@DoManMacgee Totally agree with your thoughts. I also thought that Russia just needed to do something to throw the CPs off their game. In regards to the 1 Inf, I think its just an annoying move people made so the opponent couldn’t just grab free IPCs, but I’ll check with some of the other players to make sure that rule was understood right.
The Flashman Report
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So would I, but I think the official rule is otherwise.
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TURN THE THIRD (PART ONE)
AUSTRIA
Brutally puts down the Albanian occupation of Trieste. Budapest is stripped of defences in order to attack in Galicia; the plan nearly dislodges the Russians, but a single defender hangs on. The battle for Tuscany begins with 25 units assaulting 22 Italian defenders, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
RUSSIA
Moves into Prussia and Budapest by defeating token defences. Romania is left with a single defender as the Southern Front is sent to the relief of Sevastopol, which remains contested after some myopic Russian marksmanship.
GERMANY
The Lorraine army is pulled back to Alsace to be joined with a new force marching through from Munich. As usual, a single Milton Bradley Youth Corps unit is left in Loraine to face the entire French army. A failed attempt to regain the Congo results in the first African theatre casualty. Prussia is easily retaken. A small force descends from the Alps to capture Piedmont, something the CPs regret not doing before.
Germany’s main effort is in Poland, where the fighter flown in from Galicia helps a large artillery stack knock holes in the Russian defences.
FRANCE
A moderate force recaptures Lorraine, but the main Burgundy army waits for reinforcements from Paris. Two new fighters give France plenty of option next turn.
The Mediterranean BB assaults the Austrian fleet, going down after sinking the cruiser and damaging the Hapsburg flagship.
A transport brings the last Portugueser to Marseilles, from which the other two depart for Canada (yes, just 2 spaces away!)
BRITAIN
Makes no fewer than 5 attacks this round. In Africa, the Congo is recaptured, but the Germans hold out in FEA.
The BMF finally finishes off the Austrian navy. The Syrian desert is captured, and another assault from India finally takes Persia.
The major effort however is in Belgium. An amphibious assault from England of 8 units, and a drive from Picardy by the B.E.F. adds Belgium’s 2 IPCs to the UK cash income (I think…)
The 2nd and 3rd Canadian corps file onto two French transports.
At one point I had 3 AA Revised British infantry on the board include the mob zone.
I find I’m spending up to half the game time exchanging and hunting for chips; there must be a better way of dealing with this…
It’s mainly caused by a simple lack of single unit chips, but the following occurred to me:
Have a different colour chip for each unit type:
infantry - white/yellow(5)
artillery - red/brown(5)
tanks - grey/black(5)
fighters - light blue/dark blue(5)Then, since every army MUST include an infantry, you could stack a nation’s entire force in one pile, with the appropriate foot soldier on top.
I suppose ultimately you could do away with non-infantry units altogether; its a question of saving space in a game where you can have up to 8 nations stacking in contested land areas, which tend to be smaller the more important and crowded they’re likely to be.
Probably use grey and red next game.
N.B. IL - The Haitian Dreadnought was sunk by an American Cruiser disguised as the Love Boat.
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So would I, but I think the official rule is otherwise.
Yea, I’m pretty sure that your right flash. The neutral colonies (not the colonies of the major powers) aren’t aligned like some of the neutral parent countries (no major power flags on colonies) so whom ever moves in to them to activate it gains control (places their own units, and control marker). Afterwords ownership of the neutral colonies will transfer to the new owner as they are captured/liberated. Capturing a colony has no effect on the parent country either, and colonies don’t have a standing army based on IPCs.
BTW, I think that income from Belgium would go to France wouldn’t it. The UK would be liberating it for the French because it is aligned to France (French flag on it) ?
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Belgium isn’t a French original territory though, so it wouldn’t get “liberated” by Britain.
It would just give ownership to the conquering power. -
But belgium does have a french marker next to the belgium flag plus the province is blue so i think its safe to say that france will get the province if any other ally liberates/activates the province.
Colonies are in blue too so im just going to have france get the portuguese and belgium colonies when the their countries get activated.
