Potzblitz V26.01 OCT 26th 2025

[Robotron]

@Umeue & Munt: Your match won't last long because of missing variables in 15.1 that are called by 15.2. Better start again.

@Umeu: You are right about Goeben: the problem is that newly spawned units can't move on the same turn. I will edit this to make Goeben appear more eastward on turn 3.

@Munt: How early? Italy can enter on turn 2 if Entente is very unlucky and Ottomans can enter as early as turn 7. Both chances are very small because early Ottomans/Italians make a BIG difference to the game (and most Entente players rage-quit the game if Italy joins CP ).

[Umeu]

yeah probably. From the start, the replay shows units only damaged, but then my opening board shows units destroyed or totally unharmed XD but let's call it an experiment...

I think the Italians do enter war a bit late in most of my games vs AI. like somewhere in 1916, rather than 1915. Romania very often joins in 1915, at least when I'm CP. Turkey usually enters around the historical frame, aka late 1914 or very early 1915. Bulgaria is hit or miss.

[Robotron]

If Italians join late in your games then it's likely because you do better than historical. Would you like me to make the game harder so you don't achieve a better than historical outcome in 1914 or modify the Italian alignment changes so they move more easily towards Entente regardless of what happens on the map?

[Umeu]

If Italians join late in your games then it's likely because you do better than historical. Would you like me to make the game harder so you don't achieve a better than historical outcome in 1914 or modify the Italian alignment changes so they move more easily towards Entente regardless of what happens on the map?

It was only an observation. I'm not basing any conclusions on it just yet, especially since it's mostly vs AI, and not vs people.

It might be ok to tweak the italian war entry a bit from an historical perspective, but game balance wise, it's fine if Italy joins in 1916 rather than 1915, as has been the case in most of my games, regardless of being Entente or CP. Game balance wise, Italy does seem to join the winning side usually or not at all (more frequently this happens when I'm CP, Italy just not joining any side, as long as I play around the colonial uprising events), which might be a bit much, as historically, Italy was a bit of a liability for the Entente, but in the game, they aren't really. They have quite a bit of PP coming in, and their narrow front is reasonably easy to hold, even with Cadorna running amok every few turns. Cadorna is also not as big of a problem when Italy joins CP compared to Entente. All of this said, I think Italy's war entry is in a pretty decent spot.

For me, the most problematic one is still the Romanian one, but you mentioned that you made some more changes already, so I'm just waiting to see how those play out

[Robotron]

It's Friday the 13th what a perfect date to release the new version just in time before anybody decides to defect to Strategic Command WW1...
here it is: V17
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hThEqr ... bspjt/view

Changes made as far as I can remember at the moment:

