I'm very impressed with this mod.
Here's a brief AAR of a game playing as the UK.
* Began in 1936 by spending a lot of time sorting out the UK's convoys and trades. Once Britain was fully exploiting its colonies and had some appropriate trades up, resources poured in -- UK built to 99,999 reserves in all resources.
* UK's efforts were focused on research -- industrial development, fighters, naval, tanks in that order (although by the end I was deep into nuclear development) . My intention was to let the Commonwealth build up armies and then to take control of them in early 1939, deploying them into France and Egypt. Britain would thus be relieved from building much in the way of units and could focus on science.
* The game proceeded historically through 1936, 1937 and 1938. Britain continued to focus on research as Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand helpfully focused on piling up divisions. Diplomatically, Britain steadily swung Italy and Romania over to the allied camp. By 1939 Italy was fully "friendly" -- but resisted a coup.
* In early 1939 I took military control of France and the Commonwealth countries. Some 15 Canadian divisions were transported to France, and another 15 Australian divisions to Egypt. My hope was to try to postpone a German conquest of France with Canadian blood, and to drive Italy out of Africa with Australians, while keeping the UK focused on blitz-researching.
* The war started punctually on September 1 1939. I began to balance research with the construction of UK fighters (Spitfire IXs), armour and infantry. In an attempt to draw German units away from Poland and buy time there, I relocated the UK's bomber force to France and bombed the Rhur. Germany didn't like this and seemed to switch forces to the western border.
* As the weeks went by it became clear that Germany was unprepared for its Polish campaign. German attacks on Polish territory were sluggish and uncoordinated, and the Poles put up a stalward resistence. I therefore decided to experiment with a forward defense of France, aiming to occupy the southwestern four provinces of Germany and thus to build French defenses behind as much of the Rhine as possible -- messing with German production in the Rhur.
* A joint French/Canadian offensive thus was launched across the Maginot line, assisted by a corps of South African infantry and the BEF. This offensive caught the Germans napping. The thin crust of German defending units quickly collapsed, and in a few short weeks I had overrun the Rhur. Resolving to reinforce success, I stripped France's northwest defenses, poured in more Canadian and South African units, and ultimately moved the entire British Army from England into my spreading gains in Germany. The Germans desperately switched forces from their Polish campaign -- and thus saved Poland.
* A grinding conquest of Germany ensued. As it became clear that Germany was not going to succeed in pushing the invaders back to the Maginot and that Poland was going to stay in the game, I steadily switched from research to unit production, feathering UK infantry, air and ultimately armour into the battle in Central Germany. Having lost the Rhur and forced to defend against an undefeated Poland, the Germans steadily dwindled.
* A sideshow. Argentina joined the Axis and conducted a brutally successful attack against a massive passing convoy of New Zealand naval forces and transported troops. I had not taken control of the kiwis (by accident) and this AI-controlled ally was attempting to land a large force in Europe, by crossing the Pacific, rounding South America, and attempting to sail the South Atlantic. Unfortunately the convoy ran out of fuel north of the Falklands, and the Argentines mercilessly beat it up. The honour of the Empire was at stake. I moved two British carrier groups and a French carrier group into the South Atlantic, and transported a Canadian, a British and a large South African corps to the area. My carrier groups made short work of the argie navy; the three corps landed in Argentina; and my South African-led forces destroyed the Argentine army. South Africa then annexed the country, creating an interesting African-South American empire. Thus was avoided much trouble for Margaret Thatcher in the future.
* In central Europe my campaign to destroy German eventually stalled with the entire North German plain in my hands, and some 25 German divisions holding on in the fortresses and mountains of Austria and Czechoslovakia. I had ordered up a 10-division force of British armour, and these arrived in late 1941. Once they reached the front, they led a 30-division allied army which smashed the remaining German defenses province-by-province, one at a time. By March 1942 Germany's last province was gone and the Reich was annexed by France. A few more weeks finished off Slovakia and Hungary, which were shared around by France and greater Poland (always AI-controlled to keep things simple). On April 21, 1942, the last province fell.
Great fun. The scenario overrates the ability of the Commonwealth to build divisions early in the war, but something similar might have been accomplished historically with UK divisions. The fears that the German General Staff had about an early offensive from France seem entirely justified -- Germany is very vulnerable when it is busy thrashing Poland. The early bomber offensive on the Rhur (which the Chamberlain war cabinet decided against to avoid retaliation) and then the thrust across the Maginot worked beautifully -- the German generals were right to be nervous, and relieved that in real life the French and British hid behind their start lines.
Congratulations to the design team on a great mod!
