After Action Reports

Title:  Hitler’s downfall (1941)
Date:  12/13/2008. 
Special Rules:  Tech development and No’s 
Victor:  Allies won. Axis conceded.
Game Length:  About 10 hours, 4-5 turns.
Bias:  Two most experienced players: one in the Axis as Germany and Italy, the other  in the Allies as the USA. Two newbies in the Allies side and one semi experience player as Japan.
Description:  Germans destroyed most of the British navy in the first round, Japan captured most of the inslands in the Pacific. Russians built a quick defense, Americans  harassed the Japanese in the Pacific, SBR Germans and Italians. British concentrated on European invasion. Germans got motorized infantry and paratroopers. Germans captured Leningrad with heavy airplane loss. Italians helped to set up for the invasion of Moscow. Unexpectadly, the British captures Berlin in the turn before with 3 soldiers, 3 tanks, two fighters and 1 shore bombardment, against 2 bombers 3 soldiers, 3 tanks. Moscow falls, Italians liberate Berlin, but British recapture it, Axis concedes. Although japanese controled most of Asia, the Russian invasion did not to Moscow on time.
Observations/Recommendations:  Germans rolled really bad in the defense of Germany, and was not expecting an invasion that turn, with only 3 transports in the British fleet. The Allies can win if they work well together, and the Axis is not very careful.

Title: The Ever Victorios Army (1941)
Date:12/15/2008
Special Rules: Techs and NO’s
Victor: Axis won
Game Length: 5 hours, 5 turns
Bias:More experience on the Axis(me) for Gremany, and hleping a new player step by step (Japan). Allies made good attacks in Russia but were not coordinated in other areas.

Description: Germans attacked and sunk the UK BB and trans, as well as DD in sz7. Attacks in russia, setting up for a G2 attack on Kaleria. Lost almost all infantry to insane Russian defense rolls. No attack on Egypt. Placed 9 inf and 1 art, collected 45.

Russia purchased 3 arm, 5 inf, and launched attacks on the baltic states, and one other territory. Lost both battles and retreated. Moved all infantry in the east to one stack of 7, tempting Japan. Placed 2 arm in Kaleria attempting to hold it.

Japan opened normally with few losses. Left the flying tigers alive in China in order to keep from being spread to thinly in Asia.

UK bought 8 units mostly land with a few fighters. Placed its fleet off the coast of france and laned a tank and inf. Collected around mid 40’s with bonuses. Retreated out of egypt as well deeper into africa.

Italy retook france, moved into egypt, and reinforced the russian front.

US sent a fleet to england, and built in paciffic.

Turn 2.

Germany sunk us fleet with a sub and bomber. Sunk entire UK fleet with cruiser, and airforce. Lost 2 fighters and the cruiser. But the UK lost 1 cruiser, 2 DD, and 2 or 3 transports. Took Kalaria, moved up infantry closer to Moscow. Took trans jordan. Collected 55 with bonuses, and placed 1 bomber, 1 fighter, and several infantry and art.

Russia bought a fighter tanks and inf. Attacked 2 spots, took 1, lost 4 infantry in the exchanges, to Germany losing 1 art. Attacked into Manchuria with 4 infantry. Collected in the low 30’s.

Japan continued to push into asia, and killed the russians in Manchuria. Collected in the 40’s.

Uk built a new fleet. Tried retaking Egypt with 2 inf, 1 tank, 1 fighter, against 4 inf. And lost everything. Germany lost 1 inf. Very bad dice for UK.

Italy moved deeper into africa and attacked russia. Collected 24ish

The US build more fleet in the Pacific, with several subs and a BB. Took Algeria with a transport. Sent a bomber to italy for sbr……shot down.

Turn 3…

Germany bought 6 tanks 5 inf and an art…I think. Started an SBR campaign against the russians, with 1 bomber. Did 4 dmg. The other bomber was used for a different battle. Continued to press russia. Attack in Archangel failed with 2 inf 1 fighter, vs 2 inf.
Collected in the 50’s.

Russia attacked Archangel, and a few lightly held territories, retreated from Japan. Collected in the high 20’s.

Japan continued pressing Asia. Failed to take an empty India…left Japan to make its own choices this turn…:( Over all it could have been worse.

UK invaded france again.

Italy retook with 1 tank left. As well as taking cacauses.

Us continued to harass africa and began to come after japan. China stayed alive and was not much of a problem.

The End Game…The next few turns were the death of Russia. The SBR damage and large german army rolled over russia by turn 5, and took moscow. Japan and US destroyed each others fleets, with Japan having its BB as the sole surviving ship, along with its transports.

