STGOD! OOC Thread.

[General Havoc]

Operation Charybdis:

Objective: The commencement of war between the Kingdom of Spain and the Roman Empire has complicated the strategic situation immensely. Even as Spanish troops invade the provinces of Aragonia and Hispania Ulterior, the Spanish battle fleet is collecting in Lisbon harbor, in preparation for operations detrimental to the security of Roman control of the Mediterranean and freedom of operation in the Oceanus Atlanticus. It is imperative that this threat be neutralized immediately with all due force.


Units allocated:

- Roman Mediterranean Fleet
Aircraft Carriers: Gaius Julius Caesar, Cola di Rienzus Tribunus Maximus, Gaius Marius, Aeneas Romulus, Napoleon Buonapartus Magnus Restutitor
Battleships: Triton, Nemesis, Nike, Poseidon
Cruisers: Syracuse, Neapolis, Barcino, Venicia
Destroyers: Perseus, Polydeuces, Achilles, Hector, Castor, Orpheus
Escorts: Marcus Ulpaius Traianus, Marcus Porcius Cato, Draco, Socrates, Themistocles, Gulielmus Shakesperius Auctorus Rex, Andreas Dorias, Leonidas, Franciscus Petrarca Renascentus, Publius Scipio Africanus, Marcus Tullius Cicero, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Submarines: Haliacmon, Padus, Nilus, Lobregat, Cyanos, Casuentus, Orontes, Tifernus, Aragon, Ubus

- Force Omicron
Roman Submarines: Scamander, Ter, Athesis, Meander, Vulturnus,
5x Hungarian Submarines

- Screening Force (Canary Islands)
Submarines: Thermodon, Sangarius, Marista, Rubicon, Halyacmon, Milian, Alpheus, Leontes, Rhodanus, Aternus

- Hungarian Striking Fleet
6x Light Aircraft Carriers
3x Battleships
6x Cruisers
10x Destroyers
10x Close Escorts
10x ASW Destroyers
5x Submarines


Operational Plan

Having concluded support operations in Morocco, the bulk of the Roman battlefleet is now located in the approaches to the Straits of Gibraltar. These naval units have been re-enforced by Sigma Force in close escort with the main Hungarian Fleet. Conditions of the Amicatia arangement with the Kingdom of Hungary have placed overall supreme command with the Roman Admiralty, and authorization has been granted for operations against Spain.

The Screening force of Submarines from the Canary Islands will remain on station, expanding their patrol perimeter outwards to achieve early warning and interdiction positions against interference from the West.

Main Hungarian and Roman battle formations will make best possible speed West, giving the coast of Spain a wide bearth until arriving at "Point Gamma", approximately 100 miles west of Cape St. Vincent. Hungarian and Roman fleets will be kept in seperate task groups, but within 20 miles of one another for visibility purposes.

At first light, all Roman and Hungarian aircraft carriers will launch a massive strike wave of attack and fighter aircraft northeast towards Lisbon. Roughly 100 fighters will be retained for CAP purposes.

Hungarian and Roman air flotillas are intended to strike at approximately the same time. Hungarian aircraft will target regional airfields in and around Lisbon. They will destroy ground facilities and aircraft on runways and tarmacs, and ensure that the enemy air forces are not given a chance to rally and disrupt the attack, nor to launch a counterattack against the fleet itself.

Roman aircraft are tasked with the destruction of the main Spanish battlefleet. The enemy has no aircraft carriers present, but has also designated Lisbon as the primary rally point for their surface fleet. All hostile warships are to be neutralized with extreme prejudice, particularly enemy battle units.

During and after this attack, "Omicron Force", consisting of five Roman and five Hungarian submarines will attempt to infiltrate Lisbon harbor under cover of the chaos generated by the air attack and finish off damaged ships or attack other targets of opportunity therein. This operation is likely to be extremely hazardous, and individual ship captains are to use their own discretion in carrying out the operation. Failing this attack, Omicron Force will remain on-station outside of Lisbon harbor to report on and strike any sortieing Spanish fleet units.

The fleet, having recovered its aircraft, will then move north-west in pursuance with Operation Phalanx (See Below).








Operation Phalanx:

Objective: The Axis powers have deployed much of their military force to extra-European colonies. It is therefore critical that these forces not be allowed to re-enforce the Axis positions in metropolitan Europe. The Roman and Hungarian fleets are tasked with ensuring that the convoys of troops and equipment bringing re-enforcements to Europe do not arrive.


