Advanced Third Reich AAR

[pzgndr]

For those who played SC2 Global Conflict GOLD, you are probably already aware of my Advanced Third Reich mod. I have been slowly updating and adjusting this to this latest Strategic Command game version. The map has been significantly upgraded to the new hexes format, but still basically with the double scale to account for no unit stacking. For this mod I have used the World in Flames map as a guide for locating cities and terrain features and such. But I noted early on that the WiF map does not correlate well to the old Third Reich map where many distances did not equal double the hex range; some were more and some were less so I used a reasonable average. What I have now is a more functional map with more terrain features and better scale.

The AAR that follows is a hands-off AI versus AI game on default difficulty. I will say upfront that the Axis AI lags during the first half, while the Allied AI lags during the second half. Playtest games on higher difficulty showed Axis or Allies performing better, so I think I've hit a decent starting point. Anyways, I will step through each year of the war with game summaries and a screenshot to give folks an idea of how the mod looks.

[pzgndr]

GLOBAL VARIABLES
================
GV|1| = 31 -> Britain Air Strategy
GV|2| = 59 -> France Default Strategy
GV|3| = 80 -> United States Default Strategy
GV|4| = 94 -> Russia Default Strategy
GV|5| = 91 -> Germany Default Strategy
GV|6| = 60 -> Italy Air Strategy
GV|7| = 23
GV|8| = 62
GV|9| = 69
GV|10| = 98 -> Cyprus Variant (91-100)

In general, 1-20 Land, 21-40 Air, 41-60 Naval, 61-100 Default
Strategy selected affects AI research and production percentages slightly
Strategy also affects some strategies (e.g., Spain, Turkey, Sealion, etc.)


1939

09/01/1939 (ACTIVITY)
Poland: Germany Declared War On Poland
Italy: VARIANT - Cyprus Transferred To Italy Following World War One

09/29/1939 (ACTIVITY)
Canada: Canada Declares War On Germany
Canada: Canadian Supply Convoys To Britain Begin

09/29/1939 (ACTIVITY)
Poland: Poland Surrendered (see screenshot)
Germany: Germany Occupies Western Poland
Russia: Russia Occupies Eastern Poland

12/22/1939 (ACTIVITY)
Denmark: Germany Declared War On Denmark

[pzgndr]

1940

02/16/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Greece -> Axis 15%

03/15/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Norway -> Allies 4%

04/12/1940 (ACTIVITY)
France: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Sweden -> Allies 4%

04/12/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Belgium: Germany Declared War On Belgium
Netherlands: Germany Declared War On Netherlands
Luxembourg: Germany Declared War On Luxembourg
Luxembourg: Luxembourg Surrendered
Netherlands: Netherlands Surrendered

05/10/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Belgium: Belgium Surrendered
Italy: Italy Prepares For War

06/07/1940 (ACTIVITY)
France: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Norway -> Allies 4%

06/07/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Norway: Germany Declared War On Norway
Norway: Norway Surrendered
Italy: Italy Joins The Axis

07/05/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia Fights Over Bessarabia
Russia: Russia Annexes Bessarabia From Romania

08/02/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia Invades Baltic States

08/02/1940 (RESEARCH)
United States: Research Breakthrough - United States Developed Industrial Technology Level-1

08/02/1940 (ACTIVITY)
France: French Morale Is Shattered By The Occupation Of Paris (see screenshot)

08/30/1940 (ACTIVITY)
France: France Surrendered
Germany: Germany Creates Vichy France
Denmark: Denmark Surrendered
Vichy France: Vichy French Government Installed
Algeria: Algerian Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Morocco: Moroccan Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Syria: Syrian Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Tunisia: Tunisian Government Established (Vichy France Mandate)
Algeria: VARIANT - Algeria Becomes Free French
Iraq: VARIANT - Pro-Allied Coup in Iraq
Iraq: Middle East Supply Convoys To Britain Begin

09/27/1940 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Level-1

Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Spain -> Allies 3%

10/25/1940 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Heavy Bombers Level-1
United States: Research Breakthrough - United States Developed Heavy Bombers Level-1

