AGEOD Forums

Hi to all readers.

I thought it would be fun to do AAR about our multiplayer game. I am doing this AAR posting action from several turns ago. Initial player setup was Lindi taking over France, Guru Britain, Ebbingford Russia and Serbia, HerrDann Germany and me Austria-Hungary.
Everybody went with historical plan except me who choose all Russia plan. It puts some loyalty penalties back home, but I hope I can sway public opinion back rather soon. This war plan is the only war plan that puts A-H forces on par with the Russians in Galicia and Ruthenia, so hopefully I can have some victories in that theater. Historic A-H battleplan would mean I would be pretty much restricted to defense in that theater, and that was not my intention.

We join the action on Trn 3 planning phase. After grabbing lightly defended FtChotin on Russian sothern flank, I plan to isolate and surround Brusilov's 8th army with my 3 armies, while 2 other armies hold defensive line in front of Lemberg.
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In the meantime, HerrDann opted not to assault Liege and Namur fortresses hoping for a surrender and NM boost. Kluck captured Brussels and is poised to attack Liege, Schlieffen plan objective. I consider this plan too risky, as BEF is undetected and in the area, and rail connections to Liege are still open for the French to bring reinforcements, something human player would surely do, but being a junior ally I am not to meddle in Germany plans. Herr Dann also planned attack in Longwy, rather unexpected and risky, but it might bring success if WE concentrates soley on Belgium.
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CP have used diplomats on Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, while WE is trying to influence Italy and Romania. They even played unhistorical event that gives 2 British battleships to the Turkey to delay its entry into the war (historically those were 2 ships ordered by the Turkey seized in British ports - this event makes the Britsh honour their agreement and give ordered ships to Turkey for some WE influence).

Stay tuned...

Yay, another AAR

Great work ace! R u going to build all Croatian forces?

Only after Italy joins the war

West front mixed results
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Combined BEF and French forces stop Germans as Lille. But Germans do make some progress in Ardennes while Liege is finally taken
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Eastern front, Austrians cross the border and inflict Russians their first casualties
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Well done, another multiplayer AAR.

Ours is great fun and, I think, one of the best ways to play this game.

On the AUS-RUS front I am trying to exploit my initial success by pushing towards Winitza and Dubno.
Last turn, Russians dared to enter German Prussia. I will punish them dearly for this . I played Hoffman decision that cripples Russian forces in there for one turn, and used Hindeburg to lead assault on them in Eastern Prussia. On the Western front, after being stopped on French-Belgium border, I 'll try to shift my axis of attack by going into Ardennes. the terrain is not favorable, but I am hoping for a surprise.
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The battles for Kremenetz and Ft Dubno were bloody in deed, but the Austrians are steadily advanicing in the thater:[ATTACH]31542[/ATTACH][ATTACH]31543[/ATTACH][ATTACH]31544[/ATTACH][ATTACH]31545[/ATTACH][ATTACH]31546[/ATTACH]

Austrian generals are not the best, but they used sheer numbers and force concentration to push the Russians further inland.

After attacking aggressively Russian invaders, Russian 1. Armija is badly shaken in a series of defeats:

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I got a win in the Ardennes, but not the breakthrough I was hoping for. Sheer size of my heavy artillery carried the day for me, but I doubt it will lead to anything useful in the West. The best I can do is grab some solid defensive terrain before we all entrench.
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Thisd turn we had change in player setup. I took control of Germany, and Felixz of A-H forces. We agreed that the best course in the East is to try to exploit recent victories by advancing a bit more before the Russian winter sets in.
Plans for the next turn:
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Felix will attack retreating Russians in front of Ft Dunbo while I advance towards Ft Kowno.