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TURN THE THIRD (PART THE SECOND)
TURKEY
Along with the Bulgarians, marches a large force into Bucharest, the Russians having left to recapture Sevastopol. This last is reinforced by the Turks from Mesopotamia, effectively abandoning Baghdad to the large British army advancing across Persia. A large army in concentrated in the capital, the plan being to trade Smyrna and Ankara with the British while taking over the southern sector against Russia.
ITALY
The 2 units in Burgundy march to the French coast to rendezvous with the Italian fleet. In order to keep the Austrians at bay, it is decided to attack in Tuscany.
Italy has: 1 fighter, 6 infantry, 8 artillery
Austria has: 1 fighter, 2 infantry, 8 artillery
With large artillery forces in both sides, the air duel will be crucial. After three passes the Austrian Ace scores a victory, and the Hapsburg artillery home in on the enemy.
7 casualties each severely depletes the invaders, but reinforcements are due from Venice, and Italy now collects a paltry 9 IPCs.
USA
With Italy the most hard-pressed of the Allies, the “Appalachian Educational Faculty” sails into the Mediterranean, with the “Alaskan Environmental Federation” just a few leagues behind.
President Wilson is re-elected as the “he kept us out of the war” candidate.
Defeated “British Stooge” Charles Hughes is beaten to death by an anti-war mob.
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TURN THE THIRD (PART THE SECOND)
TURKEY
Along with the Bulgarians, marches a large force into Bucharest, the Russians having left to recapture Sevastopol. This last is reinforced by the Turks from Mesopotamia, effectively abandoning Baghdad to the large British army advancing across Persia. A large army in concentrated in the capital, the plan being to trade Smyrna and Ankara with the British while taking over the southern sector against Russia.
ITALY
The 2 units in Burgundy march to the French coast to rendezvous with the Italian fleet. In order to keep the Austrians at bay, it is decided to attack in Tuscany.
Italy has: 1 fighter, 6 infantry, 8 artillery
Austria has: 1 fighter, 2 infantry, 8 artillery
With large artillery forces in both sides, the air duel will be crucial. After three passes the Austrian Ace scores a victory, and the Hapsburg artillery home in on the enemy.
7 casualties each severely depletes the invaders, but reinforcements are due from Venice, and Italy now collects a paltry 9 IPCs.
USA
With Italy the most hard-pressed of the Allies, the “Appalachian Educational Faculty” sails into the Mediterranean, with the “Alaskan Environmental Federation” just a few leagues behind.
President Wilson is re-elected as the “he kept us out of the war” candidate.
Defeated “British Stooge” Charles Hughes is beaten to death by an anti-war mob.
You could put a world of hurt on the Austrians by shuttling units from the USA to Albania. Its only 3 moves to Albania with a shuck of 9 transports (3 in SZ 17, 3 in SZ 14, and 3 in SZ 1). You could land 4 inf and 2 art every turn in Albania with that shuck. Even better is that it is a big threat to Vienna, since you are only 2 moves from their capitol. This would force the Austrians to make the tough decision to either continue the attack on Italy or try and push the US out of Europe.
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Since I’m using MB factory pieces to mark production centres, it occured to me that a 2nd German production centre, possibly in Alsace (Stuttgart?), would mitigate against the CPs lack of rail movement.
Add Petrograd (now Russian starting capital) & Halifax Nova Scotia to make 12 PCs (including Bombay, which the UK would now have to defend).
A net increase of 3 PCs wins the game, but as before must include Paris/London or Berlin.
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Since I’m using MB factory pieces to mark production centres, it occured to me that a 2nd German production centre, possibly in Alsace (Stuttgart?), would mitigate against the CPs lack of rail movement.
Add Petrograd (now Russian starting capital) & Halifax Nova Scotia to make 12 PCs (including Bombay, which the UK would now have to defend).
A net increase of 3 PCs wins the game, but as before must include Paris/London or Berlin.
Are the Germans really in that dire of straights against France?
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Once the Brits get ashore, I cannot see how Germany can reach Paris when it takes so long for new units to reach France.
