A history of World War II, by those who fought it (TFH UK AAR)

[Stuyvesant]

The Germans do like to keep you on your toes with their suicidal pocket invasions, don't they?

Good progress in Italy, not that surprising that sooner or later you would run into stiffer resistance. Did you notice any slackening opposite the Suez Canal, as the Hun started to mess around in Italy? Or did they strip troops from somewhere else (presumably the border with the Bear)?

I'm looking forward to the American invasion of France. The Americans have massive numbers, but they're also AI, so I'm genuinely interested to see if it can manage a useful invasion.

 

[ThatStrategyGuy]

would you consider extending the timeline if the game ends without a satisfying conclusion? or maybe if it does that you can explore an alternate reality where the Germans and Soviets did go to war.

 

[markkur]

Hmm, I'm unfamiliar with that part. I'll have to see if I can find a clip of it somewhere.

I have the boxed set and that comment is in one of "the making of" programs. (there are two in the set)

 

[Paxx1]

*Walks out of the forum shadows, at last*

Awesome AAR! So many twists and turns and a bit of character development to boot

 

[Avindian]

I have never used nukes myself, but AFAIK they don't damage any units themselves. Of course, if their only supply line gets cut because of it, that could be disastrous in and by itself. I should test their exact effects at some point.

Good to know!

I used atomics* when playing as Germany once - dropped two on London and they surrendered.

* Good grief, now I am thinking DUNE.

Avindian should recruit two divisions of Sardaukar

I'd much rather have a couple of Fremen. With worms.

Worms cost too much IC!

Dune is one of those sci-fi epics I've yet to sit down and read (I know, I know). I know the faintest contours, but not much more than that. I will add it to the list.

Great minds think alike. It is spooky how the Italian stalemate in this AAR rather resembles the real on in 1943-44.

Obviously an Anzio landing is in order.

Of course!

Any don't forget to focus on taking VPs rather than encircling retreating armies, for that authentic Italian campaign experience

LOL

Rome is all that matters, what's wrong with you guys?

I loved that documentary! Laurence Oliver has the best voice!

Did you see the Producer talk about L. Oliver's first "Effort"? Once he finished and was putting on his coat, the producer Jeremy ? pulled him aside and said something to the effect; "This series will be a record about the tragedy of the second world war." Lawrence thought about what the producer meant for a moment and then said; "I'll do it again"

Hmm, I'm unfamiliar with that part. I'll have to see if I can find a clip of it somewhere.

I saw the documentary you guys are talking about quite a while ago; I'll have to find it and watch it again at some point.

Given the problems in the Boot, I now tend to land at Genoa and its environs.

I used nukes as the USA for the first time this weekend. Dropped one on Berlin in mid-'44 - July, I believe (my practicals and nuke knowledge was cranking). What it does is stunning - all INFRA is wiped out. All factories, runways, AA, radar...it's all gone. Divisions don't take damage, but National Unity takes a hit.

Even bigger, though - it destroys their entire resource stockpile - EVERYTHING.

Germany's MP was already down to zero, but they still held Leningrad and there was only a mild Russian bulge in the center. I was in Italy (puppeted) in the Alps and Southern France when I dropped the bomb. I made a mad dash and puppeted Germany as a result.

As soon as Germany surrendered, I puppeted Slovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia. The Soviets beat me to Romania and Bulgaria. Poland was liberated. I then nuked Tokyo and got Japan quickly.

As to this game - Avindian, I fired up a version of it yesterday. Japan is running amok in 1939 as well. I have one division in Singapore - 2xINF/1xGAR/1AC, commanded by ...er...one of the level 5 commanders. As soon as I was at war, I began building a land fort there and barely made it in time with the first level. With one wing of 3xTAC, I've been able to keep Singapore free. Of course, I've lost Diego Garcia and the Maldives, along with Nauru and Fiji, and they've landed in India and are making headway there. I've stopped the advance north from Siam around Rangoon (that one province bottleneck. I've been hammered naval-wise, though.

In North Africa, I'm holding firm west of Tobruk in the mountains, and have my second unit of 3xTAC hammering the Italians. Malta holds thanks to the Royal Navy. All three fleet carriers are together with escorts, and two battleship taskforces are lingering in the area blockading the southern Sicilian ports and the Italian North African ports. Problem is, I can't keep up with my convoy/escorts being wiped out. I've lost probably 500 so far in convoys, and around 250 escorts. Yikes!

It's definitely a fun game!

Great stuff! Good to know about your experiences as well. I commiserate with you regarding the convoys.

The Germans do like to keep you on your toes with their suicidal pocket invasions, don't they?

Good progress in Italy, not that surprising that sooner or later you would run into stiffer resistance. Did you notice any slackening opposite the Suez Canal, as the Hun started to mess around in Italy? Or did they strip troops from somewhere else (presumably the border with the Bear)?

I'm looking forward to the American invasion of France. The Americans have massive numbers, but they're also AI, so I'm genuinely interested to see if it can manage a useful invasion.

I've kept a close eye on the canal, to be sure, and I certainly don't see any troops shifting. I actually think the troops came from France, but I can't prove that. We'll see how successful the US invasion turns out.

would you consider extending the timeline if the game ends without a satisfying conclusion? or maybe if it does that you can explore an alternate reality where the Germans and Soviets did go to war.