Units allocated:

- Roman Mediterranean Fleet
Aircraft Carriers: Gaius Julius Caesar, Cola di Rienzus Tribunus Maximus, Gaius Marius, Aeneas Romulus, Napoleon Buonapartus Magnus Restutitor
Battleships: Triton, Nemesis, Nike, Poseidon
Cruisers: Syracuse, Neapolis, Barcino, Venicia
Destroyers: Perseus, Polydeuces, Achilles, Hector, Castor, Orpheus
Escorts: Marcus Ulpaius Traianus, Marcus Porcius Cato, Draco, Socrates, Themistocles, Gulielmus Shakesperius Auctorus Rex, Andreas Dorias, Leonidas, Franciscus Petrarca Renascentus, Publius Scipio Africanus, Marcus Tullius Cicero, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Submarines: Haliacmon, Padus, Nilus, Lobregat, Cyanos, Casuentus, Orontes, Tifernus, Aragon, Ubus

- Hungarian Striking Fleet
6x Light Aircraft Carriers
3x Battleships
6x Cruisers
10x Destroyers
10x Close Escorts
10x ASW Destroyers
5x Submarines

- Screening Force (Canary Islands)
Submarines: Thermodon, Sangarius, Marista, Rubicon, Halyacmon, Milian, Alpheus, Leontes, Rhodanus, Aternus

- Atlantic Station (Azores)
Submarines: Tirso, Jordanis, Tiber, Reno, Sele

- Antillian Fleet (Caribbean)
Cruisers: Sparta, Massalia
Destroyers: Bellerophon, Antigone, Odysseus, Ajax
Escorts: Lycurgus, Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator, Leo Albertius Polyhistor, Leonardus Vincius
Submarines: Besus, Halys, Eurotas, Megerda, Sicoris


Operational Plan

- Large-scale re-enforcement convoys of the sort that the Axis are sure to employ to attempt cannot be hidden. Tens of thousands of men and heavy equipment must employ enormous numbers of convoyed merchantmen, moving at much slower speeds than active warships. It is thus considered advantageous to interdict and destroy these convoys.

- Once Operation Charybdis has been carried out, the combined fleet will sail into the North Atlantic at best speed, moving to a position north of the Azores from which they can descend on any convoy sent into the North Atlantic towards Europe from either the West or South.

- Screening Force and Atlantic Station submarines will fan out South and West to identify large enemy convoys. Emphasis is on scouting, not attack. The loose screen of submarines will not be able to assemble sufficient numbers to penetrate the enemy anti-submarine barrier. Subs are to shadow and report on enemy positions.

- Roman Antillian Fleet will screen the Caribbean and serve as an early warning and striking force. If the enemy attempts to draw forces out of Venezuela, Brazil or South America, the Antillian Fleet will shadow them and engage at the discretion of the fleet commander. Otherwise they will provide intelligence as to the enemy's location.

- Once a major enemy convoy is identified and fixed in position, the combined Roman-Hungarian fleet will descend at maximum speed on its position and destroy it utterly with a combination of carrier airstrikes and surface attack. The objective is the total annihilation of the enemy troop convoys by all means necessary. Escort ships will screen heavier vessels as they approach the enemy, while battleships and cruisers destroy enemy transports and escort vessels directly, and carriers strike enemy heavy units in escort from afar. Submarines will press the attack in darkness and harry enemy stragglers. This operation is not a raid. Instead it is a wholesale attack to wipe out the maximum quantity of the enemy's re-supply efforts. Further details must reflect the circumstances of the battle itself.





Operation Illium:

Objective: The Spanish army has launched a massive invasion of Hispania Ulterior province. Roman control of the Straits of Gibraltar is threatened. Roman forces will be rapidly redeployed to the Rock of Calpe (Gibraltar), there to prepare for a Spanish siege against the fortress.


