Mirror Game?

[Blathergut]

I'd be interested in starting up a pair of games. Relaxed pace since school (marking/planning) gets hectic (and report cards are due in a couple weeks!). But I'd manage a turn an evening and a couple more most likely on weekends. Nothing fanatical or too beyond the fringes, please!

Ideally, I'd like to just play through to the fall of France two or three times, trying out:
-attacks on Maginot
-Allied responses to this
-Allied Dyle
-German responses to this

Perhaps a full game(s) after that.

P.S. Am using the modified Allied set-up file provided by Stauff.

[shawkhan]

I also would like to explore some of these possibilities. The Maginot line gambit seems a bit too bloody for my taste as with reasonable weather luck I think the Germans can take France at about the same time with much lower casualties. The Dyle plan I liked. If the Germans take a few precautions the long-term deficits of that allied attack outweigh the benefits IMO. I don't know if anyone has played it through US entry but I think the allied loss of production along with increased axis pps from Belgium makes it a questionable option.
If you want to give it a few goes I am your man.

[Blathergut]

cool...will pm email addy

[shawkhan]

Sent my turn, waiting for the reflection from the mirror.

[Blathergut]

You should have both my initial Axis turn and the Allies reply to your first Axis turn. Let me know if not; perhaps they hung somewhere. I didn't zip the beasts. Each file was around 2MB...that any prob for your email system?

[shawkhan]

Didn't receive your Axis turn. I do have your first allied turn, however.

[Blathergut]

weird...i also resent...having zipped each file

[Blathergut]

Hanging up in spam folder maybe??

[supermax]

I also would like to explore some of these possibilities. The Maginot line gambit seems a bit too bloody for my taste as with reasonable weather luck I think the Germans can take France at about the same time with much lower casualties. The Dyle plan I liked. If the Germans take a few precautions the long-term deficits of that allied attack outweigh the benefits IMO. I don't know if anyone has played it through US entry but I think the allied loss of production along with increased axis pps from Belgium makes it a questionable option.
If you want to give it a few goes I am your man.

Maginot line attack create a very weak French army in the spring. If the allied players doesn't defend it and you got a least a bit of good weather you can storm 2 hexes.

You don't have a choice to defend it since if the germans break out of Maginot, then also an early fall of France.

Anyway tried it twice and worked like a charm like you saw in my AAR. The other time against Crazygunner, France fell in march 1940, since i had clear weather turns in February... And no one will say that one isn't a VERY capable player.

Bloody is irrelevant since by the spring campaign you almost don't get casualities, and you've got one of those very few and magical precious commodity for the germans: TIME, time to do things you need to do to position yourself to win the game.

In fact i believe its a good tactic against the Dyle or French cramping the Belgian frontier so you cant do forward retreat. Also prevents the frenchies from removing garrison from Maginot line, thus another 2-3 GAR stuck in the south + 2-3 you can destroy in 1939-1940...

[Blathergut]

The only catch I see:

-turn 2 Germans need to move a mech and some inf to the border with Holland in case of a turn 2 Dyle...otherwise the French get the fortress and such. This means you can't get infantry around that Maginot bulge until turn 3 and then you hope for turn 4 clear...

I had wanted to do that in my little game now but the Dyle attack on turn two kinda threw it off and heavies were needed in Holland since they spawn at full strength (without the latest test files).

If you don't have something up north, and Dyle happens, it just makes it tougher, does it not?

[supermax]

Well, yes and no.

Sure its gonna be tougher in the north, but at the same time it doesnt make the french stronger,only more extended.

You could still spend the winter knocking on maginot and also attack in the north no?

[Blathergut]

I think something needs to rail to Maginot on turn 1, pound a bit less on the Poles, so you can get one good whap at the Maginot bulge before bad weather.

[supermax]

yes. On turn 1 you attack it with a corps and 3 GAR to soften it up. you rail a mech and INF corps for turn 2 follow-up

Then also turn 2 you move all your planes back. Then you attack with 3 INF corps and 1 mech. If your any bit lucky you will take the first hex. If the allied player reinforced it with a strong unit, you have also won just pound on that so it cost him heavy to replace.

[shawkhan]

As the Allies I executed a turn 2 Dyle and it worked perfectly with few casualties. I wouldn't like to play much beyond the Fall of France with it though as there will be much economic suffering until the US enters the war, and I miss out on the LL DD. If France could last as long as Morris' game I suppose it would be worth it.
In my Axis try the weather has closed down making the Maginot gambit almost suicidal. If I can get some clear weather will attack anyway as these games are just an experiment, to end with the Fall of France.
We seem to be moving right along so should be able to re-play the start to refine our opening moves.
Thank you, Supermax, for your advice. I will try to follow your Axis strategy in my next try. Just feeling a little gunshy at the expected Butcher's bill.