Austrian Strategies

@Flashman:

I don’t think AH can afford to have as many forces just sitting there watching on R1 as many have suggested. Basically, every single Austrian unit than can reach an enemy should be attacking to make those initial advantages in numbers count, and before the enemy has had the chance to bulk up their front lines.

I agree with Flashman.  It doesn’t sit well with me for Austria to wait for Russia to make the first move.

I suppose if your entire strategy was a hard German and Ottoman push against Russia and a hard Austrian push on Italy, then maybe this would work, but I’d rather make Russia fight for Romania than get it for free.

@ossel:

@wove100:

Ossel, will you be using your Fortress America board to simulate Harry Turtledove’s North American Front of WWI?

SOMEONE BESIDES ME IS AWARE OF THESE BOOKS???  :-D :-D

Well, I wasn’t aware of this map, but it looks like it might work. I was actually going to design my own map once this game came out, but yes, I will be doing this variant (Brits for Confederates and I guess U.S. for Yankees).

Might even make a world map with the American Front included, that way the whole conflict can be simulated.

For those who aren’t aware, Harry Turtledove writes alternate history books, and the work we’re referring to is the saga (like, 10 books) he created based on if the Confederacy had won the American Civil War. There are three books on WW1, 3 books on interwar period, and 4 books on WW2. My forum avatar is from one of the WW2 covers.

Are you kidding? The first thing I noticed was your avatar lol. If you ever do make a custom make for the American front send over a PDF man! Love those boks (FOR THE UNION!!!0

I also agree with Flashman, if it can be hit, hit it. That includes Romania, Albania, Serbia, and Venice and a small force to take out Switzerland. Glory to the Habsburgs!

How long can you keep up that strategy before the Russians roll all over your defenses? Austria Hungary can’t afford to open up multiple fronts for multiple turns. I say to use overwhelming force to hit the allies one at a time. Of course this would be better with rails, but it’s still better than being forced to keep 3 or 4 fronts open.

Except you can’t hit them one at a time, you arleady start out with 3 front, regardless if you attack them or not they exists and if you only attack on one it means you’re being attacked on the other two. You have the ability to close off on entire front (the balkans) on round one, Neutralize a large part of the Italian army (venice), open up a front for Germany to stream men into both the Western and Italian fronts (Switzerland) and put Russia on the defense round 1 (Romania).

Better to wait, if you go too crazy as AH you will bleed out too fas
You need the other central powers to help with Russia wait a turn and all three can roll in.

If Austria takes Romania and then Russia hits Romania… whats to stop Germany from taking Poland hard and now Russians are out of position with respect to Germany.

I don’t know as Austria I would like to see the Russians move a ton of forces to Romania if that clears the way a bit for Germany.

@BJCard:

If Austria takes Romania and then Russia hits Romania… whats to stop Germany from taking Poland hard and now Russians are out of position with respect to Germany.

The problem with this is that Austria cannot invade Romania with enough forces to take it and hold off the Russian counteroffensive. In most cases the territory will be contested and when R1 comes around the Russians will take it back with ease. Why waste the ground units on a territory that you can’t hold to the end of R1? Better I think to hold off until you and the Turks can counterattack in strength AFTER the Germans have invaded Poland and put the Russians on the defensive.

Also, if the Russians are anticipating a German offensive into Poland, they may be reluctant to send more than a few units into Romania which mean that an Austro-Turkish offensive into Romania would be all the better.

If you don’t take Romania Russia literally cant make a single offensive move on its first turn. (unless it attacks Mesopotamia like a psycho.

If you hold off, everything they can attack will be too powerful for them to hit.

Russia’s options are:
A) Attack Romania if Austria-Hungary did
B) Activate Romania if it is empty.

That’s it. They can’t attack anywhere else. So you are safe.
Waiting a turn preserves your forces from being exposed to counterattack in Romania on R1 and instead exposes them to a full blown attack of near 30 units WITH air supremacy if you build a fighter on AH1. Then on R2 they are faced with tough choices.

Push back in Romania, and then get hit by Ottomans THEN Austria-Hungary  AGAIN.
All the while a huge German force in Poland is ready to move.

