rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
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- composer99
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rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
So, further to Ronnie's (aka rkr1958) last "scripted" game, he decided to abandon it in favour of a multiplayer game.
Right now he's the Axis versus me as the Allies. We might have a third player join us, assuming we can talk him into getting the same app we're using for chat.
This thread is just for the Allies, so Ronnie won't be poking his head in here, but the rest of you can get an idea of what I'm thinking during the game, the Allied planning, and how I react to events in the game.
Setup
Pictures
Let's start with some pictures and notes showing the Allied setup.
US Setup
Nothing special here. Nimitz and the guns are set up to go to the Pacific - the ART to support operations, the pink AT gun to help defend a key hex or two.
USSR Setup
Far East: This setup is hopefully going to keep the Japanese honest. If Ronnie sends Terauchi and a few units into China to really try to stick it to the Chinese, then I'll probably invade Manchuria to distract him. Otherwise, I'll eventually send Zhukov west and replace Siberians with crappier normal infantry to send them west, too.
Europe: Evenly split between north and south of the Pripets.
Arctic: Submarines start in Murmansk for use once the USSR is at war - I'm hoping to be sneaky with them.
China Setup
Quite a bit more aggressive than the setup in my AAR game, although I still leave Changsha empty.
Commonwealth Setup
Nothing too fancy here, although I already regret not putting the LND2 in reserve. The freely-placed INF corps and gun both go to Egypt.
France Setup
Nothing too fancy here, although with the Italians set up for aggression in the Med, I don't expect to bring home units from Algeria or Syria.
Right now he's the Axis versus me as the Allies. We might have a third player join us, assuming we can talk him into getting the same app we're using for chat.
This thread is just for the Allies, so Ronnie won't be poking his head in here, but the rest of you can get an idea of what I'm thinking during the game, the Allied planning, and how I react to events in the game.
Setup
Pictures
Let's start with some pictures and notes showing the Allied setup.
US Setup
Nothing special here. Nimitz and the guns are set up to go to the Pacific - the ART to support operations, the pink AT gun to help defend a key hex or two.
USSR Setup
Far East: This setup is hopefully going to keep the Japanese honest. If Ronnie sends Terauchi and a few units into China to really try to stick it to the Chinese, then I'll probably invade Manchuria to distract him. Otherwise, I'll eventually send Zhukov west and replace Siberians with crappier normal infantry to send them west, too.
Europe: Evenly split between north and south of the Pripets.
Arctic: Submarines start in Murmansk for use once the USSR is at war - I'm hoping to be sneaky with them.
China Setup
Quite a bit more aggressive than the setup in my AAR game, although I still leave Changsha empty.
Commonwealth Setup
Nothing too fancy here, although I already regret not putting the LND2 in reserve. The freely-placed INF corps and gun both go to Egypt.
France Setup
Nothing too fancy here, although with the Italians set up for aggression in the Med, I don't expect to bring home units from Algeria or Syria.
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~ Composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Setup
Allied Strategy
The overall Allied strategy in the early game is pretty simple:
- React to Axis moves and attempt to blunt them
- Take advantage of openings or opportunities
- Seize the initiative in such theatres of war where this can be done (I'm especially thinking of East and North Africa against the Italians).
USA Strategy
Manage US entry, build up defences on the US Pacific possessions, and build up forces for the following assumed turns of entry into the war:
Pacific Theatre - Nov/Dec 1941 or Jan/Feb 1942. Goal is to have the ability to act quickly against remote targets such as the Marshalls, and to base the fleet to threaten both the central Japanese perimeter (Truk/Rabaul) or the south (NEI) early on.
Europe - Mar/Apr or May/Jun 1942. Goal is to have the ability to invade two hexes somewhere in Europe with some limited additional support. At that point I'm counting on the British to have the boots on the ground.
USSR Strategy
I hinted at the USSR strategy in the setup post, but here's the rest of it for the early game. I'm assuming a 1941 Barbarossa.
Manchuria - As described previously, I'll invade if the Japanese deplete their defences. Otherwise, I'll try to keep them honest, while bringing Zhukov and Siberians west to Europe.
