer bumped into a Russian Dreadnought in the vicinity of Zorguldak. The whole Ottoman fleet counterattacked and the Russian vessel was sunk! That feat wouldn't be possible without the ex German cruiser SMS Breslau, which was provided earlier on by our German friends:

Entente Turn 14: Ivanov destroyed another Russian Infantry Corps in Poland. The Russians repair damaged units.

Unfortunately, whenever I check attack results, it is usually Attacker lose 3, Defender lose 0. I really need Heavy Artillery Tech to damage these entrenched German and AH units.

The Russian Dreadnought in the Black Sea ambushes an Ottoman ship, then the rest of the Ottoman Navy sinks my Dreadnought. That didn’t work out as I had planned.

The Russians bomb another Ottoman City to reduce supply. Mountain Corps destroy an Ottoman Infantry Corps and take Erzurum, a National Morale City and a supply center. The Russians damage an Ottoman Detachment.

Ivanov takes Ploesti. The Romanians better prepare their defensive line. Ivanov has an upgraded Artillery in the area. He could take Bucharest and force Romania to surrender.

The Serbs advance into Valjevo.

Two French Destroyers in the South of France upgrade to ASW 1. Many other French ships also upgrade to ASW 1. Other French ships head East to block any Ottoman incursions.

The AH Navy will eventually get another Sub and more ships in the future. A UK Sub watches the only remaining AH port.

The transported Haig HQ and two UK Infantry Corps from England naval cruise at speed towards Egypt.

Mesopotamia is stable.

The two UK U-Boat Hunting Groups sail through the empty Atlantic Ocean finding nothing. At the end of the turn, I notice that something is raiding the Arctic Convoy Line to Russia.

A UK Sub is added to the Northern Blockade Line. The Distant Blockade Line is now fully manned.

The French lose another Infantry Corps and a non-strategic hex.

The French invests one further point in Artillery Tech and one point in Spying. The Russians invest one additional point in Industrial Tech. The UK invests one point in Gas/Shell Production.

The Russians achieve a Level 1 in Heavy Bombers and a Level in Production Tech. The UK achieves Trench Warfare Level 2.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take screen shots before ending the turn.

Turn 15.

22th of July 1915. The Balkan dilemas.


Today we'll focus on the Balkan front:



Bucharest, the Romanian capital is expected to fall next turn. Unfortunately Romania will probably not surrender, but move it's capital to the north, to Jassy, on the border with Russia. We really would like to continue advancing South against Serbia, but in that case, we'd be forced to move North, to finish off Romania first. After Romanian surrender, the Germans will be in a good position to strike against Russia's vulnerable Ukrainian underbelly, but at the same, time an operation will need to be undertaken to finally eliminate the Serbian ulcer. We have on more artillery unit arriving soon, so if the Western Front remains quiet, maybe it will be possible to withdraw Südarmee from the Carpathians, and move it against Serbia? The optimal outcome would be to finish off Romania, threaten the Russian rear and seriously cripple Serbia, before the meatgrinder in the West starts moving. It would be really good to have Bulgaria on our side. The successes in Romania and in Poland, will probably encourage her to move in the right direction.

Other than that, one Russian and French corps were destroyed and we improve our positions around Warsaw and Nancy.

Entente Turn 15: Ivanov destroyed another Russian Infantry Corps in Poland and a French Corps in France.

A Russian Sub sails to raid the Swedish Convoy Line. Other Russian Baltic ships move to ports to support. I have never played Ivanov before so I don’t know what his German Naval strategy would be. I would be using a U-Boat in Silent Mode as a scout and doing sink and run raids in the North Sea with the entire German Fleet.

The Russian Detachment in the Black Sea embarks on landing craft for Zonguldak. This is a risky invasion without my Dreadnought.

The Russians repair damaged units, especially the ones in the Caucasus. The Russians bomb Rize to reduce supply.

Romania is quiet. I suspect that Ivanov is waiting for sufficient artillery shells to attack.

The Serbs get a Detachment and firms up the line.

Two French Destroyers in the South of France naval cruise into the Atlantic. French Subs sail to ambush hexes near Greece. A French Dreadnought and a UK Battle Cruiser stand by to engage any Ottoman ships that sail into the Aegean Sea. The French Armored Cruiser scouts the Palestinian coast but finds nothing interesting.

The transported Haig HQ and two UK Infantry Corps from England naval cruise and disembark in Egypt. The Haig HQ will fix my low supply issue in the desert. One more UK Infantry Corps is also sailing to Egypt.

Mesopotamia is stable.

