Jollyguy

As winter sets in London is liberated, and the surviving German paratroopers are marched to waiting POW camps. They exclaim that Goring promised wave upon wave of reinforcements, but they only saw waves of Englishman rushing forward to liberate their capital. In China Mao wishes he had such good luck, as the Japanese continue to press forward. A Japanese carrier shows up in the South Pacific, after intelligence says the Aussie navy and all the other minors are sending postcards from the Home Islands. Several Italian ships rush past Gibralter, after pounding the snot out of the port, but the RN has already pulled back. In London the High Command cleans up the mess, and ponder their next move. Bob

No, not a trap. I pulled my fighter back because Rambo's level three fighters were making hash of me, and if i put a corp there he would just get free target practice and gain experience. I was trained by the great Terif, and learned well that the Home Islands need to be protected as the top priority by the RN through 1940. As long as the RN is ready to be called into action any Sea Lion is very problematical. In SC2 Terif would always keep an eye on RN units, and if they were in far away theatres he would finish off Alexandria or contain it, and then do a Sea Lion. If Egypt had surrendered and the Home Islands fell, then England was out of the war, including their navy. In this game I think a Sea Lion is very high risk, as if a Sea Lion looks like it might succeed then the Brits could retreat to Canada or Australia, including all the RN and whatever units they could get off the island. As long as the Brits don't let themselves be pulled in an uneven exchange of naval units, it seems that the RN could screen most of their high value land units and evacuate them to fight another day. Heavy naval action. All the Allied minor naval units are also around the Home Islands, and even though I only have level 0 infantry as my English scientists have been drinking too much Guinness, London should be reclaimed in another turn with a bit of luck. Luckily I threw a chit at anti-sub early in the game and that hit, as Rambo has level 2 subs. The lonely German paratrooper was hit with 3 land fighters, one from Egypt and one that arrived as a result of him taking London. Plus, two bomber passes flew over, plus two carrier sorties, then the paratroop was hit with a special forces unit and army. London is totally surrounded by corps, so even if he had amphibs they would have no easy place to land, and his air is somewhat banged up, so they couldn't totally support more landings. The paratroop is down to 5 strength, and can't reinforce. Meanwhile Il Duce is pounding at Gibralter to try to aid the German navy, but with luck the battle will be over by then and the RN pulled back for retooling if need be. The RN bombarded German air units stationed across from London last turn and this turn, with some success. Total losses have been somewhat more for the Brits, but they have the ships to lose. Meanwhile my English engineer is at work on his second fortification. Bob

Yes, the French put up a spirited defense. I don't know if Brest is worth trying to hold like in SC 2, as those double attack tanks exact heavy damage. The Brits pack up and leave. The Allies also discovered several turns ago that having the French raid the Norwegian convoy near Denmark serves a double purpose of keeping an eye on the Kreigsmarine fleet, and doing some raiding. In addition the French sub dished out about 4 damage to a German cruiser. But in China Rambo has the initiative. Now we enter the unknown in this game. I don't know how all these decision events play out, but I am keeping an eye on China, as if the Japanese committ too many forces there it might give an opening to the sleepy Yanks to exploit the Pacific. We'll see how this all plays out. Bob

Annoyed by Rambo's LOL post, the French empty casks of red wine and charge into the field of battle, sending another German army into an early grave. This was proceeded though by initial combat for the RAF, with fighter and bomber wings joining in, followed by flyboys from the RN plus RN shore bombardment. All they needed to embolden themselves was a taste of good old English rum. The Graf Spee escapes for the moment...the South Atlantic is a big place, and the French and British, drunk from extra rations of vino and rum, might loose sight of the Kreigsmarine raider, unless they themselves are hitting the cognac. In China the Japanese, downing sake, continue to press forward. The northern front is stabilized for the moment, but the Japanese do have the initiative. Mao and the Generalismo set aside differences to deal with the common threat.

Rambo listens to SeaMonkey's advice out west for an attack, attack, attack strategy, but pays. One of Germany's power units gets buried outside Paris, hit by multiple infantry attacks and then finished off by armor entrenched in the city environs. The poor Hun are unable to enjoy the golden city's famous brothels and curbside cafes. The Marseilles corp is operated to the freshly vacated real estate to block, and winter sets in. Med French land units are ordered back to the homeland, delighting Mussolini, but the French High Command feel it necessary to defend the European Continent and let the colonies fend for themselves. Chinese units move up to try to seal breach in the northern flank as winter sets in on that side of the world, hoping their scientists eat enough chow mein to get inspired to advance to infantry weapons 1. The Russian scientists have downed enough vodka to get inspired, and enjoy an avalanche of discoveries that will await the Axis hordes should they decide to break any non-aggression pact. Meanwhile an Australian cruiser bumps into the Graf Spee around the Horn of Africa, sending an alert to French naval units in the vicintiy. Whether the German raider can escape from the trap will soon be determined.

Hubert, where can read a tidy summary of the scripts, like the DE's. I found some of them in each campaign in a certain folder, I can't remember where now, but i.e., it mentioned Italy's mobilization went up if the British navy abandoned the Gibralter port, etc. But a quick summary would be nice, you know, for the things like the Axis not posting a garrison of enough units in Warsaw and along the border w/Russia; of the Brits moving land units away from the Middle East; of declaring war on a minor, etc. Great game btw, a masterpiece. Bob

My e-mail is rrweeks@comcast.net. You can send an e-mail to someone by clicking on their profile. I'm in about the same boat as Rambo, learning as we go. When he folded my northern China flank I wasn't too concerned, thinking I'll just fall back to the immediate hills & mountains. Then I looked west into China and saw all those cities out there, I didn't even notice them before! But luckily there must be a script, as a 5 strength unit popped up at the beginning of my next turn in the first city in his way. I'm going to ask Hubert where all the scripts are posted, as you can read the decision events but I can't find a good summary of the scripts. I also like the lower limitation on research chits, as it makes you choose wisely. This is truly a grand strategic game, and at first I was intimidated by the breadth and a bit overwhelmed having to switch between theatres to move all your pieces, but like anything you get used to it, now I can do an early turn in 15 minutes or less. The size of the board means either side can pull surprises in distant theatres if they're daring, i.e, Africa or the Middle East, as the Allies don't have enough units to garrison everywhere. I know I'm going to enjoy this one, probably as much as enjoyed SC 1. Unlike Rambo I liked SC 2, but imo SC Global is clearly the masterpiece of series. Bob