Persia - In the mid-game, I'd like to invade Persia, in conjunction with the Commonwealth, much as the USSR and British did in the actual war. My motive is to give the CW control of all the Persian oil. (In my solo game, the Western Allies were very nearly running into oil shortages before their synth oil came online, so I want to get more oil this game to avoid that situation.)
Europe - Hold off the German onslaught, and especially try to keep them from crossing the Caucasus passes and bringing Turkey into the war.
China Strategy
Just survive, and hope that weather, turn length, and Japanese die rolls go my way. Hopefully I can keep Kunming and the Burma Road so as to have access to oil and lending in the mid and late game.
Commonwealth & French Strategy
Europe - Try to waste enough of Germany's time that France falls late in 1940. Maybe a landing in Denmark to make a nuisance of myself in the early or mid game.
Africa & Middle East - Make sure French North Africa either goes Vichy or stays in Allied hands. I don't want to be futzing around fighting in Algeria in 1942. Also make sure Egypt stays in Allied hands. Clean out the Italians in East Africa - Ronnie's set up to try and make a nuisance of himself, which I don't want. Finally, as hinted at in the USSR strategy, I intend during the mid-game to take the Middle East oil in Iraq, Persia, and maybe even Saudi Arabia.
Italy & the Med - I want to be contesting the Med during the early and mid game, possibly even fighting in Sardinia.
Allied Strategy
The overall Allied strategy in the early game is pretty simple:
- React to Axis moves and attempt to blunt them
- Take advantage of openings or opportunities
- Seize the initiative in such theatres of war where this can be done (I'm especially thinking of East and North Africa against the Italians).
USA Strategy
Manage US entry, build up defences on the US Pacific possessions, and build up forces for the following assumed turns of entry into the war:
Pacific Theatre - Nov/Dec 1941 or Jan/Feb 1942. Goal is to have the ability to act quickly against remote targets such as the Marshalls, and to base the fleet to threaten both the central Japanese perimeter (Truk/Rabaul) or the south (NEI) early on.
Europe - Mar/Apr or May/Jun 1942. Goal is to have the ability to invade two hexes somewhere in Europe with some limited additional support. At that point I'm counting on the British to have the boots on the ground.
USSR Strategy
I hinted at the USSR strategy in the setup post, but here's the rest of it for the early game. I'm assuming a 1941 Barbarossa.
Manchuria - As described previously, I'll invade if the Japanese deplete their defences. Otherwise, I'll try to keep them honest, while bringing Zhukov and Siberians west to Europe.
Persia - In the mid-game, I'd like to invade Persia, in conjunction with the Commonwealth, much as the USSR and British did in the actual war. My motive is to give the CW control of all the Persian oil. (In my solo game, the Western Allies were very nearly running into oil shortages before their synth oil came online, so I want to get more oil this game to avoid that situation.)
Europe - Hold off the German onslaught, and especially try to keep them from crossing the Caucasus passes and bringing Turkey into the war.
China Strategy
Just survive, and hope that weather, turn length, and Japanese die rolls go my way. Hopefully I can keep Kunming and the Burma Road so as to have access to oil and lending in the mid and late game.
Commonwealth & French Strategy
Europe - Try to waste enough of Germany's time that France falls late in 1940. Maybe a landing in Denmark to make a nuisance of myself in the early or mid game.
Africa & Middle East - Make sure French North Africa either goes Vichy or stays in Allied hands. I don't want to be futzing around fighting in Algeria in 1942. Also make sure Egypt stays in Allied hands. Clean out the Italians in East Africa - Ronnie's set up to try and make a nuisance of himself, which I don't want. Finally, as hinted at in the USSR strategy, I intend during the mid-game to take the Middle East oil in Iraq, Persia, and maybe even Saudi Arabia.
Italy & the Med - I want to be contesting the Med during the early and mid game, possibly even fighting in Sardinia.
~ Composer99
RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
It will be fun following this. [:)] [&o]
Any thoughts on the options played with?
And do you have any house rules in play?
Any thoughts on the options played with?
And do you have any house rules in play?
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett
- Mayhemizer_slith
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Interesting to see how this goes!
If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
-Murphy's war law
-Murphy's war law
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
ORIGINAL: Orm
It will be fun following this. [:)] [&o]
Any thoughts on the options played with?
And do you have any house rules in play?
Good questions!
The optional rules are in the embedded screen capture.