Overall the game was very easy for the Axis. If the allies had been smarter, and better coordinated in africa and europe, russia would have been able to live longer. Even with the us sinking the italian fleet it did not slow them down much. With more equal skill levels I think the game is pretty well balanced. Russia is still the key, one mistake and its over.

Title:  Japan vs. the World 1941
Date:  12-16-08
Special Rules:  National objecties and tech 
Victor:  Axis victory, by victory cities 16 were taken.
Game Length:  The game lasted 8 rounds, and took 4-5 hrs.
Bias:  I was playing the axis and have played the game longer, however my foe is of equal skill and cunning.
Description:  Japan took a India turn 3 and then Aus turn 4 to hold the pacific.  The US player split his forces between europe and pacific.  Germany pursued moscow and karelia with Italian support in the south.  Italy gave up on africa after US and UK destroyed it’s navy in turn 2.  UK with US support bombed germany in an all out SBR strategy. 
Observations/Recommendations:  SBR is a good tool, but shouldn’t be the focus of US and UK.  I have played the game 4 times and japan is over powered.  Each time japan took what it wanted when it wanted.  Although I have yet to play the US.  So I look foward to my next game in which the Empire of the sun is going to set forever under the heel of my boot. 
Link:  (Optional) Link your own thread discussing the game in greater detail.

Title:  war of attrition
Date:  16th of December
Special Rules:  NO’s and Tech were both used. 1941 scenario
Victor:  allied victory, by concession
Game Length:  around 7 hours
Bias:  i’m beginning to think that i’m the most skilled in the playgroup, although my allied team mates were less skilled than the axis

Description: Germany pushed straight into Russia on G1, also using its african forces to attempt to weaken the UK there. they failed to attack any UK ships though, which i felt was a grave error. Germany came close to taking moscow, but the tank push was interrupted by UK landings in france, finland, support in karelia, and later the capture of poland. the latter was only possible due to the German fleet pushing out and sinking the UK fleet (with airforce assistance) after d-day in france

Russa went defensive most of the game, and came quite close to falling with Japan knocking in the back-door and Germany bulldozing the front. only thanks to strong UK support and limited USA support did Russa not falter, but in-fact recovered and helped push towards berlin and rome. the Russian sub was also useful in sinking the remainder of the German fleet after its victory over UK (one cruiser and transport remained)

Japan captured most of the islands above australia J1, built an IC in manchuria, and pushed down towards india. they never took india (lost that battle), but pushed strongly into Russia. after crushing Russian infantry resistance and not taking many losses, they were knocking on moscow’s door. but a USA bomber took out the advanced tanks, and further tanks were diverted into China

i moved a tank down to egypt on UK1, and captured morroco. the egypt forces pushed in to libya and won that battle. although Italy took back libya and morroco, and captured egypt, they never moved further due to infantry having moved up from lower africa in-time, and fighter support. the UK fleet was used to invade france, which was captured. although they were then sunk in Germany’s next turn, this fleet was rebuilt with a 3 BB’s and 4 transports (over the course of 2 turns). they were then used to funnel forces into finland and karelia, which then pushed towards Germany. as Germany no longer had a fleet, i positioned mine in the fjord above Germany, and landed forces in poland, then berlin, and then france again over my next turns (i re-built sufficient ground forces for these invasions at the end of every turn). i also re-took the islands i lost to Japan on UK2 (as the Japanese navy was elsewhere), and held-out in india. UK fighters were also landed in moscow to help against any possible attack

Italy was inconsequential in this game. they were severely hampered in africa, and the only memorable thing they did was take brazil towards the end (motivated by frustration i think)

Chinese forces had time to re-inforce over a few turns. they re-took kwantung for UK, and had some good dice rolls whenever Japan attacked

USA mainly focused on the pacific by building up its navy and attacking Japans. they lost their first fleet, but quickly built another and finished off what was left of Japans. USA bombers were flown into Russia to hamper Japanese shipping (2 undefended transports were sunk on USA1). a USA bomber also sacrificed itself to destroy the advance Japanese tank push into Russia. some us forces were also landed in egypt to help with the hampering of Italy

the axis conceeded when it was obvious that Germany couldn’t get off the defensive, and Japan was hemmed in by China and the USA

Observations/Recommendations: UK dominated the game. by having a constant supply of troops to invade German territory, and support Russia, Germany never completed its push on moscow (despite coming very close). once their tanks forces were disrupted, and Russia began pushing back, it simply became a question of how long Germany could hold-out. due to allied re-inforcements in africa, Italy was denied its IPC gain as well. Japan started out well, but were too worried about losing their navy to the USA. i felt they should have pushed into China first, but this was done far too late. USA did its job well of distracting the Japanese fleet, and supporting Russia and UK where possible. the game came down to a war of attrition, which the allies were set to win after Germany fell short of moscow. some allied SBR’s were utilised, but didn’t affect the axis greatly. nobody who purchased tech chips ever rolled any break-throughs either

past few weeks i’ve been organising a game a week, as it’s christmas holidays so people have a bit more spare time

we don’t really pay attention to the VC’s too much, but i still take note of them occasionally. i don’t think my games would go that differently with them, except maybe play out longer time-wise

@Admiral_Yamamoto:

Game Length:  About 10 hours, 4-5 turns.

