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Another Solo Global AAR - 1/16/2014 2:41:50 PM

markb50k

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Joined: 7/1/2004
From: Spring, TX
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Hi folks, I am currently in the middle of a solitaire Global War scenario, and I'm loving the AAR's already being done on the forums. My sincere thanks to everyone! In fact, they have inspired me to do the same.

But, before I begin, is there interest in another AAR? It seems a lot of work, and it will take time away from me actually playing to post the AAR, so I want to make sure there is an audience.

Some background: I am a new player, never really played the boardgame except for a couple of turns when I was in college (around 1990). Fell in love with the game almost immediately so I have been awaiting the computer version for the duration.

My game is currently in the M/A 1941 turn, but I have made saves at every impulse and the beginning/end of each turn, so I can give a good report for each step of the way. Obviously recounting every die roll etc for the early turns will be impossible but I will post screenies of each theatre each step (likely each impulse) to show a visual progress for all to follow. I tried some strategies that ended up creating a very interesting game, in my opinion. Of course, I really am a WiF newbie, so some of the more elegant game play will surely be missing, and it should be pretty obvious where my inexperience comes into play. But hey, other newbies interested in the game may get some value seeing one of their own in action.

Anyway, if there's interest, I'll start posting ASAP. Thanks for your time :)

Post #: 1

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/16/2014 3:48:48 PM

Cad908

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I enjoy reading these, so count this as a go vote.

In my opinion, 1941 was the key year in the war. The German Barbarossa campaign and the Japanese attacks in the Near East set the framework for a Global War and the Axis' ultimate demise. To save some time you could present a quick strategic overview of your game to date then frame each powers' plans for the coming year(s). After you establish the goals, the experienced players on the board could offer some tips on how to achieve them as you play through the turns.

Just some thoughts,

Take care,

-Rob

< Message edited by Cad908 -- 1/16/2014 4:49:56 PM >

(in reply to markb50k)

Post #: 2

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/16/2014 9:55:07 PM

Shannon V. OKeets

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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Cad908

I enjoy reading these, so count this as a go vote.

In my opinion, 1941 was the key year in the war. The German Barbarossa campaign and the Japanese attacks in the Near East set the framework for a Global War and the Axis' ultimate demise. To save some time you could present a quick strategic overview of your game to date then frame each powers' plans for the coming year(s). After you establish the goals, the experienced players on the board could offer some tips on how to achieve them as you play through the turns.

Just some thoughts,

Take care,

-Rob

There are a lot of ways to do a summary of "what went before". For example, you could take each major power and state what it did (had done to it) for each of the previous turns. The USSR and USA wouldn't have done very much, so those reports would be short. Maybe one screenshot for a major power that hasn't done all that much. For example, USA build history using the Pools form. The current USSR position on its western border(s) with the neutrality pact form's summary tacked onto the screenshot. Italy and France should also have short writeups. Japan and China would be complementary. Germany and the Commonwealth would need longer writeups, probably with several screenshots: losses during bloody turns, current key positions: western Europe, northern Africa, the Atlantic war, Barbarossa preparations, etc.

My idea is that rather than take each turn and describe what each major power did, taking each major power and telling what it has done/accomplished in a series of turns makes for more compelling reading. I expect it would be easier to do since you could just gloss over the turns where nothing much happened.

_____________________________

Steve

Perfection is an elusive goal.

(in reply to Cad908)

Post #: 3

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/16/2014 10:09:02 PM

warspite1

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From: England
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Interest from me

_____________________________

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Post #: 4

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/16/2014 10:40:28 PM

Orm

Posts: 22154
Joined: 5/3/2008
From: Sweden
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cad908

I enjoy reading these, so count this as a go vote.

In my opinion, 1941 was the key year in the war. The German Barbarossa campaign and the Japanese attacks in the Near East set the framework for a Global War and the Axis' ultimate demise. To save some time you could present a quick strategic overview of your game to date then frame each powers' plans for the coming year(s). After you establish the goals, the experienced players on the board could offer some tips on how to achieve them as you play through the turns.