Of note, at least for me, are the following:
(1) We are playing with railroad movement
(2) We are playing with extended game length
(3) We are playing with the "Break the Nazi-Soviet Pact"
In the solitaire game I'm posting an AAR for, I'm playing with Food in Flames, which we aren't in this game. But I wouldn't normally try to play with that option - save as a quid pro quo for allowing, say, No ZoC on Surprise.
As for house rules, we're house ruling a Soviet-Japanese forced peace (the not-yet-implemented optional rule).
It shan't have much effect on Japan, but as the USSR I will need to be careful if we ever make use of it unless I'm already at war with Germany.
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~ Composer99
RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Glad you finally bought the game composer!! Also good to see Ronnie finally take the multiplayer plunge. Subscribed [:)].
Now Maitland, now's your time!
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
- composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Well, one impulse in, and I'm already paying for not being used to how the railway movement bonus optional works. Lost a Polish air unit to overruns. Hopefully that'll learn me that lesson before Barbarossa starts.
~ Composer99
- Mayhemizer_slith
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
You will learn in France. I have problems in my current game, first ever without railway movement optional...
If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
-Murphy's war law
-Murphy's war law
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
September/October 1939
Allied Impulse 2
Highlights:
- US loses two 3-value markers to the Anglo-French DoW and the occupation of Eastern Poland. Not great, but that's the volatile SO39 turn for you.
- Seeing potential Italian aggression in the cards (division sails to W Med, NAV in Sicily strategically placed to reach Marseilles if need be), France leaves the Béarn and TRS in port to maybe bait out a 1939 DOW.
- RAF Bomber Command catches the Kriegsmarine completely by surprise, sinking the Graf Spee and heavily damaging the Deutschland while they are in port in Kiel. You better believe the Government is crowing about that in the papers.
- French bombers try to bomb Cologne (2 factories and a saved oil) but fail miserably (I rolled a 1).
The embedded picture shows the Polish setup, followed by the situation in Poland at the end of my impulse. It's not looking good for the Poles, but I guess that's what you get when the entire German army is arrayed against them. (I don't think the Germans had a single land unit along the Western frontier, apart from a few garrison corps, until the reserves came down.)
Allied Impulse 2
Highlights:
- US loses two 3-value markers to the Anglo-French DoW and the occupation of Eastern Poland. Not great, but that's the volatile SO39 turn for you.
- Seeing potential Italian aggression in the cards (division sails to W Med, NAV in Sicily strategically placed to reach Marseilles if need be), France leaves the Béarn and TRS in port to maybe bait out a 1939 DOW.
- RAF Bomber Command catches the Kriegsmarine completely by surprise, sinking the Graf Spee and heavily damaging the Deutschland while they are in port in Kiel. You better believe the Government is crowing about that in the papers.
- French bombers try to bomb Cologne (2 factories and a saved oil) but fail miserably (I rolled a 1).
The embedded picture shows the Polish setup, followed by the situation in Poland at the end of my impulse. It's not looking good for the Poles, but I guess that's what you get when the entire German army is arrayed against them. (I don't think the Germans had a single land unit along the Western frontier, apart from a few garrison corps, until the reserves came down.)
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~ Composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
September/October 1939
Allied Impulse 2
I forgot to mention that Japan is going hard into China: Ronnie has sent HQ Terauchi, the 2nd Army, and the combined CAV corps into China. What is more, the Marines started on the islands that are part of the Japan home country and adjacent to Korea, so they could walk into Pusan on his impulse.
All that's to say it looks like a Soviet intervention in Manchuria is due. I think I'd like to wait until the Marines rail inland. I daresay I should also hold off until Yamamoto lands and presses inland, too, so I'm less likely to see Vladivostok get invaded right away.
Allied Impulse 2
I forgot to mention that Japan is going hard into China: Ronnie has sent HQ Terauchi, the 2nd Army, and the combined CAV corps into China. What is more, the Marines started on the islands that are part of the Japan home country and adjacent to Korea, so they could walk into Pusan on his impulse.
All that's to say it looks like a Soviet intervention in Manchuria is due. I think I'd like to wait until the Marines rail inland. I daresay I should also hold off until Yamamoto lands and presses inland, too, so I'm less likely to see Vladivostok get invaded right away.