10 hours for 4-5 turns?? 2 hours per round, do guys take a long time to make decisions?
In our group round 1 takes about an hour, but after that each round only takes about 30 min.

That is nothing compard to my Revised days with games lasting for 15 hours, or more. :-o
As far as VCs, we keep track of them, but it si the fall of Capitals that decides our games.

yeah, my games ends when a particular side can’t really fight back anymore. last game was called as germany couldn’t get off the defensive and no one else could help her, and japan was pushed back to her main island

yet we’ve played on when russia fell, as japan fell around the same time

@Funcioneta:

Title:  Pharaoh builds german fleet … again (1941)
Date:  11th and 18th of December
Special Rules:  played with NO’s and Tech. Target: 18 VCs. Face to face game.
Victor:  Both sides decided stop and call a draw by time issues. Unsure possible result
Game Length:  8 hours, 7 rounds

Continuing AAR:

Allies managed retake Africa and kill one of the two italian fleets, closing the Mediterranean for the other (that was busy taking Madagascar). Japan managed taking India but soviets could retake. USA’s fleet, in a bad move by me, attacked Japan’s fleet and lost (tons of units killed both sides, but japs survived with 2 bb abd 1 fig).

China halted in the last territory, couldn’t attack or pop more inf but japs prefered attack India with Manchurian tanks. Soviets stopped siberian advance in evenki.

Western axis player played very bad. He risked tanks here and there for nothing, and received multiple landings from UK, and a last one from USA (D-Day). Soviets become a monster (54 IPCs with war bonds and taking Romania NO), but Japan was a even greater monster (62 IPCs). USA was 43 many turns, only the last earning 61 because of D-Day.

Conclusions:

East Indies IC was pretty good for attacking India, but I continue thinking the main failure of this setup is China’s setup and China special rules. Allies couldn’t make a coherent land asian campaign because China’s crappy status, so I guess soviets must send reinforcements to India to hold that. China simply cannot face Manchurian tanks, because cannot trade territories even with the fighter alive (they colect popcorn inf at begining of USA’s turn instead end of USA’s turn, a big disadvantage). Japan is a truly monster even fighting them, I never had enough money for fleet as USA (imagine a uncontested Japan). I think the game was still undecided because germans and italians were in serious danger, but a better western axis player would toast us.

On the bad side, China rules and setup simply makes the game too hard for allies. And game has not enough japanese markers, we had to take old ones from Revised  :-P

On the positive side, the map itself and the territories are very good. Eastern front is more dinamic than ever and it’s a pleasure having a chance of fight for Karelia as soviets for once, while Siberia finally reflects the long distances of real life. Pacific ocean has also many interesting changes and China territories are easy to mod into balanced house rules. I also think new subs rules have potential for Germany, a pity the german player did try AC instead them.

@TG:

Congratulations, Emr.  Even with your post you’ve made it on the Axis leaderboard.  Many people, including myself, haven’t cracked that one yet.

A single question:

How did you make it to Caucuses in three turns?  Even at it’s short, through Burma-India-Persia, you had to at least blitz through two territories in one turn.  That’s quite an incredible drive.

I don’t think this is the right thread to get into it, but:
UK Built a complex in India on turn 1.  I took that round 2 (did I mention UK had ultra cold dice?).  Italy!? took Trans Jordan 1st round, UK failed to retake it (how he cursed his dice!) and Italy opened the hole in Persia round 2 for Japan to blitz through into the Caucuses in round 3.

Title: The Magic Roundabout ! (1941 AA50)
**Date:**15/Dec/2008
Special Rules: Techs and NO’s , all OOB
Victor: Draw  :lol:
Game Length: 14 Hours, Unknown number of turns…
**Bias:**Both my friend and I are basically the same skill level, and do things that would get us squashed by Mr Frood and Mrs Maths wiz in about 5 seconds… here though we have fun !

The Brits went with a IC in SAF and India, while the Axis went Tank Crazy in Germany, trading with Tanks, attacking with Tanks, defending with Tanks… did I mentiuon they bought a LOT OF TANKS ?  The Japs bumbled about leaving the brits to expand in africa and build up defence for India… in a game that went on and on and on LOL… India fell, was liberated by Russia, then fell again, The Italian Navy was wiped out by US bmr’s… rebuilt… then wiped out by the UK airforce based in Caucasus.

