The Great War 1914-1918 me (Axis ) and Brian ( Allies )

[larryfulkerson]

This scenario is a monster and alledgedly covers all participants and every active region. I'm going to try version 4.3 of this scenario as the Axis player which means I move first and this is my first time through this scenario and I thought I'd post about my first impressions of the scenario as it happens to keep you guys in the loop. The French are required to attack during their first turn so I have to be ready for that as I end my turn. The jump map is so huge you gotta scroll it.

According to the situation meter I've got a major shock advantage at the start so that's a good thing. I'll take it. The difference will probably decrease as time passes.

[larryfulkerson]

I misspoke in the first post...I didn't reccognize what I was loooking at evidently....this is the jump map and as you can see it's got just about everywhere that the war touched. There's 1122 units to move on the Axis side and some of them are "decoys" to confuse the enemy. I'm not sure if I can move those out of Germany into Belgium or not. I seem to have a residual memory of some kind of house rule about them. I'll have to read the docs that came with this scenario to refresh my memory about them. I haven't started moving units yet as I'm still looking things over and getting aquainted with the scenario. I have one squadron of planes: 40 biplane fighters and 6 Zeppland's which are bombers or maybe blimps I'm not sure.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's that one aircraft squadron that I have. I'll let you know how it
performs. It doesn't activate until T4.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the house rule that applies to Decoys and according to this I can't
leave Germany with them. So I'll drive them to an important port and park
them.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's an HQ unit that's missing almost all it's trucks. So they are largely
on foot. And they aren't going to get any trucks for a while yet. These are
full week turns and twenty turns is 5 months and that's a long time to try to
fight with no trucks. Maybe I can capture some from the French.

[larryfulkerson]

So I ordered a full workup of the area to my front in the Bastogne area and
the recon units drove out there and outlined a perimeter so that the infantry
can go to work on the known targets and move west at the same time. It's a
foot race to see who can get to Amsterdam first.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looked like at the end of my turn. You can see how I've zoomed
into Belgium and have taken over a lot of the country.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the 197th Signal Company trying to launch an observation balloon with
an artillery observer with a telescope aboard with a telephone to help the
artillery park, right down the road to the left, find their targets. The fog
of the early morning is still in the air and they are going to position an AA
unit beneath him for protection against aircraft. [ The artillery observer doesn't
wear a parachute for this is the early war period yet. ]

[John B.]

If I was in a big balloon filled with hydrogen (as most WWI observation balloons were I think) I would not want an AA unit under me shooting up.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: John B.
If I was in a big balloon filled with hydrogen (as most WWI observation balloons were I think) I would not want an AA unit under me shooting up.

Yeah but enemy planes LOVE to shoot down balloons, they burn really bright for a short period of time.

[John B.]

Balloon busting was dangerous work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Luke

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the crew of a crowded observation balloon and you can see the cashe of
pigeons for express mail of important messages and he's holding a telephone and
none of the crewmembers is wearing a parachute. It looks like they are up about
3K feet or so.

[devoncop]

I have problems with the height of a decent set of step ladders so I won't be applying to the Balloon Corps any time soon

Seriously this is an interesting scale...I am always dubious about a scenario with so many house rules needed but it will be a great AAR if it works on such a huge scale.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: devoncop

I have problems with the height of a decent set of step ladders so I won't be applying to the Balloon Corps any time soon

Seriously this is an interesting scale...I am always dubious about a scenario with so many house rules needed but it will be a great AAR if it works on such a huge scale.

Here's some of the house rules. I stole this from the scenario briefing:

House rules
Optional House rule: area ownership should be turned off and you should not be able to see supplies.

Neutrals: until they enter war, no player can enter lands of Bulgaria and Ottoman. Italy and Rumania will enter the war when their exclusion zone is removed. Special Note: Italy was fighting its own war in Libya since 1911 and this one may be going on at the start of the game.

If orders are given, like attack Heligoland Island or attack the Dardanelles, the Entente player should comply.

