Welcome to the Stategic Command Beta Test

[sPzAbt653]

So I'm playing as the Axis against the Allied Computer, and I'm running my Surface Raiders [Bismarck, Tirpitz, etc.] around the northern area messing with the convoys to Russia, and I am wondering why I have the option for Raider Mode or not. What is the difference ? Why don't I leave them in Raider Mode all the time ?

About Syria, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco - I attacked Russia in 1940, not France. So France is still very much in the game as we move into 1943, but from Libya I have taken Tunisia, Algeria and Syria. I haven't noticed any benefit for the Axis nor any penalty to the Allies for taking these countries, I suppose they are considered part of France and not separate countries ?

[xwormwood]

The reason is that you might want to hide your units on a convoy line.
Imagine that you would always become visible once you end your turn on a convoy line - with the "raider" deselected your opponent wont be warned by your raiding activities, and might ship his precious transports right into your trap ...

The countries mentioned were French colonies. So if France still is fighting against the Axis, so will her colonies. And if you conquer a colonie, well, than there is nothing to be gained from it, at least not in terms of plunder.

[sPzAbt653]

The reason is that you might want to hide your units on a convoy line. Imagine that you would always become visible once you end your turn on a convoy line - with the "raider" deselected your opponent wont be warned by your raiding activities, and might ship his precious transports right into your trap ...

I'm re-stokin'.

The countries mentioned were French colonies. So if France still is fighting against the Axis, so will her colonies. And if you conquer a colonie, well, than there is nothing to be gained from it, at least not in terms of plunder.

So why have Diplomacy for those colony's ? They should be included in France when the game starts. If France falls then each colony should have a chance to go Free or Vichy [mostly Vichy I guess, as that is what they did historically]. It's a mess isn't it ?

[sPzAbt653]

I need help with Cyprus !! In past games I have left it alone, but this time I determined to take it. So far I have spent turn after turn bombarding the port and the city of Nicosia with BB's and reducing them to '0', only to have them both return to '1' next turn [seen in insets lower left and right] as the UK garrison reinforces to '4'. Meanwhile all my Italian BB's that started at '10' and XLI Italian Corps that started at '10' and made an amphibious invasion get no positive combat results while losing steps. Last turn I moved a full strength good supply and upgraded Stuka unit [seen on the right] to bombard and it suffered a loss and caused no loss. War ain't fair [:(]

[Mountaineer]

I doubt you have much supply in Homs w/o a HQs. Should have just ignored it, but if you add a HQs and medium bomber, plus one more land unit, you can take it. I would have the air and HQs on the Levant, let the land units take it.

[sPzAbt653]

Thanks for the good advice ! I had an HQ in the Levant but it was more needed in Iraq so I moved it away.

The additional land unit did the trick [the lowly garrisons come in handy at times], Cyprus is now mine !

[sPzAbt653]

I was starting to suspect that Russia would not surrender. I had taken Moscow, the 2nd capital Kubychev, and the 3rd capital Perm, and their NM was only down to 60%. But then it did surrender, yahoo !

And woohoo ! 2484 MPP Plunder ! It's enough to bring tears to my eyes.

[zakblood]

good play, better than i've been doing or managed to as yet[8|][:'(]

[sPzAbt653]

Well, I hit Russia in May 1940 instead of France, so it happened a little quicker than history. Also, I'm using a heavily modified file that has historic OOB's, and it still may be a little off because of that [getting the computer to produce all the Soviet Rifle Corps].

Plus, I think it is harder in the original file because units evaporate too easily [in my rookie opinion]. So I have made a few adjustments to calm things down a bit [;)]

[sPzAbt653]

After three years on the East Front, the experienced German Army cut thru Holland and Belgium like butter. France was backed by UK and USA corps, but they had been expending their strength on futile attacks against the West Wall and could not put up an effective defense against the swarms of Panthers.

A three corps Sealion landed successfully and the Allied computer did not do a good job of blocking reinforcements, allowing London to be taken and resulting in:

[sPzAbt653]

I didn't get the Allied surrender option, which was a little sad because I still had more I could do. I guess that surrender option is on a percentage chance ?

Going for Russian in 1940 instead of France didn't cause the game to go wonkers, so nice job there on the design. The USA deployed direct to France and they tried like heck to get thru the West Wall and thru the Italian Front. The restrictive front in both areas allowed me to put up a decent defense and hold them off until Russia surrendered.

