Korea(Tutorial) N.Korea vs. PO

[John B.]

Helllo all,

Inspired by the other after action reports I decided to both buy TOAW IV and give it a whirl. I've played through the Korean tutorial once as the Americans just to get a feel for the game and made it to a draw in part because I opted to not invade the north. Now, I'm taking on the capitalists as the original dear leader. A couple of notes. First, this is not a traditional tutorial with the "click here now click here" instructions. It's a full fledged simulation of the Korean War with some interesting twists thrown in such as a chance the the Puerto Rican separatists successfully assassinate President Truman. Second, overall, the game has not been very buggy for me at all. Oddly the screen goes blank sometime when I do long distance moves but that's the only real problem I've notice.

[John B.]

So here is the situation. Enraged by the thought of people freely ordering their own lives, Dearest Leader authorized the invasion of the puppet regime in the south (after receiving comrade Stalin's blessing of course). The proletariat forces managed to get all the way down to next to Pusan in the East Coast and about 1/2 the way down the West Coast before the capitalists struck back.

[John B.]

As you can see from the previous map, I almost had two divisions encircled on the east coast and the puppets were staring to hold firm on the East Coast. And, as you can also see, my supply lines were stretched past the breaking point. Basically, I was unable to crush the puppets quickly enough to win the game before the Americans came in. So, I killed off what ever formations that I could and I've started to retreat north.

[John B.]

I've caused some pretty heavy losses to the puppets and wiped out two regiments of the American Capitalists, but it was not enough. My current plan is to run north and entrench around Seoul while pulling back into the homeland in the East. My hope is that the capitalists will come across the border so that our fraternal allies (AKA the Chinese) will come to our rescue. My airforce is gone since Elmer looooves to bomb airfields but I still have a majority of my armor units and I think I'll get a couple of turns to recover supplies before they hit me again.

[John B.]

This is the current situation. As I said, I'm digging in around Seoul and, as you can see, the supply levels here are much much higher. There even a rumor that our forces might get some food. I don't think that possession of urban hexes has any effect on replacement rates but Seoul is a large VP town and I'd like to think that if I"m fortified in the city it's got to help my combat ability. You'll also note that a little bird told me to garrison my ports so I've been sure to do that.

[John B.]

And, here is the top half of my current losses and men/equipment in inventory. Not fabulous, but it is not a catastrophe either. It's only late August so we'll have to see how long I can hold as there are a number of capitalist divisions arriving along with British and Turkish units. I was a bit spoiled by the Western theater recon in my first run through as I basically saw all the communist units and knew their condition. This time, I've been surprised to find units in my rear and, sometimes I know the condition of the units when I'm next to them and sometimes I don't.

[John B.]

So round one of the battle for Seoul has taken place and the capitalists have received a bloody nose. They frontally attacked and pushed me out of one hex. But, as you can see from the battle reports. They took heavy losses in the hex that they did not take.

[John B.]

My losses were more sustainable, especially since each and everyone of my soldiers is a wiling volunteer trying to make the world a better place. [:D]

[John B.]

Ok, you can see where I was pushed back a hex. I'll need to move a fresh formation into there but, they won't be dug in as well so are more likely to be pushed back. I do have more of a handle on how the capitalist units are doing since my recon level goes up when they're attacking me (some of my units have a special recon ability) and his front line troops are orange (bad) or red (worse).

I think his forces failed a proficiency check (his lackeys are all worn out from oppressing the workers and peasants army) so I think that meant that I got the initiative back which meant that I got two turns in a row. I think I hold the initiative until such time as my heroes get tired from exacting righteous vengeance on the landlord's minions but I'm not 100% sure about that. Meanwhile, no units north of the 38th parallel so no real news to report from our fraternal Chinese cousins.

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: John B.

So here is the situation. Enraged by the thought of people freely ordering their own lives, Dearest Leader

Do you want your grandchildren to die in a prison camp! It's Great leader and you know it. Kim Jong-il is only 9 years old and isn't leader of anything except his play group yet.

[John B.]

D'oh!! Right. ALL HAIL GREAT LEADER!!! [&o]

[DanNeely]

I'll admit I'm curious how Elmer will do against your defense plan. Many years ago it proved a disaster for my PBEM opponent: He forced me to pause and resupply before breaking the line; afterwards I got near the Yalu with reasonably fresh troops and before the NK army had reconstituted in any force.

[John B.]

Well there was more blood spilled in Seoul which is now reduced to rubble (does that increase it's defense or is it just a a statement to make for the sit rep). I still hold my line and the capitalists continue to take heavy losses.

[John B.]

And, I finally had the bright idea that perhaps my AA units would be better in the front fending off ground support than flirting with pretty proletariats in the rear area.

[John B.]

Unfortunately, all this glory is coming at a heavy price. In my part of the turn I did launch an attack against the puppets on the east coast that pushed them back a bit but the loss ratio was pretty even. That's a sad turn of affairs about which I'm not sure I-Can't-Believe-He's-Not-A-Great-Leader Leader might not approve.

[John B.]

Ok, this should be the right file. It looks as if I'm losing em faster than they're volunteering. But, it is near the end of September so hopefully weather kicks in sooner rather than later.

[John B.]

And, here is the current situation. First, I would like to point out to China that the puppets have crossed the border near Kangnung. I'm not sure how Mao can overlook this direct threat to the Chinese motherland. Near Seoul I hold all the hexes but my troops are getting worn down just like I'm sure the capitalists are as well. The capitalists are trying to sneak around northeast of Seoul so I'll have to move men up there.

Here's a question. I thought that one should put HQ and artillery into local reserve so that they can support multiple attacks/defenses. But, it seems they just move into a combat hex. Is there a better way to handle them?

[larryfulkerson]

Here's a question. I thought that one should put HQ and artillery into local reserve so that they can support multiple attacks/defenses. But, it seems they just move into a combat hex. Is there a better way to handle them?

I've been putting the arty units in "T" status so that they will support attacks. And then at the end of the turn I
dig them in for asset sharing purposes. It's been working pretty well. And as you noticed the "L" status makes the
unit move toward the attacked hex each time there's an attack until it runs out of MP's remaining.

[John B.]

Larry, thanks! If I leave them in normal (or even dug in mode) will the automatically support defenses that are in range?

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: John B.
Larry, thanks! If I leave them in normal (or even dug in mode) will the automatically support defenses that are in range?

If I recall correctly the arty unit must be in some degree of dug-in status or 'T' to support troops offensively or
defensively. So that's "D", "E", "F", and "T". I'm not sure about "L"....I think that makes it move during the
enemy turn.