PBEM: Grotius (Axis) vs. Rome (Allied)

[Grotius]

Rome and I have agreed to square off in a two-person PBEM. We're both pretty new to the game, so we expect to make our share of blunders -- and to learn from kibitzers here! We've agreed to Fog of War ON, Advanced Supply ON, Auto-Move-Supply ON, defaults for everything else.

Spring 1940: The Axis war machine kicks into action! As Germany, I easily took the Netherlands, Denmark, and Western France, but I decided to take the honorable route and respect Norwegian neutrality. (Translation: I'm taking the manual's advice and looking for alternate targets.) Meanwhile, Japan's heavy bombers and infantry destroyed several Chinese militia units but failed to take Fuchow.

Can Rome see my research choices with Fog of War ON? I think he can, but until I verify this, I will keep that information classified.

Here's a quick look at the map of Europe after my first turn:

[Joel Billings]

No, only your research breakthroughs once they been made. Until then you are in the dark about what is being researched. So don't give away anything.

[Dalwin]

Right, fog hides both research in progress and also production in progress. I would be hesitant to play a game without fog.

[Dalwin]

I also note that you opted not for the risky turn one attack on Yugoslavia, but instead shifted some infantry into Austria to make a turn two Yugoslavia invasion an option.

I'm a little surprised that you allowed the transport east of England to live, but perhaps you used all your air in Paris and didn't want to spend the supplies to have your fleet sortie out and smash it.

[Grotius]

Yes, I used all my air in the attacks on the Netherlands and France, trying to minimize my ground losses. I may have over-done it. And yes, I was conserving fleet supply. Also, I made a mistake in the Baltic: I forgot to put a transport there to pick up the free trade from Sweden. I forgot about that rule until I read a thread about it here -- too late. I'm fixing that this turn.

Yes, I chose to wait a turn on Yugoslavia. I hope I don't regret it.

[Grotius]

End of Spring turn, 1940: The enemy has moved, and an interesting move it is. I didn't see much movement in Russia or China, but the Western Allies was quite active on the high seas. First it damaged two of my subs -- submarines that were busy chasing transports in the spring. What's odd is that the "units destroyed" screen shows the WA as having lost 3 heavy fleets, 3 transports, 2 light fleets, and 1 sub. I don't remember killing anywhere near that number. Are some of these French losses?

Anyway, the most interesting facet of Rome's move was that he placed 11 ships -- transports, light fleets, and two CVs -- just west of Gibraltar. It's as if he thinks I have designs on Spain and Gibraltar! Pshaw. But perhaps he means to rough up my naval forces in the Med? Meanwhile I see no shipping at all around the UK, though maybe some of that's fog of war, to which I'm still growing accustomed. Whatever Rome is doing, the AI doesn't do it, which is one of the many things I love about PBEM: these humans are so danged unpredictable.

Here's a look at the colonialist fleet as it hovers west of Spain:

[Grotius]

A further question: why do I suddenly have a partisan warning in Eastern France? Maybe he bombed a unit there during his turn and I didn't notice?

Anyway, I'm off to make my moves. Here's one more screenshot: the details on Enemy Force X, west of Gibraltar:

[Grotius]

Summer 1940: Well, whatever the reason for that partisan warning, I fixed it this turn. I had a good three months as Germany: I liberated Spain and Yugoslavia, damaged an enemy light fleet in the Med, and held losses to acceptable levels. My supply situation is a bit tight, but I built 75 trucks at the end of the turn, which should help.

Japan, on the other hand, gave me a lesson in the militia rule. I thought China would get its 4 militia only once a turn, but it apparently gets one EVERY attack -- right? Boy, did I learn this the hard way. I lost several militia of my own in the meat-grinder, and I still failed to take Fuchow. I guess the lesson is: better one huge attack then many small ones. Right?

Here's a look at the situation on the Iberian peninsula. I don't show more because it's, you know, classified. Joel, if you're lurking: is there any way for me to take a screenshot of the game that presents the map as my opponent sees it (with Fog of War)?