It seems too much like “Paris or Bust” in the first 3 turns at most.
The Stuttgart PC would give them a fighting chance, but also give France an attainable victory goal.
Look at the map, mark the capitals in Western/Central Europe, and you’ll see why I think Alsace (rather than, for example, Ruhr) would be the ideal site for another PC.
In the case of powers with more than one PC, the loss of one would not preclude production continuing at the other.
You could even allow France to produce at the captured Alsace factory, if you consider that France regarded the historical province as naturally part of France (though you’d have to call the city Strasbourg). But I wouldn’t. I’d never allow building in captured factories. Except, is Alsace different because its a French area held by Germany since 1871?
After all, Strasbourg is now the capital of Europe:
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Once the Brits get ashore, I cannot see how Germany can reach Paris when it takes so long for new units to reach France.
It seems too much like “Paris or Bust” in the first 3 turns at most.
The Stuttgart PC would give them a fighting chance, but also give France an attainable victory goal.
Look at the map, mark the capitals in Western/Central Europe, and you’ll see why I think Alsace (rather than, for example, Ruhr) would be the ideal site for another PC.
In the case of powers with more than one PC, the loss of one would not preclude production continuing at the other.
You could even allow France to produce at the captured Alsace factory, if you consider that France regarded the historical province as naturally part of France (though you’d have to call the city Strasbourg). But I wouldn’t. I’d never allow building in captured factories. Except, is Alsace different because its a French area held by Germany since 1871?
You make it seem like the CPs are doomed, since Paris or London(yea right) are must haves.
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Once the Brits get ashore, I cannot see how Germany can reach Paris when it takes so long for new units to reach France.
It seems too much like “Paris or Bust” in the first 3 turns at most.
It’s amazing to me that Germany needs 5 turns to move units from Berlin to Paris using the shortest route. To compare the US can move units from Washington to Constantinople or Vienna in only 4 turns!
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Once the Brits get ashore, I cannot see how Germany can reach Paris when it takes so long for new units to reach France.
It seems too much like “Paris or Bust” in the first 3 turns at most.
The Stuttgart PC would give them a fighting chance, but also give France an attainable victory goal.
Look at the map, mark the capitals in Western/Central Europe, and you’ll see why I think Alsace (rather than, for example, Ruhr) would be the ideal site for another PC.
In the case of powers with more than one PC, the loss of one would not preclude production continuing at the other.
You could even allow France to produce at the captured Alsace factory, if you consider that France regarded the historical province as naturally part of France (though you’d have to call the city Strasbourg). But I wouldn’t. I’d never allow building in captured factories. Except, is Alsace different because its a French area held by Germany since 1871?
After all, Strasbourg is now the capital of Europe:
Geographically the “Alsace” territory in this game is really Baden-Wuerttemburg plus Alsace. It would be a major stretch to consider the “Alsace” territory in AA1914 a French territory.
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It normally is quicker to move by sea than by land…
There are units in every German territory, so it isn’t like its 4 turns of no reinforcements; you just have to plan your purchases wisely.
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I agree BJCard. It’s a bit funny that the US can for example move units from Washington to Albania faster than Germany can over uncontested CP territory.
Starting on turn 4 the US can drop 4 Inf and 2 artillery in a location that is a direct threat to two Axis capitals on every turn until the game has finished. Forcing the economically weaker Austria to have to deal with 3 different fronts simultaneously is going to kill them.
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I agree BJCard. It’s a bit funny that the US can for example move units from Washington to Albania faster than Germany can over uncontested CP territory.
Starting on turn 4 the US can drop 4 Inf and 2 artillery in a location that is a direct threat to two Axis capitals on every turn until the game has finished. Forcing the economically weaker Austria to have to deal with 3 different fronts simultaneously is going to kill them.
Fair enough. I’m pretty sure that a trans-atlantic trip in the early 1900s took about a week (In game terms that’s 1.5 turns since its 3 spaces from the US to France). Then again an army sent by rail from Berlin to Albania (if sufficient rail capacity existed) may have taken a couple weeks as well.
