Ash (Entente) vs KorutZelva (CP) - Classic AAR: "Get better" edition

[AshFall]

Turn 78: April 7th, 1917

Russia gets a phonecall from dad telling it to come home and sleep. Luckily, beach-jockey USA waltzes onto the scene just in time to keep this triparty going.

The US navy is a lot bigger than I remember, large enough to tip the balance at sea very much in our favour. They have no army whatsoever (one company of marines) and nothing in their build que.

Fortunately I have been able to start researching key technologies already, so their preparedness is not completely rock bottom. It’s going to take a little bit, but soon all of those lovely resources (acting as the motor of the US economy starting to spin with the war entry and digging them out of depression) will grow to full productivity. In five of my turns their base war economy will increase by 120 (4*30, mines) + 100 (5*20, oil). That’s if they are str 10 at least, not sure if they are. Could be 8? Nonetheless a substantial increase.



Their industry modifier is 100% base, so any industry tech will add 15% on top of their total production.

In addition, they have a major capital. That means all of Canadas resources will grow to full productivity as well.
Having to build their fighting strength from scratch means their first army will probably land in France sometime this late autumn.

What they can do, however, is start bending their economical and political might to the ententes cause. Our first target is Holland, as taking them out of the central powers camp will cause recurring NM damage to Germany. With only 9 chits to contest, there is nothing KZ can do except slow me down. He’s created a buffer in their leaning with his own diplomacy, but they will withdraw.

Scouting airships find no sign of the Kriegsmarine around the North Channel, and we have seen no sign of them around the shetlands or Orkneys. Scouting submarines find nothing near the east-coast of Scotland.

One mine has detonated on the near blockade line though, and the other Submarine screening the approach find a large concentration of ships.

Two ships are at anchor in the west-side ports. The way is also clear into the Baltics.



I debate this for some time. I would very much like to place some mines next to those ports, but I dont think losing a destroyer to do so is worth it. I’m not sure how much of the Kriegsmarine is in that ball up there, but given the complete lack of presence elsewhere I have to assume the worst and say “Probably all of it”. Engaging it in that form instead of the piecemeal, fleeing mess I had hoped for will only lead to huge damage to my ships as well, especially considering the tech advantage the Germans still have.

Instead I leave some subscreens and withdraw, sending as many ships to port as I can.

Several light cruisers and a French destroyer takes a lot of damage clearing the mines off the raiding squares, but at least now the English ports - and more importantly their trade convoys, can start to recover.

I had my mind on a more defensive posture in Germany, but spotted an opportunity too good to pass up.



For some reason KZ left an airship next to a corps, with nothing else to screen his guns. I strike through and destroy them easily, thanks again to mobility tech. I may well lose those two forward corps, but it’s definitely worth it to get rid of a German gun for most of the summer.

With the collapse of Russia things are probably going to get rough here for a while. I debated attacking Belgium and Holland for a while (and have been pondering whether to do it with the US entry since I went for the US strategy) but decided against it. My position is good as it is, and I dont want to hurt my NM any more than necessary. The UK cant really handle it, and it’s stupid to throw away a good NM advantage when you’re looking at fighting on the defensive for a while.

Greece is quiet as the Greeks deploy their guns. The transport is sunk by the destroyer in the Mediterranean, and the Austrian torpedo boat found and damaged by the Pre-dread.

5 corps worth of French and British troops transfer from Britain to France. I keep several cavalry corps in the UK, since I will have to avoid the puddle to the east for a bit. A japanese destroyer appeared at Gibraltar, I cant remember seeing the event for this.

I missed a mine somewhere I think... or a ship. Something is still raiding me at least. Going to have to search next turn.

[AshFall]

Turn 80: May 5th, 1917

Now this is an odd little situation. Austria-Hungary declared war on Romania but didn’t move in at all.

Romania is still a Russian minor, despite Russias defeat. This means Russia and indirectly Romania, cant declare war on Germany and cannot enter Bulgaria, or other places save Austria. Essentially at the mercy of whenever Germany decides to declare war from the other direction.

Since Romania is a Russian minor, and Russia now has no income, they cannot in any way upgrade or reinforce.



It should probably shift major “parent” to England when Russia is defeated?

The Escaped Serbian army corps in Greece suffers from the same problem, it cant do anything since it is still the minor of Russia and thus no MPPs. Serbia is “meant” (in the broadest sense) to be able to Escape to the British controlled minor of Greece. Seems odd that they would then not be able to be commanded or aided by British materiel. Oh well.




The Brits carefully move their line up, and positions Greek artillery, Cavalry has arrived from Egypt this turn.

One of the forward French corps is defeated by arriving Germans.



In return the Ententes guns unleash a furious barrage and three German corps are destroyed along the line for very few losses. The British are brought into another section of the line. France deploys its first Tank and another Artillery, both will need to be upgraded next turn before going into action.

The US invest into Logistics (3 chits) and Command (1 chit).

