Slitherine

Turn 60. November 24, 1942 Axis.

I thought the first turn of severe winter in Russia for the axis would be a good time to give a status update of the game. German forces in France were able, for the most part, to block allied invasions transports. Due to oversights on my part, the AI was able to land two corps at separated times in 1942 but both corps were destroyed on the very next axis turn. The issue that AI is having is that it doesn't have enough air and doesn't concentrated what it has to try to land and expand a beachhead. It's winter now in France so coastal units; especially corps, have been release for anti-partisan operations.

I did have to carefully manage axis oil in 1942. At one point it got down to 48 points at the end of the July 17, 1942 turn. However; oil stockpiles were greatly increase and the impact of oil greatly reduced by the capture of Russian and middle eastern oil fields. As you can see AGS and middle eastern axis forces are close to linking up.

I will consider anything less of total victory in Russia as a lost. AGN and AGC will continue to hold throughout the '42/'43 severe winter; however, once the weather clears their objectives; respectively, are Leningrad and Moscow. Then, in 1944 the whole focus for the Russian front will be the capture of Omsk and the total defeat of Russia.

Turn 65. March 4, 1942 Axis.

Turn 66. March 24, 1943. Start of turn just after the AI moved.

Oh, you gotta love the AI. Can you imagine how much they're spending in extra transport costs? *cringes* Your oil levels have certainly recovered. I have faith you can still knock Russia out of the war since your production will be very high indeed after Leningrad and Moscow fall.

Turn 80. December 29, 1943 Axis. Year End Report on the state of the axis war effort.

Well I missed my '43 objectives for capturing Leningrad, Sevastopol and Moscow. However; I've isolated all three cities and in and around Leningrad and Moscow I've pocketed and destroyed significant Russian forces. Combat in and around Leningrad and Moscow has been fierce for all of '43 and will now only come to a stop with severe winter about to set in. Note that the axis have not, and will not, attack Leningrad from the north. All of this combat has cost the Germans a lot of steps and the out right loss of 3 or 4 infantry corps and the 1st SS Panzer corps. The tank corps played a significant role in the closing and reduction of the Moscow pocket.

Also, as you can see oil is not an issue. The axis start will over 1100 oil points per turn. So during the winter I'm going to build up armor, air and mech forces for the final push on Omsk.

joerock22 wrote:Oh, you gotta love the AI. Can you imagine how much they're spending in extra transport costs? *cringes* Your oil levels have certainly recovered. I have faith you can still knock Russia out of the war since your production will be very high indeed after Leningrad and Moscow fall.

Joe, thanks for following. As you can see in my last post I'm rolling in oil. It's definitely a change to go from having to very tightly manage oil with it dipping down to around 50 points to having over 1100 oil points per turn.

Playing against the AI is "easy" compared to playing against a human opponent. While the AI does occasionally surprise me it's not very challenging strategically. What I'm finding amazing is how players like you, Borger, Neil and Max can pull off the sort of stuff against human opponents that I'm finding a bit challenging against the AI. While I think I have a very good chance for a total defeat of Russia I'm not 100% confidence in that and this is a game against the AI! How do you guys pull something like this off against human opponents?

Turn 81. January 18, 1944 Axis. Moscow Falls!

The AI isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Instead of holding in Moscow it must of "panic" and instead attack out of Moscow and seriously putting the city at risk even on the first turn of severe winter. And, being the unashamed player that I am I jumped on this folly by the AI and managed, just barely, to capture Moscow.

Turn 88. June 6, 1944 Axis.

With the fall of Basra (finally!) and this being the historical game date of D-day I thought I'd post a few quick updates. In the west the axis continue to hold off the western allied landing forces for 2-years now. In the east, the final offensive to knock Russia out of the war is underway.

Turn 93. September 14, 1944 Axis. Russia is Conquered.

In another brilliant defensive tactical move the AI attacks out of Omsk and gives the city and Russia. This surrender will clear the board in Russia; that is, the partisans active will surrender too. However; new partisans will continue to pop up so a modest force will have to be kept in place to deal with them.

AI Concedes. Axis Ultimate Victory

I just got a message from the AI wishing to concede and I've accepted.

With Russia out and the transfer of massive air and land forces to France not only will the large allied invasion fleet that's been park off the coast of France for the better part of 2-years will not get ashore; but it will get annihilated by the axis air once it gets there.

By the way, here's my final scorecard.

Congrats!

It was real interesting to follow, thanks a lot.

Thank you for sharing, but next time you should play more historically and get yourself beaten by the Allies

Lexmanbis wrote:Congrats!

It was real interesting to follow, thanks a lot.

Thanks you for following it!

zechi wrote:Thank you for sharing, but next time you should play more historically and get yourself beaten by the Allies

Yikes! I was also playing the axis against Neil and he was handing my head to me. I'm afraid the AI was taking the brunt of my frustrations from that game.

Wow. Thanks for posting this. I can't believe I just found this great game. I have a lot of playing ahead of me!

Well done Ronnie and thanks for pointing me to this AAR. It was both educational and entertaining. Now its up to me try it again and see how I can do.

Thanks for another fun AAR.

Now, if you think the AI is incompetent playing the Allies, just try playing against the computer as Axis. "Incompetent" would be a high compliment.