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~ Composer99
RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Nice a (multiplayer) multiplayer game [:)].
I understood both sides take in advice from other players if they refrain from peeking in the opposing thread?
So here's one tip: If you plan to invade manchuria with Russia, always make sure Zhukov and some other units can retreat back to oppose the Wehrmacht in time. You want them to be operational against the Wehrmacht J/A '41 at the latest, while just 1 stack of land units in Wlady is most likely all Russia can Spare during '41 if you want to survive Barbarossa.
Unless Barbarossa is teethless some way, [:'(].
I understood both sides take in advice from other players if they refrain from peeking in the opposing thread?
So here's one tip: If you plan to invade manchuria with Russia, always make sure Zhukov and some other units can retreat back to oppose the Wehrmacht in time. You want them to be operational against the Wehrmacht J/A '41 at the latest, while just 1 stack of land units in Wlady is most likely all Russia can Spare during '41 if you want to survive Barbarossa.
Unless Barbarossa is teethless some way, [:'(].
- composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
No kidding! I saw two tabletop games end badly because the USSR over-committed to Manchuria back in the day.
~ Composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
High-level intel (a message from rkr1958 in our game chat) tells me that war is about to get underway in the Med. Here's hoping it generates a sweet, sweet 1939 US entry marker. Baby needs 50,000 aircraft produced annually... and a new pair of shoes!
~ Composer99
RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Great to see a new AAR. Thank you in advance. I plan to read this one as time permits. Since it's Christmas it's easy to read the first posts, great Christmas present.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
September/October 1939
Allied Impulse 4
War has indeed broken out in the Med. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but it's on.
Italy declared war on the Commonwealth and invaded Malta. Both submarines escaped, fortunately.
Less fortunately was that the US entry marker I drew wasn't that great. But an entry marker is an entry marker. Also, since Italy isn't at war with France, the French merchant shipping through the Med continues unhindered, although I have to take care when trying to fight the Italians so as not to put the convoys at risk. I don't have any plans to declare war on Italy with France at the moment, but that might change.
Allied Impulse 4
War has indeed broken out in the Med. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but it's on.
Italy declared war on the Commonwealth and invaded Malta. Both submarines escaped, fortunately.
Less fortunately was that the US entry marker I drew wasn't that great. But an entry marker is an entry marker. Also, since Italy isn't at war with France, the French merchant shipping through the Med continues unhindered, although I have to take care when trying to fight the Italians so as not to put the convoys at risk. I don't have any plans to declare war on Italy with France at the moment, but that might change.
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~ Composer99
RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
I remember a game where Italy had no navy left (at all) early '41.
All because Il Duce became a bit too agressive too early. Ofc, the French Navy was helping out quite well (and taking losses for the RN).
To DOW Italy or not to DOW Italy with France... That's the question [8D].
But ofc, how well the US Entry can have the French taking some initiative at the cost of Benito, that's the real question [;)].
All because Il Duce became a bit too agressive too early. Ofc, the French Navy was helping out quite well (and taking losses for the RN).
To DOW Italy or not to DOW Italy with France... That's the question [8D].
But ofc, how well the US Entry can have the French taking some initiative at the cost of Benito, that's the real question [;)].
- composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
To DoW or not to DoW, that is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the end to suffer
The shells and torpedoes of Axis fortune
Or to take arms against the seas of trouble
And by opposing end them.
Whether 'tis nobler in the end to suffer
The shells and torpedoes of Axis fortune
Or to take arms against the seas of trouble
And by opposing end them.
~ Composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
SO39 Allied Impulse 4
Highlights of this impulse:
The Royal Navy sailed cruisers to the 4-box of the E Med (joining the French already there) and the 3-box of the W Med. A French naval detachment joined the RN in the W Med.
The RN then successfully cleared out Axis merchant shipping in both the W and E Med, sinking cps in both cases, and aborting the Italian cruiser in the 4 box of the W Med. The Italian fighter in the 0 box remains since I couldn't clear that out.
The BEF debarked in Calais, and the last Polish unit, with nothing left to lose, bravely attacked nearby German formations for a -1.5 combat. Germany called a blitz, Poland made the fractional roll (for a net -1) and rolled a 12. Net combat result of 11 meant the Poles died to no effect. Oh, well, it was worth a shot.