Units allocated:

- Epsilon Force (Gibraltar)
Battleships: Erinyes, Athena
Battlecruiser: Zeus
Cruisers: Athens, Ancyra
Destroyers: Atalante, Herakles
Escorts: Aristotle, Flavius Petrus Justinius, Pericles, Belisarius, Picus Mirandula, Michael Angelus Bonarotius, Nicolaus Maclavellus Advocor, Laurentius Medices Magnificus

- Fourth Legion 'Equestrus' (Casablanca)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA

- Fourteenth Legion 'Rapax' (Tangiers)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA

- 3rd Marine Cohort (Oran)
1x Elite Infantry Regiment
1x Engineers

- 5th Marine Cohort (Gibraltar)
1x Elite Infantry Regiment
1x Engineers

- 6th Marine Cohort (Gibraltar)
1x Elite Infantry Regiment
1x Engineers

- 6th Independent Artillery Cohort (Gibraltar)
1x Artillery Regiment
1x Siege Artillery Regiment

- 1st Independant AAA Cohort (Gibraltar)
1x AAA Regiment

- 6th Air Fleet (Gibraltar)
1x Fighter Squadron (Ground attack)
1x Fighter Squadron (Air Superiority)


Operational Plan

- Gibraltar is currently guarded by the badly damaged 5th and 6th Marine Cohorts, as well as heavy artillery, aircraft, and AAA formations. These units are wholly insufficient to repel an enemy siege of the magnitude we are facing currently. Fortunately, the Roman Fourteenth Legion is located presently in Tangiers, less than ten miles away from Gibraltar, and with a fleet of transports on-hand. Accordingly, the entire Fourteenth Legion will immediately re-embark and deploy to Gibraltar as rapidly as possible. They will be followed by the Fourth Legion, embarking from Casablanca.

- While it would be advantageous to meet the enemy on the border of Hispania Ulterior, this is not possible. We will therefore strive only to hold a seige perimeter sufficient to contain two legions and the heavy artillery and support units to be found within. Engineers will prepare positions to receive the enemy attack, and fallback lines should withdrawl become necessary.

- Epsilon Force will employ its ships' guns in support of the defense of Gibraltar. The restricted area of the perimeter should allow all Roman-held defensive territory to fall within the range of battleship fire from the Straits themselves, while smaller ships will provide support from within the Harbor itself as needed.

- The enemy's air strength badly outnumbers our own, however, the enemy aircraft are primarily air superiority fighters, as are ours. This accords us a certain advantage. The Sixth Air Fleet will defend the airspace around Gibraltar itself, as well as the fleet, and seek to contest the enemy's control of the air, though it is not likely they will be able to achieve air superiority by themselves. Reserve air squadrons will be deployed as rapidly as possible, though for logistical reasons, these will be sent to Tangiers rather than Gibraltar itself. The distances are sufficiently short for even interceptors to operate easily from that distance.

- At this time, it is not deemed likely that Roman forces will have the means or wherewithall to indulge in a counteroffensive in Hispania Ulterior.









Operation Adrianople:

Objective: A major Spanish mobile force has penetrated Southern France and is moving to cut Battlegroup Marius off as they advance into Aquitaine. The destruction of this force is paramount to continued Roman operations in the region.


Units allocated:

- Thirteenth Eligere Legion 'Valeria Victrix' (Carcasonne)
3x Elite Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field Guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA
1x Light Tank Brigade

- Seventh Legion 'Felix' (Massif Central)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA

- Eleventh Legion 'Gemini' (Provence)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA


Operational Plan

- Battlegroup Marius (Twelfth and Thirteenth legions) were previously ordered to advance into Aquitaine before proceeding north. These orders are hereby recinded in full.

- The Twelfth Legion is required elsewhere, and will not be participating in this operation. The Thirteenth however, having pressed from the coast of France to the city of Carcasonne. Unsupported by the Twelfth, the Thirteenth Legion will halt where it is and dig in at Carcasonne to receive the enemy attack.

- The medieval fortress-city of Carcasonne is located in the Pass of Rousillon, between the Massif Central and the Pyrenees mountains. The latter is completely impassable by infantry, let alone by armor, in any location within a hundred miles of Carcasonne. The former's terrain is extremely rough, though an army can move through it, as the French have demonstrated, although not at speed. Any major army wishing to attack into Eastern France must move through the Pass of Rousillon. It is therefore expected that a single legion defending the pass will tempt the Spanish army into attacking.


- The Thirteenth Legion however will posess many advantages in the fighting to follow. They will have a fortified position against which the enemy must attack frontally. They are well supplied with artillery, while the enemy has no such weapon. The quality of the troops of the Thirteenth is extremely high, in excess of almost any other unit in the Roman Army, and Roman Legions are at their strongest on the defensive.