[Joel Billings]

Sorry, no way that I know of doing that. You'd have to use an art program to modify the screenshot.

[Grotius]

OK, that's what Photoshop is for, I guess.

So I gather I'm right that Chinese militia pop up EVERY time you attack a province -- not once per turn, but once per attack. OUCH.

[Paul Vebber]

The extra Fleet losses are the French fleet. Make sure youleave a supply in each garrisoned area or sometimes autosupply can't get one there to supply anti-partisan activity.

[Grotius]

Thanks for the clarification. So the Free French don't inherit any of the French fleet? Actually, *are* there any Free French in GGWaW?

And yes, I'm finding a need to move supply manually quite a bit, even on auto-supply mode. Which is fine with me.

[Grotius]

From what I can tell of Rome's turn, things were pretty quiet for the Western Allies in the Summer of 1940. I didn't have time to finish my Fall 1940 turn before I left for work, but I can say that I took Gibraltar and Portugal. I know people are skeptical about taking Portugal, but my rationale is that it will be easier to defend that than Norway, whose neutrality I respect.

One question, though: I *still* don't see any "free trade" even though I have a transport linking Sweden to Germany. I moved it in last turn (Summer 1940), and I still don't see any free trade as of Fall 1940. What am I doing wrong?

[Joel Billings]

You'll see it at the beginning of your production phase. Free trade happens when you end your movement phase.

[Dalwin]

Regarding yoiur question on are there any Free French, the answer is yes and no.

If you check the map with the nationality flags on, you'll find areas such as Syria which will show a French flag. That means technically yes.

I don't believe that any of the Free French areas have been assigned even a resource point let alone a factory, so in that sense, no. On this scale, that is pretty accurate. Other FF areas shoudl include Madagascar as well as a colony in NE South America and a few islands in the South Pacific. All of these except Madagascar might be too small to appear on the scale of the map.

[Joel Billings]

Once France is recaptured by the WA, it is smart to repair some of the factories so you can start generating French units using French population.

[Joel Billings]

Also, some French naval units are not destroyed with Vichy declaration and will fight on with the WA.

[Grotius]

Fall 1940: As I reported earlier, I've now taken Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar, and I am prepared to hear Rome's terms for his surrender. [:'(] Actually, I need to get him to post in this AAR so that I can taunt him while I'm still taking territory. I know it's not gonna last all that long.

Japan finally took Fuchow -- yay! And I noticed about 10 infantry in Changsha. They look awful scary until you peek at China's supply numbers: five trucks. At least, that's what the units screen says.

Hey Joel, I did sorta think of a way to post screenshots that don't reveal my positions: turn off the unit display on the map! It's still not quite the same as displaying what my opponent sees, which would give you a better idea of what's going on, but what the heck, here's a look at Europe in Fall 1940.

[Grotius]

Winter 1940-41: I took Egypt unopposed this turn, and now a formidable armored force is preparing to descend on Cairo in the new year. Rome's fleets in Cairo attacked my fleets in the Central Med, but the result was an exchange, and my supply line lives on. In fact, I see only a couple enemy light fleets left in Cairo.

I also sent my subs back into action; they took out a couple of transports in the North Atlantic. I still haven't perfected the art of getting them back to a base or a safe spot after their attack; I keep forgetting that units can move after they attack. So I fear a coming counterattack.

In the East, Japan took the last remaining coastal province in China, and now she's stockpiling supplies, troops and research in preparation for the coming battles with the West. I haven't provided a screenshot of Japan yet, so here's one for your edification:

[Grotius]

Spring 1941: Operation Desert Storm! I have invaded and occupied Iraq, and I now control most of the Middle East. Moreover, with control over both Suez and Gibraltar, the Med is an Axis lake -- for now. The main question I have is: what next? Can I invade southern Persia without fear of Soviet activation? (The manual mentions Northern Persia only.)

Here's a look at Europe: