Matrix Games Forums

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear LochLomond,

an entrenched unit receives a defense bonus, i.e. Soft Defense, Hard Defense and Artillery Defense +2.
As long as a unit is entrenched, it reseceives this bonus.
And attack with Heavy Artillery de-entrenches the defending unit as long as the Heavy Artillery is equipped with tech level 1 or higher.
Infantry attacks also de-entrech.

Without any tech levels in Trench Warfare, a unit can entrench, but it will only reach Entrenchment 1.
This means after one attack, the entrechment and the corresponding bonuses are gone, and the next attack will cause higher losses.
The max. entrechment increases with each researched levels of TW.
Level 1 researched means a max. entrechment of 2, and Level 5 means 6.
Attacking an entrenched unit means high losses for the attacker and low losses for the defender.

So when infantry attacks an entrenched unit with Entrenchment 2, it takes two attacks until the entrechment is gone, and these attacks cause high losses for the attacker.[/font][/center]

But entrench level 6 still only gives a +2?

And does the direction of the trenches still play a role as it was in the former WW1 game or doesn't it matter?

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear Cfant,

the level of Trench Warfare does not change the bonus.
But having entrenchment 6 means it needs 6 attacks until the bonus is removed.

Dear Kardinalinfant,

the facing plays a role.
If there is an attack from a direction where no trenches are, the bonus does not apply.
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Turn 19

27.03.1915



Italian war readiness is above 70%.
This means Italy will declare war on AH in Turn 22 most probably.
I need to be prepared.



Both Heavy Artillery unit will be used to advance on the western Front.
One will be ready for action in Turn 21, the other one needs to be upgraded and refreshed.
I need both to capture Verdun.

I have thought about this issue quite long.. strengthen the west or advance in the east?
But I have problems to hold the line in Galicia, and need to divert some German units down there to help AH.
This means I have not enough ground units in East Prussia to advance.
So the Heavy Artillery goes to the west.



The corps will go to Galicia, the Heavy Artillery to Serbia.
I need to bring Bulgaria into the war as soon as possible.



My own losses were relatively low.
In Turn 21 I will start an attack on the French positions in the east of Verdun.



Without artillery, I cannot advance.
So I need to focus on attrition.



I will try to widen the gap during the next turns.
This will force the AI to operate a few units to Poland, and this will take pressure from Galicia.



I will use some of the victorious German units to cover positions the AH units held previously.
The German HQs are much better than the Austrian, and the NM is higher.



Italian attacks will focus on Trento and Klagenfurt.
This is the best I can do at the moment.



Every destroyed unit helps to bring the Bulgarians into the war.



In Eastern Turkey, it is very important to find the right positions.
Some mountain hexes deliver an additional level of entrenchment, and this helps a lot.



I will try to neutralize the British detachment.
This will not be an easy task.



I prefer to have as many subs as possible against the Royal Navy.



NM is vitals, so I do everything to keep it up.



Germany buys two chits in Submarine Warfare.
Which level to equipped in 1916, I will have a better chance against the Royal Navy.

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OK thanks, that means, that the entrenchment system was completely revised and changed, compared to breakthrough. On the first sight the new system sounds good!

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Turn 20

10.04.1915



As expected, Entente forces launch multiple attacks against my well entrenched positions.
Losses on both sides are high, and most of my units are de-entrenched.
If the second wave is as intense as the first, I might loose a couple of units.
But I will start my own attack in the east of Verdun.
This will distract the AI.

In East Prussia and Poland, enemy forces entrench and refresh.
The AI concentrates on the point where my forces are weak: Galicia.



AH forces loose 22 strength points.
My income per turn is not enough to buy back and refresh all units.
AH definitely needs German help now.

Serbia and Turky are quiet as well.
During the Beta test I have seen it quite often that the AI was calm for turn and then start a major attack in the next turn.

I wonder were it will strike in Turn 22.[/font][/center]

Is it better to strengthen the artillery to 10? Does it impact its firepower? And what benefit do elite-units have?

ORIGINAL: Cfant

And what benefit do elite-units have?

"Elite reinforcements", per the ww2 games in the series, can have higher strength - if you have one dot of experience you can buy an extra Strength point - potentially higher readiness (thus more damage), as well as the fact you can lose 1 more Strenght before being worried about reinforcing/retreating....

