Okay, I said I'd give some game explanations, and I'm a man of my word.
You are all probably wondering what the hell was in my mind when I went into Denmark, and then into Germany without following up those attacks. That's a real good question. I wish I could tell you what the hell I was thinking!
From my foggy memory, I had the plan, attack into Germany, create enough of a diversion to allow my wonderful AI allies to attack with me and thus bring Germany down to her knees right quick. Hey, it's a sound plan! Right. Here's the problem. I was doing this with out any military control of my allies, expecting the AI actually do something smart to help the player. Yes, yes, I know, boy was I stoopid! :wacko:
As you can already tell, not only did none of my allies do so much as lift a finger to rush to my assistance, the French actually started moving troops AWAY from the frontier!!!!!! Then... oh, then it gets better. I actually started thinkin' I'd be the hero and I'd move my stack of 8 Marine regiments out of Denmark, since the Germans were so blessedly preoccuppied with crushing Poland and Yugoslavia, and move them to shore up the crumbling Yugos and be in a position to strike into Italy if
Il Duce got a bit to cocky for my liking. Well, about the time I move my Marines out, the transport fleet gets attacked by U-boats. AARRGGHH!!!
Okay, I'm still lucky as I only lose four transports and God must have been smiling upon me for the AI didn't have me lose any of my Marines (which, IMHO, gives support to the old saying that God is a Marine!
).
But now I have the problem of not having enough transports to move my heavy armies (i.e. my full twelve division strength armies) across the north sea without breaking them up. And for some strange reason, I just have a hard time doing that, even it it helps me out game wise. Anyway, I'm still thinking everything'll be okay, I got a couple of more transports in production, the Germans are still having fun rampaging through Yugoslavia and Poland, and despite my anger at my AI allies still not conducting any offensive operations, they are keeping the Germans from rushing away from the borders to crush my invasion.
And then the AI decided to acutally take a look and see that there were British troops in Germany and lo and behold there was like FOURTEEN divisions sittin' around doin' freakin' nothin' so why don't they just get their march orders to come around and crush my poor little FOUR division army of Paras? But wait, it gets better, 'cause again, my allies do freakin' nothing!
And of course, when I start moving my remaining transport fleet over to Denmark to pick up my Paras, they again run into those blasted U-boats, but luckily, they only turn tail and run back to Blighty with no losses.
But I still have troops that I have to save, 'cause the Good Lord knows, I'm not about to waste all that time and effort in creating that airborne army! Hence my airborne evacuation idea. And you know what? It actually worked! Saints be praised!
Now. Lessons learned. First, don't trust the French AI. Ever. Second, don't expect the AI to ignore your thumb in it's eye for very long... unless you're about to drive a dagger through it's heart. Lastly, next time, take military control of your friends to prevent them from stabbin' ya in the back. Except the French of course. Them you just leave alone and let the Germans roll in and crush so you can pick up what's left afterwards.
Okay, 'nuff of that. Back to the AAR. Do you guys want to read of how the Para evacuation works out, or do you want me to start moving forward with the rest of the war? Just sing out, readAARs and lurkAARs alike, and I'll bow to your requests. Within reason of course!
