Australian Group Core Game

[mike8472]

The German Panzers continued there advances. Most of the figting has centered around the provnces of Kiev and further inland. German panzers have continuly defeated the Russian armoured forces but at heavy cost in manpower. The criema fell after decisive battles went Germanies way, and the Panzers pushed forward to the volga river line.

Continued russian counter attacks and then German Panzer countering the russian counter attacks have tacken place many times. The liberation of the Ukraine was succesful, they are now contributing manpower and troops to the war effort to liberate the oppressed peoples of the Soviet Union.

Continued paradrops by the Soviets have proved a thorn in the side of the axis advance but only a minor problem. After defeating a massed Soviet counter attack south of kaluga German panzers pushed forward and took Kaluga and again defeated the retreating forces. To Hitlers suprise Stalin had left Moscow unguarded, a tactial error due to the Russians massing forces for a push in the Baltics area. Panzers then raced for Moscow to disrupt and capture critical supplies and resources. Over 70,000 coal & steel was seized, 50,000 oil and about 15,000 supplies. These supplies were hurdily dispatched by train to the central stocks in Berlin. Hitler thanks Stalin for his kind donations.

As our session came to an end the focus of battle seems to be shifting to the north with the Soviets breaching the lines one are near the baltics.

All up the Soviets lost at least 20-30 infatry divisons that were cut off in and around kiev in this sessions fighting. No losses for Germany.

Next session is in one hour, so just a few hours brake and straight back into it. This has been to date one of the greatest ever battles i have ever seen on the eastern front. It is now Feb 1942, 8 months of constant fighting, not even a break for winter. How long will this war go i have no idea.

On to Victory.

 

[unmerged(5892)]

Like mike, I've found this battle on the east to be the most entralling one I've played in some time. IMO, German forces hold the upper hand clearly, however time will ultimately aid the Soviet Union, as my near limitless manpower will provide useful faced with his dwindling stocks.

German armoured units with their brigades are proving superior to the russian forces time and time again, however Red Army intelligence reports suggest German manpower levels are critical. In a sloppy move, Moscow was captured (and of course re-captured) giving much needed supplies to the German economy. Soviet control of the swedish and norwegian steel regions was in one blow wasted by this lax defending. The local commander was summarily tried and shot by a specially appointed peoples tribunal.

The front line runs roughly from the river line north of Riga, to Smolensk, and then includes a large German salient around Kaluga. The front then runs down the secondary river line, and then down to Rostov which has changed hands (as has most of the frontier regions) several times.

The dissent events for the Soviet Union have been close to crippling following the normal German occupation policy which has resulted in an independant Axis Ukraine. I estimate that there has been around 50 worth of dissent from events in under 1 year. Of course, as a counter to this, my huge economy drawing strength from China and Japan, and together with the noticably fewer dissent decreasing events has for the first time brought it down to acceptable levels.

The UK has launched operation Torch, and has seized the Atlantic African coast, while the Italians have pushed forward 2 regions in Egypt. Elsewhere, Soviet Paratroopers seized the government and capital of Sinkiang, forcing that nations incorporation into the now sprawling Soviet Union. Red Army mountain forces are also marching slowly through Persia, and soon that nation will also join the workers republic.

 

[mike8472]

Just a quick session this afternoon, but we play again later tonight for a couple of hours.

A few crusical battles took place on the eastern front, once again in and around kaluga. The Soviets launched two massed attacks at the same time, which were easily repulsed, and they retreated befor to much damage was done. The Panzers then moved to Tula and brushed aside the 6 infatry divisons there and waited for the retreating russian armies to arrive. The Panther IIs with artillery support once again crushed the Russian tanks and mech forces, resulted in large casulities for the Soviets. All up i believe 15-20 Soviet tank and mech divisions where destoryed in the battle. Germany now stands with a clear advantage on the Eastern front for the time being.

Even with the large losses the USSR has suffered over the last 9 months (estimated to be between 80-100 divisons) Germany still fears the huge task at hand of liberating the oppressed people of the USSR. Even if all of western Russia is lost, they can still fall back behind the Ural mountains with a huge IC base still and massive manpower.

