The Dark Crusade II (no schmolywar please)

[Michael T]

Ok this game will be me as German and schmolywar as Soviet.

See attached screen shot for the setup. No use of ‘helpers’ has been agreed too.

We will be using the PBEM++ system. This will not be a delayed AAR.

I haven’t played Olav before but I do know he is experienced in PBEM and has been around the Matrix forums for some time.

The game has stared and I have elected to support Hitler’s plans again. I have my T2 ready to start when I get home later on.

Really looking forward to the game [:)]

[Jagdtiger14]

Can you post a photo of the starting positions, please? Thanks.

[Michael T]

Ok pre attack situation.

[Michael T]

End German T2 (22 June 1941, Clear)

Luckily no meddling from Hitler again. 16A got a bonus this time. Maybe this start is a little better than the 76mm opening. I was more frugal with fuel this time around for similar results (about a 2000 bls improvement in AGC). But still not perfect, the odd hold result here and there.

Luftwaffe is interdicting for 8 more days. Siege artillery ordered to Lvov. On the Finnish front they attacked and took Vyborg again.

Artillery assigned to 18A, 4A and 17A. All command focus cards played on to the respective PzGp.

Will have some stats end of next turn.

Same aim as before, destroy as many Soviet units as possible as soon as possible and see what opens up.

[Flaviusx]

That is an outstanding opening although it's not one I'd use against the AI. Against a human opponent near perfect.

Against the AI I think you need to push deeper along the Minsk highway on turn 1 in order to forestall the inevitable major garrison being dropped on Minsk. A human opponent doesn't get those for free and will likely judge it not worth the cost.

[Michael T]

I could have pushed a hex further along the Minsk highway but judged the cost in fuel not worth it. I am hoping to swing in behind from the Vilnius direction.

I have my next turn and began AGN before heading to work. I did watch the replay as well and the Soviets made several counter attacks against my lead units. While casualties on my part were low the attacks did lower the readiness and available AP for my turn. I think schmolywar has decided to be more aggressive on defense as opposed to his other game that I saw posted.

I haven't played the AI period. But I played 8 turns against myself up to T8. Experimented with the opening a few times, and that's the extent of my experience plus these AAR's. I just love the game so much I just had to dive in. I don't mind learning on the fly. I have read the manual though.

I am looking for a game as the Soviet. You want to try a game Flav?

EDIT: Sorry I have just picked up a game as Soviet. Maybe next time?

[Flaviusx]

Yeah, I think I need to move on to PBEM, and can already see that some things that are optimal against the AI might not be so good against a human. (For both sides.) Hit me up when your dance sheet is open.

I tried a game as the Sov on challenging and found it unsatisfying and tending to teach me wrongheaded things. The bonuses are so strong as to make it a completely different game. +20% APs and +10% combat for the AI is kind of over the top. This effectively turns the infantry into panzers but without the fragility. You have to do some crazy things as the Sov to deal with it.

Can't even imagine playing this on the settings above that.

[Michael T]

If you are willing to play regular PBEM (i.e. not the server) with Protection I can fit you in. I will go Soviet first and will give you a return game with me as German. I do like Historical ON and I think we are on the same page with helpers. Open on the others.

PM me if you are keen.

[Flaviusx]

I'll get back to you on this tomorrow.

[budd]

can you throw a casualty and total troops screen up every now and then.

[Michael T]

End German T3 (26 June 1941, Clear)

Luckily no meddling from Hitler again . Siege artillery arrives at Lvov.

AGN:

16A and 18A engage in mopping up. 4PG drives to the Dvina at Dunaburg. We aim to cross next turn.

AGC:

3rd PzGp got a bonus this time. Perfect. Vilnius is undefended. The 7th Pz advances 300Km east. 12th Pz swings south and reaches Minsk. The rest of
3rd PzGp follow up. Supply lines are getting stretched but we have 3700 bls in reserve.

2nd PzGp slides to the north of the Warsaw-Minsk Hwy. We intend to motor up behind 3rd PzGp. Brest falls. 9A and 4A clean up pockets and head east. But they are far behind.

AGS:

Lvov is surrounded. 1st PzGp drives toward the Rovno-Tarnopol gap. If SW Army fail their activation they are toast. Fuel is low down hear though. 17A should get Lvov next turn. 6A is chasing 4th PzGp.

The Soviet 9A runs from the 11th A and the Rumanians.

Overall very happy with the progress of 3rd and 4th PzGp’s. AGS fuel is a worry.

Sorry forgot the stats. Will get some next turn.

[Flaviusx]

Very strong first two turns. You'll be in position to move FSBs up in the north and center next turn. South, too, assuming you prefer Lvov to Prosukurow.

Soviet is gonna be in trouble in the south. His armies are melting away fast.

[Speedysteve]

Just to check is this the end of the 2nd or 3rd turn? If 2nd it's an amazing start. If 3rd then still very good

[Flaviusx]

Micheal counts the preturn as turn 1. This is really turn 2. And yeah, he's doing great.

[Speedysteve]

Amazing then. Reminds of the glory days of the Wehrmacht in Wite[;)]

[Jagdtiger14]

I have to admit that I also love to over-extend...here we call that: "hanging your d**k out too far".

There are a couple places the Soviets could damage and cut off your armor...about 7+ divisions. I have not yet played the game, so do not know to what extent the Soviets can react and move...perhaps your knowledge of this allows you to do this.

[Speedysteve]

Haven't played sovs either but would assume it would largely depend on those die rolls and activation....

[Michael T]

Unless he gets really great activation rolls he should not be able to hit me very hard at this stage of the game. It's risk versus reward.

[Michael T]

End German T4 (30 June 1941, Clear)

The Soviets launched numerous counter attacks last turn, some drove my Panzers back. The Soviet is very aggressive.

AGN:

16A and 18A continue the mopping up. 4PG takes Dunaburg. Then drives north to discover a newly placed 21st Army. If not for an errant mouse click on 1st Pz XX this Army would have been attacked before it’s troops arrived, oh well.
Hopefully next turn I can swing northwest and trap the Baltic and 27th Armies. 18A goes over to sustained offensive. FSB will be ordered to move next turn.

AGC:

3rd PzGp drives hard east. An undefended Vitebsk falls.
2nd PzGp links with 3rd PzGp east of Minsk. The Western Army is cut off. 9A goes over to sustained offensive. AGC FSB is ordered to Vilnius.

AGS:

Lvov falls. In a classic pincer manoeuvre 1st PzGp encircles SW Army. There is probably nothing between 1st PzGp and Kiev, but we are at the end of our supply lines and fuel is very low. Will have to move the FSB next turn.

The 11A and the Rumanians engage the Soviet 9A.

All goes well so far.

[Flaviusx]

Kinda fun comparing and contrasting this to our own game, Michael.

I am somewhat in awe of your hyperoptimized first turn. It is not easy to do what you did. I can approximate it, but with errors. Happily, it isn't necessary to be quite that good, but even so.