Bad news: The war in Poland is over. Good news: 2 out of Italy's starting 7 cps are sunk, and 1 is stuck in the Red Sea (and hopefully will also soon be sunk).
Highlights of this impulse:
The Royal Navy sailed cruisers to the 4-box of the E Med (joining the French already there) and the 3-box of the W Med. A French naval detachment joined the RN in the W Med.
The RN then successfully cleared out Axis merchant shipping in both the W and E Med, sinking cps in both cases, and aborting the Italian cruiser in the 4 box of the W Med. The Italian fighter in the 0 box remains since I couldn't clear that out.
The BEF debarked in Calais, and the last Polish unit, with nothing left to lose, bravely attacked nearby German formations for a -1.5 combat. Germany called a blitz, Poland made the fractional roll (for a net -1) and rolled a 12. Net combat result of 11 meant the Poles died to no effect. Oh, well, it was worth a shot.
Bad news: The war in Poland is over. Good news: 2 out of Italy's starting 7 cps are sunk, and 1 is stuck in the Red Sea (and hopefully will also soon be sunk).
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~ Composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
SO39 Axis Impulse 5
Summary of the impulse: I get away with being sloppy and get punished for being careful.
Weather roll is a 5, so rain in Arctic and N Monsoon, but still fine where it matters.
Lots of naval action, as Ge and Ja call combined impulses and Italy calls a naval:
- Japan ships Yamamoto and divisions to sea where they debark in southern China, and ships a unit directly from Japan to Canton.
- German and Italian subs sail and try to find convoys in the North Atlantic and Cape St Vincent. Not only are the convoys undefended in their box, but I don't have anything in a high box - more's the pity because the Allied search rolls in those sea areas were 1 and 3, respectively, which could have done a number on the Axis' early strategic war.
- The bulk of the Italian fleet sails into the Eastern Med, where they surprise the picket of Royal Navy cruisers, sinking HMS Manchester and sending HMS Gloucester back to drydock (damaged).
Japan also strat bombs Chengtu, where I had foolishly placed the oil, but the Japanese bombs have no tangible effect.
On the plus side, the Italians are rather spread out in their boxes, so even though I have to consolidate a fleet in the 2-box to fight, I might be able to do some damage. Especially since, between the Italian convoy point and Gladiator plane on the HMS Glorious, I have just as much chance to find as the Italians do... and if they don't find, it's divide and conquer time, baby! (Most importantly, there are no Axis NAV that can fly to the 0 box, so no worries about the outdated biplanes having to fight more modern Italian craft.)
Summary of the impulse: I get away with being sloppy and get punished for being careful.
Weather roll is a 5, so rain in Arctic and N Monsoon, but still fine where it matters.
Lots of naval action, as Ge and Ja call combined impulses and Italy calls a naval:
- Japan ships Yamamoto and divisions to sea where they debark in southern China, and ships a unit directly from Japan to Canton.
- German and Italian subs sail and try to find convoys in the North Atlantic and Cape St Vincent. Not only are the convoys undefended in their box, but I don't have anything in a high box - more's the pity because the Allied search rolls in those sea areas were 1 and 3, respectively, which could have done a number on the Axis' early strategic war.
- The bulk of the Italian fleet sails into the Eastern Med, where they surprise the picket of Royal Navy cruisers, sinking HMS Manchester and sending HMS Gloucester back to drydock (damaged).
Japan also strat bombs Chengtu, where I had foolishly placed the oil, but the Japanese bombs have no tangible effect.
On the plus side, the Italians are rather spread out in their boxes, so even though I have to consolidate a fleet in the 2-box to fight, I might be able to do some damage. Especially since, between the Italian convoy point and Gladiator plane on the HMS Glorious, I have just as much chance to find as the Italians do... and if they don't find, it's divide and conquer time, baby! (Most importantly, there are no Axis NAV that can fly to the 0 box, so no worries about the outdated biplanes having to fight more modern Italian craft.)
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~ Composer99
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RE: rkr1958 vs Composer99 - Allied Thread
Turns out, to my pleasant surprise, I can get my slow BBs in Port Said to the 3-box. The French provide presence in the sea area, so the RN doesn't need to pay extra movement. Into the 3 box I sail!
~ Composer99