Hey you two, I can squeeze in one, maybe two more games, that's it. If you're up for it send an un-zipped (if convenient) first Axis turn my way (I like the Allies). I'm new to SC Global so learning along the way like the rest of us. I can do one turn a day during the week, perhaps 2 or 3 per day on weekends. The breadth of this game is amazing, and no way you could easily wrap you're arms around all the scripts and decision events, so it makes the game more variable. Bob

Oh, at Terif's suggestion we do switch sides every other game, and it has improved my Allied game tremendously to see the other side of the coin. If I were ever to win though it would be from the Allied side I'm sure, as IMO the Axis needs to be played to near perfection to win against a really good Allied opponent. Since going to "Terif Boot Camp" only Terif's Axis can beat my Allied game. The next interesting game I get deep into I'll post an AAR. Bob

I still linger. Down to one SC2 v.8 game at a time, always against Terif. After playing (and losing) to him probably 25 times (he probably has the exact humiliation count), I found myself in the middle ground for my Allied game of not being quite good enough to beat the Master, but able to beat anyone else (I like the Allies). So the only SC2 challenge remaining to me is to try to deal Terif his first loss. This might be a futile endeavor, but let me tell you, it is very, very challenging aspiration! Still love the game, just cannot fit in the time for more than a couple turns a day. Especially when it's summer here in Seattle, when you want to get out and garden and bike and all that stuff. I'm sure that if I could play as much as Terif that I'd have a better shot as winning one, but then the fun sometimes is in the trying, not always in the having. As far as I know Rambo is fully retired. Bob

Liam, et me get back to you on a game. My real life is very busy at moment, but yea, we can get something going eventually. And I totally agree with the comment that the Axis must be played to perfection. I still have LOT to learn in that regard, and I think it will be quite a while before I get my Axis past 1943 with him. But Terif’s advice for me to play the Axis was good, as doing so provides a deeper awareness of the game and the value of strategic position and the continual tradeoffs that must be made as there never seems to be enough mpps, and also that the Axis too have balancing limitations. For instance, in general the Axis can concentrate in two theatres simultaneously and prevail well into the mid-game, the Brits, at first, only one. In the early to mid-game the Allied player needs to carefully gauge Axis units committed, and mass his forces elsewhere, which is usually Africa and Scandanavia. This applies well into 1943. I.e., after Rumania surrendered I thought I had the strategic initiative and enough units in theatre to stand and fight and maybe advance, but Terif pushed me back. The difference now though is that I extradite my forces so they can fight another day, whereas I used to lean into the punches and get stubborn and lose large number of units in ill-timed battles. If the Allies mount an offensive on the mainland in the early to mid-game and numerous Axis units get operated over, my advice is to back off and come at him again later. Especially if he can bomb your ports and trap your task force. The Allied strategy in the early to mid-game should be, at minimum cost, be to chink away at the Axis, taking a few mpps here, a few there, but in an advantageous and very cost effective fashion, as the Brits need to buildup a robust force that can cause trouble around Barbarossa. As to the Middle East battles. Since Terif had the bulk of his forces attacking the Russian mines, and a large task force still securing Scandanavia, that left him open in the Middle East. Like his comment about interior lines, in that case it was the Russians with that advantage and better supply, as Axis reinforcements could only arrive after transport across the Med, and I could pretty much count what he had committed in other theatres, and gain the local advantage of numbers and terrain. The same can be said for diplomacy. If he uses diplomacy on minors with an eye on attacking Spain, then that leaves him fewer units elsewhere. And Sea Monkey, no, he kept units in Egypt, three German corps and an HQ, but he did move one or two units west after my Casablanca diversion. Again, that demonstrates that the Axis cannot be everywhere in force at once. The Russian bomber, with the help of the unsupported British Bomber and arriving RN BBs, were able to knock Cairo and Alexandria and ports to 3 or below, trapping his units. But like he said his Egyptian task forces bought him time elsewhere. His Axis in Russia is like a boxer who puts his head down and absorbs blows but keeps coming. I.e., it is very rare for him to ever operate a fighter west, not even a minor one, as he keeps those in Russia for his combined arm attacks, to soften up whatever infantry is in front him. And he keeps enough forces out west to meet the threat, thus avoiding operating costs. Only if the Allies are truly making a strategic threat out west will he operate units to meet them. Otherwise he sits behinds his European entrenchments, and surrenders less strategic areas, and keeps keeps slogging forward in Russia. This was a very interesting game, no doubt. I’m still working on improving my game, but taking him to 1945 is a vast improvement, and I look forward to putting practice the lessons learned. Bob

Here's my take: I have no problem with naval units being able to eliminate ground or air units by bombardment Naval surface units should not be able to raid, this is a balancing aspect with an eye on Norway and Sweden and the Atlantic. It forces players to expend mpps building subs if they want to raid. A captured port should not take damage when conquered, again, a balancing aspect of game. It's important when capturing a city to be able to utilize that port to exploit the landing. I have absolutely no problem with tech advances or diplomacy being a crap shoot. It adds an element of variability to each game. Anti air should only shoot once a turn. This allows bombers to be effective by tag teaming the opponent, and also force the opponent to consider stationing fighters if he wants to exact more damage. Again, a balancing factor. Agree on this one. Anti air staying intact when the other side takes a city???? (an opponant just took a city and when I move a cursor over the city it still shows the level 3 AA I had upgraded it to) - I guess they left the ammo, radar, and guns intact during the battle I have no problem with aircraft carriers as they are. They are adequately effective if properly used. In SC 1 they were way, way too powerful. Agree on this one, it was annoying. Ships changing facing if another ship passes by them even if they are not sighted - this is really really annoying!! So much progress on the naval war and this bug is still around. Not sure, If this is WAW I don't play that. After many months Crete issue still has not been fixed I'm not sure about this one. I've been okay with it, but would get used to a change if that happened. It does give the Germans some added defense to RN raids. One of my favorites is entrenching the Kiel canal and having it close traffic to your ships from then on! Can't comment on this one, I don't play WAW. I have to agree with Ludi also - when Portugal falls the Azores should go Allied - they do in 1943 without an invasion so I see no reason why they wouldn't if Lisbon fell. Of course if they were invaded first or on the same turn they should stay Axis or Allied as the case may be. Bob

