AAR2 - Joe (Axis) vs Ronnie (Allied) (The War is Over!)

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:12 am

Blathergut wrote:How does this game fit in the scheme of games you've played? Typical events? Bizarre events? I've never really got late in the game, so was wondering how it compared to past ones.

This will only be the second time ever that I've lost Russia. The other time was against Borger. I'm not aware of anyone else losing Russia playing with the BJR Mod. I may have the honor all to myself, twice!

I'd estimate my win percentage with our mod as the Allies is around 50%. As the Axis, it probably 15 to 20%.

To answer your question about this game. I'd have to same it's not typical for the games I've played. This is the first time I almost lost the Middle East only to pull it out by sending a strong Russia force in to Persian to help out the Brits. This definitely contributed to Russia's downfall; however, if I hadn't made that move I have no doubt that the game would be over now.

I have to accept that I'm an average player. Against players of my ability I hold my on. Against players like Joe, Borger and Dave; I've been taken to the woodshed.

But, even though I'm 99% sure that I've lost I'm still playing for that 1%.

trulster · Post by **trulster** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:47 am

rkr1958 wrote:
Blathergut wrote:
I have to accept that I'm an average player. Against players of my ability I hold my on. Against players like Joe, Borger and Dave; I've been taken to the woodshed.

But, even though I'm 99% sure that I've lost I'm still playing for that 1%.

IMO that last sentence means you are a *good player*! Nothing worse than quitters in these long WW2 games, especially if they are the Axis and throw in the towel the moment the tide turns.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:20 pm

trulster wrote:Nothing worse than quitters in these long WW2 games, especially if they are the Axis and throw in the towel the moment the tide turns.

I try to follow the Axiom that I picked up on another WWII gaming site forum, which is as the Axis player that you continue to play as long as the Allied player wishes to continue. The thought there is in the start and early-mid games it's the Axis player that holds the initiative and is the one "having the most fun." When the initiative finally turns to the Allies it's only good form to allow them their bit fun in the late-mid to end games. This doesn't mean you have to drag it out to the bloody end; but when I play the Axis I will continue a game as long as the Allied player wishes.

As the Allied player, as in this game, I will continue as long as I'm making progress; whether or not I will win. I try to set an objective that would give me a sense of a morale victory; like, establishing and maintaining a presence in Western Europe and liberating France. If Joe pushes my invasion force off of the continent and we reach a point whether nothing much of importance is changing then I may seek out terms for a cease fire (i.e., concede the game in the knowledge that I've held the UK, USA and whatever part of North Africa and the Middle East that Joe ignores).

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:14 am

September 20, 1943. Major Air and Naval Battle Continues in the Atlantic. Left Hook Invasion Force Pushes On In Spite of Losses. Panic in Russia. Russia On the Verge of Collapse. US and UK Forces in the Caucuses Pull Back in Preparation of Russian Surrender. Anti-War Sentiment Growing in the US and UK.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:46 am

October 10, 1943. Russia Surrenders! Allied Forces Wade Ashore in France. Battle of the Atlantic Continues.

It's not good.

However; even if my landing force in France gets pushed back into the sea I plan to continue. My strategy will be to build air and naval. I will use air to bomb the heck out of Germany and Axis forces and I will use the naval to keep the sea lane between the US and UK open.

This war will now become a war of attrition in the air and at sea.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:23 am

October 30, 1943. All Alone! Heavy Fighting in France. Retreat in the Caucuses.

One positive thing about losing Russia (and this is stretching) is that it's easier and faster to play my turn and post to this AAR.

riley555 · Post by **riley555** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:31 pm

is it possible to build up a good US and UK force in the short run and land on a broad front in france? surely, the US with all of its industrial might, would have a real shot at this sooner or later

jjdenver · Post by **jjdenver** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:20 pm

I doubt it panzer_hugger. I'm not sure how much experience you have w/ the game but w/ the Germans holding all of Russia and its production and w/ all of those German troops freed from the east front (in particular the Luftwaffe), I really doubt that the allies would be able to get ashore in France.

If you think about it when D-Day happened in Jun '44, the Germans had already lost the war to the Russians. They couldn't stop the Red Army and the Wermacht and Luftwaffe in the east had basically collapsed.

In this AAR the reverse is true - the Germans have completely triumphed in the East, and in addition the allies have a very heavy commitment to the Caucasus region - a commitment which weakens any blow they can strike into France.