After bloody victory at Sedan, the most obvious route would be to advance further towards Reims. But I lost faith I can achieve a breakthrough there. I presume Lindi will concentrate his armies there, so I 'll be happy with consolidating my lines along Ardenne forests. So, I'll attack nortwards toward Guise with my 2nd Army led by Bülow instead.
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Some unlucky battles here. Despite having overwhelming numbers and having Russians on the ropes, A-H seem to have tough time in the theater. It may be that Ritter defensive general trait is hampering A-H offensives in the theater. Von Bojna still only a Corps commander is A-H one of better generals and is doing some successful mop up of the Russian southern most flank.
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Hindeburg, on the Russian northern front is having some great success, wonder how will the Russians react to this breakthrough.
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Guise assault didn't turned out surprise I planned and hoped for. All I got was bloody battle with close to 100.000 casualties for both sides. WE can afford lot more casualties than Germany, so this is not good at all.
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Even my diversionary attacks on the southern most flank had more German than Entente casualties:
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At least, Namur has finally fallen. Antwerp is the last remaining Belgium fort.
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On the diplomatic front, I've been doing my best to bring Turkey to the alliance, but WE giving ships to Turkey (or rather not taking them away as it historically happened) is slowing this progress down a bit.
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Ace, how do you plan to handle Italy, will you try to stop them coming in as long as possible or just let them go and try to prepare for their forces becoming active?

I will let them to go to the WE. As soon as Turkey joins, I'll send my diplomats to US. Got to decide what ismore important, holding US out should be a priority.

In that case are you actively sinking shipping or just protecting your own lanes?

My sub tech is too low to sink anything now. When the time comes, I'll see what to do there.

With the French standing fast, both Felix and me agreed to ease the pressure on the West and try to inflict Russians a defeat that will throw them out of the war.
So, the Western front orders included mainly shuffling of units and creating stable front line:
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On the East, germans are advanicng into Eastern Poland from Eastern Prussia unchallenged, while Austrian will try to take border Russian forts:
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Only significant activity on the A-H - Russian front.

Two simultaneous assaults by Brusilov in the South and Josef Ferdinand on the North
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Both Felix and Ebingfford are standing fast in the center and trying to inflict damage on the flanks

The Western front has turned into a stalemate, so I'll mop up Antwerp. I can't allow it to receive any reinforcements.
British have put Grand Fleet into blockade box, so I might have a chance to sail out with German high fleet to Atlantic and stir some trouble. I plan to do some hit and run tactics.

In the East, Hindeburg is still advancing unopposed, Russia is a big country, and it is obvious he will not give me real battle before winter.
In Galicia and Ruthenia, front is still going back and forth, with Russians and Austrians throwing in everything they got:

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Antwerp on the West and Ft Grodno on the East are in German hands

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Obviously, Central powers have done worse than history, but it has to do with artillery not getting enough ammo in 1.00 patch. From early Nov, we have switched to 1.01RC7 beta patch. The patch is save game compatible (it won't crash the game), but since all artillery now holds 7-9 times more ammo, it will take several turns before artilleries are filled up with ammo. So, because of mid game patch switch, we are experiencing severe ammo shortages, and will surely cause some delay until we get our stores replenished.

Though the Western Front is not as far advanced, surely the East must make up for it in some way?

Winter is closing in and both Germans and Austrians are trying to make some gains before snow falls:

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Germans are massing at Bielstock, before continuing towards Brest Litovsk. The Austrians are probing to regain lost ground just in case Russians choose to turnaround and face Germans.

Western front is quiet, with only troop shuffling to plug in the weak spots in the line.
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However, on the seas there is some action. I decided to use my fleet for a round the world trip. I plan to ship my Africa troops towards besiged Asian colonies. I know this move was not very realistic. But, since the game allows, why not try it...
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He detached only a part of Grand fleet to go after me. That was a big mistake. I even caught his troop transport going from Australia towards Europe...

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Dubno probe was a defeat, but not with bad casualties ratio...

He seems he decided to fortify Brest Litovsk, so I am not going for a frontal assault. Instead, I decided to flank it and go after Pinsk. It is main railroad going from Minsk to Dubno. Cutting it might force the Russians into generals retreat.

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Pretty quiet for Christmas, only naval action. The Japs pounded on my cohesionless fleet.

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