Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse II The Sequel

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

The CW are then asked if they want to initiate combat in the two contested Mediterranean sea zones. I didn't think this would happen as nothing new had occurred in those zones, but anyway...

If you call a naval or a combined and have an unflipped naval unit in a sea area where your enemy has any units, you may always initiate a naval combat during your impulse.

If you have an unflipped air unit, you may initiate a naval combat if you called a naval, air, or combined.

warspite1

Okay thanks - I seem to recall that in 5th Edition you needed to spark a search by entering the sea area...

If you want to initiate combat during your opponent's impulse, rather than your own, he had to have moved something into the area, or within the area.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

Just an observation and a query.

In both my AAR's the US Entry appears to be very slow (certainly in historical terms). Is this normal or has there been some unfortunate dice?

Just curious as to the "average" time it takes to get the US in (assuming the Axis player is not overly aggressive in the first half of the war).

The game is designed to average around M/A 42 for US entry. However, a comment on your US entry actions: You have mismanaged your Ge/It tension pool. You have picked far too many US entry options, given the tension rolls you had. You have a German entry level of 34 and a tension of 30. If you had chosen fewer US entry options, you could have had, for example, ten fewer points in the tension pool land and ten more in the entry pool. This would have given you 44 in the entry pool, and 20 in the tension pool, which would be a 50% chance of declaring war on Germany, instead of a 20% chance. The chart to study here is the "It's War" chart on the WiF charts on the Help menu. For the opposite extreme for US entry, take a look at my after action report, where the Axis had some early atrocious luck, and the US has had better entry than in any other game I have played. The US looks like it will be entering the war sometime in 1941, assuming that the US doesn't bungle its entry rolls.

Here is how I manage the tension pool:

First, try and get to 11 tension in both pools, so one can get gear up. Going a little over is not too bad. Next, go for 17 in both pools. Once one gets there, stop, until one picks War Appropriations. After that, one's entry options should always be picked looking at the "It's War!" chart. (Somehow, when I am the US, it always feels like the "It's War?" chart. The State Department never seems to have any exclamation points, just question marks. [:)]) For example, in my AAR the American public has been very touchy, and Japanese tension is 30. This means that the US will not pick many options that I would normally pick. I had one face-to-face game where the US public was completely indifferent to the actions of its government, and it was quite hard getting to the 17 points needed for War appropriations; I was picking every random option I was eligible for.

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Jan/Feb 1942
End of Turn

A Partisan arrives in India, blocking the resource near Hyderabad and another arrives in the NEI at Palembang.

US Entry edges closer as the US announce an Oil Embargo.

warspite1

Ah I get you. So the Tension numbers do not need to be anywhere near where I am aiming at..[&:] With smaller Tension levels I can still choose the vital options I need.

[Courtenay]

Here is the "It's War!" chart.

At a low tension, the one never gets great chances of declaring war. At high tension, one needs a very high US entry level to get a good chance of declaring war. I like to target the two sixes, either the 49-54 column on the 17-23 row or the 44-48 column on the 24-31 row. It is my feeling that 50% chances should not be taken, unless one is desperate. They are too likely to turn a situation that isn't desperate into one that is. If tension goes over 31, seriously consider declaring war even on a 30% chance; it might work, and often won't slow down your entry even if it fails. If I were you, I would not pick any more US entry options until you are at war; your tension levels are high enough. If you were playing with oil, the oil embargo would force the Japanese to attack soon; since you are not, they are not under that pressure, but they should consider an attack soon anyway.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 7

The turn is rounded off by the Germans using the last of their reorganisation points to organise some of the previously flipped units and the Japanese loading aircraft onto carriers.

The destroyed pool makes unpleasant reading for the Soviets...

I actually think this looks good for the Soviets considering they were surprised this turn.

----

Do remember that both Germany and the Soviet Union has a offensive chit left. Or at least I think they both have one. It might soon be timne to use them.

[warspite1]

Well I really should be spending the next half hour or so reading my stonkingly good book on the naval war Sept 39 - Apr 40, but a) the war in Russia is interesting and b) the Japanese and American navies are getting some really cool hardware together. I will therefore do another impulse. But fist - a nice mug of tea is required [:)]

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 8

There will be no ground strike attempts for the Russians this impulse. The plan will be to hold the Dvina line, while pulling back toward Vitebsk. In the south, well... er make sure the Dneiper is not breached this turn!

