Turn 1 Serbian attack. Suggested tactic.

The very fact that Austria didn’t invade Serbia as an opening move shows what a stupid attack it is.

AH would be a lot better off not having to make it at all; by taking Romania you’d isolate Serbia which means its units might never be mobilized.

But having to attack I’d prefer to wipe them out as soon as possible.

I appreciate the thought that the Ottomans could use some help (since in my first game they were forced to turtle up and build infantry for most of the time) but I don’t think stealing from AH is where they should get money from.

One of the first things I noticed was how juicy the Balkans are for the CP. It’s one of the things that make it feel WWI (that the CP be motivated to fight there) and is one of the main things in the + column in my pros and cons of the game list.

@JamesAleman:

After failing to hit, I was stuck in Serbia for 2 turns, my first live game.

Seeing as time is so vital, and units sent to Serbia are now 3 turns from Moscow, I much prefer (in Russia first strategies to hit lightly from Trieste). This gives you 18 infantry and 4 artillery to smack the 6 units in Romania (you should hit 4 times with 3’s, 4 times with 2’s, assuring you won’t be stuck)

Now lets assume Romania hits 3 times, (you gain 3 IPCs instead of the 2 Serbia represents by the way) this leaves you with 15 inf, 4 art that can (and likely won’t) be hit by Russia’s 9 inf and 4 art and denies Russia 3 dollars (although they save 1 inf that would be lost to a counterattack if they activated).

I’ve been saying this for about a week now.  I totally agree with you.  Those Serbian troops aren’t going anywhere, nor will they hurt anyone- so hit Romania HARD and Russia cannot do anything about it- even forced to defend multiple territories.

You are right. Serbia is the wrong way for Austria to be going and movement is so slow; go light and hit Romania, with a view to the Ukraine and Russia next.

@BJCard:

Those Serbian troops aren’t going anywhere, nor will they hurt anyone-

Not sure if this is what you’re trying to say, but it’s my understanding that once Serbia is activated, Russia can use the troops however it sees fit; they are not constrained to staying in Serbia.

Yeah, looking at my map of all the places I wanted to attack Serbia was not one. Like someone else said, that must be why its mandatory.

@ossel:

@BJCard:

Those Serbian troops aren’t going anywhere, nor will they hurt anyone-

Not sure if this is what you’re trying to say, but it’s my understanding that once Serbia is activated, Russia can use the troops however it sees fit; they are not constrained to staying in Serbia.

What I am trying to say is that it is a small force in Serbia- they cannot challenge any territory directly, so why hit them in force?  Hit them with just enough to contest the territory and make your main thrust against Venice and Romania.

The army in Serbia can be used to take Albania next, though arguably this also should be targeted A1.

@Flashman:

The very fact that Austria didn’t invade Serbia as an opening move shows what a stupid attack it is.

Which war are you referring to? Because I’m pretty sure that the first of Austria’s Mobilization orders came on July 25th against Serbia only, which was the same day they declared war on Serbia. I’m also pretty sure that on August 6th that the 5th and 6th Austrian armies started their offensive against Serbia and it wasn’t until the 23rd of that month that offensive operations began against Russia.

While I’ll grant the rule isn’t great from an objective stand point, but from a historical one it makes perfect sense.

@Flashman:

The army in Serbia can be used to take Albania next, though arguably this also should be targeted A1.

Only if they defeat the Austrians fighting them in Serbia.  I don’t advocate sending just 1 Austrian Inf there, but sending 4-5 units to keep it contested; but not so many that it weakens the Venice and Romania attacks.

I said INVADE Serbia. Historically Austria bombarded Belgrade, but did not invade at this time. Since no means of bombarding is available, Larry insists that they must send troops over the border.

@Clyde85:

@Flashman:

The very fact that Austria didn’t invade Serbia as an opening move shows what a stupid attack it is.

Which war are you referring to? Because I’m pretty sure that the first of Austria’s Mobilization orders came on July 25th against Serbia only, which was the same day they declared war on Serbia. I’m also pretty sure that on August 6th that the 5th and 6th Austrian armies started their offensive against Serbia and it wasn’t until the 23rd of that month that offensive operations began against Russia.

While I’ll grant the rule isn’t great from an objective stand point, but from a historical one it makes perfect sense.

@Flashman:

I said INVADE Serbia. Historically Austria bombarded Belgrade, but did not invade at this time. Since no means of bombarding is available, Larry insists that they must send troops over the border.

Starting on August 6th General Potiorek led the 6th army from Visegrad across the upper Drina river towards Uzic, followed by the 5th army attacking from the lower Drina  down the River Jadar towards Valjevo. In all 290,000 soldiers which moved and attacked places that were within the Kingdom of Serbia. If that’s not an invasion I don’t know what else you would call it!  :-D

But that didn’t start the war (as Larry in effect suggests); the Germans was already in Belgium by then.

And it was a very minor operation compared to what was to come.

@Flashman:

I said INVADE Serbia. Historically Austria bombarded Belgrade, but did not invade at this time. Since no means of bombarding is available, Larry insists that they must send troops over the border.

@Clyde85:

@Flashman:

The very fact that Austria didn’t invade Serbia as an opening move shows what a stupid attack it is.

Which war are you referring to? Because I’m pretty sure that the first of Austria’s Mobilization orders came on July 25th against Serbia only, which was the same day they declared war on Serbia. I’m also pretty sure that on August 6th that the 5th and 6th Austrian armies started their offensive against Serbia and it wasn’t until the 23rd of that month that offensive operations began against Russia.

While I’ll grant the rule isn’t great from an objective stand point, but from a historical one it makes perfect sense.

I forgot which book it was, but in 7th grade. I recall the phrase “at X:XX shells began to fall on Belgrade.” My friends and I when I got to page 20 resolved to make a WWI game. At about page 80 we had a map printed at kinkos which we all chipped in on. On page 130 we realized that Petrograd was the capital not moscow. :oops: Those were the days lol.  :-)

Thanks to work and other commitments, I didn’t get to solo a couple of turns until last night. I tried hitting Serbia with a small army, 4 Inf and 1 Art (I think). I did eventually win it on turn 2, but it freed up more troops to hit Romania with, which I managed to conquer turn 1, although Russia immediately contested it, but not in enough force to take it back, as it had to guard against my massive AH army in Galicia that I left poised to exploit any opening in Russia’s defenses left by their moves in reaction to the fall of Romania (yes I know I was playing both sides).