Just some thoughts,

Take care,

-Rob

There are a lot of ways to do a summary of "what went before". For example, you could take each major power and state what it did (had done to it) for each of the previous turns. The USSR and USA wouldn't have done very much, so those reports would be short. Maybe one screenshot for a major power that hasn't done all that much. For example, USA build history using the Pools form. The current USSR position on its western border(s) with the neutrality pact form's summary tacked onto the screenshot. Italy and France should also have short writeups. Japan and China would be complementary. Germany and the Commonwealth would need longer writeups, probably with several screenshots: losses during bloody turns, current key positions: western Europe, northern Africa, the Atlantic war, Barbarossa preparations, etc.

My idea is that rather than take each turn and describe what each major power did, taking each major power and telling what it has done/accomplished in a series of turns makes for more compelling reading. I expect it would be easier to do since you could just gloss over the turns where nothing much happened.

Well said.

I follow all the AAR with interest and one more would be nice.

_____________________________

Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

(in reply to Shannon V. OKeets)

Post #: 5

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/17/2014 1:51:18 AM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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Sounds good. Will start soon. Thanks!

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Post #: 6

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/17/2014 5:16:36 PM

WarHunter

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Go for it!

_____________________________

�We never felt like we were losing until we were actually dead.�
Marcus Luttrell

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Post #: 7

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/17/2014 9:30:56 PM

fredmans

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I read every AAR although I do not post much. Very interested if you would ake the time to do it.

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Post #: 8

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 11:15:50 AM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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OK, so what I'll do is capture the high points of the strategy and happenings and catch you all up on where the game is.

First, I'll talk about optional rules...

I based these decisions on some of my earlier playthroughs. In them, the Axis was never able to make enough headway (probably due to my conservative playstyle), so I wanted to take out some optional rules.

I decided to NOT use Oil Rules and LOS. I didn't really have any bug issues with them but I see them as needlessly complicated. Oil seems to only hurt the Axis, and LOS seems to affect the Allies most, as well.

Notice I also didn't do Food in Flames as I felt the Allies didn't need any more help.

I did do Chinese attack weakness, due to the slow progress I had seen from Japan in other games. I also did not do Allied Friction.

EDIT: Oh, and almost forgot, although I have the Partisan rule active, after the first couple of partisans showed up I saw how much of a bother they were. I've read up on differing views on the gamey-ness of partisans and feel that dedicated entire corps to chase partisans around in the rear areas is not what I consider fun or interesting gameplay, so at some point in the game, I just always set the partisans to 0% of occurring.

On the next posts I'll try to hit each major power and update you to the present.

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< Message edited by markb50k -- 1/21/2014 1:38:59 PM >

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Post #: 9

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 3:13:18 PM

markb50k

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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

China
Goals: establish a spread defense with concentration in North for Communists around Sian, Center and South for Nationalists. Chiang will start around Changsha with double stacked defense using mountain terrain where possible. Picket defense in south utilizing mountains primarily. In general, defend in depth trading space for time.

Setup: North

notice the single defender in Chengchow, a speed bump to give the Communists time to react to any aggression up north.

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Post #: 10

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 3:14:56 PM

markb50k

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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

China
Setup: South

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Post #: 11

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 4:31:44 PM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

Japan

Goals: Given the Russian setup which concentrated on Europe, the Japanese strategy will leave a token force in Manchuria. In fact, the key piece of Japan's early war strategy is to overwhelm the Chinese in the south and secure the railways plus the two resources up to Changsha. As you saw in the screenshots above, only militia/garrison units were left to cover the north while all heavy units were concentrated in the ports on the south. This strategy eventually proves itself out but in the early going, the Chinese force the Japanese to change their plans slightly as the situation developed, which I will show below.

In the initial setup, Japan broke down all the Marine Corps, which allowed them to choose a Naval in the first impulse and move all units from Japan, plus units from Manchuria (Terauchi HQ) to the South for a full assault.