As long as the Soviets though are willing to through there men and material away in suicidal counter attacks there is still hope. With summer arriving in a few months germany will renew its advance on all fronts and free the poeoples these great lands.

The Uk has landed in Spain with around 20 Canadian divs. Italy and Germany will mobilise forces to crush this invasion. For to long has Germany and Italy ignored the UK and now they will feel the heat.

The US is still not close to joining this war on the side of the allies, due to the war between the USSR and Japan which has kept US WE low. If the US were to enter the war now it could spell disaster for the Axis or at least Italy as Germany is Supreme on land.

Heil Hitler

 

[unmerged(5892)]

Tonights session saw a period of relative calm for around 2 months on the eastern front, as winter ensured the few attacks that were made were soon repulsed in driving sleet and snow.

The British and Canadians launched a bold strike against Spain, and at one stage had seized all bar a few provinces of the Italian controlled region. Soon however, Italian forces supported by german mechanised infantry, pushed the British and Canadians back to their small enclave in Gibralter.

In a suprise move, the UK granted independence to India, losing further IC and manpower sources. It did however, puppet Persia, which was split with the Soviets who controlled a few northern provinces they had captured in their own invasion.

On the main front in the east, once the snows melted, the Germans launched several more probing attacks, however these were equally unsuccessful in the mud, and the swift german withdrawels has led the Red Army STAVKA to assume that german manpower is now at close to 0.

Bouyed by these reports, newly built Soviet tank and mechanised armies launched their own attacks in the spring against Lipetsk, Kursk and Tula. Kursk was recaptured by the Germans, but even now, Soviet shock armies mass against the lone Kaluga salient. Soviet BT tanks were likewise finally upgraded, though several divisions were lost in earlier bloody battles.

German armoured forces still out-match their soviet equivalents, but Red Army infantry likewise outmatches (though only slightly) its german counterparts. The result is a swinging series of battle after battle where each side seeks to gain a strategic advantage - mainly by maneouvre.

Whilst German forces still are capable of pushing the soviets back when summer comes, the Red Army leadership feels confident that each week that passes increases its chances of victory as the Hun's grow increasingly short of rubber, oil, and manpower. The best thing however, is that neither side has enough strength to decide the campaign, and so the titanic massive battles loom ahead.

 

[unmerged(5892)]

After some tweaking of the save to offset the accidental UK creation of India, tonights session produced some dramatic events.

The UK continued it's long battles for control of East Africa. There are concerns about a nation state like Ethiopia providing supply for around 25 divisions when isolated, and by the end of the session in late 43, the Axis forces still held out in a small region around Addis Abbaba.

In the east, German forces and Soviet units continued their steady progress against each other. Each side massing armour and launching massive assults. At it's height, Germany pushed forward to Lipestk, however a Soviet counter-offensive regained the regions of Tula and Kaluga, and swiftly, what started as yet another swing in the pendulum, took on more serious meaning.

German manpower was the key, as fresh red army units kept up the pressure. Finally, with around 40 armoured and 70 mechanised units in the field, the Soviets enjoyed armoured superiority, and began dealing blows to the Werhmacht that it's reserves could not maintain.

Germany pulled back in good order to the Dneiper river line, and the first red army attacks against this position were bloodily repulsed. In the far north though, Soviet cavalry pushed down Sweden, reaching as far south as Kalmar, leaving pocketed german garrisons to the rear.

Finally, red army units succeeded in pushing through to Minsk in September, however they were swiftly ejected. The German losses kept mounting though, and a second attack took, and held the city, and allowed reinforcements to pour through and cut off the Baltic german forces. With the annihilation of this army group of around 24 inf, and 24 armour, the entire northern German front collapsed, and Soviet tank armies ranged over Poland, and through Silesia and Prussia with Warsaw falling in early October.

This signalled a retreat of all Axis forces from the southern Dneiper region, and the red army followed in their wake, isolating several groups of Ukranian and Italian forces who may have been none too happy about not being notified of the German intention to flee.

And the end of play, the Red Army marches against Berlin, and has recaptured almost all of Poland, and most of it's starting regions in the south. Around 120 armoured, mechanised, and leg units are rushing forward to seize Germany while the majority of Axis units are out of position retreating around Lwow.

