Frontnytt,news from the frontier. A 1936 multiplayer experience

[Crilloan]

Frontnytt

News from the frontier- a collaborative story about an ongoing multiplayer game.

Since our last game ended a bit prematurely in the middle of 41 its time to start up a new campaign.

Recapitulation of the end of last campaign
Sovjet retreating in the north with projected loss of Moscow within months but holding a massive defensive line at Kiev. Retreat of comintern forces to defensible positions in the mountains around Baku. Severe losses of Sovjet armed forces (>25%)
UK in retreat in India after early Seelöwe. Total control of Japan in the pacific with annexation and puppeting of Anzac. The American continent in a nutcracker from both east and west coast landings. Canada annexed by Germany and USA in a dire situation.

But now its time for another war, now more massive with more players at the world stage!
Every Monday until HOI3 is released.

Setting
Armageddon, 1936 scenario with decent amount of house rules.

Generals and the information I have gathered about them.
More recruits might show up along the way

Jasgripen: UK
Veteran player and according to colleagues a bona fide doomsday machine (rumoured to be taking notes of the weather in Doomsday for planning assaults next year). Interested in asymmetric warfare.

PAHO: Canada
Played UK in the last two games. Desert warfare specialist after the bitter struggles in Iraq in previous campaign.

Wallonga: France
Earlier merits includes jointly controlling UK with PAHO. Will escargots be served in the finer establishments in Berlin this time around?

Vapula: UK2, Republican Spain
Missed out on earlier campaigns due to a low efficiency steam driven computer. Probably a board game veteran? Were thrown into playing Rep spain without preparation.

Vujake: Nat China
Veteran player. Made a formidable defence as France in our last campaign and took over USA when Uncle Sam already had a gun pointed at his head. Now playing China with what seems to be “drunken monkey style fighting”

Fitz: Brazil
Had the harsh misfortune of playing his first game ever as SOV 2 with another fellow who had minimal experience in such a big country. Sings opera and draws cartoons. Have made devious decisions so far as Brazil.

Peiper: Chairman of Cominternt, SOV1
Big fan of airforce. Might we se “the beast” in the skies above the battlefield?
Will control SOV together with sov2, jonas. Experienced player who probably speaks fluent japanese.

Jonas: SOV2
Joint commander with peiper in this campaign as well in the last campaign, then as Italy.
Have previous experience as SOV.

Johan Jung aka Nohansen: Germany
The kind of guy who renames all Japanese taskforces to their historical names. Colleagues with Jasgripen and Peiper. Made a wicked Japan in the last campaign. Veteran player. Speaks some Japanese.

Hebos: Japan
Evil I tell you, eeeeviill.
A first time as Japan in mp but have in previous games brought a world of hurt on his opposition, either as SOV or as GER. Veteran player and fond of Victoria and EU:IN (have been lobbying for a mp game with those)

Adam: Hungary
Joined or group of merry men very late in the last campaign as a Canada about to be annexed. Seems to have a firm grasp of strategy and the grand scheme of things. Have probably played a lot of other strategy games?

Palle: Axis total, Nationalist Spain
Played a different nat china in our last campaign. Board and strategy game veteran who also understand the value of a glass of red wine complementing a session of mp HOI2

Crilloan: Italy
The man with the plan. Compulsive planner and build strategist. A “Builder” in geek terms.
A veteran player who were bloodied last campaign as SOV. Prefer my mp game sessions to be complimented with a full bodied red wine, preferably a South African vintage.
Can only count to ten in Japanese and the names of some body parts to kick.



/Crilloan

[Middelkerke]

Let's see how this goes...

[Crilloan]

First session, January 1936 – February1937

So here I am, playing Italy again.

Last time I did that I ended up with having ~50 Allied divisions in Rome and southern Italy. Fighting desperately against Sovjet army groups in Turkey, Greece and in the Balkans.
We´ll see how this one turns out.

Mussolini. One of the creators of fascism and by all accounts an idiot. He should have stayed journalist. Lets see if I can do better under realistic circumstances (multiplayer against skilled opponents).

In our last campaign I played Sovjet, not by any wish to do so but by getting the shitty end of the stick. Hebos and Jasgripen were going to play germany jointly so I considered that playing sovjet were certain to get your a$$ handed to you . (were probably exaggerating because of inexperience to what you can accomplish with the Russian hordes)

But sovjet is a builders and planners dream. All these resources just waiting to be transferred into any megalomaniac project you can dream of. Want 6 rocket bases? Build it! Want a large motorised and mechanized corps? Build it!
Want humungus amounts of troops and attack germany before the frost have left the ground in April 1940. You can do it!