Thanks. I thought it to be a new feature [:)]

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Turn 21

28.04.1915



No MPPs to buy this unit back.



Italy is at 94% war readiness.
Definitely in the war next turn.



The fighters will help on the Western Front.



This is the first time I used concentrated artillery preparation on the Western Front.
It does not help to destroy the enemy unit.
To hold the conquered position I need to move fresh unit in that has enough Action Points to entrench itself.
This is why these attacks need to be planned very precisely.
It does not helpt to waste the precious ammunition just loose a unit in the counterattack.

And of course I continue the usual attrition.



This also helps to lower the Russian NM.



Now the AI is forced to react.
My target is Syedlets.
Conquering the town means every unit south of is threatened to be encircled.



It might be necessary to retreat behind the Dnjestr.
But this means I would have to give up Lemberg and the oil wells.
Loosing two NM targets is nothing I can afford.

I need to find something to distract the Russians.



It will take another two turns until I can use the Heavy Artillery.
But I need to capture Kragujevac and Uzice as soon as possible to bring the Bulgarians into the war.



In two turns, the Ottoman HQ arrives at its destination: two hexes southeast of Erzurum.
Environmental supply 6 means the HQ will deliver Supply 10, and it will improve the readiness of the attached units.
This will help a lot.



I wonder if there is just one British unit down there.
If this is the case, I can encircle and besiege it to bring its supply to zero.
Would take a while, but it would be a major success.



Germany buys a chit of Spying & Intelligence.
Once this is researched, the speed of my own research will increase and the the speed of the Entente will be lowered.

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Turn 22 (AI)

08.05.1915



The French start another series of attacks.
Also, they move a couple of corps to the eastern part of their frontline.
This is a reaction to my advance in the direction of Toul and Epinal.



I loose another corps, and Czernowitz is threatened.
Loosing the town would be bad, but at least it is no NM target.



I need to refresh a couple of my units, and this costs me a lot of time.
And due to the situation in Galicia, I don't have time.



Obviously the Russians do not have any MPPs left.
This is lucky.. I should be able to sink the BB in my turn.



I did expect the AI to attack Erzurum and did put my best units there.
But the AI decided to attack Trabzon first.
This might be a problem in the long run.



Unless the British do not bring Heavy Artillery down there, the situation is stable.

Italy joins the Entente.

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Turn 23

22.05.1915



I hope my advance in Poland will force the AI to send some troops from Galicia and Eastern Turkey up there.
Sooner or later the Russians will conquer something that will hurt the AH NM.



I need to pay attention to Entente diplomacy.
As soon as I can afford it, I will buy one or two chits.



No, I need these 50 MPPs elsewhere.



This corps is barely needed in Galicia.



German forces close in on Verdun.
I think I will start the attack in Turn 27.
If it goes well, it will be a severe blow to the French NM.



The destruction of the Russian cavalry corps makes my frontline shorter.
Also, a couple of units will be free for other tasks.



There are two major holes in the Russian frontlines.
I will to not be able to cut off the Russian units, the AI will not let me.
But I am sure the AI will operate troops into Poland, and this will take pressure from Galicia and Eastern Turkey.
At least this is my plan.



Although I destroyed a Russian corps and shortened my frontline, the situation is critical.
I have seen Heavy Artillery, and if the AI concentrates on the oil wells, I cannot do anything.
The oil wells are a NM target, so it will hit me twice.



I count 8 Itaians corps, AH just has 4.
But I am happy with my position.
My units are entrenched, and the first attacks will cause high losses for the Italians.



I still need to upgrade the Heavy Artillery, otherwise it will not de-entrench.



Sinking the Russian BB bring more than 600 NM-points.
This increased the Ottoman NM from 88% to 91%.
It is very important to be above 90%.
Just a small victory, but it helps a lot.



If these attacks continue, I will loose Erzurum and Trabzon.
I hope the AI will operate units to Poland.



I will try to capture Qurna and then besiege Force D.
This will take a couple of turns, but it will work.
As long as there are no additional units.



This turn was very important.
My income per turn is around 880 MPPs, the AI gets almost 1.200.
I need these victories.



At the end of the turn, Germany and the Ottomans research Trench Warfare 2.
Especially for the Ottomans, the is quite lucky and important.

