Grand Offensives

[tgb]

I decided, after reviewing others comments, that the Gold version was indeed worth $15. Now that I have it again, I'm trying to learn the game (I gave up in frustration shortly after the initial release).

Anyway, I just can't get my brain around Grand Offensives, and how to execute one. Can someone please post step-by-step Grand Offensives for Dummies?

Thanks.

[06 Maestro]

The general idea of the grand offensive is to mimic the great preparation that actually went into attacks after trench warfare settled in. Without these constraints, along with the possible political/military gains in the game, many players would likely throw away their manpower in attacks that would not have ever been ordered in those days-as we know, gamers can be more heartless than a general.

During the opening months of the war, there is no "grand offensive". The first one can be planned for sometime in 1915, by which time trench warfare would have begun. You can plan only one grand offensive per front per year. Germany can plan one for the eastern front, western front and, if it has an expeditionary force down there, on the Italian front. (It may be quite difficult to do 3 in a year). Each major power has the ability to conduct a G.O on its major fronts-including Turkey.

The planning for these should be done after the winter interphase at the end of each year. The date chosen can be postponed, but it cannot start any earlier than planned. If the G.O is not launched by the end of the year it was planned for, there will be serious national will hits. Sometimes your G.O may be impossible to launch because the enemy beat you to the punch and you no longer are in that area-or your forces have already been pummeled. Regardless as to why (other than victory I assume), if the attack is not conducted, you take a N.W. hit.

The Grand Offensive planning dialog is next to the research button-second from right at the top. The first time you use it (if starting in 1914) there will not be many choices to make-they will be grayed out. There should be one or two items that you can check as part of your planning. As time goes on, (assuming you do the research) there will be more options available to you in the planning dialog.

The measure of success or failure is different on the east and west fronts. To get the whole story, check out the full manual, section 11.7 (pages 51 to 53).

I hope that gets you started. This is just another one of those little things that takes some gaming time to understand. Like brain surgery, its easy after you have done it once or twice [;)]-but the prep time is much shorter. Actually, learning how to do it is much easier than figuring out just where and when to do it.

I should have added; each nation must conduct as least 1 G.O. per year, or suffer a national will hit.

[EUBanana]

I've always wondered with GOs - do you have to actually move the units when you want to kick one off?

So you plan one for Mar-Apr 1915. You pick the units to do the attack. When you're on the Mar-Apr 1915 turn, do you have to drag n drop those units to make the assault.

I've been a bit hit and miss with GOs and I've been playing this game for a while - sometimes they seem to kick off, sometimes I just get a normal attack. Unfortunately they happen rarely enough that I'm not all that familiar with them...

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

I've always wondered with GOs - do you have to actually move the units when you want to kick one off?

So you plan one for Mar-Apr 1915. You pick the units to do the attack. When you're on the Mar-Apr 1915 turn, do you have to drag n drop those units to make the assault.

I've been a bit hit and miss with GOs and I've been playing this game for a while - sometimes they seem to kick off, sometimes I just get a normal attack. Unfortunately they happen rarely enough that I'm not all that familiar with them...

I've always initiated them myself by dragging the relevant units into an attack. From memory I had to do the same in the original version.

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

I've always wondered with GOs - do you have to actually move the units when you want to kick one off?

So you plan one for Mar-Apr 1915. You pick the units to do the attack. When you're on the Mar-Apr 1915 turn, do you have to drag n drop those units to make the assault.

I've been a bit hit and miss with GOs and I've been playing this game for a while - sometimes they seem to kick off, sometimes I just get a normal attack. Unfortunately they happen rarely enough that I'm not all that familiar with them...

I've always initiated them myself by dragging the relevant units into an attack. From memory I had to do the same in the original version.

There is some funny business in general with GOs.

I just conducted one as Turkey versus the Anzacs in 1915. The army was 1st Army (only Turkish army in the area), the target was the hex NW of the Dardanelles hex. Flash bombardment is picked.

First battle, I drag the Turks to attack the hex in the scheduled month of the assault. The Turks kick out the lone British unit there, but it was a minor battle not a GO, no options. There is some stuff in the log though about the Turks failing to adopt flash bombardment successfully.

Second battle, 1st Army presses on to the Dardanelles hex, and there is the Anzac army counter and a British counter. The grand offensive is ongoing apparently, and this seems born out by the fact that this battle really is a GO battle, with all the tactical options appearing. I win, and there is a window about how the Turks have successfully won their GO in the Dardanelles - thing is the Dardanelles wasn't the target?

So... weirdness.

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

ORIGINAL: Dixie

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

I've always wondered with GOs - do you have to actually move the units when you want to kick one off?

So you plan one for Mar-Apr 1915. You pick the units to do the attack. When you're on the Mar-Apr 1915 turn, do you have to drag n drop those units to make the assault.

I've been a bit hit and miss with GOs and I've been playing this game for a while - sometimes they seem to kick off, sometimes I just get a normal attack. Unfortunately they happen rarely enough that I'm not all that familiar with them...