The initial Chinese reaction, after seeing little Japanese presence in most of China, was to aggressively move up, both Nationalist and Communist to claim the cities left undefended by the Japanese.

Here is how China looks early in Sept/Oct 39 after the Japanese have made their landings in the South.

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RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 4:37:22 PM

markb50k

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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

Japan

And here we see the Communists and Nationalists moving up to fill the vacuum left in the Japanese lines. At this point, the Japanese realize that perhaps they should of left 1 HQ up north so that their units are not always out of supply and have some mobility. Plans are started to figure out how to get one up there quickly.

The Communists are also intent on dislodging that 1 militia east of Chengshow, which they end up destroying by the end of the first turn.

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Post #: 13

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 6:14:29 PM

markb50k

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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

End of Sept/Oct

By the end of the first turn, the Communists have overrun the Korean militia, for the only casualty of the war. In the south, the bulk of the Japanese forces have reached the rail-line and are looking for a way of overwhelming whatever the Nationalists have been able to reposition to meet the southern gambit. A couple of cities have been liberated by the Nationalists, but that was an acceptable loss for the Japanese as long as they start seeing some gains in the south.

North:

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Post #: 14

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 6:15:42 PM

markb50k

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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

End of Sept/Oct

Southern China:

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Post #: 15

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 6:30:36 PM

markb50k

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Pacific Theater of Operations: 1939

Nov/Dec - Japanese gains

Here we see the after-effect of the first losses on the Chinese side. Its a three sided attack that results in a 5-3 INF and 4-2 MIL being destroyed in the center of the Chinese line with the Japanese encircling from the West as well. The Warlord units are helpless to intervene as they are at their limits in distance from their home cities.

Also notice the Umezu HQ working its way down to the coast so it can be transported up north to assist with the defense there. The Communists are getting frisky and they want to establish some stability.

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Post #: 16

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/21/2014 10:16:32 PM

markb50k

Posts: 1224
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From: Spring, TX
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European Theater of Operations: 1939

USA
Goals:
- As soon as possible select US Entry options that restrict flow of resources to Japan. Be very picky about other options, and where possible only select options that will result in moving tension chits, with the target goals being the "gear-up" options to raise US production.
- Militarily, not much to do right now, other than evac MacArthur to American Samoa.
- Save, save, and save BPs where possible, in fact, only work on raising ship gearing limits with the goal of hitting 8 at Jan/Feb 41 for the new carriers.
- Other allies will also assist with this mission by not doing anything overly aggressive so as not to hurt US Entry. (i.e. USSR not claiming Baltic States until necessary).
- place all planes into reserve until war or moving CVs to Pearl.

USSR
Goals:
- "wink, wink" agreement with Japan to not stuff borders around Manchuria, allowing both nations to pursue other strategies.
- put in claims for Bessarabia and Finland as soon as possible.
- delay claim on Eastern Poland until after pilots interned for CW
- longer term goal: once US is in war, all bets are off. Persia, Manchuria are all up for grabs if not at war with Germany.
- place all planes into reserve until Germany starts really pumping up border garrison

France
Goals:
- bring non-territorial troops home for defense of France proper.
- build out territorials and militias
- not realistic, yes, I know, but find hiding spots for French forces in likely to go Free French areas. Let CW handle most of the Naval burden in Europe, with payment of BPs going from France to CW to cover.
- keep at least one SUB in Med to harass Italians
- keep one Carrier plane in Africa to hopefully gain a Free French pilot
- keep fingers crossed that BP to Free France gets fixed by Steve sometime during this war :)
- once France falls, split fleet with half going to Pacific to relieve some burden on CW/USA

CW
Goals:
- land BEF in France ASAP. Allocate only 1 HQ.
- Build up Egypt with as many CW regular army corps as possible.
- garrison Malta with Royal Engineers, reinforce with territorial when able.
- garrison Gibraltar with 1 corps at start, reinforce when able.
- move all territorials and conquered survivor units to India and UK for Sealion/Japan defense
- assign control of all attacked minors to CW.