- Once the enemy commits to an attack on Carcasonne, the Thirteenth will hold them in place, while the Seventh Legion, previously moving through the Massif Central in pursuit of the French Army of the South, instead swings west, around the flank of the Spanish force, and falls upon the Spanish force from the north and east. They will be supported by the Eleventh Legion, which will follow in their wake and add weight to the attack of the Seventh. The enemy's superiority in mobile forces and tanks will be negated by the close quarters nature of the fighting due to the terrain of the Massif Central being wholly unsuitable for tanks of any sort.


- The Seventh and Eleventh will not attempt to destroy the enemy, but to cut them off and bottle them up in the pass of Rousillon. The enemy will then have the option of fighting a static battle in position, a prospect which exposes them to the full weight of Roman artillery and field gun superiority and to which tanks and cavalry are highly ill-suited, or to attempt to break out either through the Thirteenth's fortified position, or through two emplaced Infantry legions behind them. In either case, they are not expected to succeed, and in either case, the unit not under attack will immediately hit the enemy force from the rear.


- Should the enemy decline to attack Carcasonne, they will be rendered entirely useless. Carcasonne is the only means by which tanks and mobile forces can gain access to Eastern France between Spain and the Loire River. The Seventh Legion will guard the Massif Central and the Thirteenth will guard Carcasonne until the enemy have comitted to the attack or drawn off entirely. Should the enemy withdraw into Spain, or remain in-place facing our lines, further operations will be initiated.











Operation Mercury:

Objective: The Spanish have invaded the provinces of Aragonia and Tarraconensis, intending on using them as a conduit for attacks on the rest of Roman Iberia. Through rapid re-deployment and the activation of regional reserves, we will contain and repell this invasion.


Units allocated:

Alpha Group:

- Twelfth Legion 'Furia Aragonae' (Carcasonne)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA

- 1st Independent Artillery Cohort (Zaragosa)
1x Artillery
1x Siege Artillery

- 3rd Independent AAA Cohort (Zaragosa)
1x AAA

- Aragonese Civilian Artillery Cohort(Reserve, Zaragosa)
1x Siege Artillery

- Ninth Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Zaragosa)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
2x Field guns
1x Engineers
2x AAA

- Eleventh Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Zaragosa)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
2x AAA



Beta Group:

- Ninth Eligere Legion 'Adiutrix' (Marseille)
3x Elite Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field Guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA
1x Light Tank Brigade

- Fifteenth Legion 'Fulminatus' (Marseille)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA

- 3rd Motorized Cohort (Llerda)
1/2x Motorized Infantry Division

- 3rd Armored Cohort (Llerda)
1/2x Light Armored Division
1/2x Heavy Armored Brigade

- 4th Independent Artillery Cohort (Llerda)
1x Artillery
1x Siege Artillery

- 7th Marine Cohort (Montpellier)
1x Elite Infantry Regiment
1x Engineers

- 9th Marine Cohort (Perpignan)
1x Elite Infantry Regiment
1x Engineers

- Second Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Llerda)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
2x Field guns
1x Engineers
2x AAA

- Sixth Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Llerda)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
2x Field guns
1x Engineers
2x AAA

- Sixteenth Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Llerda)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
2x AAA

- Eighteenth Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Llerda)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
2x AAA

- Catalonian Civilian Artillery Cohort (Reserve, Llerda)
1x Siege Artillery


Gamma Group:

- Third Legion 'Fidelis' (Valencia)
2x Infantry Divisions
1x Elite Infantry Division
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
1x AAA

- 8th Marine Cohort (Valencia)
1x Elite Infantry Regiment
1x Engineers

- Third Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Valencia)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
2x Field guns
1x Engineers
2x AAA

- Fourth Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Valencia)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
2x Field guns
1x Engineers
2x AAA

- Fifth Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Cartagena)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
2x AAA

- Seventh Auxilliary Legion (Reserve, Cartagena)
3x Infantry Divisions
2x Artillery
1x Field guns
2x Engineers
2x AAA

- Tarraconensian Civilian Artillery Cohort (Reserve, Valencia)
1x Siege Artillery



- 1st Air Fleet (Aragon)
1x Fighter Squadron (Long Range)
2x Fighter Squadron (Air Superiority)
1x Fighter Squadron (Ground Attack)
1x Bomber Squadron (Ground Attack)

- 2nd Air Fleet (Provence)
1x Fighter Squadron (Long Range)
2x Fighter Squadron (Air Superiority)
1x Fighter Squadron (Ground Attack)
1x Bomber Squadron (Ground Attack)
1x Airship Squadron (Air Superiority)

- Hispanian Air Territorial Guard
10x Fighter Squadron (Air Superiority)
4x Fighter Squadron (Ground Attack)
3x Bomber Squadron (Ground Attack)
1x Airship Squadron (Air Superiority)




Operational Plan

- The Spanish invasion has caught us off-guard. Though our reserve forces have been activated, they are spread all across the Empire, and cannot concentrate in sufficient forces on sufficient notice to destroy the Spanish invasion force. Accordingly, our efforts shall focus on the preservation of Roman arms within Hispania in preparation for a decisive counter-offensive.

