Joe v. Morris Round II (Joe's AAR)

[joerock22]

That’s a 15PP per turn swing once it recovers to full production for me.

AFAIK occupied cities give 50% income x war effort. In case of Moscow it will be 10 x 50% x X% (130%?), which will give sth like 6,5-7 PPs per turn, not 15 PPs. However, Morris will lose much more, i.e. 10 PPs x war effort per turn, which means sth like 12-14 PPs lost per turn. Moreover, Morris will lose MP when you take Moscow and if you manage to take Kharkov, he will lose even more. Oh, and you get increased supply range as a bonus. All in all, if you manage to hold the Soviet capital for a year or so, it will make a big dent in Soviet income and give you some extra PPs, too.

Thanks, I forgot about war effort. Even better!

If Russia researches blitzkrieg then you could focus research on antitank for infantry and tank destroyers for armor. It's not fun having tanks when the enemy has maxed out antitank weapons.

It looks to me like Morris has tried to turn his tanks into tank-killers. I'm trying to keep mine balanced so they are useful against infantry as well. I don't intend to let Morris have his tank-vs-tank battle until late in the war, anyway.

[Cybvep]

If Russia researches blitzkrieg then you could focus research on antitank for infantry and tank destroyers for armor. It's not fun having tanks when the enemy has maxed out antitank weapons.

Very true. It's very expensive to lose 2-3 ARM steps per attack, which is what often happens when the enemy's MECH is entrenched. Defending with ARMs is even worse unless you have very good AA stat.

[joerock22]

Very true. It's very expensive to lose 2-3 ARM steps per attack, which is what often happens when the enemy's MECH is entrenched. Defending with ARMs is even worse unless you have very good AA stat.

True, but if I'm going to attack an entrenched mech, chances are I'm going to soften it up with air support first. And Morris's mechs do not have any defense upgrades yet. Everything has been funneled into tanks and fighters, which is fine if you're on offense but is useless if your infantry can't hold a line.

[joerock22]

Turn 55 – August 16, 1942

Another retreat for the Russians means an easy capture of Moscow! All three 1942 objectives have been accomplished already, though I clearly still have some work to do to completely secure my southern front.

The British fighter does evacuate from Kirkwall this time, and I decide to allow the British troops trapped in Scotland to continue to die on the vine. At least for now when my screening subs have not spotted any Allied supply ships en route. Germany develops dog fight lv. 3. We are slightly behind the British and slightly ahead of the Russians.

In the Med, American subs start attacking my BBs in port. Not much I can do about this except hope to kill a few sub steps along the way. The Italian Navy is a “paper tiger,” as I’ve heard at least one person say. Benghazi has fallen, but no invasion of Sicily yet (just some shore bombardment).

USSR North





USSR South





Final Tally: only 2 corps and 1 garrison. But the Russians lose a whopping 16 PPs of production x war effort (Moscow, Kharkov, Stalino, Yaroslav)! Not to mention 5 rail points (Moscow, Kharkov).

[Cybvep]

Units before cities. A smart choice made by Morris. Still, I don't envy him now. His income is decreasing, while yours is increasing and it will only become higher, as cities in Russia are being rebuilt. No STRATs to lower it even a little bit. GB is occupied by the Axis. Many tanks, but poor infantry, which means that the only sensible option is to withdraw over and over again until winter arrives. He also lost a good chunk of MP (Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev, Kharkov), which probably means that he will face MP problems with the Soviets during late-war period.

However, it remains to be seen how you will fare during winter and early 1943. I expect a lot of pressure both from the Allies and the Soviets. The UK is poor, but Morris had enough time to build a solid navy and some good heavy units. You are not using subs aggressively, which means that his convoys are arriving untouched and he can devote more PPs to all this stuff that may win him the war (land and air units + some CVs and BBs for support instead of DDs). Still, if oil permits, you should be able to deal some significant damage to the Allied transports, which always hurts. Attacking Italy would be a bad move, as it's too easy to defend it (bad terrain + a narrow frontline - perfect for those elite German units) - Morris should go for GB IMO, possibly by attacking Ireland. There are also some other, more exotic choices, like Portugal & Spain, which would allow him to open a new front without attacking Vichy prematurely and giving you free PPs.

