If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (Full Version)

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John B. -> If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/25/2021 6:12:29 PM)

Well, having been smacked around in my last attempt KorutZelva appears to have decided that he needed some laughs and has taken up the gauntlet as the Entente. I've just done the second turn and, I apologize if the pictures are too small, it always takes me awhile to get these right.

The action so far: Germany, goaded past all rational endurance by unreasonable Belgian waffle taxes, has taken the traditional "let's beat up on the small guys" strategy and plunged into Belgium. I'm not sure if you can see it, but I've taken Brussels and Antwerp and a German Cav, unit made it into Lille. I'm not sure it will hold out but at least it damages the city. No French attacks thus far, the Germans killed a French corps on the first turn and have taken Nancy when the French pulled back.

No naval action but a German sub sneaking up the Norwegian coast and the English instituting the blockade. Germany is researching Inf. Weapons and Inf. Tactics.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/327A51522C5349518477AB6C5FCF3368.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/25/2021 6:19:57 PM)

Oh that last picture wasn't too bad. I'll work on the resolution issue.

Meanwhile, in the East, Russia plunged into German in a move that caught me by surprise. As a consequence I pulled back from East Prussia and sent corps eastwards. I've also headed into Southern Poland in a move that appears to have made Bulgaria happy. And whatever Sofia wants, Sofia gets. :)

You can't see it on this picture, but the Austrians gave up the Galician oil fields and are defending Lemberg. They did kill a Russian Army but there are lots and lots of Russian armies. The Second army is heading to Galicia to help out with that defense.

I sent two German corps and a German HQ to Serbia sticking with my original plan. I thought long and hard about sending them to Russia but I figured if I can take out Serbia that frees up corps for elsewhere. Killed a Serb garrison and damaged a Serbian corps.

The surprisingly interesting naval news comes from the Adriatic. I ran into a French Dreadnaught on turn one and sank it. Then, the French showed up and sank the A/H dreadnaught only to lose the second French dreadnaught in my turn. So, actually some use out of the A/H navay and, so far, no convoy line to Serbia.

A/H is researching infantry tactics and infantry weapons.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/030B0FDC20C6477F914046B264E3C001.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/26/2021 3:20:48 PM)

We are rounding out the end of August 1914. On the West Front, the Germans pushed deeper into Belgium and retook Lille. Each side has lost a Cav. Corps at Lille and the Belgian detachment held out when it should not have done so thus putting the Germans in a bad position. Also, I moved a new corps into Nancy but was unable to entrench which signals bad tidings for the Germans in that hex.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/C0958D3AC87249B8B91317CE8BA25641.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/26/2021 3:22:38 PM)

In Serbia I lost the last A/H DD (and no mines for me :() while butting my head against the wall at Belgrade. The Entente has set up convoy lines from France and Russia to Serbia so we'll have to see how long they can hold out. I do have the A/H sub on the French convoy line.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/410E3473812C496AA4BF2212019AE15C.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/26/2021 3:24:04 PM)

In East Prussia the Russians advance but other then Koingsberg I don't particularly care. I did kill a Russian Cav. that got to Danzig and sent more reinforcements this way.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/A6316C27C6E04E5284D7D1134C0E6B82.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/26/2021 3:26:12 PM)

Finally thing went pretty well for the Central Powers in Galicia. I lost Lemberg (I had several times where it came down to one more attack and my guess melted like strudel icing). But, in my turn the Russians lost two corps in the south and they have one surrounded.

No diplo. news to write home about. Germany and A/H each started to research trench tech.

Germans subs are heading out into the N. Atlantic and may hit convoys next turn.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/D42BB99B7C544056AC14810620C32F49.jpg[/image]



operating -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/26/2021 5:04:32 PM)

John B., What method do you use to post screen shots?



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/27/2021 10:59:30 PM)

Operating, I winnowing it down but right now I've done jpeg shots. Next time I hope to remember to crop them to make them easier to view.