As the Wermacht and Luftwaffe shift west it will become a true Fortress Europa and the allies aren't going to be able to successfully land imo.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:36 am

November 19, 1943. War in Europe is Over! Cease Fire Agreed To! The War in the Pacific Continues!

Well Played Joe! Thanks for the Game! I hope you enjoyed this AAR as much as I enjoyed playing this game. Joe delivered to me a crushing defeat!

Allied Cease Fire Proposal wrote:The Allies, well what remains of them (US & UK), wish to discuss terms for a cease fire in Europe and Africa.

Of course this would give you, or the Axis, the highest victory, since you control 4 or more capitals (you control 6 capitals, which are Berlin, Hamburg, Rome, Paris, Moscow and Omsk). I don't see you losing any of those; but I don't see you capturing any of the four remaining ones (London, Ottawa, Washington or New York). I would classify your victory as a "Crushing" Axis victory with 6 of 10 game major country capitals controlled by the Axis. This has been an enjoyable game, even though you've crushed me; but I wish to concede if the "Axis" agree to the following "Allied" cease fire proposal.

The Allies propose the following terms for the a cease fire:

1. Full and safe evacuation of the remaining Allied ground units in France.

2. Immediate cease fire between all Allied and Axis land, sea and naval forces in Europe and Africa including the Atlantic and Mediterranean

3. Except for (1), all Axis and Allied units will hold on all current positions and these positions will be controlled post cease-fire by that respective side.

4. This cease fire does NOT apply to any and all on-going combat and operations in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

Axis Response wrote:I think I could have taken London, but it would have just been a year and a half of wearing you down with superior economic production. And in a word, that's boring. So I accept the ceasefire. I look forward to future games on version 2.00, whether a rematch or with switched sides.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:40 am

Thus ends my last game with v1.05.

Coming soon ... CEaW: Grand Strategy v2.00 (formerly called the BJR Mod).

adherbal · Post by **adherbal** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:38 am

This was a very interesting AAR. I haven't played CEaW much but this gave good insights into the game's mechanics.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:53 pm

adherbal wrote:This was a very interesting AAR. I haven't played CEaW much but this gave good insights into the game's mechanics.

I'm glad you found it interesting. Thanks for taking the time to follow it. I wish I could have given you an Allied victory or at least made it a bit closer.

joerock22 · Post by **joerock22** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:31 pm

This is a very substantial and in-depth AAR, now that I'm officially allowed to read it. And for the record, Ronnie is not the only person to lose Russia in the BJR mod. I've done it to a couple other people I won't name. That list is probably longer than people think.

There's no shame in it, really. In my mind, Russia is toughest country to play in any version of CEAW.

ftgcritt2 · Post by **ftgcritt2** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:25 pm

rkr1958 wrote:This will only be the second time ever that I've lost Russia. The other time was against Borger. I'm not aware of anyone else losing Russia playing with the BJR Mod. I may have the honor all to myself, twice!

Don't feel so bad. I'm in a game with Joe right now, and he is once again at the gates of Omsk. You not be the only one by the time it's over.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:58 am

ftgcritt2 wrote:
rkr1958 wrote:This will only be the second time ever that I've lost Russia. The other time was against Borger. I'm not aware of anyone else losing Russia playing with the BJR Mod. I may have the honor all to myself, twice!
Don't feel so bad. I'm in a game with Joe right now, and he is once again at the gates of Omsk. You not be the only one by the time it's over.

Is there no stopping him. Oh ... the horror!

joerock22 · Post by **joerock22** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:41 am

rkr1958 wrote:
ftgcritt2 wrote:Don't feel so bad. I'm in a game with Joe right now, and he is once again at the gates of Omsk. You not be the only one by the time it's over.
Is there no stopping him. Oh ... the horror!

Hey, now, let's not have any more of that defeatist talk! ftgcritt2's situation is not as dire as he says it is. I think he has a fairly good chance of keeping Omsk. This game is being played on BJR version 1.00, so you know German manpower is in the toilet. It's May 1943, and the Allies have retaken England, and control most of Africa and Sardinia. The Luftwaffe and the USAAF are dueling over France. A solid double line of Soviet troops is entrenched on the rough terrain of Siberia, and my bombers are getting odds like 1:2 and 1:3. Ugly would be the word for that! The Germans are just now launching a major thrust into the Caucuses. Subs attack convoys at will, and it remains to be seen whether the Allies will try to remedy that situation or simply take the losses. So I think this game will be taken all the way to 1945, though I won't be dissapointed if I'm wrong.