France hits its’ hard-cap for regular Corps and instead invests into all the Aerial techs.

The Entente now has 50% chance per turn for diplomacy on the Netherlands.

The German fleet seems to be gone from the North Sea, much scouting with silent subs find only a Pre-Dreadnaught and a Destroyer. I take a potshot at the PDN, one damage.

After looking all over the place I finally found the mine left on a raiding square. With a very damaged light cruiser that was previously used to clear one, and that was heading back to port. It sank XD.

I’m repairing and refitting ships before moving around to take up the close blockade. The Americans will be taking the far one next turn.

[AshFall]

Turn 82: June 2nd, 1917

The third and final act of this heavyweight championship between the Major Powers of Europe (and the rest of the world mostly by affiliation or proxy) has begun.



The slugfest in the west. Tired fighters stepping into the ring. The Entente worn and bruised, the Central powers victorious from the east but decidedly more exhausted by their’ efforts. With a mass of troops and experienced leaders coming in from the East we shall see if the Hun can land blows hard enough to tell and turn the tide before the bell rings.

On the opening turn of the act they delivered only a light jab. One French corps damaged. The French jab in turn, and land one destroyed corps.



However, my combat odds were noticeably worse. It could be the river, but even the attacks that werent across it didnt have the same landing power. I can only assume that is due to the experienced leaders taking the reins of the troops. Scouting reveals deep lines opposite.

German readiness is generally in the 90’s with one corps below at 89. Austrian readiness is in the 60’s and 70’s across all fronts, that’s real bad.

I can only assume that the Germans will get stronger as the morale penalty for operating wears off. In truth the only differences can be these;

HQ experience (5% per difference): Should be about equal with the best of the Germans.

HQ skill (2.5% per difference)l: The Germans have a couple of ace commanders that I cant match, depending on KZs command tech. French Command is at 2, and Foch and Petain are the equal of a same tech level Hindenburg, Von Mackensen and Von Hutier. I have only two that skilled, Haig is their inferior by 2 and De Castelnau by 1.

Infantry Warfare (5% per difference level): France is at lvl 3, Brits at lvl 2.

National Morale:
Brits: 71%, // 0.9 modifier
French 78% // 0.95 modifier
Germany: 35% // 0.85 modifier
Austria: 36% // 0.85 modifier

All in all, with the Germans, if KZ has maxed Command and Inf Warfare by leveraging his starting advantage he should have a 10% advantage against the French and a 15% advantage against the Brits, base.

Adjusted for NM it should be equal to the French until they dip below 75% NM, and 10-15% advantage vs the brits. The Austrians are fodder at this point, best used as shields and NM drains on the Entente. As long as they dont collapse they don’t matter.

Even with the amount of Guns I have managed to take down I think the CP equals or outnumbers my guns in total. They definitely outnumber us in corps.

Meanwhile I just have to survive, and hurt him back. It will be an uphill struggle for KZ, with the near blockade going again in full and the far blockade about to set up in the coming turn or two the clock is running down. The Central powers coach is warily watching the US in star spangled shorts doing near manic jumping jacks beside the ring (the US has now invested fully in all crucial research categories, on to build units).

He is down on the odds, but not out. If he lands hard enough blows this summer as his army recovers from stepping off trains he might yet start to gain territory in France.

The sideshow in Greece has one important objective, a body-blow from an unexpected direction. Bulgaria, if we can topple this Minor it will cost Germany the NM it gained from its’ entry.



The Brits reposition gradually to start working towards that goal.

It’s on, FIGHT!

[AshFall]

Turn 84: June 16th, 1917

The final turn of the game featured a heavy blow from the German army, destroying three French corps and severely damaging a battery of French guns, an excellent attack from Germans on the upsurge.



Unfortunately, changes to Romania in a patch deployed while we played meant it didnt surrender automatically when Russia was out, changes introduced require Bucharest to be occupied to force the treaty. KZ did not know this, and had no troops deployed to deal with it.

Things like these can really tilt a fellow, especially when already fighting uphill after such a hard fought game. The Central Powers resigned.

Good game KZ, very enjoyable!

I’m not a big fan of the change, Romania gave in under the simple threat of standing without Russia before the central powers.

I think this should probably be something like this, of three variants depending on the situation,

Variant 1: Romania has entered while Russia is active, for any reason.

After Russia surrenders, Romania will offer surrender as well as per the previous version.

Variant 2: Romania enters after Russias surrendern Greece is at war and aligned with the entente.

Becomes a British minor, fights normally if Greece is at war, aligned with the entente and not surrenders. If Greece surrenders, Romania will surrender as per the previous event.

Variant 3: Romania enters the war after Greece surrender, or when Greece is not actively in the war, and Russia is surrendered.

Event activates for treaty if the Central Powers have 3 units within 2 squares of Bucharest and/or Ploesti, I.e, “An actual threat”.

I’ll round this AAR off with some posts about “Lessons, musings and tips for improvement” in the coming days.