- Aragonia is in many ways the core of Roman Spain, but its exposed position and lack of defensible terrain guarantees its doom. The Reserve legions assembled there are unprepared to resist the magnitude of the Spanish offensive, and the Twelfth Legion, returning south at best speed, cannot prevent the Spanish attack by itself. As such, our priority will be to withdraw from Aragonia into Catalonia (if necessary) with a minimum of collateral loss.

- "Alpha Group", consisting of all reserve and regular forces in Aragonia, as well as the Twelfth Legion, will withdraw north and west of the Ebro River, conceding the southern and eastern half of Aragonia to the Spanish for the time being. They will base their defense on the Ebro, and attempt to check the enemy there. Three enemy divisions, along with artillery and engineer support, are already north of the Ebro, attacking out of Navarre into northern Aragonia. The Twelfth will deploy to block these forces and prevent them from rolling up the flank of the Ebro.

- If Alpha Group is able to stabilize or even slow the enemy invasion, then they will be supported by "Beta Group", consisting of the forces in Catalonia, as well as the Ninth and Fifteenth Legions, freshly arrived from the east. These forces will move into Aragonia to A: Stabilize the line against the Spanish, and B: Prepare for a counterstroke against them.

- If however, Alpha Group is unable to materially stabilize the enemy assault, then the entire force will withdraw west into Catalonia, rallying on the city of Llerda. There, they will rendezvous with Beta Group, and prepare for the next assault. As the combined Alpha and Beta groups will at that point consist of Nine legions and supporting troops, it is not expected that the Spanish will succeed at penetrating Catalonia, even with their full strength.

- "Gamma Group", located in Valencia and Murcia (Province of Tarraconensis), is in better position, as the terrain is better suited for the defensive, and the enemy assault from the south is less strong. The Third Legion and local reserves will hold against the enemy attack through the hills of Tarraconensis, giving ground only where necessary. Should the unexpected happen, and the enemy manage to penetrate the forces of Gamma Group, the units will fall back on the cities of Cartagena and Valencia and hold them as footholds in Southern Spain pending our counteroffensive. However, while the enemy has deployed elite formations to the south, including heavy armor and artillery, Rome currently holds a numerical advantage of 5:1 in men, and 3:1 in guns. Defeat is not anticipated.

- As this is occurring, Roman Air Forces will provide maximum support to ground units, particularly in Aragonia. With our air reserves active, we should be able to successfully contest with the Spanish for control of the air. Support role is entirely defensive at this time, and aircraft are not to indulge in attacks on the Spanish rear, but in tactical strikes at frontline targets in support of the infantry, while interceptors seek to achieve control of the airspace directly above the battle zone.











Additional Maneuvers/Reserve Deployments:

Activated Reserves not mentioned above are deployed as follows:

2x Reserve Legions (standard reserve configuration) deployed to Anatolia. These will remain in Anatolia to defend against any assault from the East

3x Reserve Legions deployed to Italia Province. These will be redeployed by rail into Southern France, and thence into Roman Spain.

3x Reserve Legions deployed to Greece (Macedonia, Achaiea, and Byzantium Provinces), two of these will be redeployed by rail into Southern France via the Hungarian rail network

1x Reserve Legion deployed to Sicily. This will be redeployed by ship to Morocco or Gibraltar, to be determined.

1x Reserve Legion deployed to Tunisia (Africa Province). This will remain in Tunisia for the moment.

Roman Naval Reserves deployed to Sicily. These will form into a unified fleet and sail for the Straits of Gibraltar, employment TBD.