- British dreadnoughts delivered to Turkey will anger Italy a bit more (3 points), so watch out for instant Italian DOW on Entente if Italy starts with a VERY pro CP stance
- British dreadnoughts delivered to Turkey will not reliably delay Ottoman war entry as much as before (was 10 -15 points, now 5-15)
- Goeben battlecruiser spawns on a random hex in a 4 hex radius around Straits of Messina if played on turn 3 in multiplayer
- raised chance for "Diplomatic Poker" to succeed from 65 to 75%
- removed Austrian armoured train, it will be spawned if "Organize Defense of Galicia" was played
- "Organize Defense of Galicia" and "Schlieffen's Legacy" exclude each other, so you can't play both in the same match. Will be auto-discarded in the singleplayer Schlieffen scenario.
- "Full Russian Mobilization" added to Entente event pool if "Organize Defense of Galicia" is played. Full mobilization spawns 3 more Russian Army Corps around Lodz
- added decision event for "Neutrality broken" event. Either occupy just Luxembourg for +1 diplo point per round or also occupy Dutch province of Limburg for additional 3 turn combat bonus
- "Austrian Siege Howitzers" will last until all three Belgian fortresses are taken, they will not work on French fortresses
- if General Prittwitz retreats over the Vistula then Hindenburg will not be automatically unlocked anymore
- added decision event for "US troops leave Vera Cruz": decide whether the convoy will go to Britain or France.
- "British Expeditionary Force" will spawn in French port hexes if possible. Only if Calais, Le Havre and Cherbourg ports are occupied it will spawn in Britain.
- "German War Atrocities" will not cause total loss of CP diplomatic points but only 1-2 points per German unit in Belgium
- "For the Fatherland" German experience bonus raised to 50% at 1 manpower loss per attack
- "Give Crown Prince Army Command" unlocks on turn 5 if a leaderless Army Corps is placed in a radius of 2 hexes around Strasbourg
- "Bulgarian Mobilization" unlocked earlier
- "Cede Transylvania" will only become available once Italy has joined either alliance and either Paris or Warsaw are captured by CP
- made "Serbian Typhoid Epedemic" less severe but still nasty
- Enver Pasha's troops will spawn at half strength
- "Gott strafe England (Zeps, Bombers)" German bombing of Britain bonus diplo points reduced to 1 per bombing attack
- "Gott strafe England (Submarines)" German submarine sinking convoy bonus diplo points reduced to 3
- reduced combat bonus for "German Offensive in the East"
- "Chinese Labour Corps" may cause 1 collapse point on either France or Britain, whichever has the lower morale
- INFLUENCE spent on neutrals to make them join your alliance is partially returned once they join
- morale changes are now immediately updated on the resource panel just like any other resources: before you had to wait for the next turn to see the changes
- raised chance for "Muddy Weather" events to 85% for once per year
- Serbian navy removed
- shuffled around some PP for major nations, current maximum income is now:

France: 145 (reached on turn 7)
Britain: 185 (reached on turn 11)
Russia: 210 (reached on turn 16)

Germany: 220 (reached on turn 5)
Austria: 125 (reached on turn 7)
Turkey: 110 (reached on turn 14)

Italy: 110 (starts at maximum)


- fixed all reported bugs
- PDF updated

to do: movement penalty for units during "Muddy Weather" event.

[Umeu]

haha amazing! Great changes imo. Sad to see the armored train go, but it's justified probably. I like the atrocities change, very elegant. Change to British dreadnoughts is interesting. I wonder if it's worth playing when Italy is pro-CP.

Why did you change Hindenburg unlocking? Also, what are the requirements for getting Fatherland event? Also, did the PP increase or decrease for these factions?

Keen to play a game with anyone who wants to.

And ofc thanks to Mr. Nice Guy!

[Robotron]

I disabled the unlocking of Hindenburg in case of Prittwitz's retreat because it meant killing two birds with one stone for CP: stopping the morale drain for Russians on German hexes and unlocking Hindenburg for no diplomatic point cost. Especially in the Schlieffen scenario this felt too "gamey" for me because here Prittwitz's retreat does not even cause a morale penalty.

Requirement for "For the Fatherland": at least 1 newly built German unit was deployed both in the west and in the east and the "Wave of Patriotism" event was played.

PP change from V15.2 to V17:

France: +5
Britain: +3
Russia: +4 (but delayed time needed until 100% PP reached)


Germany: -
Austria: +5
Turkey: -1

Italy: -1

[Umeu]

yeah, makes sense. Though perhaps in the Schlieffen scenario, then Prittwitz should not be dismissed when he retreats if Hindenburg is not yet unlocked, as his retreat was part of the Schlieffen plan and so he's not disobeying orders.

Btw, the Austrian Howitzer event works in the opening stages of the game, but it stopped working at some point, despite Antwerp not having fallen yet.

AutoSave.rar

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This turn, but also the previous turn, using the artillery on Antwerp did not consume any Austrian ammo, despite having plenty.

it worked on Liege in t3. I didn't need it for Namur. I'll test it some more maybe.

Edit: the bonus seems to work only for 2 forts. Didn't test if the order matters, but in a new game, I got the AH bonus for first 2 forts, but not 3rd.

