Morris vs Joe Rock

[Morris]

The Allies are draining the Axis in Sicily and I expect some action in France soon as well. So it's not easy for the Axis to keep a healthy defense line in Russia too. Morris'es biggest problem will be that manpower and oil will drop very fast in the end game. When the Axis run out of oil they will be overrun. The captured oilfields in Russia are lost and the upgraded Axis units burn more oil.

I've seen Axis players collapse really fast if they have ben too aggressive and hit rock bottom with manpower and oil. It's still only the Spring of 1943 and Joe has time to make Overlord. It won't help the Germans to keep Russia out of Poland if the Allies get a foothold in France in 1943.

I agree this game is wide open. Morris will have to conjure up some defensive skills to keep Joe at bay. I've been the Axis against Joe and once the steamroller starts you have no chance to stop it. I was at the Don river by the end of 1943 and still lost the game. I kept the Allies out of France till the Spring of 1944. I lost. Even Sicily didn't fall until late 1943. OK, it was with an earlier version, but Joe is really good at grinding down the enemy units in addition to being excellent in his defense.

We've mainly seen Morris on the offensive and don't know how well he can defend. I think he's skilled so Joe will have to play at his best to have a chance. Morris can't afford to make a big mistake, though.

My bet is on Joe, but only by 55/45.

my bet is on Morris 85/15 well really more like 95/5 but joe is a super player so I have adjusted

I am flattered with huge presssure ! You have to remember my rival is JOE !

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I think placing corps units in cities in Russia might help slow down the advance. He will probably need 3 units to finish off the corps unit. If you can hold the city it means no new units there next turn.

This is particularly important if only Russian armor can reach the city. Depleting Russian armor will help. Maybe the panzers can make Manstein like counter attacks against the Russian tanks.

Using ZOC in retreat is important. Make a contiguous line just outside Russian reach. Entering a hex with ZOC from 2 unit means +2 movement cost. That means armor move 4 hexes instead of 6.

[Morris]

I think placing corps units in cities in Russia might help slow down the advance. He will probably need 3 units to finish off the corps unit. If you can hold the city it means no new units there next turn.

This is particularly important if only Russian armor can reach the city. Depleting Russian armor will help. Maybe the panzers can make Manstein like counter attacks against the Russian tanks.

Using ZOC in retreat is important. Make a contiguous line just outside Russian reach. Entering a hex with ZOC from 2 unit means +2 movement cost. That means armor move 4 hexes instead of 6.

Sir , this pbem is on RC 8 , so no rail station needed . He can just pass these cites & get rail easily . ZOC is a good idea ,but in front of steamroller ,several ZOC tech seems not work well . What i can do is run as fast as I can . & stop far enough to take a breath .

[Morris]

Aug 1943

Retreat continue & we lost three more INFs . We lost Stalingrad &will soon lose Moscow . This time Germans is looking forward to the winter .

[Cybvep]

It's interesting how fast the Soviets retake lost territory. Just several updated ago Morris was at the gates of Omsk!

[Peter Stauffenberg]

If you look at the Russian air units you see that they have upgraded tech. So the Luftwaffe can't save the day.

[Morris]

If you look at the Russian air units you see that they have upgraded tech. So the Luftwaffe can't save the day.

Yes , USSR's ftr is lvl 8 & tacs is lvl 9 .

[Plaid]

my bet is on Morris 85/15

Funny, my ones are reversed.

In mmm... "normal" games axis start to retreat to get better defencive positions, trade space for time etc. Here axis are more like on the run the organized retreat. Front is disorganized, many troops will not make it to germany at all.

Duncan, remember our game, when I was east of stalingrad in early 1943 and you entered germany by 1944 spring, its something of that type aswell. Ruin of axis front is bad (for axis) and quite unstoppable thing.

Also as I got it, invasion in France didn't happen yet, and if we remember that most of convoys made it without damage, it will be painful one.

[ncali]

I don't have any predictions for this game yet - it's too close to call. Bad weather will soon slow the Soviets down in the East, which may give Morris enough time to re-build and establish a decent front (given all the space Joe has to take back). It also looks to me like the Western Allies spent quite a lot in Sicily. I think the big wild-card at this point is how strong, where, and when they will strike in the West. That could be the decisive factor.

[richardsd]

I base my prediction on two things:

1. the Axis has had an awful lot of PP's from owning Russia (although I don;t know what bombing has occurred)

2. experience with Morris in this situation - there is already a double defense line waiting in Germany/Poland

but its just a prediction

[richardsd]

my bet is on Morris 85/15

Funny, my ones are reversed.

In mmm... "normal" games axis start to retreat to get better defencive positions, trade space for time etc. Here axis are more like on the run the organized retreat. Front is disorganized, many troops will not make it to germany at all.

Duncan, remember our game, when I was east of stalingrad in early 1943 and you entered germany by 1944 spring, its something of that type aswell. Ruin of axis front is bad (for axis) and quite unstoppable thing.

Also as I got it, invasion in France didn't happen yet, and if we remember that most of convoys made it without damage, it will be painful one.

