Report from the front!

[Clyde85]

So we’ve gotten to the end of round 3, and rather then give you guys a blow by blow (partly because part one of turn 2 was fought last night, and partly because I’ve had a drink or two to celebrate my memory is a bit fuzzy) I’ll just give a run down of where each power stands economically and militarily.

Austria
By the end of turn 3 Austria is in ascendancy. Her Empire stretches from the Ukraine to Venice, with and economy of $36. Her armies are well stocked and plentiful, with 12 inf and 7 arty and 1 fighter in the Ukraine, 11 inf in Galicia, 7 inf, 5 arty and 1 fighter in Venice, 4 inf and 1 arty in Trieste, 5 inf and 2 arty in Budapest, and the road open to Albania open thanks to an Italian blunder into Greece. 7 infantry and 2 fighters sit in Vienna waiting to march west to finish business with the Italians. The fleet sits in docks and twiddles its thumbs.

Russia
The Czar finds himself in a bit of a quandary. His armies are still quite large, but seem to lack offensive hitting power. The Imperial air force is still strong, but there is little artillery to support. 6 inf and 8 arty gave up fighting for Poland after very nearly taking it back from Germany. The Powerful Austrian offensive made this decision more than anything Germany has done. Once again Sevastopol has been abandoned without a fight to invading Turkish forces, albeit this time from Romania rather then Mesopotamia. 15 infantry, 1 arty and two fighters defend Moscow from the Austrians, with 5 inf in Tatarstan as reinforcement. Livonia was also abandoned and was occupied by and single German scout inf unit. All said with $19 in the bank things look bleak for the future of the Empire.

Germany
The kaisers armies stand on the verge of victory on all fronts! After having smashed French forces from Belgium to Lorraine, the road to Burgundy lies open! 7 inf, 6 arty and a fighter sit in Lorraine, while 8 inf and 7 arty sit in Belgium. However, the Anglo-French forces have massed in Picardy, with 16 French infantry and 11 British inf and it is unclear if Germany has the forces to dislodge them. The high seas fleet has been rebuilt but has little hope to challenging the Allied armada in the north sea. 4 dreadnought (2 French, 1 English, and 1 Russian) and 3 cruisers (2 English and 1 French) sit opposing Germany. On the OStfront, Germany barely survived a round 2 assault by the Russians in Poland, which left Germany with 1 inf, 1 arty and 1 fighter. Now things have be stabilized with 7 inf, 5 arty and 2 fighters in Poland by the end of turn 3. That and the Russian retreat bode well for Germany next turn. In Africa Germ,an forces continue to run amok, cutting clear across the the continent. A bloody battle in GEA has left 1 inf and 1 arty as all that remains of the force that took Rhodesia last turn (3 inf and 1 arty). But the Allied forces in the region are left on a near equal footing. Germany has $47 in the bank and will be looking to reinforce the western front in force over the next few turns.

France
France has not had a happy war. After nearly pushing Germany out of Lorraine on turn two, a devastating counterattack rapidly reversed Frances fortunes. All of Frances modern military equipment was eaten up during the battles of the frontiers, and was left with nothing but infantry by the end of turn two. Playing defensively France has sent 2 inf to stiffen Italian resistance in Piedmont. Massive forces from Burgundy and troops of the Paris garrison have been sent to hold the German advance in Picardy while artillery and fighters are massed to counter attack. How long this will take and how long France can hold the Germans is anyone’s guess.

UK
Until recently the affairs of the French in Europe have taken a back seat to trying to bring the Ottoman Empire down. Massive infantry, artillery and fighter reinforcements have flowed out of India with the express intent of toppling the Sultan in Constantinople. 5 inf and 2 arty sit on the Turks doorstep in Jordan. Aided by the Arab revolt, 3 inf, 1 arty and 2 fighters have massed in Arabia. 5 inf, 4 arty and 2 fighters have just claimed Persia for the British Empire, while 7 inf and 3 arty wait to reinforce from India. In an attempt to bolster the flaggering French 11 inf have been landed in Picardy, Britain has $32 in the bank with a transport fleet in place to flood troops in to France now.