Roman Air Reserves are divided into five equal units (similar to the ones described in the above operations) called "Air Territorial Guard". These are deployed to Spain, Africa, Italy, Greece, and Anatolia respectively. The African and Spanish units are dealt with above. The Italian Air Territorial Guard will re-deploy to Spain as quickly as possible. The Greek Air Territorial Guard will re-deploy to Switzerland/Austria as quickly as possible. The Anatolian Air Territorial Guard will remain in-place.

The Army of Noricum (Second and Eighth Legions) will pause on the edge of the Black Forest and other regions of southern Germany to consolidate gains in the north. They will maintain contact with enemy forces in Germany, but will not attempt to penetrate the Black forest nor launch continued offensives unless the situation changes radically.

The Roman 4th Air Fleet (Noricum) will re-deploy to southern France immediately.

The Roman Army of Gaul (First, Fifth, and Tenth Legions) will halt in place. The First and Tenth Legions will redeploy south towards Roman Spain and Southern France in preparation for continued offensives.

Each Senatorial province (of which there are 26) has a single regiment of reserve siege artillery deployed to it. These are the Civilian Artillery Cohorts. These cohorts are presently deployed in their respective provinces, though they will no doubt be moved shortly. The three such cohorts in Roman Spain are dealt with above.

[rhoenix]

Build Order 2 is now added to my OOB, and is as follows:

Build Order 2 (200 points from ind4):
Research:
100 Infantry

Development:
1x Gabriel-class Carrier Cruiser group (70pt)
1x Samael-class Escort Destroyer group (25pt)
1x Dumah-class submarine group (5pt)

[General Havoc]

Build orders:

Project Vulcan:
Category: Large guns
Project budget: 70 points

Long Term Investment:
Economy Upgrade 3 -> 4
Requirement: 400-100=300 points
Investment amount: 50 points
Total Investment: 70/300 points

Roman XVIII Legion:
2x Infantry Division (20 points)
1x Elite Division (30 points)
2x Artillery (10 points)
1x Field Guns (5 points)
2x Engineers (10 points)
1x AAA (5 points)
Total: 80 points

Total, 200 points.

[Cynical Cat]

So let's hash this Germany thing about because it's already late.

The Saxony army is going to be able to get to Hamburg ahead of the Hungarians. It'll probably eat a few bombs and strafing runs on the way there, but they won't suffer too badly.

The Brandenburg planes will be able to rebase ahead of the advancing army, but Germany's airforce is going to get hammered by overwhelming numbers. No radar warning will mean they're more vulnerable to getting hit on the ground by one wave after fighting off the previous one. It won't be bloodless for the Hungarians, there is some AAA and a fair number of the German planes are interceptors, but the Germans are going to be hurting in the air.

With the retreating armies I'll control most of Eastern and Southern Germany and a fair chunk of northern Germany as well.


Now the Swiss Army. They've already been on a force march retreat from the mountains while pursued by the Romans. They're mostly straight leg infantry with good heavy armour support, but they're hauling a lot of siege arty and that will slow them down. They've been retreating from the Romans and 1st Army has lots of motorized elements and armour elements meaning its faster than marching infantry hauling heavy guns. In addition, they're going to get hammered from the air.

So its going to suck for them, no matter what. Their morale will continue to take a beating and they can't exactly dig in their AAA while retreating. Moving heavy armour and siege arty through the Black Forest, if they make it there, isn't going to be the easiest trick in the world particularly the huge siege guns. They have a decent chance of making it into the interior, but it's going to be a hard slog and their rearguard is going to get beaten like a drum.

Obviously, no reserves are going to be recruitable from Hungarian occupied areas.

[frigidmagi]

Okay, Lonestar, Silence and Slacker are out. Silence had a death in the family folks, so if you know him and are reading this extend our condolences and sympathies. He should feel free to join in later games or rejoin this one if he wishes.

Klavo if you do not post this week, I'm throwing you out.

That said, EVENTS!

Frigid:

Havoc:

AcNut:

Klavo:

Sunhawk:

CT:

Cleric:

Cat:

Hadri:

Hotfoot:

Sweepy:

Marcoa:

Charon:

[frigidmagi]

Hotfoot:

Marcao:

Charon:

I wrote the damn chart and I never get an event!

[General Havoc]

Thanks for the update on casualties Frigid, but what happened with my and Cyncat's carrier strike on the Spanish fleet?

[frigidmagi]

We didn't discuss it. So we'll have to work on it after I get back from class in about an hour or so.

