Messages

31

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 26, 2014, 06:16:21 AM »

 

Wow!  A lot really did happen!  With the Allies holding Tripoli, it makes up, a little, for not holding Tunis.  There are a LOT of Allies in North Africa. (And that is not counting the ones I cannot see in Morocco.)  I am wondering how Rommel is going to get his bacon out of the fire over there.

Cunningham did well in the Naval battle.  Very little left of the Italian Navy.  I always felt the Italian Navy would have been more of a thorn in the Allies side if utilized well.  But, maybe not.  Armchair Admirals, and all.

How did the big battle in the Atlantic go?  From the battle boards, it looked like it was going to be a doozy.

And there are still too many Russians...

Looking at the Spring 43 and Summer 43 photos shows a lot of the changes you mention.  Question: Paulus had a decent Korps down in Maikop. 2 TD, decent Inf and Art.  It is totally missing by Summer 43.  What happened?  Did it get destroyed? (this seems unlikely based off what could reach it) Or did it meet up with Mannstein in Don?

The Germans do look pretty thin in the south ( I cant see into the corps, so I am a little unsure) but I am noticing the almost complete lack of Soviet armor down there.  One can only assume they ran into German Armor and AT guns, and exploded...

32

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 24, 2014, 07:13:58 AM »

   It is all about expectations, I can see.

Rommel, expecting to be on the defensive, has had 2 Korps of Tank Destroyers delivered to him.  Awkward in the face of a counter attack vs the Allies.  If he only had some Tigers...

Corsica and Sardinia make painfully convenient airbases for the Axis, in that portion of the Med.

To my mind, this is the best thing about these kind of games.  A relatively historical event goes totally sideways and a nasty, vicious a-historical fight ensues.  Well played, gentlemen.

33

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 23, 2014, 07:48:17 AM »

 

In the bottom of the photo from Aut 42 for Gibralter, is that an American Oiler I see?  I was wondering how those ships could be parked in that Sea Zone.  Missed that on my first view.

Sneaky that...

34

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 20, 2014, 07:56:50 AM »

The Battle for Bardia looks like a text book Pyrrhic Victory.  Just ow!  It does look like the Allies are going to uncork Torch soon, though.

There is just so much Russia, and so many Russians.  The play down in the Caucuses looks very interesting.  Winter '42 is next.

Looks like a fun game so far. Nary a dull moment...

Holy cow.  I just noticed the two SS Heavy Panzers there at Stalino.  Scary stuff...

35

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 18, 2014, 06:26:44 PM »

"Localized Superiority"  Got it.

I really LOVE how the Air rules work, especially as they pertain to Ground Support.  A Stuka or Medium Bomber added to the support mix can really help out an Army.

And lets face it, if you are flying a Stuka, even an I-16 is scary...

36

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 18, 2014, 06:55:17 AM »

I think one of the things I find most interesting in these photos from Spring 42 is the distribution of Air Assets on the Russian Front.

From the photos, it seems the Germans have concentrated their Ju-87's to the Southern Front, with most (but not all) medium bombers to the North.

I was noticing the total lack of Russian fighters near Leningrad and Moscow.  I see what look like 2 Lagg's / Yak's in the Central Region, then the surviving I-16's in the South.

Very interesting that.

I was also noticing that no Russian troops in the south directly border any German troops (except for Novorissiisk).  The strategy of "Want some Russia? Here, we have lots...".  All those pesky AT guns make it dangerous to slap them in the Mech phase.

Definitely looking forward to what Summer '42 brings...

37

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 17, 2014, 12:58:40 PM »

Good answer... 

38

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 17, 2014, 08:18:57 AM »

Here is a serious game question:

What keeps the Russians from using the port of Sevastopol (via Batum and Novirissiisk) to supply their units?

39

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 17, 2014, 07:21:07 AM »

  Winter 41-42 always makes me so sad when I play as the Germans.  Guderian, wo bist Du?

Mark, you are right, the Planes look awesome.  Kudos to whoever painted them.  However, what caught me eye and caused the comment was the Italian Naval Units.  Very Nice.

Hey!  I thought the Brits had to give that cruiser back to the Aussies!  (Sorry chaps.  We need for the War Effort, and all.)

Looks like you were having a lot of fun.  Whenever I look at the south, I always think "So much Russia, so few German Korps..."

40

After Action Reports / Playtesting / Re: ConsimWorld Expo 2014 - Game Play-by-Play

« on: June 13, 2014, 02:57:45 PM »

I have to admit, I really appreciate/admire the paint jobs on some of those miniatures.

Nice work.

41

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Activation of Turkey as Axis Ally

« on: March 30, 2014, 08:52:28 AM »

The Germans had Air Superiority, especially with the first Italian C202's on the battlefield.

It is never really a question of "Can They" but of "When will they".  It takes them a full turn to do it, but the allies can ship reinforcements around the horn of Africa without much worry.