The Swedish Ore shipments were stopped in the winter even when Russia had surrendered. Wouldn't the ore have been shipped overland thru Finland and Russia in that case ? [Or, maybe it would have still been easier and cheaper to ship it across the Baltic].

I mentioned this before and I'll harp on it again because it may be important - I still think the UK supply situation in Egypt is worse than the Axis. I feel like Suez port should be more than a 5, and that there should be a higher value for one of the ports in or near Kuwait.

[xwormwood]

Not sure about the ore transport. The USSR and probably Finlann used a different gauge width, and that is why every rail car would have to be loaded and unloaded several times to get the ore into Germany.
The Germans (during 1941-1944 )never had the time, manpower and ressources to change the entire Russian railway network under their control, and that (combined with the partisan activities) is probably one of the main reasons why they suffered often from an overal bad supply situation at the eastern front, especially during the mud months.

[sPzAbt653]

That makes great sense, so it probably would have still been easier and cheaper to ship it across the Baltic.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
So why have Diplomacy for those colony's ? They should be included in France when the game starts. If France falls then each colony should have a chance to go Free or Vichy [mostly Vichy I guess, as that is what they did historically]. It's a mess isn't it ?

I'm a bit confused, as these colonies don't exist as separate entities unless Vichy France has been formed, i.e. following France's surrender.

Assuming that this isn't the case, as you've said that France hasn't surrendered, then if you've conquered areas belonging to France then that will reduce French income and National Morale.

Bill

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

So I'm playing as the Axis against the Allied Computer, and I'm running my Surface Raiders [Bismarck, Tirpitz, etc.] around the northern area messing with the convoys to Russia, and I am wondering why I have the option for Raider Mode or not. What is the difference ? Why don't I leave them in Raider Mode all the time ?

One other thing about this is that when raiding, the ships will lose 1 supply every turn, which might not be desired.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
I didn't get the Allied surrender option, which was a little sad because I still had more I could do. I guess that surrender option is on a percentage chance ?

The options will automatically fire if their conditions are met, and the AI is set to say yes to them. However, I think you met the Decisive Victory conditions which will fire before there is any chance for a negotiated settlement.

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
I mentioned this before and I'll harp on it again because it may be important - I still think the UK supply situation in Egypt is worse than the Axis. I feel like Suez port should be more than a 5, and that there should be a higher value for one of the ports in or near Kuwait.

I'm afraid that there aren't any simple fixes to the supply situation you've mentioned.

The only solutions would be to make Egypt an Allied Major, which means it would appear in the Interface along all the other Majors, with its own research etc.

Or a town or city in Egypt could be made part of the UK instead of being part of Egypt, and set to be a Primary Supply Center.

Unfortunately neither of these are ideal solutions.

[sPzAbt653]

I'm afraid that there aren't any simple fixes to the supply situation you've mentioned.

I see. Thanks for explaining it.

If there were say a UK 8th Army HQ in Cairo with a rating of 10, would that make a difference ?

[sPzAbt653]

ORIGINAL: Bill Runacre

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
So why have Diplomacy for those colony's ? They should be included in France when the game starts. If France falls then each colony should have a chance to go Free or Vichy [mostly Vichy I guess, as that is what they did historically]. It's a mess isn't it ?

I'm a bit confused, as these colonies don't exist as separate entities unless Vichy France has been formed, i.e. following France's surrender.

Assuming that this isn't the case, as you've said that France hasn't surrendered, then if you've conquered areas belonging to France then that will reduce French income and National Morale.

Bill

I get confused with Vichy. I think I confused playing the different sides.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

I'm afraid that there aren't any simple fixes to the supply situation you've mentioned.

I see. Thanks for explaining it.

If there were say a UK 8th Army HQ in Cairo with a rating of 10, would that make a difference ?

The HQ's rating itself doesn't affect the level of supply, so it would only help in the same sense that all other HQs help with supply.

I do think that if the British want to succeed in Egypt/Libya then having two HQs in the area is probably essential.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

ORIGINAL: Bill Runacre

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
So why have Diplomacy for those colony's ? They should be included in France when the game starts. If France falls then each colony should have a chance to go Free or Vichy [mostly Vichy I guess, as that is what they did historically]. It's a mess isn't it ?

I'm a bit confused, as these colonies don't exist as separate entities unless Vichy France has been formed, i.e. following France's surrender.

Assuming that this isn't the case, as you've said that France hasn't surrendered, then if you've conquered areas belonging to France then that will reduce French income and National Morale.

Bill

I get confused with Vichy. I think I confused playing the different sides.

Ok, I won't worry about this unless I hear further. [:)]