Bridges: players may only blow up bridges if these cross river from one side to the other, not when they "follow" the river.

Rail Movement: in the Middle East theater south-east of Constantinople, only one division or two brigades or any number of smaller units may use rail transport per turn.

Decoys: Decoys may never enter enemy territory.

Russian Revolution: Russia Red and White Armies may never leave Russian territory and may never attack other Powers units.

Central Powers sea transport: No German sea transport is allowed in the Mediterranean or Atlantic (North Sea and Adriatic is OK, but at your own risk) and in no way can Central Power forces be shipped to African colonies.

Amphibious landings: Only one division per turn can do an amphibious landing plus one marine unit (so max two divisions per turn).

French Plan XVII. French units must attack on turn 1. Attacks may be limited and minimize casualties ones, but all units that can attack must attack, with exception that French may not enter Belgium or attack units in Belgium until turn 2.

Cavalry: NO CAVALRY IS ALLOWED IN AFRICA (except Egypt), except for cavalry starting there - in Africa horses suffer from heavy losses due to disease and lack of supply.

Italian Surrender: If Milan is seized by the Central Powers, Italy will surrender and all its armies disband. The Central Power player may leave units in Italy, but will not be able to attack other Entente countries (i.e. France through the Alps) from Italy. Entente forces in Italy will have to leave Italian territory to the nearest Entente country, by any means (sea, rail, land). If unable to do so, they have to disband or be destroyed.

[larryfulkerson]

I just now discovered that minefields are simulated by ships in garrison mode.
That's fairly clever.

[DanNeely]

Just knowing how you think from all the D21 AARs...

I'm virtually certain the only reason there isn't a prohibition against disbanding all the coastal artillery and assorted rear area garrisons is that the designer didn't think it needed said; not that he was OK with a completely a-historical stripping of rear area defenses to send more cannon fodder to the front lines.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely
Just knowing how you think from all the D21 AARs...

I'm virtually certain the only reason there isn't a prohibition against disbanding all the coastal artillery and assorted rear area garrisons is that the designer didn't think it needed said; not that he was OK with a completely a-historical stripping of rear area defenses to send more cannon fodder to the front lines.

The D21 scenario creaters, I guess Rick and Steve both, changed the CD guns to garrison mode just so *I* wouldn't disband them I think. And sending more cannon fodder to the front lines is only part of the reason for doing that. I primarily wanted to get them off the OOB list and get rid of the formation(s) that have them as equipment [ almost always CD units ]. I go through the OOB list multiple times you see. The first round to move ALL the units that are going to move, then the combat, then I scan the OOB list for those units that have remaining MP's and move just them. So I have less and less units to move as the turn progresses and usually I can dig everybody in on the last round before I end the turn. So I can make it through the OOB list about 5 times in a turn for about five combat rounds, usually. Sometimes I fail a proficiency check and the turn ends early but for the most part I get four or five rounds per turn and have to make multiple passes through the OOB and so anything that makes that list shorter is a benefit.

[Cfant]

Ah, die big WW1-scenario. I love this thing, but had to accept it as unplayable under TOAW III / 3.14. I hope it works fine under TOAW IV. Have fun and take good care of my Austrians Did you cross the Danube east of Belgrade?

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Cfant
Ah, die big WW1-scenario. I love this thing, but had to accept it as unplayable under TOAW III / 3.14. I hope it works fine under TOAW IV.

Hey there Cfant dude. I would be curious to know why you found it unplayable under the older version. Map too big?

ORIGINAL: Cfant
Have fun and take good care of my Austrians Did you cross the Danube east of Belgrade?

I can't find the Danube but I found what I think is Belgrade and the answer is no I haven't but it's possible for the future. A lot of the Axis units are in garrison mode. I think the scenario designer is trying to replicate the movements of the troops in the actual war or something. Those Axis units in Africa don't "awake" until T4 or so.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the T3 front lines before I have moved anybody.