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/28/2021 7:25:36 PM)

We're into September 1914 and there is good news and there is bad news if you're rooting for the home team. First, the bad news. my esteemed opponent has done a good job in stymieing my invasion of Belgium. Basically, I made it to Brussels and not much further. I did kill a Belgian corps this turn (because, why not) but otherwise I've taken forces away for greener fields elsewhere. I intended to move the artillery out this turn but dithered so that will delay things.



[image]local://upfiles/39741/470877534C4445D8B00ED5110400FD1D.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/28/2021 7:27:07 PM)

Serbia has been the largest disappointment with not much payoff for the forces sent there. Rather than pound my head against the wall again, I rebuilt and next turn I hope to have the German artillery here to take out Belgrade. At least the A/H sub sank some convoys heading to Serbian relief, but, this theater has been one of frustration.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/3ECDE658546542599A60C8BA04A4EA81.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/28/2021 7:28:29 PM)

However, things have gone from bad to better on the Eastern front. Russia lost two inf. corps, a cav. corps and a detachement this turn. In Poland I'm reconquering the parts of Germany that I lost and starting to think about an offensive towards Warsaw.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/DCAC3BD256BE4E2E8B26B4787F919BA3.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/28/2021 7:31:25 PM)

And in Galicia things are stable to better for me. My ever wily opponent sent his cav. crops deep into my territory to influence Romania. But, I've managed to cut it off and I killed a Russian corps to boot. Now, if I can polish off Serbia at some point, I can send more reinforcements here to keep the pressure on Russia.

Germany built a corps and put a diplo chit into Bugaria plus various strengthening units. German also put another research chit into trenches. A/H rebuilt a pre-dreadnaught and various forces.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/F930BE01BCB44CA781712E73851B5880.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/29/2021 3:03:53 PM)

It's the end of October 1914 and I pulled back a couple of hexes in Belgium. No sense defending forward when those hexes don't really help me too much. I'd pull back further but I'm getting an economic benefit from Antwerp and Brussels so no sense handing those back to the Entente for free.



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/29/2021 3:04:29 PM)

Sorry, here is the picture for France.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/0C57881BD90D4B8FADAC4DFD1CE65C6E.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/29/2021 3:06:04 PM)

Russia killed a German corps up near Konigsberg and I sent reinforcements and rebuilt my troops. He did run through my mine fields at the mouth of the Baltic with what I suspect are Russian raiders for the Swedish covoys.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/38FB5D7A9FDE4A06B5C08297E7ADCA2C.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/29/2021 3:07:01 PM)

In Galicia his Cav unit died (off screen) and I rebuilt my tired forces.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/1466B28C43FB477291FB71EC546A41E2.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (9/29/2021 3:08:42 PM)

And, in Serbia I've got the hammer ready at last. The German artillery has 7 shells and there are lots of units ready to attack Belgrade. I hope this helps persuade Bulgaria to come on it. It and the Ottomans are stuck in the mid-40s. A/H rebuilt some forces and one of their pre-dreadnaughts. Otherwise, it was a quite turn.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/0AE00D0707C3411195B50EFFAA047A45.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/1/2021 7:14:49 PM)

Well that was extremely disappointing. 7 artillery shots and about 6-7 attacks and basically all I did was kill my own men even with much higher morale etc... Not sure what I'm doing wrong here. But, with no movement from either Bulgaria or Russia it's not likely that Serbia is going to fall.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/63141909C4CF421DB0D53CDF50422285.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/1/2021 7:17:21 PM)

No combat in Galicia but the A/H, with a little German help, is extending the flank and trying to see where this leads. Romania is at 31% so no risk soon of being cut off, but Italy may join the war soon and that will be bad!

