How does this game treat Austria-Hungary?

[jscott991]

I'm tired of WWI games (GoA and Ageod) treating Austria-Hungary like an after-thought and modeling the war as though it was WWII (Germany v. the world). The Austrian army was enormous in WWI and covered a huge part of the eastern front, in addition to being the primary combatant in the Balkan and Italian theaters. Yes, Austria's military leaders were incredibly incompetent (rivaling Russia and Italy in this regard), routinely squandering men and material in foolish and poorly thought out offensives, but that doesn't mean that every game should basically reduce Austria-Hungary to a footnote.

So how does TGW compare in this regard? Does Austria get a fair shake? Is it a significant power or is modeled more along the lines of Hungary in a WWII game?

[Major Bong]

The game does not simulate national shortcomings so the Austrian units are on par with their German counterparts. There is one AI flaw though. The Austrian AI never tries to flank Serbia, instead they dig in and sit it out. In my last game as Entente I managed to tie up several Austrian units in Serbia until Romania joins the war. Even with Bulgarian help the AI did not manage to kick out the few dug in Serbian corps. So once Italy joined most of the Trentino front was held by German units instead of Austrians.

[CarnageINC]

The only thing I don't like about AH in the game is that they don't have a naval research lab to advance their naval techs...to me that seems like a short coming [:(].

[Myrddraal]

The Austrian AI never tries to flank Serbia

I'm working on this. Hopefully you'll see a improved AI behaviour in the Balkans after the patch.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC

The only thing I don't like about AH in the game is that they don't have a naval research lab to advance their naval techs...to me that seems like a short coming [:(].

Then buy a naval lab. [:)]

[Aurelian]

Hey, I'm quite happy that A-H doesn't have a navy. They did very little anyway.

And since Germany propped up A-H rather than the other way around, I've never had a problem with how they are treated.

[Myrddraal]

Hey, I'm quite happy that A-H doesn't have a navy. They did very little anyway.

A-H does have a navy... it starts with a battle-fleet and cruiser fleet.

A bit more info for the OP. A-H is not treated as a minor power, although its economy is inferior to the German economy and they start slightly lagging on the technology front. The game starts with the first few turns focusing on A-H and Serbia, the Germans and the rest of the Entente nations don't join the war till a few turns in.

The Balkans front is vital to the successful execution of most CP strategies. It's not a front you can simply forget about. Germany needs support from A-H in the east, and A-H can't fully provide that support until the Serbian thorn in the side is dealt with.

EDIT: SlickWilhelm's CP AAR over at the Slith forum goes over the opening turns of the game in a great deal of detail. Obviously I'm biased, but since the game starts with A-H, this AAR might be a good independent source for you to check out: http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 31&t=38749

[Major Bong]

What hits AH hardest is that they start with zero infantry technologies, their units take horrible losses against dug in Serbs, also most of Serbia is considered rough terrain and gives a hefty defense bonus. Also Serbia is able to field 7-8 units and once the Serbs have dug themselves in the Austrians cannot dislodge any of them with their low-tech infantry.

So if you want to successfully flank the Serbs you need to overwhelm them with numbers and you will either need artillery (and hope the ammo lasts) or use superior numbers, probably as much as 9-10 units. And you cannot really spare those, since you need to support Germany by forming a battleline up at Lemberg otherwise the Russians will steamroll through that undefended gap into Galicia.

But this post is not a complaint. Being Austrian myself I know a thing or two about my country's military history and I think the game perfectly reflects the situation of AH in 1914. The well trained core of the Austrian army was squandered in Serbia with futile attacks in difficult terrain, crippling it's offensive power for the rest of the war.

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: Myrddraal

Hey, I'm quite happy that A-H doesn't have a navy. They did very little anyway.

A-H does have a navy... it starts with a battle-fleet and cruiser fleet.

Oops, I forgot they *sunk my battleship* Too many late nights early mornings

I meant to say naval research...

[Mike Parker]

AH is I believe very fairly treated. The feel like a partner (the lesser partner to be sure) to Germany and so many other games they just feel like a minor ally! Even the Ottomans feel like a full partner (mostly because of the geographic isolation).

[wodin]

You think WW1Gold overlooks Austria- Hungary?? Surprising..also I think that game definitely doesn't feel like WW2 at all...very surprised you think this way.

Though this is a discussion best done on the WW1Gold forum...

Sorry.

ORIGINAL: jscott991

I'm tired of WWI games (GoA and Ageod) treating Austria-Hungary like an after-thought and modeling the war as though it was WWII (Germany v. the world). The Austrian army was enormous in WWI and covered a huge part of the eastern front, in addition to being the primary combatant in the Balkan and Italian theaters. Yes, Austria's military leaders were incredibly incompetent (rivaling Russia and Italy in this regard), routinely squandering men and material in foolish and poorly thought out offensives, but that doesn't mean that every game should basically reduce Austria-Hungary to a footnote.

So how does TGW compare in this regard? Does Austria get a fair shake? Is it a significant power or is modeled more along the lines of Hungary in a WWII game?

[jscott991]

ORIGINAL: Major Bong

But this post is not a complaint. Being Austrian myself I know a thing or two about my country's military history and I think the game perfectly reflects the situation of AH in 1914. The well trained core of the Austrian army was squandered in Serbia with futile attacks in difficult terrain, crippling it's offensive power for the rest of the war.

Austria's army was actually squandered in Galicia, carrying out Conrad's ridiculous offensive.

Serbia sounds a bit over-powered in my initial perusal of the forums. I'm leaning toward sticking with GoA to scratch my infrequent WWI itch.

[BYU 14]

ORIGINAL: jscott991

ORIGINAL: Major Bong

But this post is not a complaint. Being Austrian myself I know a thing or two about my country's military history and I think the game perfectly reflects the situation of AH in 1914. The well trained core of the Austrian army was squandered in Serbia with futile attacks in difficult terrain, crippling it's offensive power for the rest of the war.

Austria's army was actually squandered in Galicia, carrying out Conrad's ridiculous offensive.

Serbia sounds a bit over-powered in my initial perusal of the forums. I'm leaning toward sticking with GoA to scratch my infrequent WWI itch.

Serbia really isn't overpowered, you just have to employ a flanking strategy as human player and they have mentioned that the CP AI will be tweaked in the patch to address Serbia. I will add my name to the list that thinks AH is well modeled in game.

[Aurelian]

The Serbs had much more combat experience than A-H. Austro-Hungarian armies were composed of a variety of disparate ethnic groups from within the empire, which made them less cohesive.

Fighting a three front war didn't help. Serbia did't fall until after Bulgaria entered the war and A-H also had the help of a German army.

Hard to make a case that A-H is being misrepresented.