To all intents and purposes this game is over, however 1 1/2 years of tenacious fighting in the east has made a great game. We are all looking forward to the latest version of CORE, as if we play on, it will probably only be a matter of months before Germany collapses. The 1 armoured unit defending Berlin against 24 Soviet units is symptomatic of how far the 3rd Reich has fallen...

 

[unmerged(19411)]

Sounded like a cool game, seriously

 

[mike8472]

Well this was certainly one of the best games i have ever played in. Massive long war on the easter front finaly came to an end in the latter parts of 1942.

Manpower finaly got the better of Germany as the constant battles on the eastern front drained them quickly, even though i started the campiagn with 1000 in reserve and had manpower events over the last year and half.

At one stage it looked as if Germany would defeat this super strong Soviet Union in command of all of Japan and most of china. But like in History the blizzards came and finaly put the attacks of the panthers II's to a halt. Many offensives and counter offensives raged all along the front for well over a year and at one point moscow fell. This was simply the most fun i have ever had on the eastern front, great game joel.

Some points to if you want a similar game. Play like in histroy, the USSR dosnt build up its forts along its rivers, its defends right from the frontier with Germany. Dont go to war until June 22 1941, and keep stack limits when attacking to 48 max, to keep it a bit realistic. Only if you want a long fun game with some regular friends you play with.

We will now be testing out CORE 0.70 and hopefully get a game up and running tonight.

 

[unmerged(5892)]

Guys,

I've installed and am running the latest CORE version, and seeing as JH is taking a break, I thought we could have some less serious play testing. Certainly without UK, and with Germany in it's current situation I think we can declare the last game over.

 

[unmerged(5892)]

*duplicate post deleted*

 

[Pkunzipper]

It seems it was a really great game!

Don't know when you are planning to start a new one, but maybe you should wait a couple of days.....

 

[unmerged(5892)]

Too late pkunzipper!

We're all running 0.70 now, and have played through 36 already. This time it's only a 3 player game, with different nations than we'd normally chose.
Mike = USSR
Munster = Japan
Myself = Germany

Nothing much to add now except that the new techs are great, and so far it seems to be going from strength to strength.

Japan is at war with China, and advancing if not swiftly, then methodically.

Spain is still well poised with the original Republican onslaught now finished, and the Nationalists are making some gains.

All in all, too early to say too much in how the game will play out, but this will certainly be a test for the Allied AI with no western allied human player. Still, the main purpose for us is to get a feel for the latest version, rather than have a completely balanced game.

 

[unmerged(5892)]

After making some progress in the latest game we prompty jumped ship and abandoned this game upon 0.71MP's release. A slowish game so far, with progress only up til late 36 from one session.

Nothing out of the ordinary bar (human) Japanese early aggression in China where they have advanced relentlessly. The Chinese still hold out in the south in some strength, but surely it is only a matter of time before they collapse completely. Spain also seems well balanced with both sides taking and losing regions.

Human Players are:
Germany: Mike
Japan: Munster
UK: JH
USA: K'Shar
SU: Myself

A couple of 'old favourite' nations here as we all try out the newest verison. Looking forward to another good game.

 

[Steel]

Looking forward to more good feedback

 

[mike8472]

Looking forward to more good feedback

We are playing at 1pm tomorow for about 4 and 1/2 hours so we should get some good testing in. Ive got alot more time this week to play so hopefully we can get to war and some seroius fun. Cyas tommorow, off to work the night shift now.

 

[unmerged(19411)]

Tech tree would make it interesting, maybe you'll get your long games now.

 

[unmerged(5892)]

The game has now been played through to early 39.

Nothing out of the ordinary, with the Anschluss firing historically, the Sudetenland being ceded to Germany, and the Nationalists winning the Civil war in Spain in December 38.

Japan has conquered Nationalist and Communist China, leaving it in a comfortable position to try and match the USA.

The only concerns with the new CORE version so far are those raised by the western allied players (USA and UK) that the manpower restrictions, whilst historically justifiable, will leave them very weak when war comes.

Perhaps just as importantly, the UK has found itself unable to upgrade it's IC considering the paucity of its manpower. Hopefully this won't unbalance them too much in later years.

