AAR - PBEM Game 2 (The FIRST public AAR)

[Oleg Mastruko]

Soviet turn again. We drank some vodka, purged some officers, opened some new Gulags. Some imperialist spies tried to warn us this Adolf guy may not be what he's making to be, and that we may be next on his list, but we'll let them explain that to their gulag-mates in Siberia.

This below is the production screen for one of the regions (don't know if it was posted before, anyway this is production screen for one of the Red Soviet Workers and Peasants regions). The screen is scaled down from it's original size, but is still visible.

Note that one INF unit is to be produced by the end of the turn - Summer 40 (it was produced when I clicked "End turn") and that one Factory unit is in production line but is put "on hold" (Summer 41). Why is it on hold? Because we don't have enough Red Resources to make it happen. Pay attention to the numbers outlined in blue - we have "'-1" factory resource which means we are 1 FAC short of what's needed to produce anything beyond what's first in production line.

INF unit is first in line so it is being produced. FAC unit is on hold until all resources are available.

Whew. I hope I explained this well enough. [8D]

Oleg

[Becket]

Where are all the tanks? Who the hell do you have running your production queues, Lev Mehklis??!!!

[:D]

What is the Soviet situation like on Turn 1, and what are your goals prior to the war beginning? (I plan on playing the Soviet side a lot).

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Becket

Where are all the tanks? Who the hell do you have running your production queues, Lev Mehklis??!!!
[:D]

Tanks are being produced in oder regions of da Vast Soviet Empire, komrade Bekket. Do you kweshtion the wiseness of Our Glorious Soviet Leaders, komrade?

What is the Soviet situation like on Turn 1

Not very enviable - our troops are frozen [:D] I'd wanted to be able to attack Rumania on turn 1 (historical) but Joel explained that Soviet gains in border clashes with Rumania in 40 are already accounted for on turn 1 and I accept this reasoning.

and what are your goals prior to the war beginning? (I plan on playing the Soviet side a lot).

Goals? What goals? I already said we have no goals. [:D] I'd be content if Adi gets what he wants and just leaves us alone as per our pre-war agreement [:D] Something tells me this is not going to be the case, although, as we speak, Germans get resources from us!

Oleg/Koba

[MButtazoni]

Gorki is only 1 region of 10 (??) that can produce units.

also remember Russia can only Produce units, REsearch, and move supply until attacked by Germany or Japan, or 1943 rolls along.

[pad152]

Unit Icons:

What is that unit (Top Middle of the first Europe Map) that looks like a train?

Options:

1. Does the game include options for which nations start as netural (US, Italy, Minors, etc.)?

[MButtazoni]

ORIGINAL: MButtazoni

it's important to note this is not a political game.

yes, that's a train "unit" which provides strategic movement through the area.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Becket

ORIGINAL: paullus99
4) I need to keep at least one unit in Konigsberg/East Prussia to keep the Russians at bay. I won't deal with them until I am absolutely prepared (supplies galore & plenty of infantry). Might make it a little dull for a Russia-only PBEM'er, but its suicide for Germany to attack before they are ready - as England can put some serious hurt on the German player if they are not prepared.

That will be a very interesting part of this AAR if it goes that far....will the USSR be an unstoppable juggernaut if left alone til 1/43? Also, if Japan attacks the USSR, does that mean the USSR can attack Germany?

Let me go back and elaborate a bit on this. USSR will not (necesarilly) turn into unstoppable juggernaut if left alone til Jan 43.

Germany out-produces USSR at the beginning by a significant margin. Also have in mind that according to current set of (alpha) rules all countries get a significant boost in production capabilities when they are at war. I won't go into exact numbers since this is still ALPHA but the modifier is really significant. (There is another modifier that makes some economies more productive later in war.)

So clever German player won't attack USSR right away, thus denying the Soviets production boost they get when in war.

ALSO, German player gets 3 resource points from USSR FREE while at peace with USSR (as per Russo-German pact of 39). So these are significant incentives for German player to leave the USSR alone until really ready to attack.

More or less the same goes for Japan and US.

So, all this requires fine balance by German player between staying at peace with the Ruskies, and attacking them.

Oleg

[MButtazoni]

Summer 1940, Western Allied turn:

Well after some blunders in the North Sea, the Germans are in Scotland in strength. Since i can't dislodge such a large force, i took the following actions:
- wiped out the Kriegsmarine, they won't be coming back for a year or two, and this all but eliminates any more reinforcemments.
- air attacks on scotland removed the 2 Arty units he had
- most units called back to england to try and stop the attack from Scotland next turn. (including vacating Iraq *sigh*)
- I did invade and take over Norway, this was absolutely essential: if England falls i need an area of operations to come back from. My Navy will guarentee no more land units reinforce England so i can build up my strength in Norway to come back for the isles.