[image]local://upfiles/39741/D58C7238376248D88B71AD498F726185.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/1/2021 7:19:52 PM)

Some Russian losses in East Prussia but, while I can't take Belgrade with artillery the Russians took Koingsberg without artillery. Grumble Grumble. On the bright side, I think I've now lasted longer than my last game. :) Nothing happened in France.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/2821CA7F31D147FBAC62BA7B0DC2BC14.jpg[/image]



Bavre -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/3/2021 8:02:12 AM)

Hi John,

if I see that correctly your bombardement of Belgrade was with a lvl 0 cannon, right? Well those things do practically nothing (atk 0, deentrenchment 0, demoralization 5). Give them one tech level however and the change will be DRAMATIC! Kind of the reason why in MP everyone rushes arty tech. Since you made a few remarks on your research: as far as I understood it so far, the first few techs to research are basically mandatory in MP:
trenches (4 chits)
cannons (2 chits)
shells (3 chits) + always keep max chits in those 3
Any deviation from that is usually a certain way to defeat, because those techs are vastly more useful than the rest.



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/4/2021 5:57:03 PM)

Bavre,

Thanks for the tips! I'm pretty close to your suggestions but I will adjust accordingly. :)

John



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/9/2021 12:37:27 PM)

Sorry for the lack of updates but, frankly, not much has been going on. This is pretty much bad news for the Central Powers as I have not had any good attacks since I last posted and I'm basically stuck everywhere. A good example was last turn where I attacked a Russian detachment with two corps and I lost 6 points to the detachments 4. Here is Poland/ East Prussia. Not much change here.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/E0468F2BFA764430BC8DBE16F2FB7C67.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/9/2021 12:41:11 PM)

In Serbia there has been zero change. Any proposed attacks start off with me losing 3:0 so I'm stuck here as well. This is extra bad given that Italy just entered the war but no sense throwing away forces. Bulgaria has been moving towards the Entente. I have three chits there but it's not been enough. Can't say I blame them. :)

[image]local://upfiles/39741/C71AE38D534A438EB3F49CC21065144C.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/9/2021 12:42:17 PM)

Galicia, wait for it, you guessed it. No change. :) I did send a cav down to cut the Serbian supply line. Moral victory!

[image]local://upfiles/39741/E9CFDF62C07841D89D2E742F8A130D6E.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/9/2021 12:44:17 PM)

France, the Belgians retook Antwerp. I'm just waiting for the hammer blows to start falling. My research has been awful as you can see I'm still on level one trenches and the allies are nice and toasty in their higher levels. The naval war has gone ok. The English have the blockade but my subs have been getting some good results. Turkey is in the war and not much is happening with them.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/8BA0086C3469430BBE47680380E0CE28.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/14/2021 2:11:54 PM)

It's August 1915 and with a year of war under our belts I'd have to say (quoting that old optimist Emperor Hirohito) things have not necessarily developed to my advantage. :) Here in France I've been pushed back into Germany and it does not look like that's going to change anytime soon. My only hope is that he needs a couple of turns to rest before the next round of attacks.

And, you can see in the upper left hand corner, he's starting to gloat. Always a bad sign. :)

[image]local://upfiles/39741/8CA1F03D858345FABCFF24675AE8E7EE.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/14/2021 2:17:02 PM)

Sorry for the picture size in the last report. Things are not much better in Sinai where Jerusalem has fallen and the cav corps that took it is clinging on with one SP left (that has been my real curse in this game almost, but not quite, destroying the enemy). In the Caucasus we're beating each other up.

But, a spot of good news. I finally took a Russian fortress now that my artillery is upgraded and in a couple of turns I may be able to take Warsaw.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/B6AA90443AC747C3BE2B2C1117DE1D70.jpg[/image]



John B. -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/14/2021 2:18:59 PM)

And, in Serbia I finally, finally, managed to take Belgrade.[sm=00000436.gif] Both A/H and German artillery are upgraded and my German aritllery has seven shells and waiting to pound the next line. I think my one hope is to take out Serbia and use the units to shore up the Western front.

[image]local://upfiles/39741/0237BD2F9FB24D278EC1B9655242CE86.jpg[/image]



BillRunacre -> RE: If at first you don't succeed, invade Belgium! (10/14/2021 6:21:51 PM)

Well done, taking Belgrade will help bring Bulgaria into the war!



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