Yes, I’m still playing and still trying to beat Terif. It seems each game we play is more interesting than the last. I still like the Allied side better, but took Terif’s suggestion to play the Axis also, and it has improved my overall game. In this game though he was Axis, me Allies. He said this is the longest game he’s played as Axis…I took him to 1945. What I’ve learned from Terif is first, that strategic imperatives and positioning take absolute priority. In prior games I’ve killed scores of his units, but it finally occurred to me that strategic position is much more important. Next, and this goes hand in glove with the first, you generally must adapt your strategy to what your opponent provides, not to some preconceived idea of what you want to do before the war begins. You can’t say before the war begins that you’re going to invade Iraq or hold Egypt…you must wait and see what develops. This is especially so for the Allies as they have to be reactive well into the midgame. We started the game weeks ago, so some of the details are foggy. The first recollection of seizing an opening was when he decided to reclaim Norway and Sweden, during the summer of 1941, just before Barbarossa. I held him as long as possible, but his bombers forced me to evacuate before he bombed my ports and trapped me. Knowing that this tied down a fair share of his forces I garrisoned the front Russian cities with corps to buy time, and decided to have the Russians hit the Middle East, which went off just fine with the help of a Russian bomber and two paratroops. He fell back and then garrisoned the Iraqi port and Iran, but they eventually fell. The key in this battle was that just about the time the Yanks and Brits were ready to head to Casablanca for a standard West Africa landing, one of my Russian paratroops was able to seize Syria and it’s port, choking of Axis reinforcements, the first of which had just landed. This allowed me to eventually destroy an HQ, a couple armies, and four or five corps. But with the Syrian port in my possession it occurred to me that I could avoid expensive Yank amphip transports, and use the loop to cheaply transport them and the Brits to the Middle East, which is what I did. Meanwhile, my LR air noticed the middle Norwegian city empty, so I took that and reinforced and moved my bomber up there, but he was all over me and operated over multiple units, including his German bomber which had been hitting my Iraqi oil and Baghdad, from south of Amman. So the thought occurred to me that without his bomber I had free rein in the Middle to deploy my forces without him seeing what I was doing, including moving an unsupported but experienced Brit bomber and a couple fighters to Amman. But first I created a diversion and had all four carriers hit the garrison at Casablanca as if I was going to land there instead, and had my BBs reduce the Spanish city to the north, and it worked, as he operated a couple units west, pulling them from Alexandria and Cairo, which my British bomber could see. All the while I kept dispatching between 20 and 30 land and naval units around the loop. Without his bomber to spot me I was able to deploy my Russians and Brit air units to seize the Suez Canal when the Western Allies arrived, so my units could pass through and disembark around Syria. Meanwhile he advanced in Russia, but with him tied down in Scandanavia and the Middle East it occurred to me that I could defend the area stubbornly. I kept my engineer busy, building three different defensive lines of two-three fortifications each behind the mines as I fell back, making him use up time and pay dearly for each hex captured. This ate up enough units btw that he was unable to take Murmansk until late 1942 or early 1943 giving Uncle Joe those extra mpps all that time. Not taking Murmansk is unusual for Terif, as that’s usually one of his primary targets. And when he did move to take it I held him off for awhile with guerrilla tactics, including a supporting HQ. With the extra mpps I was able to replace my units as they were chewed up under the treads of Axis panzers moving east from the mines. Meanwhile, as I was convoying my land units to the loop, my LR 3 carriers and BBs spotted and sank three Italian BBS trying to join up with Kreigsmarine units in France. Anyway, the Allies kept landing around Syria, and I can’t remember if I took Cairo and Alexandria first, or Turkey, but they both eventually fell. He lost another HQ and three corps in Egypt after I bombed them with my Brit and Russian bombers, and Uncle Joe took Turkey with the aid of both Russian paratroops, and the US and British Allied paratroopers, and Allied air, which had by now been supported by arriving HQs. I also took the Turkish port with the aid of carriers and US amphibs, which were up to level four amphib by now, and carriers which had now arrived around the loop. After that I concentrated on Rumania, which also fell and surrendered under the weight of repeated air attacks from land fighters and paratroop landings around Bucharest. After Rumania fell I bombed Sofia, thinking I’d get that too, but I didn’t. A large battle ensued in which he pushed me back, so I retreated to the safety of the Turkish mountains. Meanwhile, he had broken through in Russia and was advancing on the Caucusses, which he took, so I retreated a Russian HQ and two armies, two corps, and a paratroop to Turkey. And, in a key move, in late 1943 he started bombing Manchester’s port with two German bombers, accepting the losses from my fighters, and choking off the all convoys and starving the Brits of mpps. And, by now the Western Allies had the majority of their forces around the in the Med and were unable to mount an effective offensive elsewhere. Toward the end of the game I was eventually able to reclaim the Caucusses and take most of Africa, but didn’t have enough land units in theatre. So, knowing I was weak elsewhere, he lightly garrisoned France, and fortified the area west of Stalingrad behind the riverline, all the while pushing in Russia regardless of losses, and eventually taking the third Russian capital in October of 1944. But the Russians didn’t surrender and I took it back…but he was poised to take it back again. With only about 17 Russian units left and no way to place units up north as he had me surrounded, it was only a matter of time before the dice rolled his way. With the snows on the way the Russians might have been able to hold out into early 1945, but the writing was on the wall, and he was starting to advance on other fronts, so I capitulated. Anyway, I made a number of mistakes but learned a great deal, which I’ll try to apply in the next two games we have going, one where I’m Axis, one Allied. With luck maybe one day I’ll achieve my goal of defeating Terif. I can only hope! Bob

