Vokt (Axis) vs jjdenver (Allies) (deleted AAR)

[Cybvep]

I think that the western Allies are making too much progress in 1943 in this game. This will hurt you. On the other hand, the Soviet steamroller doesn't look so strong - if you manage to destroy some of their heavy units, you should get some turns of respite.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

Vokt is paying the price for losing Italy too early. Sicily is a territory you have to fight for. That means having German units there. A German SS mech with a +1 defense leader in Messina would certainly help. A German armor unit between Palermo and Messina can help too. To fight for Sicily you need air parity and that means 3-4 fighter units and some tactical bombers in the area.

It's usually a good idea to keep a strategic reserve in Germany, France or Italy that can be railed to the section the Allies threaten in just 1 turn. Station the air units so they can rebase to either France or Italy in 1 turn.
This way you can quickly respond to any Allied operations.

Many Axis players invest too heavily into Russia because Russia is the most dangerous opponent.

The western Allies usually get a too simple life in GS games and that comes back to bite the Axis player. So with the new sub warfare rules in GS v2.2 we hope that this will make the Allied player think more about the naval warfare and not only about how to invade France or Italy. Testing will tell how that will turn out. Naval warfare will also be interesting for the Axis. Putting at least 2 labs in submarines it probably a good investment. The higher submarine tech the higher the evasion chance and lower the detection chance from sweeps.

[Cybvep]

I think that some investment in subs is already a good idea . You don't want the Allies to get too many PPs too early. BTW I think that Vokt has actually been quite successful in the Atlantic so far.

I agree about Italy. Yeah, sure, the Germans get additional PPs, but they also have to cover more territory on their own, which hurts so early on.

[Vokt]

[Cybvep]

Fighters are crucial for the Axis survival, so if you have the resources to build more, you should do it. However, I fear that without Italy, you will soon find that you have to spent much MP and many PPs on infantry just to cover all possible fronts.

[Vokt]

Turn 64. February 12, 1943

[Vokt]

Turn 65. March 4, 1943

[Rouminet]

Just a small word to say that i am following this AAR from the beginning with great interest and pleasure.
Thanks for it.

[Cybvep]

Wow, this got out of hand fast. It looks like the Axis is in big trouble now. Too many lost units and too much territory to cover. Virtually no reserves - most of the occupied cities are not even guarded. You also have a backlog of air repairs... This is very bad.

The Soviets wisely concentrated their heavy units in one place and are making good progress. Southern Italy is maybe not a big problem, but Florence and Marseilles will be a thorn in your side. Also, I'm sure that the Allied player will land in France soon. Time to shorten the frontline wherever possible, I think. Not that you have much of a choice.

[Vokt]

Turn 66. March 24, 1943

[Vokt]

[Cybvep]

I think that it's better to lose some territory a bit earlier than to lose more units.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I think this game is just one example of the challenge when playing the Axis. When you lose the initiative things can go ugly very fast.

The best Axis players I have seen (Joerock etc.) are not afraid to give ground in the winter turns to save units from destruction. Usually they recover the lost ground in the next spring offensive.

The Axis player also needs to remember that he doesn't have to be on the offensive to win the game. From 1943 I often see the Axis player playing a wait and see game where he just nibbles at easy targets and keeps his best units in the second line so he can punish enemy counter attacks.

The Luftwaffe is the key to winning as the Axis. The tactical bombers can hurt the Russian mechs and armor BEFORE they even reach the front line. Once those units are depleted they can be finished off by Axis units.

It's also important to not let Russia get away with units that promote to guards status. When they get to guards status you should do whatever you can to finish them off before they can be retreated to safety and repaired.

[Morris]

I think this game is just one example of the challenge when playing the Axis. When you lose the initiative things can go ugly very fast.

The best Axis players I have seen (Joerock etc.) are not afraid to give ground in the winter turns to save units from destruction. Usually they recover the lost ground in the next spring offensive.

The Axis player also needs to remember that he doesn't have to be on the offensive to win the game. From 1943 I often see the Axis player playing a wait and see game where he just nibbles at easy targets and keeps his best units in the second line so he can punish enemy counter attacks.

The Luftwaffe is the key to winning as the Axis. The tactical bombers can hurt the Russian mechs and armor BEFORE they even reach the front line. Once those units are depleted they can be finished off by Axis units.

It's also important to not let Russia get away with units that promote to guards status. When they get to guards status you should do whatever you can to finish them off before they can be retreated to safety and repaired.

Quite professional advice ! It is quite useful . But It is easy to learn but difficult to execute unless you play as well as Joe

[Vokt]

Turn 67. April 13, 1943

[Vokt]

I think this game is just one example of the challenge when playing the Axis. When you lose the initiative things can go ugly very fast.

The best Axis players I have seen (Joerock etc.) are not afraid to give ground in the winter turns to save units from destruction. Usually they recover the lost ground in the next spring offensive.

I use to give ground and did so in 1941-42 soviet winter offensive but if things were have done correctly in summer 1941 (taking Rostov and Voronezh) that withdrawal should have been from Volga to Donets instead so now in 1942-43 I would have been making an also ordered retreat from Donets to Dnepr with the summer axis 1943 campaign still kind of a challenge for the soviets.

[Vokt]

Turn 68. May 3, 1943

[Vokt]

Turn 69. May 23, 1943

[Cybvep]

I'm wondering where would you be now if you kept two German units in Sicily. I still believe that losing Italy early has been your greatest failure so far. Things looked ok in 1941 and during most of 1942. Not perfect, because Barbarossa wasn't decisive enough, but ok. However, Italy surrendered in late 1942 and this is far, far too early, German PP boost notwithstanding.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

The battles near the Dnepr simulates the German Kursk offensive in 1943 in the real war. The Soviets suffer heavily, but so do the Axis units. When the smoke has settled I think the Russians will remain dominant and can resume the offensive late 1943. Then it will be race for Berlin in time to win the war.

It's interesting to see that the Axis can still bite despite having lost Italy and been harassed during the Russian 1942 winter offensive.