Maybe Austria needs to invest in a modest fleet? Or the CPs need to take out Russia as soon as possible so all their attention can be on the West and South?
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I agree BJCard. It’s a bit funny that the US can for example move units from Washington to Albania faster than Germany can over uncontested CP territory.
Starting on turn 4 the US can drop 4 Inf and 2 artillery in a location that is a direct threat to two Axis capitals on every turn until the game has finished. Forcing the economically weaker Austria to have to deal with 3 different fronts simultaneously is going to kill them.
Fair enough. I’m pretty sure that a trans-atlantic trip in the early 1900s took about a week (In game terms that’s 1.5 turns since its 3 spaces from the US to France). Then again an army sent by rail from Berlin to Albania (if sufficient rail capacity existed) may have taken a couple weeks as well.
Maybe Austria needs to invest in a modest fleet? Or the CPs need to take out Russia as soon as possible so all their attention can be on the West and South?
It may be the best strategy to go for a sort of reverse Schliefen plan by taking out Russia first. Once the US is in Europe Austria and/or the Turks are doomed if they put their focus on defeating one of them.
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Only to find that the Allies have deliberately collapsed Russia into revolution to prevent the CPs from entering Moscow.
I’m thinking STRASBOURG is the key. 3 tts from London, Berlin, Paris, Vienna…
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BLACKADDDER THE FOURTH (EPISODE ONE)
For the sake of experiment, I’ve decided that each power must buy a tank every turn from now on, mainly so that I can determine if these hunks of scrap metal are really worth buying.
AUSTRIA
Makes considerable gains, retaking Budapest and Galicia from the Russians, who’re finding it hard going against a 3 pronged CP front.
Tuscany is overrun, bringing the Hapsburgs to the very gates of Rome. But scanning the horizon to the west at sunset, several large cruise liners are seen approaching ominously across the Mediterranean.
RUSSIA
Having stripped its western frontier to deal with the Turks in Sevastopol, Russia assaults the infidel with some success, but a single Turk holds on, with worried looks at the Indian army in Persia. Poland and Ukraine are reinforced, but it looks like a defensive battle from here on. The fleet commanders, fearing mutiny among the idle crews, set sail in the Baltic, but lose their submarine to a German mine.
GERMANY
In order to defend the flank of contested Belgium, Germany sends a small force to retake Alsace. Both these tts are likely to be lost soon, but if the French were allowed to attack into Belgium then the BEF would be free to move against the Ruhr.
Troops form Piedmont move down into Tuscany to reinforce the Austrians against “unforeseen events”.
The fleet cannot tolerate the presence of Russian ships in German waters, and steams east to sink the enemy fleet. If only Germany had had the foresight to build a transport instead of that silly armoured tractor…
A massive attack in Poland annihilates all 13 Russian defenders for 8 losses, opening up the way to Petrograd. The CPs have finally achieved their primary “Ostwall” objective in the east, but must they now press on to finish with Russia before the UK can reinforce it?
FRANCE
Moves its main army, now with 3 air squadrons, into Lorraine, easily retaking the 2 IPCs.
The French BB and its cruiser and sub escort seek a showdown with the High Sea Fleet. A mine damages the French Flagship, but when the smoke clears the Baltic Sea now contains only two badly holed rival dreadnoughts.A fleet of two liners arrives in Picardy with more Canadians, who then refuse to disembark without orders from London. On the way it passes another remarkably similar vessel, steaming to Halifax with identical intentions. France puts down TWO tanks in Paris, confident that American support will allow them to indulge in some modern luxuries.
The French unit in Africa continues its solitary vigil guarding the Gold Coast and FWA beyond.
Maybe America cannot declare war unless Russia has dropped out. I know, historically, the one event did not cause the other; but thematically it feels right. But then nothing about America leaving its own space before declaring war feels right.
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Only to find that the Allies have deliberately collapsed Russia into revolution to prevent the CPs from entering Moscow.
This one still has me scratching my head, and is the main reason why I completely support those developing house rules before the game is in hand.
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