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Turn 24 (AI)

05.06.1915



I lost 10 strength points, the equivalent of a corps.
But at least I can hold the recently conquered territory in the east of Verdun.



A couple of units arrived from other theaters.
The southern part of the frontline is secured.
I need to advance in the north and force the AI to divert more units.



The Russians used their Heavy Artillery, and the oil wells are gone.
The AH NM drops.
But there is a positive aspect: a Russian unit advanced into the gap and was ambushed by the AH VI corps.
The enemy unit is a strength 3, so I will be able to conduct a counter attack.
But I will not be able to repair the NM damage.



No losses or the AH troops.



The situation around Rize is still critical.



Fortunately, the Ottoman HQ will move to Gaza next turn, and this will improve the supply.
My income per turn is barely high enough to cover the losses.

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Why is it important to maintain NM above 90%?

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear Iwarmonger,

as soon as the NM falls below certain borders, all units receive a penalty in morale.
These borders are (afaik) 100%/90%/75%/40%.
So if you NM was below 90% and you bring it back above, the corresponding penalty is removed, and the morale of all of your units improves.[/font][/center]

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Turn 25

19.06.1915



Fortunately, I will be able to buy this corps back during this turn.



The loss of the oil wells mean the Russian NM increases which is tragic.



In Turn 27, the long prepared attack on Verdun will start.
One Heavy Artillery is fully loaded, the second one partially.



I used my Dreadnoughts to bombard the Russian cavalry in the north of Memel.
Its morale and readiness dropped, and my infantry inflicted 4 points of damage.
Every little bit counts.



Syedlets is almost encircled.
Taking the town will have an impact on Russian supply.



The oil wells are back under AH control.
The Russian artillery is in danger in will move back next turn.
I do not expect major attacks, because the AI will need to reorganize its troops.

This is a classic example of the mechanism of attacks and counterattacks.
High losses on both sides, no change of the frontlines.
To keep the conquered territory, a fresh unit needs to move in that is able to entrench.
In this case the Russian unit was ambushed and got destroyed in the counterattack.
This is why I am so cautious in the west.
I cannot afford to start trading units on a 1:1 basis.. this will make me bankrupt.



I hope it will remain calm as long as possible.
I cannot attack, the usual forecast is 3:0 or similar.



If nothing goes wrong, I can start the attack on Kragujevac next turn.
Bulgaria is at 82% war readiness, to it will not take much longer until they join the CP.



The Ottoman fleet has scouted a British amphib unit.
This is why I have to leave so many units there.



I will move the Ottoman HQ further to the north to improve the supply there.
At the moment, the Trabzon is in danger, and I need to enforce the city.



Amara will have supply 3 in Turn 27.
I will start a siege, and the supply will drop one point each turn.
In turn 33 the supply will be zero, and I will be able to launch an attack.
If the British do not send reinforcements...



All of my units have at least supply 6 now.
This helps a lot.



I am waiting for Indstrial Technology Level 1.. this will improve the situation.
The enemy will get it as well, but it will give me more flexibility.

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Turn 26 (AI)

03.07.1915



Entente forces are still trying to establish a closed frontline.
And they are bringing their artillery in position.

In East Prussia and Poland, the AI reorganizes its forces.



It seems I have achieved a tactical victory.
Russian forces reorganize as well.
I am still hoping that more troops are diverted to Poland.



This is a problem.
I need to destroy this unit, or it will be able to conquer Temeschburg.
This delays my attack on Kragujevac.



The Ottoman X Corps takes heavy losses again.
Soone or later I will need to retreat.



I need almost my complete income per turn to repair my damaged units.

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I don't understand, why you are holding the Positions north east from Rize and two hexes north east from erzerum instead of establishing a closed Frontlinie...?

[center][font="Times New Roman"]Dear Kardinalinfant,

this has to do with the terrain in Eastern Turkey.
Some mountain hexes provide extra entrenchment, others not.
The hex you mentiond is one of these.

In general, due to bad HQs and lower supply, unit values are not as high as in Central Europe.
The Russians can destroy almost any Turkish unit with their mass attacks.
I want to delay the Russian attack as long as I can, so I defend every hex with a mountain pass.
The Russian units swarm around, but their supply is quite low.

I tried a closed defense line further in the west in previous tests, but lost both Trabzon and Erzurum.
And loosing these cities means you loose the Ottomans.[/font][/center]