Will update with Axis goals/objectives next post

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Post #: 17

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 2:10:53 AM

Cad908

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quote:

ORIGINAL: markb50k

USA
Goals:
- As soon as possible select US Entry options that restrict flow of resources to Japan. Be very picky about other options, and where possible only select options that will result in moving tension chits, with the target goals being the "gear-up" options to raise US production.
- Militarily, not much to do right now, other than evac MacArthur to American Samoa.
- Save, save, and save BPs where possible, in fact, only work on raising ship gearing limits with the goal of hitting 8 at Jan/Feb 41 for the new carriers.
- Other allies will also assist with this mission by not doing anything overly aggressive so as not to hurt US Entry. (i.e. USSR not claiming Baltic States until necessary).
- place all planes into reserve until war or moving CVs to Pearl.

Really good start and I am looking forward to your AAR.

As to US entry, I generally get tension to 11 in both pools, then build entry to 22. For the US, Gear up production is their primary objective in the early game as it doubles their production allowing it to build out the navy and begin assembling the air units which eventually rule the skies.

Pressuring Japan is nice, but this early in the game they will be adding resources from Chinese conquests. You are not using Oil in this game, so Oil Embargo will not be the threat that forces Japan into action. Remember, when you trigger Embargo on strategic materials you are not required to trade a resource (Japan still gets 3) but they do not send a build point either, so this presents no problem to them. I like the Entry Options directed against ALL (Intern French CV, Gift of destroyers to CW) to manipulate the tension pools and both are very useful to the Allies.

Just some thoughts.

-Rob

< Message edited by Cad908 -- 1/22/2014 3:11:55 AM >

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Post #: 18

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 2:23:00 AM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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Good point on the ALL options. Flexibility to choose which pool the tension moves from is a good goal. Thanks for the advice

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Post #: 19

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 11:10:15 AM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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European Theater of Operations: 1939

Italy
Goals:
- Honestly, still trying to figure out the right way to play Italy. She is very scared of what the allies can do to her if left vulnerable. So first steps are to consolidate forces in Libya, bringing the 3-3 INF and SUPPLY unit back from East Africa.
- Break down smaller 3-3 and 4-3 INF to divisions to allow greater invasion capacity
- Stay neutral as long as possible and try to time DOW with CW/France with attack on Greece
- Align Yugoslavia after invasion of Greece (w/ German help)
- Longer term goal of taking Cyprus and Malta
- Use Libya as much as a threat to pin down CW forces.

Germany
Goals:
- Poland, Denmark, and preferably Netherlands first turn.
- Use a combined to do a seaborne invasion with 1 DIV on Rotterdam as a continengency
- Break-down 1 MOT to take Denmark in 1 impulse
- At this point, attempt to either incomplete conquer France or Vichy then immediately collapse. Ultimate goal is Spain/Gibraltar, and want to give Indo-china to Japan without a fight.
- Balkans: goal to align Yugo. DOW on Hungary and Bulgaria to allow aligning of Rumania as full ally. Then DOW Greece. After seeing other AARs, next time through I may try letting USSR DOW on Rumania and force peace which would give me same end-result with more aligned countries.
- After that, who knows?

Here is the setup just prior to invading Poland:
(Notice forces ready to invade Hungary, as well as DIVs ready to invade Denmark)

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RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 11:24:22 AM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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European Theater of Operations: 1939

1st Axis Impulse
- pretty standard, Stukas disorganized 3 of 4 targets, three automatic attacks leaving only Lodz/Warsaw in allied hands
- Italy moves Graziano HQ to Libya

1st Allied Impulse
- CW interns 2 Polish planes
- puts BEF to sea
- France moves 6-4 from Algeria to sea
- France send lone Cruiser to Baltic on suicide run. Does not find CPs.

