Matrix Games Forums

This was the AAR with Trey, that I have constantly used as my reference point for surviving the Blizzard, hopefully it shows how to go about getting the Axis Army into the best shape possible. As noted in another thread, V1.03 does not play like this, but the developers will try to get the game back to this balance.

This was my first PBEM as Axis, but I had done about 6 games against the AI. This was Trey's first Pbem as the Sovs, having played a ton of games against the AI.

The AAR started here:

Well maybe 255turns. If I do any more like this first one it will be all over by Christmas. Remind me never to rush a turn just because I want to watch a cricket match!

Trey has already seen a couple of my AARs and I am hoping he builds his defenses based on those, because I am going to try some new lines of advance, and have a different strategic objective for 1941 compared with my previous tests.

Army Group North - Riga falls.

AGC and AGS. Totally cocked up the Lvov and Bialystok Pockets due to my lack of concentration. Andy will be most annoyed that I have not followed his teachings correctly.

T1 casualties:

I did play around with the air doctrine settings, and got a couple of hundred more than I usually get:

Could you please use the active E key when making your map screenshots. It's easier for the rest of us to follow your progress. Trey doing the Soviets huh. I'm interested in how he manages it all.

Thanks..Andy

Bob, have you played a full campaign where you made the usual pockets in the AGN and AGS areas, but bulldozed through the center?

I have never bulldozed before as I have only played the AI, and it doesn't try too hard to wriggle out of the Pockets. I think playing Humans means I will bulldoze more, as I can't afford to lose the turn I have lost in turn 2 trying to get the pockets under control. Again the swings and roundabouts will be interesting to see what difference giving the SU all those cadres will make in the long term.

I am tending to "rush" my turns, as I have limited time availabilty ( well that's my excuse), and Trey and I need to get to the Blizzard turns ASAP, so I can prove that the Blizzard is broken![;)]

T2 North: I am very quickly learning that there is a world of difference between playing the AI and playing H2H. I am definitely bulldozing every unit out of my way in future games. The amount of effort, supplies and , most importantly, momentum that has been wasted through not locking down pockets is annoying. I am at least a turn behind schedule. A turn that Trey will use to dig deeper ditches and train more cadres.

T2 AGC: Minsk is still not locked down, so another turn will be spent cleaning up the rear.

T2 AGS: Although the Lvov pocket is probably locked down, Trey may be tempted to mess with my forward panzer units' supply lines. I still can't maker my mind up whether to split the forward panzers into regiments or not. I will start experimenting, even though Trey has plenty of tank and motorised division down here.

T2 Losses.

With 18 MP max for Soviet armor in early 41, it's hard for them to mass a coordinated attack. Not saying they can't hurt a regiment as Andy has shown it can be done, but they shouldn't be able to bring up many motorized units to concentrate on any specific unit other than with hasty attacks.

Several weeks ago we did make it harder to take out isolated units, especially those in higher level forts (not applicable here). I assume this has made the clean up harder than it used to be.

T3 North. Got across the river North of Pskov, which usually unhinges the River line, so good news for once.
I am not looking at Trey's AAR, but my recon can't seem to identify where he is going to make his stands.
Positioning the troops for breakthroughs next turn.

T3 South: starting to develop more pocketing opportunites and good progress on the road to Kiev.

T3 far South: Rumanians get their show on the road.

T3: finally got the destroyed unit count where it should have been last turn.

T4: Finland starts it's offensive:

T4 AGN. My bridgehead North of Pskov looks like it convinced Trey to pull back to his next defence line, which puts me back on schedule for my plans in this sector.

T4 AGC. I cant see much to delay me once I get past VL and Vitebsk - looks like Trey is drawing his line in the sand at Rzhev.

T4: 2PZ Army prepares to cross the Dnepr.