The real result of Rommel's successful run in the Med would have been delay, and diversion of Allied resources to the Med to chase him down.  And I am just fine with that.

The early successes of the Italian Navy caused the British to divert a larger than historical portion of their fleet to bolster Cairo.

This allowed for a successful sortie by the High Seas Fleet, in which the Bismark was damaged, but one of the British Battleships was sunk.

Cunningham had to take a portion of the Mediterranean Fleet back home, to help deal with that.

Still, although the Germans controlled Alexandria at the end of 1942, early 1943 would see a strongly reinforced 8th Army push back out of Cairo, with a belated Torch occurring in the West.  Suddenly the Mediterranean front is a two-front war, with not enough Axis units to go around.  If I had been able to continue this game, I would have liked to have seen the Allies seriously try the "Soft underbelly of Europe" strategy.  Those forts facing the English Channel are not going to be much help with a landing in Marseilles.

42

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Activation of Turkey as Axis Ally

« on: March 28, 2014, 02:28:53 PM »

Ended my playtest during the Winter 42-43 turn.

Timing is everything in this game! 

Autumn 42 saw Rommel once again chasing Montgomery back into Egypt. His second Mechanized Movement/Combat phase saw him retake Alexandria (his second time there. He was considering renting a villa), but running way ahead of his infantry and artillery, down to 2 german panzers, and 1 Italian Light tank.  During non-combat, Rommel pulls back to Mersa Matruh, where his Italian Infantry and artillery finally catch up to him.  Meanwhile, transports unload fresh British Medium Armor, some American Light armor, and extra infantry into Cairo from the Red Sea.  The British Fleet had fallen back to the Red Sea to avoid being trapped in the Med when Alexandria fell.  The safe choice, but it cedes control of the Eastern Med to the Italians.

So, at the end of the turn, Alexandria is empty, but German controlled.

So Just to see how things might go, I roll for Initiative.  The Allies had had Initiative through most of '42.  However, Germany wins the roll.

First chit draw is a 3.  This allows the DAK, reinforced with Infantry and Artillery, to move into Alexandria.  It also allows Iachino to bring up 3 transports filled with Italian Infantry, the first Italian Medium tanks, some artillery, and anti-tank guns, seriously reinforcing the German hold on Alexandria.

If the Allies had won Initiative, Monty would have retaken Alexandria without firing a shot. With no port at Mersa Matruh, it would have been more difficult to reinforce the DAK.

Timing is everything...

43

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Activation of Turkey as Axis Ally

« on: March 26, 2014, 07:06:59 AM »

   This is so Rommel...

The DAK "fell back" before the 8th Army, and Montgomery dutifully chased him.  This has allowed Rommel to pick up some infantry and artillery, and caused Monty to leave some of his infantry behind in Mersa Matruh (The 8th Army is very multinational now, with 2 Canadian, 2 Indian, 2 British, and 1 Australian Infantry.  The only thing I don't have is some South African troops there).  They have some nice artillery, but no tanks (Damn those 88's!)

Rommel's riposte could be pretty brutal.  But it is Autumn 42 now, and that itching between the shoulder blades means Torch is happening soon...

44

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Re: Activation of Turkey as Axis Ally

« on: March 19, 2014, 12:02:34 PM »

  It is just that Rommel is doing a little better in North Africa than was historical, actually took Alexandria, and I actually got Turkey to the Pro-Axis Neutral status.

With high initiative, high reroll Leaders like Rommel or Guderian or Patton, you are really only getting your moneys worth if you are using them.

I gave Rommel an extra Panzer Corp, and some extra Mechanized Infantry, and some extra Italians, and he was able to put them to good use.

That being said, when Auchinlek (his last turn in the game) counter-attacked out of Cairo, it was pretty brutal.  The dice were pretty pro-British for that battle.

It has been a funny thing.  The dice have been pretty balanced, favoring the Axis for one battle, and the British the next.

However, the big Mediterranean Naval battle was just brutal, all together.  The British Swordfish sank the Italian Battleship prior to the battle, and the rest of the British fleet put the hurt on 3 Italian Cruisers. Nasty.  And just to be a really memorable, brutal battle, the British Armored Carrier tripped over 2 Italian subs as it was leaving, who both slipped past the DD screen, and both rolled ones...

I don't know who was more shocked, the British or the Italians.

45

Rules Questions & Clarifications / Activation of Turkey as Axis Ally

« on: March 16, 2014, 07:37:25 AM »

Hey Guys,

Quick question:

On the Axis Minor Allies card, where it deals with Turkey, there is a line of rules that reads "Once Turkey is Pro-Axis, -4 modifier applied to join Axis"

Now I get that activating Turkey is a two step process.  One successful roll to get them to the "Pro-Axis Neutral" status, and a second roll to get them to fully commit.

All of the other "modifiers" are positive, but this one is negative.  Is the intent of the rule that it is more difficult to get Turkey to take that next step?  That the Germans need to do more to prove that they are the "winning" side?

Just Curious...