In poker you play the opponent as much as your hand, so my impulsive nature to attack got the better of me, again, as in games past. But the good news is that my mid-game has improved, and like they say, the third time is the charm, so with a bit of restraint I won’t go off half-cocked again during the summer and leave my fortifications and entrenchments. I watched and half played the turn where Terif smashed my drunken generals and soldiers, and realized I goofed. But the interesting thing is that the Germans were fairly beat-up too. So, the lesson is that the Russians have to very, very, very, patient, and although not as much fun, accept that if the Axis don’t provide an opening than the best thing to do is try to fall back all the way to Urals if needed and bleed the Germans against your fortifications and entrenchments, allowing the Western Allies time to build-up. I think I’ve hit on something by fortifying around the two cities west of the Urals, at least when you play Terif, as he will be all over you and inexorably push east. By denying him those two cities as long as possible the Axis will be lower on supply, which historically was a huge factor. And Terif just told me the Russians shouldn’t counterstroke in the summer as I did, but in the fall/winter, blunting his air superiority. IMO a Russian bomber also helps, and perhaps LR 1, as then you can selectively hit occupied cities to knock their supply down and also deny the ability to operate to certain sectors of the front. I would say against Terif advanced air 2 by the time you fall back to the Urals would also help, but level 3 would be even better. And then let his air attack, so you can just reinforce yours. The Russians fighters will be in full supply, his not as much. Also, some ind tech would be good, and prod tech 2, both which I had. Anyway, back to the drawing board, but I believe my mid-game continues to improve in that I’m not just repeating the same doomed strategies over-and-over, but learning key concepts that with luck will pay dividends. When you play Terif if your Allies can get past 1943 then the odds improve. And I don’t believe what Terif does is unlearnable, it’s just that he does it so much better due to a wealth of experience that most of us don’t have time to develop. But the broad Allied strategy is based on trading space for time. Had I not left my Russian fortifications my Western Allies would have had a formidable force to wield by the spring of 1944, and could have seized the strategic initiative at will in two and perhaps three places. All he had out west was minors, as he had to strip his garrisons of the good units for Russia. He had operated a German HQ to Spain, anticipating my interest there, but seeing that I could have just as easily continued east in Africa, further stretching his defenses. Anyway, another great game, and as usual I look forward to the next game.

Oh, and one other thing. Terif posted his two German bombers around Paris which hit the London port despite heavy losses by intercepting RAF fighters and level one anti-air for the port, to neutralize the Iraq convoys. Bob

Okay, another interesting game, as Terif always mixes up his strategies, and I am ever experimenting. Game started normally, except that Terif did not operate Polish frontier units west, and I’m sure researched instead, so France held on until June or July. He also didn’t diplo his minors, opting for Spain instead, which I didn’t counter. Instead I diplo’ed Iraq, which I really shouldn’t have, but hey, I’m still learning. I took Norway. But his subs then started raiding my Egyptian convoys in 1940 which made me think he would go for naval supremacy, and I was also nervous about a possible Sea Lion which he did in our last game, so I put a chit on gun laying radar and anti-sub and both eventually hit. I also bought an infantry chit, as he was showing infantry level 2 during France. Then I upgraded a number of ships and used my bomber to keep Brussel’s port reduced, and held Brest as long as I could under repeated air attacks, and then also kept that port reduced. I also discovered that gun laying radar 1 ships are much less likely to suffer damage while bombarding, so that was a plus that I will use in future games. Since I was concerned about Sea Lion I also evacuated my Egyptian tank to Manchester and bought an engineer, who started fortifying in front of Manchester during the winter/spring of 40/41. I also bought most of my corps and an army. But since he was slow playing so much, and once England was secured, I decided to act, and backed by all three carriers (LR 1) and several ships I decided to hit Africa, and eventually ended up with both Vichy Algeria and Tunisia and the Italian city near Malta. Then I pulled all the way back to Algeria and Casablanca and didn’t even garrison the two eastern cities. Meanwhile Egypt just sat there, as I’m sure he didn’t want to raise US and Russian readiness which were both low due to no countries being attacked after France fell. Besides, he was raiding the convoys and gaining experience, which got him what he wanted. Meanwhile, on the Mainland, I had been bombing and bombarding as often as possible with fair success, and had Brest (which I evacuated in the Fall of 1940 after the threat of Sea Lion passed) and Brussels and eventually Bordeux reduced to 0, and both mines hit regularly. But then as he prepared for and kicked off Barbarossa I counted his subs and cruisers but no BBs in-and-around Leningrad, while his bombers (two German, one Italian) were reducing the Russian mines. My bomber and carriers spotted no ship garrisoning the harbor on the Danish peninsula, so I issued orders for my commandoes to prepare for a raid near Denmark. After bombarding a level 3 infantry corp on a fortification at the neck of the peninsula for a couple of turns, reducing its morale, all three carriers and both fighters joined in. My paratroop and an army landed to destroy the corp which had almost no morale due to bombs continually falling on its head, and I took the port and landed my HQ to support the expected counter attack, and flooded the Baltic with ships while placing a BB in the neck so he couldn’t attack my land units. A sharp naval engagement ensued in which I was able to sink a Kriegsmarine cruiser and two subs, at the cost of one BB then, and one BB later by his bombers which he did eventually move west. I lost a corp, but was able to get the paratroop and army and HQ back home, since I controlled the port and he couldn’t reduce it since his bombers were in Russia. So, the Brits secured naval superiority, and I had the Yanks, who were up to anti-sub 2, pull two chits from anti-sub research. He secured the Russian mines quickly, but since his Barbarossa started late, and with the help of mud, I was able to eventually blunt his attack. But, using his past advice and gleaning what I’ve seen of Terif’s screen shots, I decided to pursue a different Russian strategy, one of delay, in which I wanted the minimum of casualties for myself, while trading space for time. So I delayed around the woods between Leningrad and Murmansk, and made him mass for attacks elsewhere, then I would pull/operate back. I think I lost only five units or so in Russia in the first year, eventually establishing a solid defensive line behind Rostov and around Stalingrad, building up and researching all the while. Meanwhile, out West, I retook Brest and after a sharp exchange he almost reclaimed it, but since I had it surrounded by ships and supported by airpower and carriers it held. I also kept Bordeux reduced and made it look like I was going to land there, so, with the risk of amphibs on the way, he backed up. But in actuality the Brits had embarked for Africa, as had the Yanks from the states. They landed in a joint operation and took Casablanca and that Spanish city, which was empty. Meawhile, the Russians had taken Iran and Iraq, and finally Syria, around the time he was finishing up Egypt. He probed Amman but I pushed him back, and that’s where that front sits. In Russia proper I held near Rostov and its riverline into the spring of 1943, supported by two fortifications and mud south of Rostov, then I pulled back, as he was massing and better weather loomed. But I need to point out that I constructed my Russian fortifications different this time. Instead of building south of the river running between Rostov and Stalingrad, which he always takes anyway, I instead built a string of fortifications around those two cities west of the Urals. This is because Terif always takes those cities and then uses them for supply for his eventual attack on the Urals. So, in the early summer of 1943 came his expected attack on Stalingrad, in which the Russians revealed four fighters at tech level 4. This tech was to try to blunt his standard use of about 5 luftwaffe and 3 minor fighters. He took out one plane due to bad placement by me, but that was because I’m not used to the old SC1 type fighter to fighter engagements, as it’s been awhile since my Russians had that many fighters. Anyway, I pulled back again, but lost a tank and corp and the Stalingrad army. But, up north, about 20 Russian units moved out to reclaim that city at about the right-center of the board, just below the forests. I reduced it with a Russian bomber, and last turn took out a corp, and have surrounded two armies which are now out of supply and can’t retreat. So, as we sit in mid-summer of 1943, the Axis have Spain as an ally and hold all of Scandanavia, while the Russians hold all of the Middle East. In Africa I’ve begun softening up his Spanish tank at Gibralter from my two west African cities. I’ve also reduced Algeria. I have Ireland of course, but hold only Brest on the Mainland but keep Bordeux and Brussels and Paris and the French mine reduced, and also hold the two cities on the west African coast. He has to worry now about an Egyptian invasion around the Horn, which I pulled off against him in our last (Sea Lion) game. He just took Stalingrad and will eventually secure all of the Caucusses, as I’ve operated most of the units from that front to my fortress west of the Urals. I should easily hold until 1944, which is a big improvement, and who knows, with level 4 Russian fighters it will be harder for him to advance, as he first has to get beaten up getting through my fortifications, and then scale the Ural mountains. Bob

