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I am delighted to play Bombur once again in Axis and Allies, and even more delighted to be playing the new v.3.

It will come as no surprise that this is a large game. I think it takes somewhat longer to play than v.2 so I am going to start releasing episodes now.

If Bombur feels comfortable sharing this AAR I think that would work, or, if he has time he can comment in his own AAR.

Ernie and Bombur have put immense effort in this game. Ernie is actively working on it as we play, so there may be differences between the release version and the Beta we are using. While I have seen, and played, with earlier iterations, there is much new to me in this version. I will be learning as we play.

This wonderful mod/game fills a special place in the operational-strategic spectrum. I hope I can show you some of the fun we will be having.

Please remember that I am a very imperfect agent. If there is something you wonder about you would do well to question my presentation rather than the game. Beta testers have been enthusiastic, with good cause.

Bombur is playing the Axis (3 nations) and I have the Allies (5 nations).

A world in tension.

Deep winter in the Soviet Union.

All quiet on the Western Front.

A hesitant ally?

A most unready nation.

Good to have some friends.

Observations :

The growth rates seem very different from v.2. Infrastructure improvements are much slower, more expensive, and there are more ways to go about it. The economies are reluctant to switch over to rearmament/war production, and even the 5% boost to PP can result in a single PP added to monthly production. This five percent boost costs the United States 166 PP on a base production of 64 PP. We are not going to see massive economies supporting hi-tech armies in the early war. You will be fighting with what you brought, for a long time.

There are restrictions on supply storage. They may seem severe to those used to a more liberal policy. Certainly we will not see the British GHQ holding 24 months of secure supply. Warehouse wastage will destroy supplies if boundaries are exceeded. Shipping available to the militaries is far lower than we are used to seeing. Shipping a single division will strain your starting resources.

The SFTs have been extensively modified. Purchase strategies from v.2 may not be optimal in v.3. Bombur has also added lots of nifty new units, especially to fill out the "fight with what you brought" scenario. The French mention above that they have a paucity of their best armor. They have 4 units of B1-bis available, and they are expensive, and seem not as strong.

Diplomatic areas often replace individual countries. You influence Norway and Denmark together, not each one. The Allies may well want Norway, but defending Denmark will be tough.

The demands on a nation's resources are greater than ever. Should you support forces in Spain? Should you aid the Chinese?

The v.2 player will have an advantage over a newb I think, but he must not let preconceptions blunt his play.

Observations :

The American economy discussed above reflects the deep state of peace, and isolation, they enjoy. You might think of the Joint Chiefs requesting more, but the legislature not funding the request. The v.2 strategy of spending the maximum on infrastructure, growing by 5% each month, is less than optimal in v.3. I, and each player, will have to find the best balance for the type of war being waged. Production now requires fuel, and it can exhaust the fuel supply, leaving none for operations.

February 7th, 1938 : Soviet Union.

The USSR reacting to the conflicts in the world has sent aid to the Republican forces in Spain, and to the Chinese. We prepared a brigade of volunteers for Spain, and sent armaments to the technologically challenged Chinese.

We industrialized a city which is rather expensive, but allows us to spread industry more widely.

We worked on improving mining within the Five Year plan.

With the current international situation we need a big enough military, but not too big.

Is war approaching?

February 7th, 1938 : Great Britain

The Royal Navy has established a significant naval base at Alexandria. This base hosts our warships and those of our French Allies. This should give Mussolini something to think about.

We have worked hard (75PP) on improving our logistic situation. This allows our HQs to improve their capacity to store supplies. Base improved 1500 to 2000, the amount in the HQ is allowed to be up to 4 times the amount sent to subordinates, an improvement from 3 times, and wastage over these limits went from 5/6 to 2/3. This should help if unrestricted submarine warfare comes.

We did some diplomatic moves, and tried to help the Chinese.

February 7th, 1938 : United States

The United States peacefully goes about her business.

February 7th, 1938 : China

Warfare continues but not high intensity.

March 7th, 1938 : Soviet Union

Now we are beginning to hurt, as we discover how many things are missing from our military. We have nearly no transport. Stavka has some internal trains and cargo trucks under her command, but not nearly enough. The Army HQs have none.

PP production is constrained, and we need so much. We must question every purchase as choosing one item means letting another one go. Everything costs a lot.

We need a massive upgrade to our economy, but the Five Year plans have pushed the people out as hard as possible.

March 7th, 1938 : France

We do not want to flip-flop too much but we are beginning to wonder if Germany might be going east, and then going farther east. It is possible to attack the USSR before making war in the west.

France continues to upgrade the ground forces.

The Germans are sowing unrest in Czechoslovakia, Latin America and the Andean countries.

March 7th, 1938 : Great Britain

As with our French Allies we are floundering. We have no idea where the Axis is going and how it will affect us. We helped China again. We were able to use our limited transport to move supply about, and to send a division to the Middle East.

The Royal Navy made a fisheries patrol near the German Atlantic ports and found 14 SS2 U-boats, 4 SS1 boats, some CLs and DDs, but nothing more threatening. We know the KM is stronger, but it is not in sight. Still no panzers anywhere in the West.

March 7th, 1938 : United States

The United States Army has supplied all riflemen and mounted troops with semi-automatic weapons.

We also sent some equipment for evaluation to other Powers.

The only war ongoing.

April 4th, 1938 : Soviet Union

No new wars.

Things move exceedingly slowly for the Soviet Union. We shift supplies around, dispersing them to minimize wastage.

We help our comrades where we can.