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What is the best CP strategy to deal with Antwerpen at the start? Do you: a) send army packed with heavy artillery to take it immediately, b) send a corps to maintain siege and keep your rear against potential enemy naval landing or c) ignore it until later? In case of first option, what is the best tactics to take it? Last time, I have sent army packed with rail-bound heavy artillery, reinforced with corps and played "Fort Bombardment" regional decision card. It wasn't enough. Although battle was declared German victory, storming structure failed as some enemy units managed to survive inside fort. Next turn my army was low on cohesion and that gave enemy time for recovery.

Antwerp, as in real life, can be a real headache for the Germans as it can delay them considerably. Indeed there are two approaches to deal with it which abstracts the historical reality of the dilemma. Since it is the national redoubt of Belgium it plays a role in protecting the rest of the Belgian army as well as a potential reinforcement position of the Allies by the sea.

If you choose to storm it you need to go there with the railway guns (2nd Army) and enough ammo to play the "bombard decision". Antwerp is 2-level fort (notice the small rhombus icon), which abstracts the national redoubt perfectly. In my opinion one should NOT attempt to evict it if he hasn't first made at least 2 breaches in order to negate its defensive advantage which is considerable. On the other hand, you could choose to simply isolate it with a smaller force but this is very risky business in the long run as Antwerp can be the receiving point of a British force arriving from the sea and endanger your rear.

This is possibly one of the first and most difficult dilemmas for the Central Powers player indeed. I have tried both attempts with mixed results. If you go for it fast you might lose some steam in your Schlieffen plan, if you simply check it from the outside you risk a surprise counterattack that could disturb the logistics. In the long run I think you should evict it anyway.

Kensai wrote:On the other hand, you could choose to simply isolate it with a smaller force but this is very risky business in the long run as Antwerp can be the receiving point of a British force arriving from the sea and endanger your rear.

Indeed, that's what I try to do as the WE if I see that Antwerp hasn't fallen yet.
It is dangerous for the Germans as it means their flank is exposed and troops can even be attacked from behind.

I've had good success taking Antwerp by October. Use the 2nd Army (rail guns) and another stack (pwr roughly 250). I've gone all out when the breach is 1...you suffer some losses by you can move on once secure. I should note...I immediately move the 2nd Army to Antwerp on the first turn. Don't forget to take advantage of the added artillery feature (not sure what it is called ... but you find in the same place as adding new generals, diplomats etc.)

Sometimes the 2nd Army cannot move right away in the first turn, even if you evict Liege beforehand. I don't know if it is a bug or working as expected, given that indeed you get a red sign of "non passable" in the first turn due to the fortresses of Liege. Once Liege is gone, you should be able to move, but it seems to be blocking the attempt in the first turn. Perhaps the calculation of movement allowance is done in the first day when Liege has not fallen yet, blocking the rest of the movement.

Some of your forces (not 2nd Army) should be set to the most aggressive offense (red assault posture) ... that should take care of Leige.

I know, I do that. Actually in the first turn I set everyone in assault mode, perhaps that's the issue. But I don't understand if it is WAD or not. If I set an army to go to another region which is blocked initially, it should go if the block has been removed in the 15 days of movement.

I must do more tests to understand if and when this happens.

Are you taking the siege guns, etc., out of 2d Army before attempting to move it? I'm sure the answer is yes, but I've found that an issue.

Yes. I tried both without taking them and taking them out. Essentially I cannot move my stacks in regions that are blocked by the fortress in the turn that red is showed in those regions (Namur and the one in the North), even if Liege is to fall in the coming turn. How did you do it?

Kensai wrote:Yes. I tried both without taking them and taking them out. Essentially I cannot move my stacks in regions that are blocked by the fortress in the turn that red is showed in those regions (Namur and the one in the North), even if Liege is to fall in the coming turn. How did you do it?

Too long ago to recall precisely; but it involved splitting up 2e Army into smaller stacks.

Don't set the 2nd Army to full assault...this way they won't get bogged down in Leige...

I did not. I send them normal attack North to Antwerpen. But perhaps you are right. If you plot the movement through Leuven there should not be problems. Leuven is not red.