(but the last one turned out to be a big and painful mistake, woe is me for the manpower losses I took)

With that in fresh memory it was rather painful to get acquainted with the dire situation of Italy again.
A quick look at Italy in 36.

I need an air force.
I need a navy.
I need an army, I mean I definitely need an army, and navy and air force.

Then, a quick look at resource flows and domestic production.
This is going to hurt.

On with the show.

To build the new Italian Empire, a worthy successor to the one the roman legions carved out some stains have to be washed away.

Telegram to Graziani, end the debacle in Ethiopia with all haste.

Bild 1. The Beginning of an Empire


After subduing the tribes of Ethiopia and getting hold of that by all intent worthless land we are joining the Axis in February.
Establishing a technological cooperation will hopefully benefit our need to evolve into the modern era.

July 36 the domestic struggles within Spain finally turn into a full scale civil war.
It quickly evolves into a war by proxy with substantial funding from external sources.
3 infantry divisions with volunteers are sent from Italy to further the cause against communism, Bolsheviks and capitalist interests.

Bild 2. The beginning of the SCW.


The war on the Iberian peninsula goes back and forth with industrial centres taken and lost.
In the middle of February our reports indicate that Franco have the upper hand with the Republicans industrial base in nationalist hands. A conclusion will probably come within months.

Bild 3. the Spanish war.


In the east troubles have been brewing in the ancient country of china.
After a peace treaty with the communists, Chiang seems to be surprised by hostilities in the south when one of the cliques declare war.
The situation seems to deteriorate by the sketchy reports that reach Rome.
While closing in on the clique in the south, Yunnan attacks from the southeast.
It’s a troublesome time indeed for china, will they have the situation under control for when the Japanese empire comes knocking?

Bild 4. Trouble in the east.


/Ceasar Crilloan

[Johan Jung]

And then Admiral Canaris paid a little visit to Rome to inform Mussolino that publishing classified maps of troop disposition is not something the German High Command will be thrilled about.

Anyway, Axis now (feb 1937 - first session) now consists of Germany, Italy, Hungary and Greece. (Nat Spain will only be able to join axis after the Vichy-event according to our houserules).

[Crilloan]

And then Admiral Canaris paid a little visit to Rome to inform Mussolino that publishing classified maps of troop disposition is not something the German High Command will be thrilled about.

Thats why its a screen shot from early 36.

I guess there is going to be a lot of image editing when the war starts.

/C

[Johan Jung]

Axis will of course publish our operational plans after an operation is concluded. With a slight touch by the propaganda department of course

[Phax]

MP game AARs with this many players are rare, should be interesting

[ROMANU]

I've never played theese kind of multiplayer games but I'm interested, I could help with Romania for example just to make a little experience... I am in vacation until 1st of October

[JASGripen]

I can step in here, mostly to be notified about updates on the thread.

I play UK and haven't played the country/countries very much. The life as a German is so much easier, just build the spearheads and encircle them others.


The biggest challenge with UK is that you have to balance your focus on all three arenas (Air, Marine and Land). The only thing you got very much of in terms of units is the Marine arena, which happens to be the only units which you can't upgrade (except for brigades then).

Not much have happened as of yet, some Minister juggling and a FUBAR regarding supplies.

The Commonwealth player aka socialist Spain aka Vapula and I started as UK. I took the IC sliders and had a good stock pile and also a more than decent inflow of supplies. Soon Vapula said that the supply situation was sub pair; a statement which UI from my horizon saw was false. Soon Vapula said that we had dissent and thins were not well regarding supplies. I still didn't see any signs of evidence regarding these statements, but I unlocked the IC sliders and told him to correct the situation from his view. Strange enough we appeared not to suffer lag, as we had the same date ingame.

After a while he said that we had 16 in dissent (I saw only 8 at the moment), and then I paused the game and said that we needed to save and start from where we where, just to get clear what numbers we had to adjust to.

To minimize the risk of false information we choose to get Vapula on Australia for a while, just to have only one player on UK and just one set of numbers for the UK production.

Lucky enough we had only 8 in dissent, but it had come of lack of supply, which didn't show up on the charts earlier for me who where in charge of the supply.

Well, well, no game breaker. We did get some more money by the increase in consumer goods, inorder to fight dissent. We'll see what happens next.