As the SU I can only add that the new tech tree is proving itself to be a vast improvement. The events seem largely the same, however the limits on 'tech rushing' are great.

Looking forward to tommorrow's session.

 

[mike8472]

The war goes well for Germany.

In this session we played from Nov 1940 till Late June 1941.

Most of Europe is Allied or under the Reich control. Slovakia, Hungry, Romania, Bulgaria and Italy are all firmly in Hitlers grasp.

Germany invaded Yougoslavia and quickly overan the small country, and deciding to keep it all for itself as an important base in the Med to aid our Italain AI brothers. Small battles took place in West Africa between German and French forces resulting in the Surrender of 10 French divisions. The UK is pushing Italy back as they have only comitted small forces to fight in Norht Africa. Germany lost 1 Armoured division that was sent to help the Italains there. Now the UK control much of North Africa for the moment.

Bugarian and Romanian troops launch offensive operations against Greece, which put up little resistance. Bulgaria then annexed Greece which more then doubled the size of that small nation.

The vinchy government made unacceptable demands on the Reich, to which Hitler came down heavy upon these upstart french, a people should know when they are defeated. The Vinchy government deleared war on Germany with German forces capturing all of mainland Vinch france, and most of the colonies were handed over to Germany without a fight. (this was an event)

The end of our session saw the launching of Operation Barbarossa. With a few small battles taking place but nothing big. We only got one week into this new campaign befor the session ended.

The game stands well balanced, now that the USSR is in this war it will be good to see how the Eastern Front goes. Japan is poised to strike in which direction who knows. Custom rules are that Japan can enter the war in August 1941 or after this date, to still give Japan some suprise element. Once Japan is part of the Axis they will then declear war on the US to get them into the war. With all 5 players soon to be invloved with in the next 3-4 months this game looks to be a great one.

Next session tonight at 7.30pm

 

[unmerged(19411)]

How are you finding Manpower in .71?

 

[unmerged(5892)]

Well, this last session certainly raised some issue with the new CORE version.

Japan DOW'd the Allies and waged several major battles against the USA. Reports suggest these battles were bloody, and generally going in the US's favour. The Japanese were repulsed at Guam, but landed in strength in the Phillipenes.

In Europe, under Operation Barbarossa, Germany moved forward, capturing and destroying the Soviet frontier armies. Many escaped back to the river lines however, and the battle was then truly joined.

Putting it simply, the Soviets lost one battle in Vitebsk, and then swept all before them. The tech gap between SU and Germany in armour in particular, coupled with MP differences, and the SU's IC potential versus Germany's meant that this eastern front campaign was over on December 7th 1941.

By over, I mean the SU puppeted Germany, (and annexed Romania, Hungary and Slovakia - and puppetted Bulgaria) and the two nations joined forces now united as fraternal Communist allies to rid the world of the last vestiges of Capitalism. Following this 'Day of Infamy' the Comintern declared war on the United States, United Kingdom, and all their allies. Hitler was taken to the STAVKA HQ, and after a breif tet-a-tet with Stalin, sent out to 'tour' Siberia.

Chances are we won't play on from here, despite the interesting game this could turn out to be. For my 2 cents, I'd like to explore what would happen, but we need consensus to go ahead.

Points to make from my perspective:

*By the games end the SU had 320 or so land units deployed, many more in the build queue, and around 6200 MP in reserve. This is too much compared to the other nations, especially in light of the big restrictions on allied, and Japanese MP pre-war.

*Crushing Germany was fun, but there needs more balance. Both myself and Mike who played Germany are of equal ability, but this was very, very one sided.

*The SU's land tech is too high to start, or it's IC needs lowering to compensate.

Overall, a quick, and enjoyable (for me) game, but not quite what we hoped for in terms of longevity. We will probably start a new game with me in Germany's shoes for a change. This should potentially verify if the concerns listed above are valid or not.

 

[Steel]

There was a discussion a little while back about how Germany, UK, USA etc are all hit with major dissent effects but the USSR is pretty much easy sailing. I think we'll look at adding a 3% to 5% dissent hit in the Purges (historical choice) and also a 15% starting dissent. We had also already discussed dropping one of the theory levels for the USSR, this will add nearly a year to their tank development schedule.