I remember that game - mostly because I still have no idea how I managed to break the German's in Russia!

[Morris]

my bet is on Morris 85/15

Funny, my ones are reversed.

In mmm... "normal" games axis start to retreat to get better defencive positions, trade space for time etc. Here axis are more like on the run the organized retreat. Front is disorganized, many troops will not make it to germany at all.

Duncan, remember our game, when I was east of stalingrad in early 1943 and you entered germany by 1944 spring, its something of that type aswell. Ruin of axis front is bad (for axis) and quite unstoppable thing.

Also as I got it, invasion in France didn't happen yet, and if we remember that most of convoys made it without damage, it will be painful one.

How about 80/20 ? I have at least 5% more confindence

[Schnurri]

Morris - you should show us your defences in Germany so we don't have to keep guessing til Joe gets there. We are envisioning a double line of Mechs.

[Morris]

Morris - you should show us your defences in Germany so we don't have to keep guessing til Joe gets there. We are envisioning a double line of Mechs.

How could it be ? double line of Mech , it needs much more than limited. It will be too expensive for me ! Joe will arrive there soon , He just arrived Smolensk . Everything will clear soon .I have to keep it as secret since this is my last card .

[Morris]

Aug 31st 1943

Soviet took back Moscow & arrive around Smolensk . In the South they arrived Stalino . Nothing could stop them but weather .

In Med , RN retreat because of my bomb .

[Morris]

Sept 20th 1943

I just made a terrible careless mistake by not supplying the Corp in Brest & leave it only 7 steps ( I forgot it at all !) . Joe launch a sucessful Paras attack by the help of huge Allies Navy & airsupport & cut off the link of Brest , The corp in there was left only 2 steps . It must be fall next turn . It will completely destroy my dream of take a silence winter in the west . hordes of Allies troops will be landing in France , but we only have few Italians there . Maybe they will take Paris in winter.

In the east , Red army continue their steps of moving forward . Smolensk fall .In the south they also has good progress .

Hi Duncan , I am sorry for my mistake , Maybe I will make you disappointed . You can withdraw your bet if you like

West France :






Russia

[Morris]

Oct 10th 1943

In the south Soviet arrive Kiev & in the north they almost arrive Minsk . the waether is still clear !

In the west , Brest & Rennes fall . Many Allies units landing in the France . ( I forgot take screenshot here , I will show it next turn )

In med it is quiet .

[Peter Stauffenberg]

When Joerock now has got ashore in France in 1943 and have his forces supplied then his forces will be knocking at the German border in no time. The Russians have recovered really fast and soon they will be in 1944 with a position almost as good as in the real war.

I think the Axis is now doomed. The invasion of France should not have been allowed to happen as early as 1943. I feel that the Axis have maybe put too much effort on Sicily. The units there could have been very valuable in France now. The defense of Sicily was very good, but now holding Sicily is not so important for the Axis.

It's hard to tell about Russia. At least the Russians are still a bit behind schedule, but they are catching fast. So without the Allies taking Brest in 1943 then the Axis would have had a fair chance in this game.

Is it possible to send enough units to France to crush the invaders there or is the Allied airforce so strong so it's impossible. If the latter then it's maybe better to start manning the Siegfried line with strong units so the Allies can't get through there. It should be able to hold Paris through the 1944 winter, but it will probably fall in March 1944. Then the Allies will be at the Rhine in the Summer of 1944.

[Morris]

When Joerock now has got ashore in France in 1943 and have his forces supplied then his forces will be knocking at the German border in no time. The Russians have recovered really fast and soon they will be in 1944 with a position almost as good as in the real war.

I think the Axis is now doomed. The invasion of France should not have been allowed to happen as early as 1943. I feel that the Axis have maybe put too much effort on Sicily. The units there could have been very valuable in France now. The defense of Sicily was very good, but now holding Sicily is not so important for the Axis.

It's hard to tell about Russia. At least the Russians are still a bit behind schedule, but they are catching fast. So without the Allies taking Brest in 1943 then the Axis would have had a fair chance in this game.

Is it possible to send enough units to France to crush the invaders there or is the Allied airforce so strong so it's impossible. If the latter then it's maybe better to start manning the Siegfried line with strong units so the Allies can't get through there. It should be able to hold Paris through the 1944 winter, but it will probably fall in March 1944. Then the Allies will be at the Rhine in the Summer of 1944.

Yes sir ! thanks for your suggestion . but it will be too difficult for Axis if Italy dead now . So even if France do need the units , but I can't retreat the units in Sicily. Regarding to France , We will probably have to retreat to the fortress line to defence in 1944 .But then Russian will be at the gate of Berlin !At present the Allies airforce is very strong but their landing did not depend on them .

[Morris]

Oct 30th 1943

It is still fair in the east . So Russians continue rush to the west . more cites fall . In the west , tons of Allies troops landing . We only have Italians in front of them . But only one thing is good , It is mud in France now .

In Med , it is still quiet , I think they are waiting for the bad weather to cut off my FTR's power & launch the attack .