I've always initiated them myself by dragging the relevant units into an attack. From memory I had to do the same in the original version.

There is some funny business in general with GOs.

I just conducted one as Turkey versus the Anzacs in 1915. The army was 1st Army (only Turkish army in the area), the target was the hex NW of the Dardanelles hex. Flash bombardment is picked.

First battle, I drag the Turks to attack the hex in the scheduled month of the assault. The Turks kick out the lone British unit there, but it was a minor battle not a GO, no options. There is some stuff in the log though about the Turks failing to adopt flash bombardment successfully.

Second battle, 1st Army presses on to the Dardanelles hex, and there is the Anzac army counter and a British counter. The grand offensive is ongoing apparently, and this seems born out by the fact that this battle really is a GO battle, with all the tactical options appearing. I win, and there is a window about how the Turks have successfully won their GO in the Dardanelles - thing is the Dardanelles wasn't the target?

So... weirdness.

I had Brit and French GOs planned for the same time period, the Brit one definately worked properly with messages about failed flash bombardments. I can't remember seeing anything about the French one at the time though.
Oddly, although both offensives reached their goals I've only received a message about the French offensive being completed. No messages of any sort about the Brit effort.

[06 Maestro]

Some scenarios have pre-planned G.O.'s-you can't change those.

As to actually starting one when the time comes, its like a regular attack-dragging the army(s) into target areas. You can go through the planning window again-some techs may have change. You may also be able to use an event at that point to affect the battle.

The battles are fought the same as a regular battle, but there is a mid battle rest period where you can rebuild some units. Of course, these battles last long.

One important thing to check out in G.O planning is how many provinces you need to capture on a given front to achieve victory for the G.O. It may be that you have taken the province that you plotted, but you need to take more.
I'm not sure if Turkey falls into this category. I can say that Turkey's planned G.O.'s that I have (repeatedly) launched against Kars have succeeded-apparently with the one province.

[jhdeerslayer]

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

The general idea of the grand offensive is to mimic the great preparation that actually went into attacks after trench warfare settled in. Without these constraints, along with the possible political/military gains in the game, many players would likely throw away their manpower in attacks that would not have ever been ordered in those days-as we know, gamers can be more heartless than a general.

During the opening months of the war, there is no "grand offensive". The first one can be planned for sometime in 1915, by which time trench warfare would have begun. You can plan only one grand offensive per front per year. Germany can plan one for the eastern front, western front and, if it has an expeditionary force down there, on the Italian front. (It may be quite difficult to do 3 in a year). Each major power has the ability to conduct a G.O on its major fronts-including Turkey.

The planning for these should be done after the winter interphase at the end of each year. The date chosen can be postponed, but it cannot start any earlier than planned. If the G.O is not launched by the end of the year it was planned for, there will be serious national will hits. Sometimes your G.O may be impossible to launch because the enemy beat you to the punch and you no longer are in that area-or your forces have already been pummeled. Regardless as to why (other than victory I assume), if the attack is not conducted, you take a N.W. hit.

The Grand Offensive planning dialog is next to the research button-second from right at the top. The first time you use it (if starting in 1914) there will not be many choices to make-they will be grayed out. There should be one or two items that you can check as part of your planning. As time goes on, (assuming you do the research) there will be more options available to you in the planning dialog.

The measure of success or failure is different on the east and west fronts. To get the whole story, check out the full manual, section 11.7 (pages 51 to 53).

I hope that gets you started. This is just another one of those little things that takes some gaming time to understand. Like brain surgery, its easy after you have done it once or twice [;)]-but the prep time is much shorter. Actually, learning how to do it is much easier than figuring out just where and when to do it.

I should have added; each nation must conduct as least 1 G.O. per year, or suffer a national will hit.

Can you still plan one I wonder if you miss the winter interphase?

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: Deerslayer

Can you still plan one I wonder if you miss the winter interphase?

Yes. The first one you plan (for 1915) will most likely be done in Jan or Feb of 1915. I have not been able to do a GO planning session in the 1914 interphase. The techs just are not normally available. In any subsequent winter interphase you can plan your GO's.

Although I'm not quite sure at this point in time I think that you can do the GO planning in Jan/Feb in any subsequent year also. I need to fire up another game for a refresher. I've been waiting for a MP game to develop.

[jhdeerslayer]

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

ORIGINAL: Deerslayer

Can you still plan one I wonder if you miss the winter interphase?

Yes. The first one you plan (for 1915) will most likely be done in Jan or Feb of 1915. I have not been able to do a GO planning session in the 1914 interphase. The techs just are not normally available. In any subsequent winter interphase you can plan your GO's.

Although I'm not quite sure at this point in time I think that you can do the GO planning in Jan/Feb in any subsequent year also. I need to fire up another game for a refresher. I've been waiting for a MP game to develop.

Yea I just totally forgot to plan in Winter Interphase but will try when I fire this up again and see if it will let me plan in May 1915.... Seems like it will or I saw somewhere it will allow it. I forgot to start research in 1914 too but all part of the learning process.