As Rambo reported, this ended in an Allied victory. I held onto the one Norwegian city the entire time, and after Moscow fell and he tried to advance on the city north, the Russians were waiting. I took out three German armiies at the cost of one Russian army and a corp. At about the same time the Allies landed in France and dismantled some fortifications, and had started a bombing campaign which made it harder to operate west, and began to dent Axis mpps. Rambo started with the advantage, fast Poland, and persuasive diplomats, but his mistakes IMO weres not paying the costs to deal with Africa earlier, and not building a bomber and/or committing more forces to Norway. The first allowed me to shift Brits back to Egypt and eventually take Iraq with no chance of a Sea Lion, and the second allowed me to hang around in Norway and drain Axis resources. Even the threat of a bomber would have forced me to evacuate Norway, as I wouldn't have risked losing a valuable British HQ and units, as he could bomb my port. Without a bomber I was able to support my corps in the mountains, buying time. Even then, if he had committed extra armies to Norway he could have forced me out, and operated his units to other fronts. Anyway, I think Rambo needs a break, which I can understand, I've been there. Bob

Update: After the English evacuated Casablanca they pondered where to go, and with the light Axis presence in Africa decided not to head home, but rather sailed around Africa to the steamy sands of Egypt; land of strong coffee and good looking women…whenever you get a peek under their their veils. Eventually the Germans and Italians are seen trudging their way across the desert on foot, kicking up clouds of dust along the way. But then instead of defending Alexandria the Brits operated to Amman, fearful that amphibious transports, which Rambo has shown a tendency to use, would close their escape routes. From Jordan the British Desert Rats and RAF spotted for two Russian paratroopers, who descended and took out Goddamn Hussain and his followers, and occupied Baghdad, so the oil convoys begin to England. Iran was also DOW’ed to open up a land bridge to Moscow, but Tehran not taken yet, but that should happen soon. Next up was Syria, taken by a British tank and corp with help from the RAF. With Syria secured the RAF began taking potshots at German units across the Suez Canal, where Commonwealth units still put up a valiant but expected futile defense of Egypt. In Norway the British reinforce the mountains and still hold both coastal cities, as the Wehrmacht advances from Oslo. In Russia a sharp exchange around Odessa, where a couple Russian corps are heavily damaged, with two German corps and one army destroyed in a Russian counter attack. The Russians had massed in the area to protect their engineer, who is almost done building a string of fortifications to connect with the city above the northern river line (sorry, I just never committed all the cities to memory). It’s late October, 1941, and Russian mud set in at the end of my turn this morning after my counter attack, which should blunt any Axis return attacks, but I’ll see for sure when I look at my turn back tonight. Earlier the Russians feinted at Finland but then pulled back, while Leningrad got cutoff from Moscow by an elite German tank, but the city holds under the weight of multiple air attacks. The Russian Baltic fleet rests at the bottom of the sea, but not before inflicting some damage on the Kreigsmarine. The Russians report that it appears Rambo is reinforcing his navy. As we enter the end of 1941 the US just reacted to Axis gains in Egypt and should be in the action in the next turn or two. As expected their factories and scientists have been busy, and that Pacific Fleet and the rest of USN is itching to get into action. Bob