2nd Axis Impulse
- Good weather roll, DOW Denmark and Hungary
- Lodz falls in Poland
- Bad setup by me on Hungary, as I allowed their 2-4 CAV to be overrun and Budapest to be attacked first impulse. Doh!
- Denmark overran, 2 capital ships destroyed in port, CPs escape to UK.
- Italy moves TRS with another corps to Libya

Situation after 2nd Axis Impulse:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by markb50k -- 1/22/2014 12:25:01 PM >

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Post #: 21

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 11:36:19 AM

markb50k

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European Theater of Operations: 1939

2nd Allied Impulse
- land BEF in Calais
- land French 6-4 INF in Marseilles
- USSR claims Bessarabia and Finland (Germany allows). I'm not real up on the strategies here and basically always allow. Have read up since and will treat this differently in further games.
- USSR also claims Eastern Poland.
- I'll show US Entry further on, but overall, the Axis has been getting the rolls, Although I distinctly remember that taking Eastern Poland did NOT cause a chit to be removed.

3rd Axis Impulse
- Rain North Temperate, Storm Arctic. Luckily only Warsaw attack remains against disrupted defenders. Success.
- Germany calls a combined, sends out Kriegsmarine with SCS loaded with DIV. CW attempts to intercept unsuccessfully.
- bad weather prevents attack on Amsterdam, but Rotterdam is successfully taken. I see a slight disadvantage with my early setup of all 3 HQs of the Eastern Front, as I was not able to Re-org any of the German reserves with a HQ. However I was able to reorg the 9-4 INF with my ATR in the previous impulse which allowed the Rotterdam attack to succeed.
- DOW Bulgaria but not able to take advantage of it since Rumania is still not aligned. Will have to wait for following impulse hopefully.

Situation after 3rd Axis Impulse:

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< Message edited by markb50k -- 1/22/2014 12:46:43 PM >

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Post #: 22

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 11:59:10 AM

markb50k

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European Theater of Operations: 1939

4th Axis Impulse
- Fine weather in North Temperate
- Rumania aligned and invades Bulgaria, looking to pin down Bulgarians in Sofia, and capture the resource and railways so that Germany at least gets the resource this turn if possible.
- Von Bock and several corps move into Rumania
- Successful attack on Amsterdam against disrupted Netherlands corps. So far no German losses!

5th Axis Impulse
- Fine weather in North Temperate again
- German corps reach Sofia against single 3-3 INF defender and with Rumanian help are able to take the city. Hard to remember but I think I rolled a 20 on that attack. VERY good first turn for Germans.
- Great weather is wasted on Western Front as not enough unflipped forces are there to invade Belgium.

6th Axis Impulse
- unbelievably Fine weather in North Temperate again
- Nothing happens as nothing is left to take

At the end of the first turn, Italy has been able to reposition much of their forces to Libya with 6 combined. Poland, Denmark, Netherlands, Hungary, and Bulgaria conquered, with many new CPs in the hands of the CW. Meanwhile the BEF is in France and covering Calais and Lille. Italy still neutral.

Situation in Western Europe:

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Post #: 23

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 12:02:35 PM

markb50k

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European Theater of Operations: 1939

Mediterranean at end Sept/Oct

Beginnings of sizable force in Egypt forming. Notice Germans on border of Greece. Notice Italians on border of Egypt.

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Post #: 24

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 12:15:41 PM

markb50k

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European Theater of Operations: 1939

Sep/Oct losses

Notice the Korean corps that was overrun by the Communists in the PTO

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Post #: 25

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 12:16:25 PM

markb50k

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European Theater of Operations: 1939

Nov/Dec - Slow down
The speed at which the Germans were able to move in Sep/Oct is replaced by bad weather that doesn't really let up for another couple of months, as you will see. Germans win initiative roll and give it up to Allies.

Generally this turn is repositioning of forces by sea for CW and reinforcing Egypt. Stormy weather in North Temperate prevent any groundstrikes against the Germans, which they use to their advantage in their first impulse when they attack Belgium.