BTW this is my favourite AAR ATM (and I'm reading many AARs on the other forums). Keep up the great work.

[ncali]

I think Morris could have kept Moscow if he had done a few things differently. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to abandon it even given the current situation, since it's getting late in the summer. That said, I don't think I'm aware of a game where the Allies have come back and won from losing both London and Moscow? If Morris does manage to come back, it will be quite an achievement! I'm not even sure the Allies have much of an economic advantage at this point.

[joerock22]

Units before cities. A smart choice made by Morris. Still, I don't envy him now. His income is decreasing, while yours is increasing and it will only become higher, as cities in Russia are being rebuilt. No STRATs to lower it even a little bit. GB is occupied by the Axis. Many tanks, but poor infantry, which means that the only sensible option is to withdraw over and over again until winter arrives. He also lost a good chunk of MP (Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev, Kharkov), which probably means that he will face MP problems with the Soviets during late-war period.

However, it remains to be seen how you will fare during winter and early 1943. I expect a lot of pressure both from the Allies and the Soviets. The UK is poor, but Morris had enough time to build a solid navy and some good heavy units. You are not using subs aggressively, which means that his convoys are arriving untouched and he can devote more PPs to all this stuff that may win him the war (land and air units + some CVs and BBs for support instead of DDs). Still, if oil permits, you should be able to deal some significant damage to the Allied transports, which always hurts. Attacking Italy would be a bad move, as it's too easy to defend it (bad terrain + a narrow frontline - perfect for those elite German units) - Morris should go for GB IMO, possibly by attacking Ireland. There are also some other, more exotic choices, like Portugal & Spain, which would allow him to open a new front without attacking Vichy prematurely and giving you free PPs.

BTW this is my favourite AAR ATM (and I'm reading many AARs on the other forums). Keep up the great work.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I've done them before but I think this is my best one.

I'm not exactly sure where Morris will strike with the western Allies. If I had to guess, I'd say Vichy north africa and then Sicily. But I just don't know.

[joerock22]

I think Morris could have kept Moscow if he had done a few things differently. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to abandon it even given the current situation, since it's getting late in the summer. That said, I don't think I'm aware of a game where the Allies have come back and won from losing both London and Moscow? If Morris does manage to come back, it will be quite an achievement! I'm not even sure the Allies have much of an economic advantage at this point.

Yes, it would have been better to stand his ground in certain places. But it's hard to know when to stand and when to run, and I'm sure he was just trying to be cautious and save his army. And I don't think the Allies have much of an economic advantage either. I'm excited for the day German income gets over 200!

By the way, Morris will be away on a trip until next Tuesday, so this AAR will be put on hold until then. Severe winter just arrived in the actual game, so it's a nice place to stop.

[Crazygunner1]

I think Morris could have kept Moscow if he had done a few things differently. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to abandon it even given the current situation, since it's getting late in the summer. That said, I don't think I'm aware of a game where the Allies have come back and won from losing both London and Moscow? If Morris does manage to come back, it will be quite an achievement! I'm not even sure the Allies have much of an economic advantage at this point.

In this case Morris didn't have any choice, outflanked and no entrenchments around moscow, low org, makes for easy targets. Morris did the right choice there...but could have played it differently before that.

[Crazygunner1]

Manpower must be close on 54-55%?

[Cybvep]

Whose MP?

[joerock22]

Manpower must be close on 54-55%?

Mine? No, not quite that low, at this point or in the current turn.

[Cybvep]

If German MP was so low in 1942... well, let's just say that it wouldn't bode well for the future, lol.

[joerock22]

If German MP was so low in 1942... well, let's just say that it wouldn't bode well for the future, lol.

Agreed. But fortunately for me, I've had excellent progess in fixed defenses research, even if it's lagged behind in other areas. So I'll never go below 4 survivability for my infantry, and for a time I'll even get the 5 survivability bonus.

[Crazygunner1]

Just counted alot of corps and then you have lost some as well. But thats good...

