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Well, I'm still on patch 1.1, but in a game as the CPs against the AI I actually had the US declare war on me very early in 1916 due to a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Americans made an immediate and large contribution. Compared to most other games with the AI where the Americans never turn up at all, that was quite a novel experience for me.

Having been on the receiving end of sub war in pbem now me as the CPs invested a lot of German industry into naval assets - keeping a pool of 30 at a minimum to give me flexibility. I bought two extra subs immediately and bought one more early in 1915 so the fleet was 5 Uboats. It sure worked, Britain was reduced to 'Wavering' by the end of 1916 and never really posed a serious threat on the ground. Not only that, but having a pool of assets so I could sortie as needed, keep transports going without any trouble even when sunk etc was well worth having. I always neglected naval assets as the CPs in the past, I shall not do so again.

On the ground I actually went for a East and West at the same time strategy, which I think is a bit novel. Past experience suggests that the CPs have adequate force in 1914 at least to make progress in both directions - and progress is something which the TE have to buy back at enormous cost later on.

The bulk of the effort was in the East, with Poland being the immediate objective, which goes a long way to solving the CPs food shortage. The Russians really are weak in 1914, provided you are willing to use up enough HQ activations (reason why I dont like Russia first in general is the sheer number of HQ activations needed to plow across the vast expanse) you can stomp em no problem at all. While the Germans were laying smack down the Austrians were just focused on defending and taking out Serbia. A Russian advance along the Austro-Romanian border was permitted without resistance - it hit the rough and bogged down anyway.

In the West my objective was more limited - the three French resource hexes in a line from Verdun. By 1915 I had two out of 3, by early 1915 I had them all. Once that had been achieved I dug in as deep as I could and extorted a heavy toll with all the CP arty. The opening offensives had bled the French army nicely as well, which I think is a requirement for the CPs to win, you cannot leave the French intact.

So, Serbia surrendered pretty quick, Russia was in a dire way by the end of 1915, Britain is suffering, everything is looking rosy, but then the Yanks came in.

Russia went into revolution and bowed out in 1916, so then I went to work on Italy. This is when the US divisions started to show up. Wherever they attacked, they toasted. Things were actually looking pretty dire for a while, there was half a dozen US corps in Italy in mid 1916 (the sheer speed at which they started showing up there took me by surprise) so this was really a first in my games against the AI so far.

But. The US is basically like Russia. Powerful, yet brittle. I moved a lot of arty down from the Western Front and got involved in an artillery duel sort of campaign across the Alps. Wherever I saw Americans they got plastered, the lions share of the artillery was reserved for them. All through 1916 this went on.

By 1917, those extra big US divisions were all ripped apart. They had stopped me from conquering Italy outright with their presence but at an extortionate price. And rather like Russia, the problem the US has is that when their divisions have been torn apart they can't really replace them all that easy. The US advantage is essentially arms. But thats a very fleeting advantage, it seems to me.

It took a while, but they were worn down. Come 1917, I was confident enough to take to the offensive against the US/Italian forces on the Alps, and drove them back. Italy fell soon after. The Western Front was next. The French offered only token resistance by now, the US/British did show up too but the British seemed to have morale problems from the U-boats and the US by this time were fielding shadow corps against me - they did pack about 20 strength compared to the 10 the French could field, so still decent sized corps, but not enough after some preparatory shelling.

So by the end of 1917, Germany had conquered the world, pretty much! 250 odd victory points, most I ever had.

And the US was 'Wavering', presumably from the sheer number of casualties they were taking.



So. It can be done against the AI alright. Also in this game I don't think in this game the AI was making many of the usual blunders it does, either. It wasn't really attacking into suicidal odds much as it often does like Marshal Foch. Neither was I vastly abusing the 1.1 patch artillery system, one gun per hex with at least one infantry corps is usual for me.

Against a human player is next of course, soon as my connection is sorted out... [:D]

1.2 will solve your artillery problems!! [;)]

I played a gain vs the AI over hte weekend right to the end of 1919 - I had to declare war on the US in 1917 to ensure it arrived as my diplomacy was being very successful.

The AI must also have researched ASW, because it was sinking multiple U-boats - in some turns I lost every one I had put into the Atlantic - I reached the heady total of 9, but in early 1918 had only 1 left!!

but it was still a fairly easy game - Poland conquered by end of 1914, Frane made only artillery attacks in 1914, and eventually managed to take 1 border hex, which didnt' last loing. When Italy arrived the CP was waiting and crushed the forces on the Venetian plains instantly - however strong reinforcements quickly arrived from France and the UK and stabilised the front after Mantua fell.

In 1917 the Russians revolted, so I stopped pushing there and transfered trops to the west. by early 1918 the Americans had arrived, but there were "E" class French corps in the front line so they were hurting bad. A Late Schliefflen Plan attack through Belgium saw France actually surrender at the end of the Nov-Dec 1919 turn.

I had 1 German corps take sufficient replacements to become "C" class - I do't recall whether it started as "A" or "B".