[Robotron]

Made a note of the Howitzer event but I'll wait with the fix until you find some more serious issues because it's quite annoying to upload a new version only to see another issue has been reported in the meantime.

[Umeu]

Made a note of the Howitzer event but I'll wait with the fix until you find some more serious issues because it's quite annoying to upload a new version only to see another issue has been reported in the meantime.

haha we'll see so far most things are smooth. Hopefully will find some MP players soon!

One thing that just popped into my mind, regarding Austrian Howitzers. Currently the event is only useful for Schlieffen (original or Moltke's) but it used to be useful for Rupprecht's plan as well. Is it possible to make the event affect French fortresses when you go Rupprecht? Or alternatively, remove it from the pool if Plan Rupprecht is chosen?

Btw, what does the Sinking HMS Hampshire do now? You said you changed it but the manual section is still the same as before.

Another condition for AH defense plans not mentioned in PDF seems to be "Serbian Ultimatum not played / Serbia not surrendered"

Sometimes, not sure what causes it, when you play Schlieffen-Moltke, at the start of 2nd turn, it gives you the Ostmars achievement choice. Had this happen in 15.1/2 as well. But it's rare. Might be caused by reloading. Or playing Ostmars before it.

ctgw.rar

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Ps: is it possible to get neutrals like Norway or Denmark into the war, as they don't have a DoW event like Sweden, Netherlands or Switzerland do.

[Robotron]

Edited Prittwitz to not being removed after retreating from East Prussia in Schlieffen scenario.

Added AH Howitzers for Rupprecht scenario, will also work against Swiss fortresses.

HMS Hampshire sunk damages British LightCruiser and causes morale loss. Britain suffers collapse point after failed moral test.

Made "Aufmarsch Ost" decision event foolproof to reloaditis.

You are right about Serbian surrender preventing AH Defense Planning.

[Umeu]

Cool! Not sure if I should keep making new posts, or just compile it all in one. But found another.

Moltke is missing from my Moltke-Schlieffen start. I chose neutrals invaded, and option 2 (invade Netherlands as well), but the Dutch hex was unoccupied (whereas when I chose this option earlier, it was occupied by an army corps). Luxembourg was occupied by Moltkes army corp, but Moltke himself is not in the game. Suffered a mental breakdown already, it seems. Mental Moltke Missing...

MentalMoltkeMissing.rar

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Has neutrals invaded been removed from Schlieffen? I suppose in MP this event might still be worth it if a turn 2 Schlieffen plan choice doesn't guarantee the French Army Surprised, and the turn 3 attack bonus (is it only vs Belgian and French troops, or also vs Russian? As there is a possibility for Germany to fight Russia on t3 when you also choose Serbian Ultimatum successfully.)

Prittwitz's command radius got reduced by 1. WAD?

"weird" Goeben spawn in t4.

weirdgoebenspawn.rar

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[Robotron]

Looks like leaders get deleted when a unit is moved via warp-technology...that's a new one! But easily fixed.

But I don't see what you mean by the the Dutch hex being unoccupied? In the savegame you provided there's an Army Corps on it. *confused*

"Violation of Neutrality" is not available in Schlieffen scenario because Schlieffen automatically achieves surprise - the PDF is obsolete about this.
Combat bonus for "Violation of Neutrality" is of course limited to the west.

Prittwitz commande range is 2 WAD.

About Goeben on turn 4: internal value for this event says it was played on turn 4. Are you sure you played it earlier or what is the problem?

[Umeu]

Looks like leaders get deleted when a unit is moved via warp-technology...that's a new one! But easily fixed.

But I don't see what you mean by the the Dutch hex being unoccupied? In the savegame you provided there's an Army Corps on it. *confused*

"Neutrality broken" is not available in Schlieffen scenario because Schlieffen automatically achieves surprise - the PDF is obsolete about this.

Prittwitz commande range is 2 WAD.

About Goeben on turn 4: no clue yet.