The Us Navy and the Jap Navy were smashed to bits at Wake, the remaining Jap ships bombed to bits… a US BB and AC eventually took up residence off Japan, but were looking to suffer a BMR fate… Japan had at least 3 IC’s on the mainland, and was pushing a massive force through India (The Flying Tigers survived Round 1 and were defending the last bit of China with a US FTR , Chinese, UK ARM and Russian INF.

The Russians got mechanized Tech and stuffed a load of ARM and INF into persia to stop the JApanese pushing through … while UK crammed units through z5 wherever they could, liberated Karelia with Advanced ART and the Yanks set up a ‘stream’ of units to Africa through Algeria…  even at this point it looked like it could go either way, (Both Germany and JApan had large unit build ups closing on Russia…) but my friend had to go home to get ready for work the next day LOL… and I had to try and get some sleep…

Face to Face is brilliant, since we are so evenly matched, while some of the fights and such that occured (particularily in Africa) would never happen in here with all the experts around in this place…  :-D

Title:  Doolittle Rides Again/1942 Setup
Date:  December 6th, 2008 
Special Rules:  NO’s + Tech
Victor:  Allied Victory by Concession. 
Game Length: 6.5 hours.
Bias:  I am the oldest player, all others about even. 
Description: 
Allies: Pacific Used balance strategy, UK built factory India.  Shocked at how effective China was at absorbing Jap Ftrs, it took Jap five fullrounds to catch China.  Typical stuff in Europe, Italy still very effective, constant push btwn USA/UK and Italy in Africa.  Typical maxium extend by Axis, Allies catch up at Mid game and push back, great fun had by all.

@TG:

Funcioneta,

Do you think getting rid of the silly rule that China can’t mobilize infantry in a territory already supporting 3 infantry help China’s odds any?

Yes, it would aid. As now, makes difficult stack forces and at times you simply must retreat your main force and safrice one popping inf. Not a great aid but at least would improve defense. Maybe mobilizing from a IC would better, even if only inf mobilizes (as in AAPacific).

China should count how many infs pop at end of turn. As now, It’s too easy for Japan reduce China to pop only one inf.

i feel it would be more advantageous to count how many territories China has at the END of its turn, to see how many infantry they recieve. that way if China re-takes any territories, they get an extra inf or 2

Title:  Splish, Splash, the Japs were taking a Bath… (1942)
Date:  …Long about a Saturday night… 20 December 2008
Special Rules:  Techs and NO’s
  - Attempted to go for LHTR Super Bombers rules but was vetoed down
  - Gang voted 3-2 to play with tech
Victor:  Allied Victory
  - Germany finally croaked “please take your foot off my neck… I can’t breathe…”
Game Length:  6 hours/3 rounds … yeah, we’re slow movers
Bias:  Sides seemed pretty balanced. Japanese had some really cold dice and they never recovered from J1.
Description:

G1: Tech*2. Germany opened by sinking the British navy and digging in on the Eastern Front. Loses the U-Boat fleet.

R1: Tech. Takes Finland and digs in for defense

J1: Tech*2. Transport.

• Japan had a great textbook opening attempting to sink the entire US fleet
• Takes Burma
• Skipped the Philippines
• Takes East Indies
• Takes Borneo
• Destroyed the Chinese ftr

Japan lost 5 of it’s fighters and the US BB survived.

UK1: Tech.

• Strikes German fleet in Baltic
• Builds CV, 2*DD, Transport
• Withdraws from Africa & digs into India
• Surviving Indian fleet sinks Japanese transport & blocks Australia from surface assault
• Australian fleet sets up in Carolina Island in anticipation of US fleet consolidating there

I1: Trans-Jordan & Egypt

Observations/Recommendations: 
Agreed that the next game we’ll attempt without tech. Seems to make it too much of a crap shoot/game breaker.

US/UK/Japan ended up with Long Range Aircraft as tech

Japan never recovered from the loss of it’s Air Force on the first move and failed to see US setting up in the Philippines. Japan was left empty and US walked in on US3 after a brief naval conflict. After Japan fell it was just a matter of time – though there was a brief moment where Germany might have pulled off taking USSR.

Long Range Aircraft really shrinks the Pacific and turns the tide for whoever gets it first. US had fighters and bombers in Australia as defense and the tech advantage gave them global reach. Japan should have gone totally defensive after that tech roll and waited for Germany and Italy to take Russia.

Germany & Italy were doing some amazing work in the Caucasus. That is a pretty scary combo punch down there when they finally get it wired. My hat is off to the coordinated action down there.