Other misc stuff:
- moved into Italian East Africa.
- moved into the Western Med with my Navy and feasted on some IT ships.

Here is a picture of Europe with the units in England shown. GE has 5 Infantry and 1 Mech in Scotland.

[MButtazoni]

Here is the Force Pool and Production Sumnmary at the end of Summer 1940

[paullus99]

Germany Turn #3 - Fall 1940

Although it was costly - Army Group Northern England was successful in capturing London & taking England out of the war (for the time being anyway).

The Kreigsmarine is no more, with the last of our ships sacrificed in the North Sea.

We also moved against Yugoslavia in strength to unfreeze our Balkan Allies, took Cyrpus (for the hell of it) and moved the Afrika Corps into Syria & Iraq. Production has been streamlined & research is progressing on both land & sea units.

The Western Allies supply situation should become rather grim - with their entire fleet out on patrol & very little active manufacturing left....if we can keep the USA out of the war for the time being, we should be ok.

[paullus99]

Germany Turn 3 - Middle Eastern Situation

[bigbabyhead]

Japan's Turn 3 is the most non-action-packed turn yet.

My last un-damaged bomber took off to put the hurt on the infrastructure of southern China but the mission resulted in no hits for either side.

Due to some miscalculations on my part, I am awash in supplies but have run low on resources needed to manufacture the forces that will use them. I've restructured production by putting some items I hope I won't need right away on hold.

I am gambling I don't lose any carriers right away when the fight does come because their replacements won't be on the line in time.

The way the Germans are going, maybe I'll meet them in India and the opportunities will be more open...

[Count Bobby]

It looks like Germany has it too easy.

And it´s not incompetent English play, only. [:D] Allied/Neutral setup forces are too weak.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Soviet turn again. We are watching the world go mad, isolated in our communist paradise. Isolated, but for how long? More and more numerous are voices warning us that we are next on the Nazi list, but Politburo members still refuse to believe it. German ambassador put up a party on the occassion of the Fall of England. Sent Molotov, reportedly the beer was good, and everybody got drunk before any serious discussion could have been held. Japanese ambassador excused himself - got some urgent business to attend to, apparently the Chinese are provin tougher than expected.

Still, world seems like a dangerous place these days so we, peace-loving peoples of Soviet Union, took care to put some more units into production, with our modest peacetime economy.

Oleg

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Count Bobby

It looks like Germany has it too easy.

And it´s not incompetent English play, only. [:D] Allied/Neutral setup forces are too weak.

Too early to tell I'd say. I (as USSR) certainly do feel weak, but WA's powerhouse is incredible. I await the moment I am attacked, to see what USSR is made of for real.

Also remember - this is *alpha* and first PBEM for all of us (actually we did small abortive PBEM that was stopped on turn 3).

Oleg

[bigbabyhead]

ORIGINAL: Count Bobby

It looks like Germany has it too easy.

And it´s not incompetent English play, only. [:D] Allied/Neutral setup forces are too weak.

It might seem that way now, but just wait until the U.S. joins the war and you see what the production bonus does to their ability to churn out units.

I'm already scared...

[DoomedMantis]

Good Scottish ale[X(][X(][X(] Elmo what planet are you on. I spent 4 years in Scotland looking for even one decent beer and failed miserably, if it wasnt for my stock of imported Bundy Rum I would have gone looney.

ORIGINAL: elmo3

OK, thanks for the clarifications. I just hated the thought of the flow of all the good Scottish ale being cut off. Guess it could have been worse. The US might have invaded and replaced it with Bud and Coors Light. [X(]

[MButtazoni]

Fall 1940, Western Allied and China turn

Well it took all the infantry i had in India and Canada to come back to England, but i was able to retake my native soil and start rebuilding the completely wiped out infrastructure (Rail, REsources, and Factories). i didn't do much else as it is a time of rebuilding...

The Chinese sent their fighter out and managed to damage a JA Heavy Bomber.

here is Europe at the end of the Fa40 turn:

[MButtazoni]

and here is the Force Pool and Production Queue at the end of Fa40

[Count Bobby]

ORIGINAL: bigbabyhead

ORIGINAL: Count Bobby

It looks like Germany has it too easy.

And it´s not incompetent English play, only. [:D] Allied/Neutral setup forces are too weak.

It might seem that way now, but just wait until the U.S. joins the war and you see what the production bonus does to their ability to churn out units.

I'm already scared...

This wouldn´t quite make me happy, it just means US power is exaggerated as well. But balancing one exaggeration with another is still bad.

Anyways, I was thinking not so much of production, but overly weak starting garrisons in places like Norway, France, Egypt,...