Okay, I heeded the cry of Rambo for a game, and we started one, he, Axis, myself, Allies. Game started with a quick takedown of the Poles, Warsaw taken in two turns, due in part to a mix-up in orders for the Poles, who zigged when they should have zagged. The BeNeLuxers and French and Danes were attacked in quick order, but France held until late April, 1940, due in part by a mix-up by the German High Command, who broke into a captured cache of fine French champagne while on the outskirts of Paris, and without realizing it read their maps upside down and ordered their fine Stormtroopers to march in the wrong direction, allowing the Frenchmen in their tanks to survive one extra turn. This helped the Brits garrison both western French cities, but they quickly abandoned one after a German army appeared (sober this time). And then the German diplomats got to work, with three or four successive hits on the gullible Hungarians and Rumanians, who, bribed by trainloads of Reichsmarks, believed Der Fuhrer’s promises of quick victory. Meanwhile the RAF’s bombers bombed mines unmolested, and the RN took target practice on Axis units guarding the strait near Denmark, inflicting damage turn-after-turn-after, even knocking the Italian miner down to 3 one turn when two carriers join the action. Eventually the miner finished his fortification, but the RN still took regular potshots at the garrison. Franco was stabbed in the back around July as expected, and the Brits relieved some pressure by occupying the Northern Spanish city, along with the one in the Med. The Spanish tank retreated into Madrid and was reinforced, and the brave Spanish held for as long as possible, while the RN bombarded units at every opportunity from both the Atlantic and Med side. The Brits eventually retreated to the Rock, and also occupied Casablanca, from where the RAF and RN hit an advancing German army advancing west, making it retreat. The bomber also hit the Vichy French city and port, to slow deployment of the Luftwaffe and reinforcements. The Rock held for quite awhile, with air cover provided by the two RAF fighters, supported by the HQ fresh from the Home Islands. The Rock fell eventually, but not before the RN took out a corp and inflicted other damage. But Casablanca held a bit longer, but alas, a British army was taken out by an Amphip German army, paratrooper, and army. The Brits boarded waiting transports and bid adieu to Casablanca. It was about this time a sole English chit hit, and King Gustav decided to turn off Adolf’s ore shipments. But Egypt is still in British hands, and in a daring raid one of the damaged corps from Spain circled Africa, and relieved the corp on Malta, which landed and took the Italian city near the bottom of the board about the same time Casablanca fell, buying time as it cut off the ability of the Axis to operate units east. The African city was just reclaimed by the Axis, who are slowly marching east on their quest to play tourist around the Pyramids and swim in the Nile. Meanwhile, out West at Brest, it’s late July, 1941, and the English still hold the city by shuttling in fresh corps to relieve the ones pummeled each turn by three Luftwaffe fighters, two Italian ones, and one minor. The Axis seems reluctant to advance with ground units due to the city being flanked by the RN, so this dance has progressed for three turns now, and will to at least a fourth. But Adolf, infuriated at King Gustav for favoring the Allies, invaded Sweden around June, 1941. The King bravely held on for a couple turns but finally succumbed. The English of course watch this development from Oslo. Russia is at 81%, the US at 65% I believe, and it should be August, 1941 on the turn waiting for me when I get home. Bob

Yes, this was a great game. Terif doesnt cut you any slack, so you need to learn the hard by getting smacked down. But that's the only real way to learn. So, this game made it clear that I need to be willing to trade space for time and not linger too long, and be a bit more cautious in launching offensives. It also highlights the balance of the game. By keeping Terif in a clench at every opportunity through 1942, but more so trying to throw off the Axis timetable early in the game, I was able enter 1943 with the most Allied forces I've ever had: 1) All original Russian units, plus some. Level 3 infantry; level 1 anti-tank; ind tech 2. 2) Two English HQs, two bombers, two fighters, and probably about 2/3s of land units. LR 2, infantry 3 and anti-tank 1, heavy bombers 1. 3) Almost all US land units; two bombers at level 3 heavy and LR air, one fighter in action and another in the queue; Level four ind tech, level 2 production. Also, reading between the lines, Terif says his Russian garrison was very lighti. Again, this highlights the game balance. If I was as experienced as him what I should have done is also used the Winter of 1942 to quietly withdraw from France, leaving behind a small screening force so as not to give away my intentions. I also shouldn't have launched that Odessa offensive, at least not in 1942. Now that I've seen better how it works, IMO 1942 is a crucial year for the Allies to begin to build up, but not get reckless. Keep that Russian engineer building fortifications. By 1943 the Allies should have enough forces to begin offensives in areas that are harder for the Axis to counter, probably on the flanks somewhere. Anyway, I think I see better how to play the Allies against a player of Terif's calibre. The keys I've deciphered so far: 1) Attrit the Axis up to Barbarossa, but more importantly, try to throw off his timetable 2) Keep attriting 3) Trade ground for time in Russia, and don't linger too long 4) Careful thought given to early Russian counter offensives 5) Try to make it into 1943 with as many units as possible. 6) Try to gauge what the Axis is up to, by keeping track of what's in theatre and not only what's hitting you, but also importantly, what's not. History showed that the strategic balance shifted in 1942, at Stalingrad and North Africa, which is basically what happens in SC 2 if played right. But it wasn't until mid-1943 that the Allies really began to pickup steam, and 1944 that they really began to roll. I think with a little more experience that's what would have happened here...but live and learn. Okay, I'm going to take another game break, but I'll be back. Want to enjoy the summer some more. Meanwhile I'll digest this game a bit more. Bob