@Auztria:

I agree Austria-Hungary doesn’t have the resources to contest three fronts, which is why it’s vital to strike first and strike hard in the Balkans

But Austria dose not have the resources to hit Serbia and Romania, while having a force capable of defending Galicia for the Russian as well. Austria is strong, but needs to be handled well on it’s first few turns or disaster will ensue and attacking Romania is one of the way to do that, did you read what happened in Mr. Harris’s walk through when he did just what you’re proposing? By the end of R1 Romania wasn’t even contested anymore, Austria’s forces in the region had be greatly weakened and the Russians not only had the initiative but were in a position to threaten Austria from Serbia, Budapest and Galicia.

Also consider that the rules require Austria to attack Serbia on A1, this limits what moves Austria can make, were this not the case an attack on Romania would be advisable but given the restriction the rules place on them it isn’t

@Auztria:

Attacking Venice AH1 will only thrust insufficient forces into Italy before reinforcements arrive. Only an idiot Italian would launch an offensive into Tyrolia or Trieste I1; far better to amass the assault forces for a crippling blow on AH2.

The necessary forces for an overpowering attack are already in position to attack Italy on A1, why not seize the initiative here? Italy is the weakest of the Allied powers and attacking on A1 will place them on the back foot right from the get go. With an economy of 14IPC reduced to 12 by Austria’s attack Italy will be scrambling to hold on. Also, by attacking Venice, you give Austria the advantage of creating interior lines and concentrating forces, better to have a contested Venice then having to spread you defensive forces between two territories, while Italy builds up to strike one or the other and their will.

@Auztria:

Larry’s failure in Romania was because he attacked Venice.

I don’t follow, the forces arrayed against Venice are either two or three spaces from Romania and wouldn’t be able to help attack it on A1 or be in place to help defend anything the Russians could attack on R1, so how dose this hurt Austria? If anything getting the jump on Italy and weakening their already frail economy and their army on A1 is to Austria’s and Germany’s benefit. In most of my test scenarios Italy is left in one defending infantry and Austria with nearly 10 infantry and all 4 artillery. Italy’s only response is to send the 6 infantry and 2 artillery from Piedmont and the one additional infantry from Tuscany to try an stall the Austrians, but this force will take more damage then it will be able to deal to the defending Austrians. Italy will be put in a desperate trying to hold on while Austria can reinforce itself at it’s leisure.

Italy’s goal in life is to annoy Austria-Hungary. It can’t phase any other CP so turning Venice into a moonscape is in your best interests. Just because they are small doesn’t mean they wont be annoying.

@Auztria:

Yes, and on A2 you invade and Venice becomes that moonscape. But Venice should be the furthest object of permanent Italian conquests, at least until Russia is dealt with.

The problem I see with this is that on A1, Italy will have 6 infantry and 2 artillery in Venice, but on I1 a player with any sense will move to reinforce this position, so that by A2, Austria will be facing an Italian force with at least 13 infantry and 4 artillery, a force bigger then the combined force in Tyrolia and Trieste. A reinforcement column of 7 infantry and 2 artillery in Tuscany will be able to counter any moves into Venice by then end of I1. Also consider that Italy can land an infantry and artillery from Libya to Albania on I1, boost their economy to 16 by the end of their first turn, and have a small but potent defense force sitting on Austria’s flank. This force will require immediate attention, it cannot be ignored for long. By then end of I1 they will have an additional 3 infantry and 1 artillery in Rome and 17IPC’s to spend on I2, meaning they could very rapidly overrun Austria’s defensive.

I have not seen you mention what, if any, reinforcements are being sent to the Italian front by Austrians on A1 to be able to overcome this on A2, if anything it seems your implying that all of Austria’s attention should be on Russia. The 12 infantry and 4 artillery spread between the two territories of Trieste and Tyrolia are not enough to invade Venice on A2 without reinforcement on A1, and they are not enough to withstand and Italian offensive on I2 without reinforcement.

@Auztria:

If you can’t see the reinforcements for Italy, or an attack on Albania, I advise you to go back to the first page and actually take a look at my strategy write-up for Austria.

It dosn’t matter, if your plan does not involve an attack on Italy one, then it will not work