In China, its about time Mao did something to assist! He agrees to send some armies northeast to try and stir up some trouble...

Meanwhile, the small CW army in Egypt, having been reinforced with the British 2nd and 3rd Corps, decide to start making noises toward Libya.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

Mussolini is getting a bit frustrated at the lack of success of his legions. He orders his submarines to the Eastern Mediterranean more in a fit of desperation than anything else. Coastal Command send a Sunderland to join the Beaufort already there.

Oh dear... Old Benito's mood is not going to be made any lighter when he hears that the Italian search yielded nothing (6) but the RAF were spot on (1)....

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The CW has 8 surprise points to spend - all 8 of which are used to increase the combat column. The actual result was not quite as bad as it could have been - but it was still pretty awful.. 1 submarine sunk and two aborted.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The CW has 8 surprise points to spend - all 8 of which are used to increase the combat column. The actual result was not quite as bad as it could have been - but it was still pretty awful.. 1 submarine sunk and two aborted.

A submarine with so low speed deserves to be sunk!

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The Germans on the Eastern Front have barely time to finish laughing at news of their hapless Allies, when they are ordered forward once more. There are no aircraft in the south to ground strike Odessa, but two Stukas are ordered aloft for attacks on Timoshenko's units northeast of Vilna and the 8th Guard Infantry Army northeast of Minsk.

The Soviets cannot intercept...and this time Timoshenko is disorganised, although all other units are missed.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The CW has 8 surprise points to spend - all 8 of which are used to increase the combat column. The actual result was not quite as bad as it could have been - but it was still pretty awful.. 1 submarine sunk and two aborted.

A submarine with so low speed deserves to be sunk!

warspite1

Yes I should have left him behind and had all units in the higher box, but as it turned out, it would not have made any difference to the search nos.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The CW has 8 surprise points to spend - all 8 of which are used to increase the combat column. The actual result was not quite as bad as it could have been - but it was still pretty awful.. 1 submarine sunk and two aborted.

A submarine with so low speed deserves to be sunk!

warspite1

Yes I should have left him behind and had all units in the higher box, but as it turned out, it would not have made any difference to the search nos.

One less box means one more surprise point for CW. So in this battle CW would have had 7 surprise points instead of 8 and thereby would have fought at one lower combat column. So it is not that the Italians missed to find that bothered me.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The Germans once more choose three attacks. Odessa in the south and the two hexes previously targeted for ground strike. Aircraft cannot alter any of the battle odds and there are no HQ's left to provide support.

The attack on Odessa is at 3:1 (no modifier) on the Assault table....

...its only a 4. All attackers are disorganised but there is no loss to the Germans. However, the Soviets lose the 4th Motorised Army - but at least Odessa holds..

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The next attack is against Timoshenko and the 3rd Armoured Army. This is a 3:1 +1 with the Germans choosing the Blitzkrieg table.....

... its a 6 (7) which means no losses to either side but the Soviets are Shattered (no conversion!).

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The third and final attack - but by certainly not the least important. This is a 3:1 +1 attack on the Blitzkrieg table against a lone Guards Infantry Army, but its removal will really split the Soviet Army apart...

...its only a 2 (3)... The defender is destroyed but the attacking units are disorganised and one division is also lost.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 9

The turn ends on a 3! There are mutterings of dodgy dice in the German camp.....

[Orm]

The dice are clearly not pro-Germany.[:D]

[warspite1]

Hold on

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Production

Germany:
Infantry
Mechanised
Motorised
Field Artillery
3 x Pilot
Fighter
3 x Land Air

Italy:
Infantry HQ

Japan:
Submarine
Carrier
2 x Carrier Air
2 x Pilots
Militia
Garrison

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Production

China:
2 x Infantry

CW:
Hermione
Dido
Carrier
3 x Pilot
3 x Carrier Air
Garrison
Anti-Aircraft
Armour Division

USA:
Missouri
Wisconsin
Alaska
2 x TRS
3 x Carrier Air
3 x Pilot
Infantry
Submarine

USSR:
4 x Infantry
2 x Motorised
2 x Anti-Tank
3 x Pilot
2 x Fighter
2 x Land Air