Ottoman Empire
Besides a few battles for control of Sevastopol, Turkey has had a largely defensive war. By the end of turn 3 Turkish forces have resolutely secured control of Sevastopol with 8 inf and 2 arty. In fact, all along the Turkish borders the picture is the same. 8 inf and 2 arty defend Smyrna while 8 inf and 2 arty defend Syrian Desert, and 8 inf and 2 arty face off against invading British forces from Persia. The Ottoman Empire also finds itself in control of Greece after a rather ill advised and bloody Italian invasion of the country. The Ottoman Empire has $21 in the bank and may be looking to finally counter the British for regional supremacy.

Italy
To call Italy’s war a disaster would be about right! After the disastrous counter attack I1 that left 2 inf and 1 arty clinging to Venice, not much has improved. Italy was pushed out of Venice all together on A2, but off set the loss by occupying Albania. This helped for a turn and panicked the Austrians who realized their soft under belly was exposed, and raced to get troops back in the region. While initial plans were to bring the Albanian forces back to Italy, instead an invasion of Greece was launched, with all but 1 inf. The invasion was a disaster for Italy with the entire force being wiped out by the defending Greek forces under Turkish command. Italy has massed a force of 13 inf and 4 inf in Tuscany, but Austrian air supremacy keeps them from trying to reclaim their lost Venice territory. Italy has $14 in the bank once again, but as Russian fortunes slump in the east, the Austrian tide seems to be rising in the west.

USA
America has been biding her time and building. She now has 12 inf and 8 arty in America waiting to get into the fight. America also has a fleet of 1 Dreadnought, 1 cruiser, and 4 transports to help her get into the fight fast when next turn comes. USA still has $20 in the bank and is looking to get “over there” next turn.

And that is where we stand as our 4th turn looms large for tomorrow. I will keep you all updated as events develop.

[Witt]

Thanks again Clyde.
Does sound fun.

[Texas Holders]

@oztea:

A 3 IPC unit is needed to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPCs.
Technically, activation isn’t necessary

I don’t understand what you are saying.  If he would of activated Romania, Russia would of had 28 IPCs rather than 25.

[ossel]

@oztea:

A 3 IPC unit is needed to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPCs.
Technically, activation isn’t necessary

Are you paying rent on your infantry now? A 3 IPC (cost) unit is needed to to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPC’s per turn.

This is potentially 30 IPC’s by the end of the game.

[BJCard]

@ossel:

@oztea:

A 3 IPC unit is needed to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPCs.
Technically, activation isn’t necessary

Are you paying rent on your infantry now? A 3 IPC (cost) unit is needed to to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPC’s per turn.

This is potentially 30 IPC’s by the end of the game.

If you hold Romania that long.

[ossel]

@BJCard:

@ossel:

@oztea:

A 3 IPC unit is needed to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPCs.
Technically, activation isn’t necessary

Are you paying rent on your infantry now? A 3 IPC (cost) unit is needed to to activate Romania, to gain 3 IPC’s per turn.

This is potentially 30 IPC’s by the end of the game.

If you hold Romania that long.

Hence, potentially.

[Chicochico]

But dont you get, like, 6 units when activating romania, 5 inf and 1 art? Or did i read the rules wrong

[ossel]

@Chicochico:

But dont you get, like, 6 units when activating romania, 5 inf and 1 art? Or did i read the rules wrong

Also correct. Not sure where he’s getting this ‘it’s not worth activating Romania’ argument.

So, for pulling 1 (3 IPC) infantry off of another attack to activate Romania, you get:

• 3 IPC’s per turn, as long as you keep it
• 5 infantry, 1 artillery to represent the Romanian army that you can then move wherever you want.

[BJCard]

@Chicochico:

But dont you get, like, 6 units when activating romania, 5 inf and 1 art? Or did i read the rules wrong

This is true, but they are activated if/when the CPs attack it, so the potential is there for the entire game.  Not saying I wouldn’t activate it, but maybe not if I can’t hold it from counterattack or I need every last Infantry in poland for example.

I will have to check it out when I get the game today :-)

[Flashman]

Russia (or indeed any Allied power) can activate Romania at any time by moving in an infantry.

[BJCard]

@Flashman:

Russia (or indeed any Allied power) can activate Romania at any time by moving in an infantry.

Agreed, I was just stating that if the CPs attack it the Romanians are also activated, so it isn’t like you are missing out on those units until Russia activates it.  It can be a barrier territory with Austria too weak to attack & hold.