For the Belgium setup, given the overwhelming amount of German corps on the border (most railed last turn in the 6 Axis impulses) and the fact that with the weather, there is little chance of the Allies preventing Brussels from falling, so I set up only the 4-3 INF and CAV in Belgium and keep the 5-3 INF in Belgian congo to give CW another infantry corps to play with.

Nothing happens in Greece, as the weather in the Med does not cooperate.

1939 ends with the Germans in Antwerp and Brussels, with the French staring them in the face. I'll also show losses and US Entry at the end of the year.

Western Europe:

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< Message edited by markb50k -- 1/22/2014 1:32:49 PM >

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Post #: 26

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 12:20:16 PM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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European Theater of Operations: 1939

Nov/Dec - Mediterranean

Italians now have 2 Cruisers with DIVs in both Libyan minor ports.
CW has moved a Canadian TERR into Gibraltar, which allowed them to move the 6-4 INF to Egypt. Also joining Wavell there are 7-4 MOT and 7-3 INF from the UK.

Italy still neutral.

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Post #: 27

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 12:22:01 PM

markb50k

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European Theater of Operations: 1939

Nov/Dec - Losses

Belgians, and notice the 4 Nationalist corps destroyed in Southern China (see earlier posts)

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RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 12:28:27 PM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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European Theater of Operations: 1939

US Entry at end of 1939

Overall, I think US Entry is a little behind due to lucky rolls by the Axis in Europe. I did 3 chits in Germany/Italy pool at beginning of game, so getting 4 chits into Japan pool in two turns is pretty good. Unfortunately all of them were "1"s, which is somewhat unlucky for 1939 where the chits are generally higher quality. Looks to be a longer way to getting Gear Up, where I need a 11 tension in both pools.

Notice I have picked 5 US Entry options in 2 turns. Shows that my tension rolls were very low, which allowed me to pick more options. Honestly, in retrospect, I should have hoped for less luck in those, since I want to be able to get tension up, and there are only so many options you can choose. Making picks without moving tension just means you'll have less opportunities to raise tension overall. We shall see if that makes a difference.

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Post #: 29

RE: Another Solo Global AAR - 1/22/2014 2:37:04 PM

markb50k

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From: Spring, TX
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Jan/Feb 1940

Western Europe

Axis wins the initiative roll and again gives it over to the Allies.

Overall its a shorter turn, with 3 Allied impulses and 3 Axis impulses.

The CW does some more naval moves and attempts a ground strike in the North. German air is out of position but with the bad weather only limited effect with a MOT corps being disorganized.

France keeps the 3-3 INF it brought in from Syria (last turn) in the south. At this point, only two Italian corps are facing them and the Italians are still neutral. France decides that 3 corps is enough at this point.

Due to me not totally understanding how Vichy France works, I had been wasting some impulses moving French ships to Ceylon and figuring that if Vichy is called, the ships would stay allied. Reading up on it, I realized that the Germans would be able to move those ships to a nearby French port, so it is a waste of time for me to do that. The only real strategy to keeping French ships is to put them in a port that will turn Free French, so France begins moving as many ships as possible to ports in New Caledonia and Equatorial Africa. Only 16 ships can be based in those ports so the rest will most likely go Vichy.

The foul weather, and the unwillingness of the Germans to use an offensive chit during the winter, result in no action for most of the turn, but then, a snow impulse on the Axis's 2nd impulse gives the Germans the ability to call a single attack into the forest hex in SW Belgium. All air plus HQ support is thrown into it. France is able to provide Defensive HQ Support but the result is a German victory (modified 23) on the Assault table. The hex of the battle is circled in red on the following screenshot. The turn continues long enough to allow the Allies to elect to pull back forces into France to prevent the Germans from taking advantage of the salient.

British bombers fly strategic bombing missions that the Germans cannot intercept and cause 1-2 points of prod. points lost. Overall, during the first year, the Brits were uncanny in there rolls for Strategic Bombing, annoying the Germans greatly.