11/22/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Hungary: Hungary Signs Tripartite Pact
Russia: Russia Occupies Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia

12/20/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Hungary: Hungary Joins The Axis
Romania: Romania Signs Tripartite Pact

12/20/1940 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Vichy France -> Axis 4%

[pzgndr]

1941

01/17/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Greece: Italy Declared War On Greece

02/14/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Signs Tripartite Pact
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Prepares For War
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Joins The Axis
Romania: Romania Prepares For War
United States: United States Lend Lease Convoys To Britain Begin

02/14/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Romania: Romania Joins The Axis

02/14/1941 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Research Breakthrough - Germany Developed Advanced Subs Level-1

03/14/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Tunisia: Italy Declared War On Tunisia
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Spain -> Axis 18%
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Sweden -> Axis 15%

05/09/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Yugoslavia: Yugoslavia Signs Tripartite Pact
Yugoslavia: Yugoslavia Joins The Axis
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. United States -> Allies 5%

06/06/1941 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Research Breakthrough - Germany Developed Production Technology Level-1

07/04/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Germany Declared War On Russia (see post-invasion screenshot)
Britain: British Murmansk Supply Convoys To Russia Begin

08/01/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Finland: Finland Joins The Axis

08/29/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Italy: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Vichy France -> Axis 4%

09/26/1941 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Prepares For War

09/26/1941 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Level-1

09/26/1941 (RESEARCH)
Italy: Italy Developed Industrial Technology Level-1

10/24/1941 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Joins The Allies
Ireland: VARIANT - Pro-Allied Coup in Ireland

11/21/1941 (RESEARCH)
United States: Research Breakthrough - United States Developed Industrial Technology Level-2

11/21/1941 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Spain -> Axis 4%

12/19/1941 (RESEARCH)
Italy: Research Breakthrough - Italy Developed Long Range Aircraft Level-1

[pzgndr]

1942

01/16/1942 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Increases Production

01/16/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russian Winter Strikes

02/13/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Saudi Arabia -> Allies 4%
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Sweden -> Allies 5%

02/13/1942 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Amphibious Warfare Level-1

04/10/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia Increases Production

04/10/1942 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Production Technology Level-1

05/08/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Greece: Greece Surrendered

06/05/1942 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Heavy Bombers Level-2
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Spying and Intelligence Level-1

07/03/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Syria: Britain Annexes Syria

07/03/1942 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Britain Developed Industrial Technology Level-1

07/03/1942 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Germany Developed Industrial Technology Level-1

07/31/1942 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Long Range Aircraft Level-1
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Level-2

08/28/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Vichy France -> Axis 17%

09/25/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Severe Axis Supply Shortages In North Africa

10/23/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Spain: Spain Alarmed by Axis Loss of Africa
Turkey: Turkey Reacts to Allies Control of Tripoli
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Saudi Arabia -> Allies 3%

10/23/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Italy: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Spain -> Axis 3%

11/20/1942 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Amphibious Warfare Level-1

12/18/1942 (ACTIVITY)
Morocco: United States Declared War On Morocco
Morocco: Morocco Surrendered

12/18/1942 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Britain Developed Ground Attack Weapons Level-1
Britain: Britain Developed Logistics Level-1

See screenshot for end of 1942 on Russian Front

[pzgndr]

1943

01/15/1943 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Russia Rebuilds Damaged Industry In The Urals
United States: United States Increases Production
Russia: Russia Increases Production

01/15/1943 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Research Breakthrough - Germany Developed Long Range Aircraft Level-1

02/12/1943 (ACTIVITY)
Italy: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Axis 4%

04/09/1943 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Germany Developed Ground Attack Weapons Level-1

05/07/1943 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Persia -> Allies 4%
United States: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Spain -> Allies 4%

06/04/1943 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Research Breakthrough - Germany Developed Advanced Subs Level-2
Germany: Germany Developed Spying and Intelligence Level-1

07/02/1943 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Sweden -> Axis 3%

08/27/1943 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Saudi Arabia -> Allies 14%

08/27/1943 (RESEARCH)
United States: Research Breakthrough - United States Developed Industrial Technology Level-3