[Morris]

Units before cities. A smart choice made by Morris. Still, I don't envy him now. His income is decreasing, while yours is increasing and it will only become higher, as cities in Russia are being rebuilt. No STRATs to lower it even a little bit. GB is occupied by the Axis. Many tanks, but poor infantry, which means that the only sensible option is to withdraw over and over again until winter arrives. He also lost a good chunk of MP (Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev, Kharkov), which probably means that he will face MP problems with the Soviets during late-war period.

However, it remains to be seen how you will fare during winter and early 1943. I expect a lot of pressure both from the Allies and the Soviets. The UK is poor, but Morris had enough time to build a solid navy and some good heavy units. You are not using subs aggressively, which means that his convoys are arriving untouched and he can devote more PPs to all this stuff that may win him the war (land and air units + some CVs and BBs for support instead of DDs). Still, if oil permits, you should be able to deal some significant damage to the Allied transports, which always hurts. Attacking Italy would be a bad move, as it's too easy to defend it (bad terrain + a narrow frontline - perfect for those elite German units) - Morris should go for GB IMO, possibly by attacking Ireland. There are also some other, more exotic choices, like Portugal & Spain, which would allow him to open a new front without attacking Vichy prematurely and giving you free PPs.

BTW this is my favourite AAR ATM (and I'm reading many AARs on the other forums). Keep up the great work.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I've done them before but I think this is my best one.

I'm not exactly sure where Morris will strike with the western Allies. If I had to guess, I'd say Vichy north africa and then Sicily. But I just don't know.

Why not Ireland or Portugal? Why not Greece ? Why not Demark ? why not southern France ? Vichy France is not good idea unless only need Tunise to knock Italy out .

[Morris]

I think Morris could have kept Moscow if he had done a few things differently. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to abandon it even given the current situation, since it's getting late in the summer. That said, I don't think I'm aware of a game where the Allies have come back and won from losing both London and Moscow? If Morris does manage to come back, it will be quite an achievement! I'm not even sure the Allies have much of an economic advantage at this point.

In this case Morris didn't have any choice, outflanked and no entrenchments around moscow, low org, makes for easy targets. Morris did the right choice there...but could have played it differently before that.

I agree . just after Joe bliz Paris in early 1940, Joe confirm his first step to the finalvictory . then sea lion , Barbarossa in 1941,then my first big mistake at the last severe winter turn ,then Moscow , Rostov disaster ! no one could achive a victory against an elite like Joe who always well planed and execute excellent ! if this is a normal poem with some others , I would ask for a surrender , but in this pbem ,I do not want my surrender ruin Joe's great victory . I will fight to the last minute unless Omsk or Washington fall

[Morris]

Manpower must be close on 54-55%?

Mine? No, not quite that low, at this point or in the current turn.

It should be around 60-65%

[Morris]

I think Morris could have kept Moscow if he had done a few things differently. I'm not sure if it was a good idea to abandon it even given the current situation, since it's getting late in the summer. That said, I don't think I'm aware of a game where the Allies have come back and won from losing both London and Moscow? If Morris does manage to come back, it will be quite an achievement! I'm not even sure the Allies have much of an economic advantage at this point.

Yes, it would have been better to stand his ground in certain places. But it's hard to know when to stand and when to run, and I'm sure he was just trying to be cautious and save his army. And I don't think the Allies have much of an economic advantage either. I'm excited for the day German income gets over 200!

By the way, Morris will be away on a trip until next Tuesday, so this AAR will be put on hold until then. Severe winter just arrived in the actual game, so it's a nice place to stop.

I will come back on Wednesday , accomplish Joe''s victory .

[Peter Stauffenberg]

If it seems that Joerock is about to win with the Axis like an elite player like Morris then it seems the game balance can't be that bad.

Morris has claimed that the Allies have an advantage in GS v2.1 and many others agree with him. It looks like Joerock has shown that it's maybe not the case at all if you play well. I know it's too early to declare Joerock as the winner in this game, but he has at least proved that the Axis have a FAIR chance of winning against the best Allied players like Morris.

So if you struggle with the Axis then I think you should look at your game strategy and learn from the masters like Joerock.