THE LAST KINGDOM: Sillyflower v sveint. SVEINT WELCOME

[sillyflower]

22 May



You thought that I would post pictures of England, didn't you, gentle reader. I expect sveint has done that already and I prefer to show my magnificent desert O. A dug-in german inf xxx was sent packing as were some Italian. All those turns of blockade seem to have been worthwhile.

I am not entirely mad. Sveint isn't going to attack the USSR in late '41 and the obvious objective for him this year is to clear the Med of all allied forces. I can't allow that to happen. That means grabbing space and ports, and relying on the Royal Navy to stop any successful invasions. The navy needs to be out of range of massed LW bombers in good supply. Aircraft effectiveness drops dramatically when any distance from hexes with high supply ratings.

[sillyflower]

May 23

The first part of a puzzle. Scary shot of completely @#~^ed UK economy after having been in good shape the previous turn.




I have no idea what happens when the money runs out, and it seems rather drastic.

[sillyflower]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

In retrospect, calling the AAR The Last Kingdom might have been asking for trouble.

I prefer to think that it reflects a high level of foresight on my part.

[sillyflower]

6 June '41

The next piece of the puzzle. Economy recovered and no upkeep. This seems equally weird

[sillyflower]

6 June report with more paraspam, presumably by units dropped in only 2 turns earlier [:@]. .







Careful readers of this AAR will note the loss of 6 more merchants. However, it cost 4 him subs . There were 10 '41 tech escorts on the route, and they will be '42 tech very soon.

I hadn't realised (probably just forgot) that taking London would give him Spain. Time to advance from North Africa to new positions. Most of the good units head back to the UK including the Gibraltar garrison, because the massed Nazis will be more than capable of destroying it next turn. If you need to run, it is better to run than dither half-heartedly, as anyone who has ever played WiTE will know.

Division sized units are sent to garrison the ports in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf to forestall any invasions there by sveint. I learned that was possible in our last game, and it wasn't any fun for me.

[sillyflower]

There is a whisper of a rumour of Mrs sveint being a bit fed up about her husband spending too much time playing Warplan

I am certain that this is an invention of his enemies...............

but

[sillyflower]

20 June



Sadly the Nazis held on and will doubtless flee to safety.

[sillyflower]

economy still looking up.

[sillyflower]

sveint seems to be expecting serious resistance from Portugal

[sillyflower]

4 July '41




Not a happy sight overall, but an elite tank xxx, 3 inf xxx and some fighters all arrive at full strength from North Africa. I think there was an inf garrison xx too. They had taken great care to keep a proper social distance from any nazi longboats, and there was no air interdiction waiting for them. I had first checked by running a patrol group around to trigger any.

Dose anyone know what happens if Glasgow or UK is fully occupied, and what happens to units in the build queue? I assume UK carries on in the middle east but manual doesn't say where reinforcements go.

[sillyflower]

I fiddle in Libya whist Britain burns

[sillyflower]

I've just done a test and if Glasgow falls the whole UK economy shuts down. No production, men or oil - even forces in the middle east can't get if from Iraq/Persia. America just sits there doing nothing, presumably until its normal DOW date. Units in the build queue cannot be placed.

All rather a (please imagine a long stream of words that are not allowed on the forum).

[Harrybanana]

I assume both the UK economy shutting down and the US not DOWing early are bugs. If not, they should be.

[kennonlightfoot]

Surprised the UK economy is doing so well with so much of it in Axis hands. Seems like it should take some kind of hit as production centers are lost.

The main effects of Axis invasion is increasing American production and eventually bring it into the war. Seems like that should have already happened. Haven't they already occupied London, S. Hampton and Liverpool? Those three should have added 75% to US War level.

[sillyflower]

The economy has reduced due to centres lost.
USA's wetness remains a surprise.Production up but no action. ? it may need the loss of L'pool. No other reason why sveint is not attacking it.

[sillyflower]

18 July



My focus on the important front remains unshakeable.

[sillyflower]

USA not helping yet, but at least it's getting ready to.

[sillyflower]

1 August

Finally some good news from the Navy




A good retaliation for sinking 13 merchants. U boats sank 6 more but lost 4, and the escorts achieved '42 tech this turn. The Italian subs obviously didn't even get close enough to their target convoy for my escorts to sink any
My 2 land attacks resulted in the surrender of a panzer xxx which I had isolated last turn, and shattered the pesky Italian xxx I had been chasing all the way from Tobruk.

4 more turns until bad weather in Scotland is probably 4 too many.

[kennonlightfoot]

ORIGINAL: sillyflower

The economy has reduced due to centres lost.
USA's wetness remains a surprise.Production up but no action. ? it may need the loss of L'pool. No other reason why sveint is not attacking it.

Yea it takes all three to push the USA over to war. I think that is one of the flaws in the current design. The invader can avoid triggering the US by bypassing key cities. They can even limit the boost to US production if they isolate the three rather than taking them. Wait until almost end of year than take all three.

They need to either include more cities with effects on US and/or accelerate the rate the percentage changes each turn as more cities are taken. Add a little randomness so the player can't game the rules.

[sillyflower]

16 August

Glasgow falls[:(] but hopefully the locals will give the invaders the traditional Glasgow Kiss: otherwise known as a sharp headbutt to break the other person's nose. Sampling the local cuisine will also reduce readiness/cohesion in the garrison. A favourite is the deep-fried Mars bar: a rectangle of chocolate nougat topped with caramel and covered in milk chocolate. I think the Americans have a different name for it.

Remaining UK forces make their excuses and leave but not all land units will get out. I'm sure I've seen Flavius/someone else say that it's easy for the Yanks to reconquer the UK, but I have no idea how given that I will have no airpower which seems to be essential for invasions of defended ports. Brits won't be able to help with no PPs or oil other than those currently stockpiled.

All advice welcome[&:] on this subject

I await sveint's second attempt at a '42 Barbarossa. At least the improved inf xxx will be a big help and I now know how to mange the soviet economy much better that I did last time.