I'm not sure how many units are KIA, I haven't checked, but it's the usual high bucket-o-blood meter, no doubt. Terif just got the far better of it in a large battle around Kiev, which means the Russians pull back from the mines, as they almost inevitably do against Terif. So, when you balance that against my victory in the Caucusses, we've both made an untimely advance and got ambushed and had to pay for it. He also had the better exchange of units in Scandanavia, but that bought valuable time and was worth it for the Allies IMO. This all highlights what Terif has said many times, that the advantage in a good game will shift several times. Meanwhile, out West, the Allies utilize their three bombers in strategic fashion, first hitting Brussels in back-to-back attacks, which seemed normal I’m sure to Goring. Then Paris was reduced, again, maybe Goring thought I was just hitting resource hexes. Then the Allies launch their true combined arms attack, hitting the city below Brest and Marseilles with bombers, totally isolating France from the ability of the Axis to operate units in, which is only garrisoned by low grade minors. The remaining two RN carriers soften up an Italian corp at Brest, along with the US carrier, two RAF fighters, and an US fighter. Brest falls to a US army and paratroop and British corp. But more importantly, two US corps land around the other reduced French city, with their only goal being to destroy three adjacent fortifications that have proven so difficult in prior wars. The next turn the second French city is kept reduced, while the carriers soften up the Italian corp, and a British army lands and reduces it to five. The USN surrounds the port, and also discovers and bottles up an Italian sub in the Spanish city across the bay. The second French city should fall next turn, and we’ll see if I can isolate Spain or not. Anyway, I would say had I not got a bloody nose in the recent Second Battle of Kiev, that the Allies would have the advantage. But I think Terif has the advantage now. I’ve identified two tendencies I need to correct: The first one is the tendency in Russia to linger too long rather than trading ground for time. The second is going on the offensive when I should sit behind my fortifications and terrain and wait as I build up. I think if I can reign in these inclinations that I’ll have a better chance to make it into 1943 and 1944 with more robust forces, and a better chance to wear the Axis down. As usual, a good game. I still might be kept waiting on a victory over Terif, but do feel I’m learning the hard way…by making mistakes. But I should also point out that Terif makes mistakes too. He is just good at recovering and adapting to his opponents strategy, and not giving up…which is something else he says people do too often. Remember, he took out a Russian army and HQ and fighter in the first sharp exchange in the Caucusses. Considering the caliber of my opponent some might have thrown in the towel. But like he says, by hanging in there I was able to bloody his nose. And then he mine. The amazing thing to me is just how balanced SC 2 is. By the Brits keeping engaged with the Axis at every opportunity early in the war to attrit the enemy, Uncle Joe was given breathing room later on. Even considering that Turkey fell, giving the Axis a land bridge to the Middle East, and even after all the losses in Scandanavia, the Allies, since they got most of their units out of Norway except the bait designed to keep the Axis occupied, are still able to build-up and threaten out West. Bob

Update: Allies never get to see Swedish bikini models in person, as two German paratroopers rescue their beleguered Nordic brothers. Allies fall back to Oslo, and currently only hold the mine port. Backpeddling, the Allies capture the northern port and Swedish mines, providing much needed supply to the RN's Baltic fleet. And as to the Baltic Fleet, they did eventually sink both german subs and one cruiser, in addition to forcing a German BB to reinforce several times, something Terif usually doesn't do. But alas, all the RN Baltic fleet now litters the bottom of the sea. The combined Allied command also acquisced to Stalin's pleas, and left enough tempting targets in Sweden to draw Axis forces away from the Motherland. So a British army and tank are sacrificed for the war effort. All other Allied units eventually board ships and float to the Home Islands. The Caucusses continue to be bloody. After Uncle Joe commits the bulk of his reserves to a relief of Leningrad, the Axis advances from Grozny and dashes across the riverline. Zhukov, sensing the opportunity to redeem the stature of Russian generals after poor command decisions earlier in that theatre, and knowing a chunk of Axis forces are still committed in Scandanavia, convinces Uncle Joe to leave the Leningraders to their own fate and operate everything to the Caucusses. He is rewarded for his bold suggestion by enveloping and eventually destroying the entire Axis Caucusses land force, consisting of two super experienced level 0 tanks, two armies, and several corps. Grozny and one mine are liberated before the tide switches back to the Axis as they operate in fresh troops. The Russians retreat back to the riverline, having lost an army, several corps, and a tank, but having bought valuable time. The Russians also pull off a raid and liberate Kiev, but then pull back toward the mines before getting enveloped. The Leningraders hold out, but probably not for much longer. Out West the Axis subs raid, and sink one US cruiser that happens upon them. In return a German sub is sunk trying to make it back to port. Meanwhile the US reveals heavy bombers 2, as they conduct a bombing raid over Brussels. It will be September, 1942, when I get my turn back. The Germans now hold almost all of Europe, including Turkey, and the broad center of Russia. The Western Allies will regroup from their Scandanavian venture, with a much reduced RN but nearly full strength USN, and Stalin will continue to recruit fresh troops to greet the German invaders who will be coming in force during 1943. Bob

Yes, in the Caucusses the Russian generals, against their better judgment, listened to the imploring pleas of citizens, fearful of being brought under the heel of the advancing coalition of German and Italian and even Minor forces. The citizens cried out, “We’re usually not occupied until much later in the war!” And the next turn the Russian general’s fears were realized, as Axis forces toke advantage of clear weather to punch through and take out a fighter and Army. Stalin, enraged at such poor generalship, demoted his Caucusses general to buck private, and ordered him executed, only to discover that the Germans beat him to it by running him over with a tank, and then raining bombs on his head. The Russians achieve some measure of revenge however when two German units facing north are trampled by hordes of retreating Russians running up their backs from the south, heading for the safety of the riverline. Meanwhile, the Russian engineer has been busy laying concrete on the northern side of the river, as at least the commander of that unit foresaw that the Axis would be coming eventually. Leningrad is surrounded, but earlier, Russian forces in a daring Winter attack landed and dispatched Mannerheim to an early grave, only to be greeted by a contingent of German troops operating all the way around the Artic Circle from Sweden. Needless to say the Germans were upset to have been forced to leave behind their Swedish bikini models, and lash out at the Russian marines and land forces. The Russians retreat, but then eventually come back to pick off a stray Finnish corp, as Siberian T-34s move out from Moscow in an attempt to relieve the brave denizens of Leningrad. Meanwhile, out West, the combined US/British force continue their quest to get some of those bikini models for themselves, and advance to the outskirts of Stockholm. The GI’s are assured that the models are there and waiting, from aerial photos of the city dropped as a moral booster by Allied bombers headed back to base after bombing runs over the city and port. The photos depict topless models exhibiting their wares in hopes that the air crews won’t bomb them, which of course the bomber crews don’t as their too busy gawking and waving back. And offshore the British Baltic Fleet is so low on supply that there isn’t even grog to distribute to the brave sailors to warm them in the frigid waters of the North Baltic, as they hide in fear of the German BB which has been reinforced several times by the Axis, after each surprise contact by British BB’s when they had more supply earlier in the incursion. Okay, another great game. This is the second game in a row that I’ve lingered too long on a Russian front and Terif made me pay for it, so I’ll correct that next game. In the meantime my education of mid-game strategy continues. The mid-game is very important for the Allies, as if they can get over that hump they have a better chance of wearing the Axis down. Fighting for every inch is a good thing to do in general the first couple years, but Terif’s experience shows during the mid-game in that he knows when to hold them and when to fold them, when to stand, and when to retreat strategically. The Russians have ground to give, so, just like history showed, I need to learn to better trade some of that ground for time. Bob