[frigidmagi]

Okay I'm changing the date of the summit for Oct 10th. To be blunt I would like to devote some time to it and I need Havoc, Cleric and Cat to reply quickly to those posts. Cat, cleric if you could step it out and reply I'd be happy.

[Cynical Cat]

There's still unresolved military activity (my second attacks into Germany, the naval attack on the Spanish) and CT hasn't responded to my offer of terms. These happened before the English conference and will shape my answer. For example, if I'm still at war with Germany as well as Spain, getting to England is tricky and dangerous for me especially if the naval situation doesn't go well.

[General Havoc]

I posted that my Consul would be attending the conference, if physically possible. A lot can happen between now and October.

[The Cleric]

Sorry, been working and internet crashed on me last night with all the snow. Response posted; need to grab you on AIM to make sure I'm not fubaring my build orders.

[Cynical Cat]

Germany and Hungary have come to terms. I'll do a full post on it on Sunday, but the gist is that German military on the continent will be disarmed and their equipment shipped to wherever the German government wants. European Germany will be divided between Hungary and Rome, with Hungary getting the larger share. Hungary will guarrantee the integrity of the German Republic's non European possessions.

[Academia Nut]

Ugh... I should have posted this weeks ago, but I've hit a major funk right now and I just can't work up the will to keep up with this game. Sorry guys, I'll have to drop out for the time being.

[frigidmagi]

Urk... I'm sorry to see you go AcNut, but I won't hold ya against your will. You're welcome to return if you ever feel the urge.

[rhoenix]

My thanks to all for the game, but I'm dropping out as well. I will be continuing to read, however.

[frigidmagi]

Well, by my count we've lost about half our players. So unless we can drum up some new ones...

I'm gonna pause the game for this week given our lack of players and open this up, should we stop here?

Here are some of problems. With Sweepy and Acnut gone there North America and Asia have become NPC continents. I mean there's me in China and Hotfoot as the US. Everyone else is in Europe or Africa. I don't count Russia anymore because it's been a good week or so since Hadri's post (by the Hadri if you're reading this let me know if you're quitting, not to be rude but that's simple manners, if you're not quitting let me know if there's a problem).

Anyways, should we call it a game?

[Cynical Cat]

The game is dead. We should bury it with dignity.

I would like to throw around some praise as we end this.

First is to Cleric. This was your first time and you got thrown deep into shark infested waters. You got chewed up, but you handled it with dignity and class.

Second is to my partner in crime Havoc. You're all one could want in an ally.

[Hadrianvs]

I'm sorry Magi, I've been sick and depressed for the last couple of weeks. Was so out of it I couldn't even bring myself to log onto AIM, let alone LibArc and the game.

*sigh*

I guess this STGOD just wasn't meant to be, a subtantial portion of the playerbase was rendered inactive by misfortune of some sort or another.

[frigidmagi]

I'm sorry Magi, I've been sick and depressed for the last couple of weeks. Was so out of it I couldn't even bring myself to log onto AIM, let alone LibArc and the game.

It's alright Hadri, you are hardly alone in that. We'll try another time. Anyone else want to say anyone?

[Charon]

I'll have to agree with Cat that the game is unfortunately dead. Props to Cat and Havoc for setting up Cleric and Ben.

Slightly disappointed that most of the stuff I was working on didn't get time to come to fruition. But oh well.

As for a next time, there are a couple things I would say. A smaller player base might be good, but on the other hand, I dunno. A large player base might actually be best for a game like this.

Secondly, the set time thing. I really like it and I can't see how this game could work without it, but seriously people, you need to get off your butts and post in order to keep something like that going. You can't expect to make one post a week and be involved in the game.

[Hadrianvs]

Different people will draw different conclusions and lessons from how the game went down, but I think there can be broad agreement on one point: Next time the ruleset should be established before players pick nations, not after.

It seems to me that the overlong period of rules arguing, when everyone already knew what they were playing and how they wanted to play it, served to sap much of the enthusiasm and poison the atmosphere. I think "let us hash out the rules and then pick nations" will work far better than "now that we all have our nations, let's talk rules". Alternatively the issue could be sidestepped entirely by simply never opening the floor to major rules alterations, and just going straight to picking nations and making OOBs; that works too.

[Hotfoot]

Agreed. One should always have the rules ready to go in a pretty well finished form. Allowing people to point out small oversights is one thing, but make a game by committee is pretty much asking for pain.

[The Cleric]

Oh well, it was fun (?) while it lasted. If another starts up, I'm game.