Having found nothing, the two UK U-Boat Hunting Groups are recalled to England. I shut down the Arctic Convoy as I don’t have the ships to protect it right now. The UK also badly needs those MPP’s. I will sail a UK U-Boat Hunting Group North Arctic Convoy Line to hunt down any U-Boats. I will form another group with French ships.

All six UK Dreadnoughts and two Battle Cruisers have now been upgraded to Level 1 ASW.

The French invests one further point in Gas/Shell Production and one point in Infantry Warfare and Command and Control. The Russians invest one point in Infantry Warfare. Serbian invests one point in Trench Warfare. The UK invests another point in Heavy Artillery, one in Advanced Subs and one in Aerial Warfare.

For screen shots, please see https://postimg.cc/gallery/2u4aupzpq/

ORIGINAL: sol_invictus

True but if it means certain implosion for A-H what's the point![X(]

Some events have been changed since Ivanov and Mithrilotter began their game, so it should still be worth considering giving the territory over to Italy in the release version.

ORIGINAL: BillRunacre

ORIGINAL: sol_invictus

True but if it means certain implosion for A-H what's the point![X(]

Some events have been changed since Ivanov and Mithrilotter began their game, so it should still be worth considering giving the territory over to Italy in the release version.

Ah good to hear. Looking forward to release!

Turn 16

7th of August 1915. Angriff bis zum Äußersten.


It seems that Austro-Hungarian National Morale drops about 2-3% per turn now, being currently at 39%. It means, that there are still quite a lot of turns of the game left, which is a good news!

In Romania Central Powers capture Bucharest, but noting happened afterwards. The capital didn't move to the North, so maybe at the end Romania doesn't have an alternative capital? That would be a welcomed news, I need to ask Bill to get the calcification.




In Poland the German armies improve their positions before the final assault on Warsaw. We think that the city will fall next turn:





German units of the Südarmee are being silently withdrawn from the Carpathians. The k.u.k armee should be now able to hold the line there on it's own. Germans troops are going to move South. We need at least to capture Belgrade before the onset of the bad weather.



In France another corps is destroyed, then we plan to rest and gather more ammunition. Maybe we'll be able to end this year's campaign with some spectacular success...



Te Caucasus front remained quiet, but it looks like the Russians gathered very significant forces there. We spotted at least 6 mountain and infantry corps against our 3. But the core of the Ottoman defence is build around the detachments. They are only slightly weaker in the defence, but cost about 40% less than the corps to build and to reinforce. The mountainous terrain also favours the defenders. As you can see on the image, the very first anti-aircraft unit in the history of this war is heading to the front. The Russian bombers will no longer operate with a complete impunity.

Entente Turn 16: Ivanov destroyed another Russian Infantry Corps in Poland, a Romanian Corps in Bucharest and a French Corps in France. This was a very good turn for Ivanov. His invasion of Romania has worked out very well.

I thought that Romania would surrender when Bucharest was taken, but it didn’t. I need to swap out Russian units for Romanian units so that they might become Free Romanian units when Romania does surrender.

Russia rebuilds two destroyed Infantry Corps.

The Russian amphibious fleet sails towards Zonguldak.

The Russians bomb and attack Ottoman units.

The Serbs shift units around in their line to free up some Detachments for Romania.

A French Dreadnought, two Subs and a UK Battle Cruiser are in position to engage any Ottoman ships that sail into the Aegean Sea.

The transported Haig HQ and two UK Infantry Corps move towards the front in Egypt.

Mesopotamia is stable. A UK Detachment from Egypt sails for Mesopotamia to free up the Cavalry Corp to liberate Arab towns. I have been moving the UK Cavalry Corps around to convert control of hexes. This will give me some early warning of enemy movement and conceal my movement.

The two UK U-Boat Hunting Groups are returning to England. I will sail a UK U-Boat Hunting Group North Arctic Convoy Line to hunt down any U-Boats. I will form another group with French ships.

The French build a Heavy Artillery unit.

The UK invests one diplomatic point in Norway and four points into the Netherlands. The UK is maxed out on diplomacy.

The Russians invest one point in Production Tech. Serbian invests one point in Infantry Warfare.

Russian achieves Level 1 in Heavy Artillery. Once I upgrade, I can now fight back! The UK achieves Level 2 ASW and Level 1 Amphibious Warfare.

For screen shots, please see https://postimg.cc/gallery/2x01c5ytq/

ORIGINAL: BillRunacre
Some events have been changed since Ivanov and Mithrilotter began their game, so it should still be worth considering giving the territory over to Italy in the release version.

Good to hear. In this form here it is a "do you want to loose the game? yes or no?"-decision [:)]