[Phax]

The dissent "bug" happened to me in a MP game once too, as UK too (coincidence?). I noticed it when I started getting rebels

[Hebos.vU]

Empire of Japan
Session 1
1 Jan 1936 - 14 Feb 1937



Hakko Ichiu
(“Eight corner of the World under one roof.”)

The Empire of Japan salutes all readers. We of the Greater Japanese Empire proclaim we will liberate East Asia from white invasion and oppression.

The people of Japan have worked hard since the Meiji Restoration and We are now in a position to rightfully dictate the terms of Asia - not european colonists or american settlers. Japan have enriched the country and strengthen our military and We of Greater East Asia will combine our power and bring about the destruction of America, England, and others.

However, we will become friends with the good countries of the world. Together we will study and spread our splended culture throughout the world. Also, we will send to other countries necessary goods they now lack. Furthermore, we will improve the world more and more. Our hearts are one.

The Chinese question

Back in 1904-05, Japan fought Czarist Russia upon Chinese soil. She fought, first, to save China and, secondly, to save herself. The two were the same thing, because Russian absorption of China meant Japan’s own eventual doom. While Japan was fighting to save China, what was China doing? Secretly she entered into an alliance with Russia against Japan.

It is hardly necessary to say that the basic policy of the Japanese government aims at the stabilization of East Asia through conciliation and cooperation between Japan, Manchoukuo, and China for their common prosperity and well being. Since, however, China, ignoring our true motive, has mobilized her vast armies against us, we can only counter her step by force of arms.

China have left us with no choice. Stop your racket and subdue - or the Greater Japanese Empire will take action. Our troops stand ready at the border, our airforce scout your mountains and our navy rule the chinese sea.

[Capibara]

Multiplayer AARs are always interesting, specially with the players you described in the first post, it should be a very good AAR, I'll be following.

[Minarchist]

I really hope that you guys continue this!

[vujake]

This should be interesting. There is no way to hide the fact that the Chinese hi-command entered this campaign with somewhat "sketchy" preparations. Hence, when the south warlord decided to expand their borders (at my expense), the nationalist army was completely misplaced in the northern regions. Several month later when it was obvious that Nat China still were the top dog, the western warlord did the same thing, again without meeting any resistance. Yes, a little more prudence wouldn't have hurt.



Having said that, NPC forces can only do so much damage and I'm confident that this incident will be over before (slightly ) more competent enemies will acquire my attention.

[Laurwin]

arrr update, pictures . but seriously, interesting enough, not so many multiplayer AARs around here. I've been playing some hoi multiplayer myself too, though I havent raelly taken many pictures from that game of mine. but anyways, looks interesting, *subscribed*

[Crilloan]

Puppet masters

February 1937
The first hints of the coming spring can be felt in the air.

Bild 5


Villa San Michele, Capri.

There was something vaguely disturbing with the two men leaning against the wall and for all intent watching the azure water of the harbour far down below.
The local populace might have believed them being guests of the retired Swedish physicist Axel Munthe at first look. A sharp eye could discern that their clothes were of a cut that would not be in fashion for years to come.

They were speaking of far more sinister affairs than the beautiful Villa and the roman ruins it were built upon.

“It’s a fitting place for a first meeting, to build strong from the ruins of old.”
One of the two men by the rotunda spoke quietly while opening a briefcase with the German Reichsadler in silver. The briefcase was filled to the brim with maps covered with symbols and arrows. “How did you evacuate after the fall of Leningrad?”
The other man looks towards the waters of the Mediterranean, answering calmly as if losses of a hundred divisions were of no consequences. In his hand is a portfolio with the fasces symbol in gold. “In the end, by sacrificing close to a third of the red army”

“That’s history now, a new magistrate have risen and we will be known as the four winds with a fifth being the far eastern Taiphun台風. On the Iberian Peninsula we have West battling the republicans, soon he will have the country united once more. In the remnants of the Habsburg Empire we have East, slowly preparing for the coming storm. In the far east the winds will rise to storms as tensions rise between China and Japan. In the north we have you, masterminding the return of Prussian military might.