Best,
brian topp
briantopp@rogers.com[nospamplease]
Here's a brief AAR of a game playing as the UK.
* Began in 1936 by spending a lot of time sorting out the UK's convoys and trades. Once Britain was fully exploiting its colonies and had some appropriate trades up, resources poured in -- UK built to 99,999 reserves in all resources.
* UK's efforts were focused on research -- industrial development, fighters, naval, tanks in that order (although by the end I was deep into nuclear development) . My intention was to let the Commonwealth build up armies and then to take control of them in early 1939, deploying them into France and Egypt. Britain would thus be relieved from building much in the way of units and could focus on science.
* The game proceeded historically through 1936, 1937 and 1938. Britain continued to focus on research as Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand helpfully focused on piling up divisions. Diplomatically, Britain steadily swung Italy and Romania over to the allied camp. By 1939 Italy was fully "friendly" -- but resisted a coup.
* In early 1939 I took military control of France and the Commonwealth countries. Some 15 Canadian divisions were transported to France, and another 15 Australian divisions to Egypt. My hope was to try to postpone a German conquest of France with Canadian blood, and to drive Italy out of Africa with Australians, while keeping the UK focused on blitz-researching.
* The war started punctually on September 1 1939. I began to balance research with the construction of UK fighters (Spitfire IXs), armour and infantry. In an attempt to draw German units away from Poland and buy time there, I relocated the UK's bomber force to France and bombed the Rhur. Germany didn't like this and seemed to switch forces to the western border.
* As the weeks went by it became clear that Germany was unprepared for its Polish campaign. German attacks on Polish territory were sluggish and uncoordinated, and the Poles put up a stalward resistence. I therefore decided to experiment with a forward defense of France, aiming to occupy the southwestern four provinces of Germany and thus to build French defenses behind as much of the Rhine as possible -- messing with German production in the Rhur.
* A joint French/Canadian offensive thus was launched across the Maginot line, assisted by a corps of South African infantry and the BEF. This offensive caught the Germans napping. The thin crust of German defending units quickly collapsed, and in a few short weeks I had overrun the Rhur. Resolving to reinforce success, I stripped France's northwest defenses, poured in more Canadian and South African units, and ultimately moved the entire British Army from England into my spreading gains in Germany. The Germans desperately switched forces from their Polish campaign -- and thus saved Poland.
* A grinding conquest of Germany ensued. As it became clear that Germany was not going to succeed in pushing the invaders back to the Maginot and that Poland was going to stay in the game, I steadily switched from research to unit production, feathering UK infantry, air and ultimately armour into the battle in Central Germany. Having lost the Rhur and forced to defend against an undefeated Poland, the Germans steadily dwindled.
* A sideshow. Argentina joined the Axis and conducted a brutally successful attack against a massive passing convoy of New Zealand naval forces and transported troops. I had not taken control of the kiwis (by accident) and this AI-controlled ally was attempting to land a large force in Europe, by crossing the Pacific, rounding South America, and attempting to sail the South Atlantic. Unfortunately the convoy ran out of fuel north of the Falklands, and the Argentines mercilessly beat it up. The honour of the Empire was at stake. I moved two British carrier groups and a French carrier group into the South Atlantic, and transported a Canadian, a British and a large South African corps to the area. My carrier groups made short work of the argie navy; the three corps landed in Argentina; and my South African-led forces destroyed the Argentine army. South Africa then annexed the country, creating an interesting African-South American empire. Thus was avoided much trouble for Margaret Thatcher in the future.
* In central Europe my campaign to destroy German eventually stalled with the entire North German plain in my hands, and some 25 German divisions holding on in the fortresses and mountains of Austria and Czechoslovakia. I had ordered up a 10-division force of British armour, and these arrived in late 1941. Once they reached the front, they led a 30-division allied army which smashed the remaining German defenses province-by-province, one at a time. By March 1942 Germany's last province was gone and the Reich was annexed by France. A few more weeks finished off Slovakia and Hungary, which were shared around by France and greater Poland (always AI-controlled to keep things simple). On April 21, 1942, the last province fell.
Great fun. The scenario overrates the ability of the Commonwealth to build divisions early in the war, but something similar might have been accomplished historically with UK divisions. The fears that the German General Staff had about an early offensive from France seem entirely justified -- Germany is very vulnerable when it is busy thrashing Poland. The early bomber offensive on the Rhur (which the Chamberlain war cabinet decided against to avoid retaliation) and then the thrust across the Maginot worked beautifully -- the German generals were right to be nervous, and relieved that in real life the French and British hid behind their start lines.
Congratulations to the design team on a great mod!
Best,
brian topp
briantopp@rogers.com[nospamplease]
