I learned two lessons this afternoon.
1) Overextending yourself is very bad.
2) Don't underestimate the abiltiy of even a single German division.
I was Russia and formed two large masses of troops, about 35 divisions under Brusilov to attack from Galicia, and about 20 divisions under the Gradn Duke to attack from Southern Poland, the Grand duke's job to cover Brusilov's force as it drove for the Danube and linked up with the Serbs, from there I would shift my forces north to my Vistula-Neiman defense lines to hold any German efforts. To make sure the Germans didn't get out of hand I placed 2 Siberian Corps, about 6 divisions as a Northern Reserve. The rest of my forces were spread along the rivers with a Caucasus Army to the south.
So the war rolls around in early August and my plan goes into affect. Austria's initial armies are devastated in three main battles, one in each of their border providences, I also launched a concentrated diversionary attack on Meml with about 15 divisions under Alexseev. They succeed and wipe out 3 German divisions. Meanwhile Grand Duke's forces become increasinly spread out as Brusilov thunders into Hungary, the main force of his army heading for Budapest and Belgrade while a smaller force heads for Romania to capture the territories. This is where things go bad. The Germans all of a sudden bring about 15 divisions into the line and hurl them at the Grand Duke, they punch through my lines and began slicing to cut off Brusilov, I pull back Brusilov to deal with the pesky germans when I dsicover about 5 Austrians divisons in Romania, they crush my puny 4 Russian divisions in the moutains and link up the Germans, Brusilov and about 40 Russian divisions have been isolated from Russia and Galicia is completely open. In desperation I hurl my entire northern force at Konigsburg, there 20 Russian divisions pit themselves against at first 5 German divisions, but soon about 10 more German divisions arrive and my forces are crushed, the Germans then punc though my lines around Warsaw and take the providences around Konigburg, so when my retreating forces run into German held areas, they are eliminated after a desperate fight, I lose my entire Northern Army under Alexseev. I managed to rout the Austrians in Serbia and Serbia gives me 5 divisions, with Brusilov they manage to crush the German corridor and I establish a reasonbly prepared Danube line.
It is now December and I have 3 Siberian corps north of Warsaw holding against about 30 German divisions, I look to the west and Germany only took Belgium and has about 30 divisions in the west. Soon tons of German forces begin pouring into Poland, my troops cut them up at first but are overwhlmed. Brusilov's exhausted divisions arrive and manage to hold the Vistula, but in the north my Siberian troops are crushed in bitter battles around Riga. German forces march all the way to ST. Petersburg when the 2nd phase of mobilization is finished, I get 15 Russians divisions, i put them around St. Petersburg and counter-attack, drive the Germans back to Riga and the full extent of winter kills the fighting for the most part.
1915 lumbers around and my forces are rebuilt, but I lost so many forces in 1914 most of my buildings divisions won't be ready till the summer. I pull out of Serbia, shortening the line and freeing up forces, but the Germans launch a major offensive with probaly 50-60 divisions and push into Galicia, my forces in Romania are cut off and too weak to break through so many German troops. I quit the game, my butt has been owned by the Central Powers. The AI is not near as stupid as in HOI.
I am impressed, first time any AI nation in HOI or any mod has totally crushed my armies.
Excellent work, I will try again with this hard won experience I now have.
Thanks for making a great mod.