Okay, took a month off SC2, but reading Terif’s AAR about his bomber strategy got my gaming juicing flowing again. So, Terif is Axis, me Allies. Early game was normal, except that I got probably the best weather luck I’ve ever had in France, with mud and snow combining to delay the Wehrmacht’s conquest of the Frenchies until May, 1941. Keep in mind as an Allied player delay is the strategic imperative. I.e., at one point the Frenchies could have finished off a German corp but instead moved to protect Paris. This is because upsetting the Axis timetable is much more productive and yields significant mpp effects later due to fewer Axis resource hexes under their control, which has a multiplicative effect down the road. During this time I took Norway, and by the time France fell I had Brest and the other French city garrisoned, and my Egyptian HQ in place to support my fighter. The Axis got bad diplomacy luck but finally tipped off the Spanish strategy when a chit hit. Meanwhile, I had kept my Egyptian tank and army floating until I was fairly sure what Terif was up to, and moved my navy around Brest. As to Brest, many times Terif will simply pound Brest with air and then occupy with a sole corp, which he tried. But this time I kept a reserve corp in Manchester, and when he attacked I shuttled the damaged Brest corp out and transported in a fresh one. This, and my fighter cover, forced him to commit land units, which the RN then bombarded. The next phase was Spain, which he dow’ed late due to the delayed conquest of France and Battle of Brest. I moved an English corp into the Northern Spanish city, and eventually operated the Gibralter corp to Madrid. Meanwhile, he advanced on Casablanca, where the RAF & pre-positioned RN BB’s and LR 1 carriers exacted some damage on an exposed HQ, and he had to backup. I committed my Egyptian units and supported them with my HQ, which had shipped back out from England. Since Spain was attacked late weather set in, and I was able to hold a bit longer and bombard a few land units, as the Axis knew time was of the essence and they had to move into exposed hexes. And it was around this time that the single chit I tossed King Gustav’s way at the beginning of the game hit, and the Swedish ore shipments stopped. As the Battle of Spain developed Terif swung north and got my British corp in the northern city, and I debated sacrificing my English corp in Madrid, but they received a temporary reprieve and operated back to Gibralter before the advancing Axis closed the last escape route. Again, because his timetable was off, I was able to hold the two Spanish, African cities, not to mention Egypt, until the spring of 1941, swinging the mpps to me and denying them to him. During this campaign the RAF attacked an exposed corp in Africa whenever possible to draw Luftwaffe fire, and attrit the German war machine. But the time came to end the African campaign, as he started raiding my convoys. I was fearful of a famous Terif (naval) trap as the Italian navy was massing, and he had also tipped that he placed a German BB and cruiser in the Med. The Brits, with their delaying job done, departed for the Home Islands under cover of night. A couple turns later the Axis discovered empty cities. The next phase was revealing my second British bomber, with the now dual bomber contingent having enough time before Barbarossa to bomb both the German and French mines and Brussels. And then Barbarossa, with a Terif surprise…he attacked Turkey, which fell in two turns. His bombers reduced the left and right Turkish cities so I couldn’t operate in reinforcements. At the same time he hit Sweden, which is when the Battle of Norway, still ongoing, began. In the Battle of Norway he moved toward Oslo, but I was waiting. He also left the Danish port ungarrisoned while his navy finished off the Russians Baltic fleet, so I hit it with both bombers, and one BB cleared the way for the entire RN, which I had moved into that theatre just in case. I flooded the Baltic with naval units. I bombarded a Luftwaffe fighter on the Swedish coast several times and bottled up ships and reduced Stockholm. His Swedish landing force, now repaired and with high morale from the earlier conquests, moved toward Oslo and he got the better in the land battle, over several turns taking out a bomber, an army, and three corps, at the cost of one Wehrmacht army. He also operated in two Luftwaffe fighters and a bomber and his Italian bomber around Denmark. But it’s October, 1941 and the Germans just pulled back form Olso, so it should hold into 1942. Meanwhile, in the Baltic, I should sink most of his navy, and the Finns, wary of all the fighting around them, have not joined yet. All this action out west of course relieves pressure on Uncle Joe, where the only action to speak of so far is squaring off against the Germans in the Caucuss mountains, with the Russians still holding all but the two forward cites. But the Battle of the Caucusses is beginning to tell, as the Russians suffered their first lost corp from repeated air and land attacks, and with Turkey under his belt and a land connection to Berlin, the Axis African/Middle East mpps and supply will increase. As usual, an interesting game, and we’ll see what 1942 brings. The latter game has always been Terif’s advantage, so I’ll see if I can improvise a bit better and last a bit longer this time. Bob

I third surface combatants raiding convoys. This may cause balance problems around Norway if the Germans retake, but it is totally realistic. There's no way Norwegian ore goes unmolested with all those RN surface units in the vicinity. Bob