“In this time and place and our conspiracy I will be known as south. I have a new puppet to control now. I have great and glorious plans for novum imperium romanum!”
A zealous light comes to Mr South’s Eyes.
“I have introduced myself to M and convinced him that he will be dictator in the same tradition as Gaius Julius Ceasar as long as he makes me Praetor.
He was most accommodating after I showed him pictures of a lamp post.
There is a lot to do and precious few resources to utilize. I had to run a tight budget with the toads at Kremlin and so far I have few clues to how I’m going to afford everything needed with a fifth of the resources and uncooperative tech teams.
It was easy enough to quell the tribes in Ethiopia but to recreate Rome as a true power we have to face the challenge. Our army shall be known as the ever victorious army, our air force will rend the skies asunder and our navy shall herald our empire across the globe! ”

Mr North calmly listens to the tirade before replying. “And what about UK? Will they sit idle?

“UK is an empire of the old! They are a setting sun and afraid to embrace a brave new world! If it had not been for another meddling Grey Lord the world would have been painted red in my last venture” “But what are the chances that I would have to meet my nemesis here, among the multitude of universes? No, the time is ripe for a new Rome. I have the maps here, Jasgripen is of no consequence”
Fumbling with his papers Mr South doesn’t catch the malicious smile from the man with the Reichsadler briefcase.
“The Grey Lord now in control of Britannica is the same one who crushed your northern front, and according to information from Mr West, who is currently trying to get Franco to do things right, he have enlisted another Grey Lord of importance, earlier believed to be stranded in the Victorian age. There are rumours that Grey Lords have taken power behind the scenes in France and Canada as well.”

With a shock the man with the fasces portfolio ends his rummaging about the maps and look up, clearly stricken by the news.

“I’m in deep dodo, this is going to hurt!”


Later that day found the man known as South strolling towards the trattoria down by the harbour. His thoughts were far from English battleships gunning down his precious fleet and ravaging the coastline. Neither did he think about the French like a modern Hannibal but with Char B1 or Somua S35 instead of elephants coming over the Alps or Canadians with Avro Lancasters bombing his troops to smithereens. And he was definitely not thinking about the threat from the east, of the red bear he was in a blissful ignorance.

His thoughts had turned to the fact that the wine and climate was so much better here than in Siberia and that maybe the serving maid might be duly impressed if he just let her catch a glance of some official looking papers. Having powers is great he thought, but having absolute power is absolutely fabulous!

/C

[Peiper1943]

Comrades, Red Army and Navy men, commanders and political instructors, men and women workers, men and women collective farmers, intellectuals, brothers and sisters, our Brazilian and Spanish allies!

Let the victorious banner of the great Lenin fly over your heads! Utter destruction to future invaders! Never falter in the struggle! Long live our glorious Motherland, her freedom and independence! Under the banner of Lenin – onward to victory!

And a word of warning to the enemies. The Soviet empire will have little understanding for threats to its national interst, whether it be in the eastern or in the western hemisphere. Third world countries (Japan, Italy, Greece and the other rabble) and future puppets (East Germany) are adviced to step aside and listen closely to the voice of the vanguard of the people - our proud Politicheskoye Buro. Or join us in the worthy struggle against fascism and capitalism!

Yes, another thing. Soviet technology is slowly updating. Our next tech under research is called "the headset". Now all our proud workers have to do is reasearch TS. And eventually the voice of our great father Stalin might be heard not only in the hearts of men, but all over the world.

[Deus Eversor]

hmh an error in ideology
comrad lenin is not amused

oxymoronic soviet "EMPIRE" does not exist
furthermore there can only be soviet union

[Peiper1943]

Frontnytt

News from the frontier- a collaborative story about an ongoing multiplayer game.

Since our last game ended a bit prematurely in the middle of 41 its time to start up a new campaign.

Recapitulation of the end of last campaign
Sovjet retreating in the north with projected loss of Moscow within months but holding a massive defensive line at Kiev. Retreat of comintern forces to defensible positions in the mountains around Baku. Severe losses of Sovjet armed forces (>25%)
UK in retreat in India after early Seelöwe. Total control of Japan in the pacific with annexation and puppeting of Anzac. The American continent in a nutcracker from both east and west coast landings. Canada annexed by Germany and USA in a dire situation.

/Crilloan

Not to mention Italian control over Albania, Greece, the whole of Africa and large parts of the Middle east!!!! The UK feared my Lvl 1 Battleships...

[Crilloan]

Not to mention Italian control over Albania, Greece, the whole of Africa and large parts of the Middle east!!!! The UK feared my Lvl 1 Battleships...

And the nightmares I had when Italy made landfalls behind my lines around Krim.

Opposite countries now :-)
How does it feel to go from Italy ->Sov ?

/C