Ronnie vs Allied Player

[rkr1958]

Ronnie vs Allied Player Game 4 AAR

This AAR is a rematch against an allied opponent who I was fortunate enough to achieve an ultimate victory against by controlling four (Berlin, Rome, Paris and Moscow) of six “victory” capitals at the end of our last game. The six victory capitals include the four listed plus London and Washington (both of which I made, and will make, no attempt to capture).

This game will be played with the advance version 3.01, which I believe is soon to be officially released as probably 3.10. Unfortunately I lost the change list from 3.00 to this updated version due to a computer crash. Maybe some kind soul who has a such a list would post it in this AAR. Though I don’t have the list I do know the changes favor the axis with limits on Russian rail at the start of Barbarossa and with making experienced units harder to crack. I feel that this version is the most balanced one yet. With that said we’re going to see if we can level the playing field between myself and my esteemed allied opponent by playing this game with a “Large Allied” advantage. Though I fear it may tilt the field too far in his favor; but so be it.

[rkr1958]

You may ask what does a large allied advantage mean? I certainly did. It simply means extra PP’s per turn for each of the major allied powers. From example, for the Soviets and a Barbarossa that I plan to launch on turn 32 (May 13, 1941) this means an extra 32 x 8 = 256 PP’s! And they don’t stop getting them there, they get them for the rest of the game. For a game that goes down to the wire (e.g., turn 105) that’s an additional 840 PP’s! And for the Western Allies (UK & USA), they would each get an extra 420 PP’s! Oh my goodness, what have I done.

[rkr1958]

Case White (9/21/1939 (2), Poland falls).

My overall strategy is simple, focused and hopefully efficient.
Knock Poland out in 2-turns and redeploy to the West without overuse of rail.
Knock France out no later than July 1940 (Sitz).
Conquer Yugoslavia before the end of 1940.
Launch a May 1941 (turn 32) Barbarossa.
Cripple the Soviet Union.
Force the Western Allies to invest heavily in ASW and destroyers.
Keep Italy alive for the entire game and win at least a major victory (i.e., 2 victory capitals Rome and Berlin).

I’m not looking for a knockout punch against any of the major allied powers, except France of course. I looking to play for a major victory and plan to follow the same game plan as I followed to ultimate victory against my opponent last game. Though in addition of the “additional” PP’s my as the advantage of now knowing this strategy. Let’s see how things play out.

[rkr1958]

Case White Statistics.

[rkr1958]

In addition to rail and movement on foot, I use transports to redeploy my army from the east to the west. This turn, I moved two corps by transport. One transport can be seen docked in Kiel. The second is making its way through the Kiel Canal and will dock in Wilhelmshaven.

Notice that I have a mech positioned north of Hamburg. Assuming the weather cooperates next turn (75% chance for fair), I plan to go ahead and take Denmark out. I have no plans, or any desire, to go after and get tied up in Norway. So by taking Denmark out as soon as possible this removes the opportunity for the allies to surprise Norway and land against weaken defenders. With Denmark gone if they invade they would face full strength, 10-step units.

[Cybvep]

You don't see many games with Large Allied advantage :O. Good luck!

I guess that your opponent wants to stay anonymous?

[rkr1958]

You don't see many games with Large Allied advantage :O. Good luck!

I guess that your opponent wants to stay anonymous?

Thanks, I'm going to need it.

[OxfordGuy3]

I can't imagine trying to win versus the Allies with them even having a minor advantage, it's hard enough with no Allied advantage! Good luck (you'll need it!), will be interested to see how this works out, doesn't leave any room for more than minor mistakes.

[Cybvep]

It depends on the player's skill, though. rkr1958 said that he scored the Ultimate Victory the last time.

[BuddyGrant]

It depends on the player's skill, though. rkr1958 said that he scored the Ultimate Victory the last time.

I believe in the vanilla game a "large allied advantage" also means they have access to more labs earlier, but that might not apply to the Grand Strategy version and its yearly lab limits.

[rkr1958]

It depends on the player's skill, though. rkr1958 said that he scored the Ultimate Victory the last time.

I believe in the vanilla game a "large allied advantage" also means they have access to more labs earlier, but that might not apply to the Grand Strategy version and its yearly lab limits.