Hmm, strange. In my game, the hex is empty in that game I linked lol.
https://img.onl/SuJ4lr

it's there in another game:
https://img.onl/wXehr9

Galieni still triggers weirdly high entrenchment across the entire French line. I know you upped barbed wire's value, but it still seems to be some form of multiplication rather than addition. If it's WAD, then it might need some tweaking, as Galieni event just shuts down any German advance.

Entrenchmentbug.rar

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About Goeben on turn 4: internal value for this event says it was played on turn 4. Are you sure you played it earlier or what is the problem?

Yeah, it was played t4. I just have never seen it spawn there. And I thought that it would spawn further into the med if you play the event later, but maybe that's only in MP. Your explanation did mention MP, but also mentions on t3, so not sure if that means that if you play this event t4, then it can spawn in a bad position again.

[Robotron]

No clue how that empty Dutch hex happened, I could not reproduce it, maybe some freak hiccup in some internal table.

About Gallieni: multiplication is the correct way to determine entrenchment. I'll have the event discarded if not played before first German attack on Paris was made.

About Goeben on turn 4: naval AI is unable to stop the Goeben anyway so no problem in singleplayer. In MP it will also spawn around Straits of Messina on turn 4.

[Umeu]

Yeah, strange, I'll keep an eye on it if it happens again.

Don't know if it matters too much if Gallieni is discarded before Paris is attacked, it's almost impossible to get close enough to Paris in 1 turn so that the Entente can't play Gallieni. 12 entrenchment so early is just really strong. And on top of that, Gallieni himself gives +4 defense, effectively shutting down the entire German push with 1 event (which makes you wonder why you'd get BEF or other events at all). In the savegame I linked, the army corps was down to 3 strength due to spawning on the Outrance turn (I think?) and still I had to blast it with arty and 3 full strength corps or 2 coprs + arty to destroy it... Even worse, the reserve corps in Reims won't die despite being attacked by 3-4 crack German troops. Just because of the entrenchment value.
I know you want Paris to be hard to take, and I agree with that, but I think it shouldn't come down to playing or not playing 1 event. (Is there a historical association between Gallieni and barbed wire btw? Just asking out of curiousity.)

Something else I noticed, Belgium now sometimes spawns a reserve corps after I take Brussels in t3. Probably just AI trickery, but they didn't use to do that before.

belgianreserve.rar

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[Robotron]

I invite you to come up with a better mechanic to make taking Paris in 1914 vs AI a hard nut to crack.

About the Belgian Reserve Corps: yes, the AI has an "Instant Deploy" function that breaks all rules, for once that's not my fault. ;P

[Umeu]

I invite you to come up with a better mechanic to make taking Paris in 1914 vs AI a hard nut to crack.

I'm not that concerned about the AI when it comes to that event. Vs AI it's fine, it makes it a lot harder to get it before winter 1914, but it's not impossible. However, vs a player who actually will relocate their army corps from the Belfort-Verdun line towards Paris, I don't see how you can break 12 entrenchment. Like I said, I already couldn't kill 1 reserve corps (under Joffre general's sphere, not even gallieni btw) while it was surrounded by 5 crack german troops.

About the Belgian Reserve Corps: yes, the AI has an "Instant Deploy" function that breaks all rules, for once that's not my fault. ;P

haha not blaming you! just trying to help. I know about that instant deploy. Just meant that I have never seen the Belgian AI do this before in 15.1 or 15.2

[Robotron]

Then of course the whole dispute we had is moot as Gallieni's entrenchment bonus is only applied in singleplayer.

[Umeu]

Then of course the whole dispute we had is moot as Gallieni's entrenchment bonus is only applied in singleplayer.

lol fair enough!

so for it's like this:
Unlocks French General Gallieni.
Unlocks “Barbed Wire” tech for France. (only in SP)
Unlocks “Industrial Warfare” tech for France if “Marne Taxis” has occurred before
A half strength Army Corps will spawn near Paris at the start of the next game turn

In that case, I've said nothing!