I can't say yes or no at this point. The problem is that I don't think adding another five or ten years would bring anything to a satisfying conclusion. I think all of the hardcoded "Soviets DOW Germany" triggers have come and gone, which means that if I do beat the Axis, the Soviets will probably run amok in Europe. The only way I could probably win would be a massive array of nukes raining all over the USSR, so that taking a single VP results in victory over the irradiated wasteland. I don't even know if that would be possible.

I have the boxed set and that comment is in one of "the making of" programs. (there are two in the set)

Nice!

*Walks out of the forum shadows, at last*

Awesome AAR! So many twists and turns and a bit of character development to boot

Another lurker unlurks! Thanks for the lovely comments and I hope you'll enjoy the rest!

I think I'll be able to update some time this week, although I don't know for sure. I've almost finished chapter 3 of the dissertation and if I get really close, I might use my normal nightly gaming time to finish the last few pages. We'll have to see.

 

[The Number 9]

I finally catch up with the story (I've been busy for the past few weeks). Still an amazing story.

 

[markkur]

More, more more!

 

[Avindian]

I finally catch up with the story (I've been busy for the past few weeks). Still an amazing story.

Thank you for the kind words!

More, more more!

Hopefully soon.

 

[mosin_nagant]

Suscribed

 

[Avindian]

Suscribed

Excellent!

I'm sorry for the long delay -- it's certainly longer than I expected. You can partially blame Arkham Knight, but the truth is that it's been a hectic couple of weeks. The good news is that I've played for about three months in game, and with another day or two, I should have played enough to update!

 

[Avindian]

Hey everyone,

I want to thank you all for waiting so patiently. I finished a session of HOI3 tonight and I'm confident I've enough material to update, it's just a question of finding some time. I want to finish this chapter of my dissertation before updating, so you might have to wait a bit longer, but hopefully not too much longer.

 

[markkur]

Good deal. Glad you've not run out of Steam...no not that one, the old kind.

 

[Stuyvesant]

Can't blame you for focusing on your dissertation. I'm sure you've been asked this before (you might have already mentioned it in this very thread), but what's your dissertation on? I know this is teetering towards off-topic, but I've got to do something to while away the time until the AAR gets updated.

 

[Avindian]

Good deal. Glad you've not run out of Steam...no not that one, the old kind.

I won't lie, this particular update was another slog to get through, and I'll definitely need the help of my loyal readers after I've posted.

Can't blame you for focusing on your dissertation. I'm sure you've been asked this before (you might have already mentioned it in this very thread), but what's your dissertation on? I know this is teetering towards off-topic, but I've got to do something to while away the time until the AAR gets updated.

I'm writing about the Russian/Soviet navy from 1882 to 1941, focusing on how they acquired foreign technology to improve the fleet.

 

[ThatStrategyGuy]

If espionage documentaries have taught me anything then they stole blueprints using sexy ladies with innuendo laden names

 

[misterbean]

I seem to recall one of the last tsars spending some time with "aunt vicky" in England. Going straight for the owner of the biggest fleet at the time, that one.

edit: sorry, that was der Kaiser. Wrong country entirely

 

[Stuyvesant]

If espionage documentaries have taught me anything then they stole blueprints using sexy ladies with innuendo laden names

"The Red Maiden went deep undercover with the British Admiral to seize his torpedo... schematics."

Anyway, you're talking about things like the Lûtzow! Interesting! Well, when it's done, let me know if there's a way to access it electronically through a university library (I work at one) and I might have to take a peek at it.

 

[Avindian]

If espionage documentaries have taught me anything then they stole blueprints using sexy ladies with innuendo laden names

Nothing that sexy; more often than not they bought ships/designs. Stealing designs was more a post-WWII thing.

I seem to recall one of the last tsars spending some time with "aunt vicky" in England. Going straight for the owner of the biggest fleet at the time, that one.

edit: sorry, that was der Kaiser. Wrong country entirely

Nicholas II was related to Victoria too! His wife was one of Victoria's granddaughters and he and the Kaiser were cousins, as Edward VIII (Victoria's son) married the youngest of Christian IX of Denmark's children; Christian IX's eldest child was Nicholas II's mother.

"The Red Maiden went deep undercover with the British Admiral to seize his torpedo... schematics."

Anyway, you're talking about things like the Lûtzow! Interesting! Well, when it's done, let me know if there's a way to access it electronically through a university library (I work at one) and I might have to take a peek at it.

I'm not sure what the formal process is, but I know that Kansas State dissertations/master's theses are searchable via Google Scholar, so mine should be too whenever I finish.

 

[markkur]

I'm writing about the Russian/Soviet navy from 1882 to 1941, focusing on how they acquired foreign technology to improve the fleet.

Sounds very interesting. At some point I bet you'd enjoy learning how the IJN and their CV power came to be.

Oh and I'll take a chance... "Go Mizzou!"

 

[Asami_T]

Nicholas II was related to Victoria too! His wife was one of Victoria's granddaughters and he and the Kaiser were cousins, as Edward VIII (Victoria's son) married the youngest of Christian IX of Denmark's children; Christian IX's eldest child was Nicholas II's mother.

Minor correction; Edward VII, not VIII. VIII was the dude who abdicated b/c he wanted to shag and wife the American.