I'm fairly sure (95%+) that it's just the additional PP's in GS. Otherwise; this game may end badly for me in 1943 or 1944. Though, it still may end badly for me with just the additional allied PP's. In fact I've already faced what I believe to be one effect of these additional PP's in the conquest of Poland. My opponent repaired the Warsaw corps back to 7-steps, from 4 on turn 1. I only had 2 units (both armor) adjacent to Warsaw at the start of turn 2 and had Polish ground units blocking to the north and south of the city. I thought I was going to have to force 1 or both of these units to retreat in order to free these two hexes to attack the city. But; before I did I decided to see what was left to finish off. So first I soften up the reinforced Warsaw defenders with an TAC air attack "escorted" by a fighter, which intercepted and lost 1-step to the Polish fighter. I then attacked with the 2 armor corps and was fortunate to clear and capture the city reliving any need to attack and force the blocking Polish corps to out of the way. The result of all this was that I lost an additional fighter step that I would not have lost if the defenders hadn't been reinforced.

[rkr1958]

Here's the change list from 3.00 to this updated version that we're using.

[OxfordGuy3]

I like the new STR changes, especially switching attack modes

[Morris]

Dear Ronnie : I just wonder If you want to test the new 3.01 version & show its balance ,why not choose even ? At present even a large Axis , Allies still has chance to achive a minor victory . But for a large Allies . Axis has no chance to survive until 1944 !

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. 10/31/1939 Axis.

Finished buying 1 lab for each of the 5 tech areas. I will now focus on buying the builds for Case Yellow in the Spring (1940, Sitz). These will be: (1) 3rd fighter, (2) 3rd TAC, (3) Guderian and (4) repairs. I will have all this done and in place by turn 9 (February 8, 1940). After this I will then buy a second lab in each of the 5 tech areas.

[rkr1958]

The weather is fair so I took the opportunity to take out Denmark this turn (4). I was able to accomplish this with no losses.

In my buildup in the west, my opponents aggressive air attacks forced me to rebase my 2 TAC units farther north and out of harms way. This is not the optimum basing for reaching targets in France; but I don't want to take unnecessary air step losses. Since the fall of Poland, the Luftwaffe has taken 3 steps of losses to the RAF and French air losses of 3 + 1 = 4 steps. I hope my opponent is being wasteful with his additional PP's.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I think there are a few game tweaks not mentioned.

The most important is the addition of bonus to quite a lot of stats at certain XP level (25, 50,75, 100). E. g. ground defense is increased by 1 at 25 and again at 75. Ground attack is increased at 50 and again at 100. And so on for quite a few other stats.

[BattlevonWar]

Little bit shocked at the weight given to the Allies in this game!? In only my second Allied PBEM game ever played against a guy who has about 4 plus years experience I'm pushing on Warsaw soon in 3.0GS, I am very likely to take Berlin I think in a year from Summer of '43..This is a bold Axis player how can they hold long enough to stalemate the Allies!? Also I love the new Experience Rules.

[OxfordGuy3]

Turn 4. 10/31/1939 Axis.

Finished buying 1 lab for each of the 5 tech areas. I will now focus on buying the builds for Case Yellow in the Spring (1940, Sitz). These will be: (1) 3rd fighter, (2) 3rd TAC, (3) Guderian and (4) repairs. I will have all this done and in place by turn 9 (February 8, 1940). After this I will then buy a second lab in each of the 5 tech areas.

So looks like you went:

Air>Armour>Infantry>General>Naval - right? I've often wondered about the best order to get my labs in (although taking air early seems like a good idea, as being behind in this hurts alot), I assume going for Armour and Infantry early is to try to get some upgrades in before Barbarossa? Any other comments about your lab strategy?

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I usually build like this with the Germans:

Turn 1: Air (no focus), paratroopers
Turn 2: General (focus industry), Infantry
Turn 3: Armor
Turn 4: Naval (focus submarines)
Turn 5: Tactical bomber
Turn 7: Fighter

For this to work you don't make a single repair in 1939.

One tech per turn starting in January 1940 + repairs with spare PP's. Sequence:
Infantry
Air
Armor
General
Naval

I only switch to focus dogfight once I'm close to strategic operations tech 1. I really want the +3 range for all the air units.