08/27/1943 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Germany Developed Command and Control Level-1

09/24/1943 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Saudi Arabia -> Allies 3%

10/22/1943 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Germany Developed Logistics Level-1
Germany: Research Breakthrough - Germany Developed Production Technology Level-2

11/19/1943 (ACTIVITY)
United States: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Persia -> Allies 5%

12/17/1943 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Industrial Technology Level-2
Russia: Russia Developed Advanced Aircraft Level-1

12/17/1943 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Germany Developed Naval Weaponry Level-1

[pzgndr]

1944

01/14/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Greece: Allies Liberate Greece

02/11/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Italy: Italy Surrenders Unconditionally To The Allies (see previous screenshot)
Germany: Germany Assumes Immediate Control of Northern Italy
Persia: VARIANT - Russia Annexes Persia

02/11/1944 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Level-2

02/11/1944 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Increases Production

06/02/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Allies 3%

06/02/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Vichy France: Vichy France Prepares For War
*NOTE* There was a bug for a one-time check for Allied landings in France. Fixed.

06/30/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Vichy France: Vichy France Joins The Allies (see post D-Day invasion screenshot)

08/25/1944 (ACTIVITY)
United States: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Allies 4%

08/25/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Vichy France: Vichy France Surrendered
*NOTE* Axis AI reacted quick enough to the bug above.

09/22/1944 (ACTIVITY)
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Allies 4%

09/22/1944 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Logistics Level-1

11/17/1944 (ACTIVITY)
United States: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Saudi Arabia -> Allies 3%
Britain: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Sweden -> Allies 4%

12/15/1944 (ACTIVITY)
United States: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Allies 5%

[pzgndr]

1945

01/12/1945 (ACTIVITY)
United States: United States Increases Production

02/09/1945 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Production Technology Level-2

02/09/1945 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Spain -> Axis 3%

03/09/1945 (ACTIVITY)
United States: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Allies 4%

03/09/1945 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Industrial Technology Level-3

04/06/1945 (ACTIVITY)
Russia: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Allies 19%

04/06/1945 (RESEARCH)
Britain: Research Breakthrough - Britain Developed Production Technology Level-1
Russia: Research Breakthrough - Russia Developed Long Range Aircraft Level-1
Russia: Russia Developed Ground Attack Weapons Level-1
Russia: Russia Developed Command and Control Level-1

04/06/1945 (RESEARCH)
Germany: Germany Developed Industrial Technology Level-2

05/04/1945 (RESEARCH)
United States: United States Developed Naval Weaponry Level-1 (see May 1945 screenshot)

06/29/1945 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Axis 4%

12/14/1945 (RESEARCH)
Russia: Russia Developed Naval Weaponry Level-1

12/14/1945 (ACTIVITY)
Germany: Foreign Minister Reports Diplomatic Success. Turkey -> Axis 5%

Game ended with Axis Pyrrhic Victory at end of 1945.

[pzgndr]

I just posted the Advanced Third Reich mod in the Scenario Design and Modding section. Enjoy!

While I have great passion for this Advanced Third Reich game, I greatly miss my old comrade Dave Maurer who helped develop this monster project over the past decade or so. Others who share the passion for this old boardgame classic are most welcome to help improve this mod. Please download the beta and give it a go, or two or three.

My other great passion these days has been Empire in Arms, and we are about to get hot with a long awaited public beta update. "L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace."

[sPzAbt653]

Nice work Bill, amazing that you were able to accomplish this and Empire in Arms at the same time !

[GeorgePattonIII]

This looks amazing. I was on the fence about Strategic Command WWII War in Europe, but this has convinced me to buy it.

[Champagne]

I agree. This looks fantastic. I began playing Avalon Hill Third Reich back in the 1970s. I'm going to have to consider buying this game now. This mod looks too good to miss.

[pzgndr]

Bump. I posted an update to the mod in the Scenario Design and Modding section, to update it to the v1.01 patch and also to fix a map error that was causing crashes. It should be playable by others from the downloads now. I still don't understand how I was able to play but others couldn't, but hopefully that's fixed now. If you miss the old Third Reich game genre, give it a go. Enjoy!