>From andrewh@pyr.csuhayward.edu Wed Dec 19 00:30:50 1990 From: Andrew Hung To: andrewh@pyr.csuhayward.edu, wif@imryrr.Eng.Sun.COM Subject: DoD/WiF article - 1936(revised) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is the description on the game of DoD/WiF which occurred on 12/14-12/15, with only 4 players. Unfortunately, due to time constraint the game lasted until 1938 Jan/Feb. Judging from the result, it was a far cry from the earlier games in which most of the minors jumped on the Axis bandwagon from the start. The notations are the same as earlier articles with the following changes. (+1) on the init. roll indicate the init. modifier, something we have totally misinterpreted before. The result of the init. die rolls now show the win after a tie result. The weather roll is now included, the -1 in parentheses. indicated next turn modifier. ****************************************************************************** Result of Init. die rolls ------------------------- Side Win Tie(Win) 2-1 3-1 6-1 6's ---------------------------------------- Allies 5 1 1 0 1 4 Axis 5 2 0 1 0 2 ---------------------------------------- Total 13 turns ****************************************************************************** 1936 ---- Jan/Feb Init. roll: 4(+1)(Axis) - 1(Allies) Axis - 16S Germany occupy the Rhineland, mil. support for Belgium. Allies - 16S France occupy the Rhineland, demands Rhenish resources. Minors - Aust(-3), Bulg(+4), Czech(+3), Den(+2), Fin(+4), Greece(-4), Hun(+1), Iraq(+3), Neth(+1), Nor(-3), Per(-2), Pol(+1), Port(+2), Spain-R(+1), Swed(-3), Turk(+3), Yugo(+3) US Entry - +5, -3***** Weather - 1(-1) Build - JA(I), IT(I), RU(I,C) Comment - Yow, the Allies caught us flatfooted with the French occupation of Rhineland. We(Axis) thought our play of Axis 16 would have prevented the Allies option 16, that was apparently not so according to the rules. A brilliant gamble on the part of the Allies caused some of the important minors(Czech, Turk) to swing toward them and seriously shocked the Axis players. Now we have to fight for every minor who comes our way. In retrospect, it was a mistake to play 16S; may be we should have let the FR march into Rhineland and eat the die roll every turns until FR pulls out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mar/Apr Init. roll: 1,5(Allies) - 1,2(Axis) Allies - 19P(failed) France & CW guarantee Rumania & Greece. Axis - 19S Germany offers NA Pact with Czech and sign moratorium on build. Minors - Aust(-1), Belg(-2), Czech(-5), Den(-2), Fin(+1), Greece(-2), Hun(+3), Iraq(+1), Neth(-2), Nor(-1), Pers(-1), Pol(-2), Port(+1), Rum(+2), Spain-R(-1), Swed(-1), Turk(-1), Yugo(+1) US Entry - 0, -3 Weather - 4 Build - JA(2I), IT(I), RU(I,C) Coup cell: Mong(Axis) - Mong(Allies) Comments - We became really concern about some of the minors which are heading toward the Allies. Main thing at this point is to get Czech into our control quickly and may be Belgium if possible. The Allies attempted to get Rumania and Greece, but fortunately failed. This is by far the most aggressive maneuver to appease the minors by the Allies(Yow!!). It would have seriously crippled our option play if it was successful. We were having problems due to the play of Allies option 16 and would have lagged behind badly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ May/Jun Init. roll: 6(Allies) - 3(Axis) Allies - 6P(failed) France off economic pact to Benelux Countries. Axis - 11S Germany signed econ and military pact with Sweden. Minors - Aust(-1), Belg(-1), Bulg(-1), Czech(-1), Den(+1), Fin(+2), Hun(-1), Neth(+1), Nor(+2), Pol(+1), Port(-1), Rum(-1), Swed(-4) US Entry - 0, +5 Weather - 1 Build - JA(ARM), RU(2I,C), CH(I) Coup cell: Bulg(Axis) - Ice(Allies) Comment - A momentous event for the Allies, the change to political effectiveness is US(-1), CW(+1), RU(+1). Not bad except for the US which should have gone up to improve its chance of reelecting a Democratic President. The Allies actually got an intelligent coup on us but were unable to convert it due to failed dice roll again. Japan decided to build an ARM to present a creditable threat to RU and CH. Of course, this was in part due to my failure to do so in earlier games until it was too late. By building the ARM early, Japan would be able to attack either at late 1937 or early 1938. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jul/Aug Init. roll: 5(+1)(Axis) - 6(Allies) Axis - 3S Japan signed econ pact with Netherlands, demobilized army. Allies - 19P(failed) France & CW guarantee Rumania & Greece. Minors - Aust(+1), Belg(-2), Bulg(+1), Czech(-2), Den(-1), Fin(+3), Greece(-2), Hun(+1), Iraq(+1), Neth(-4), Nor(-1), Port(+1), Rum(+1), Spain-R(-2), Swed(-1), Turk(+2) US Entry - +1, 0 Weather - 6 Build - IT(I), CW(N), RU(I) Coup cell: Greece(Axis) - Fin(Allies) Comment - A momentous event(again!!) for the Allies, the result is RU(-1). Yet another chance for US to go up. The Allies tried again and choked on the dice rolls. No so lopsided as last time for the Axis, the minors are hanging around the Neutral zone. Japan got one more resource but lacked factories, can't build any land units for a while. I wonder if Russia is going to purge at all this game, this would have been the ideal turn since most of its European INFs and replacements should be at Vlad. by this time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sep/Oct Init. roll: 5(+1)(Axis) - 5(Allies) Axis - 18S Germany signed NA pact with Poland, moratorium on build. Allies - 0(voluntarily) Minors - Aust(+1), Belg(-2), Bulg(-1), Czech(-2), Den(-2), Fin(+1), Greece(-1), Hun(+1), Neth(-2), Nor(-1), Per(-1), Pol(-5), Rum(+1), Spain-R(-1), Swed(-1), Turk(+1), Yugo(-1). US Entry - -4, 0 Weather - 3 Build - JA(AC), CW(N) Coup cell: Yugo(Axis) - Greece(Allies) Comment - We were hoping to get Poland to at least influenced status by General War in order to shorten the distance to Russia. The Allies are shocked by the numerous failures(3 in a row) and decided that the -1 to next turn die roll is more appropriate. I think this is a real good thing to do especially if the Allies planned to play a real important option like US gear up. CW continued to pour out those CVs which really worried Italy, especially since I have hardly built any Italian units. It would have been better to have played Axis 19 right after we played Axis 18, this would have reduced the moratorium on build for Germany. No one is spending for Spain Civil War and the chance of it is real low(1 in 6). However, I rolled a 1 and the Civil War started. Initially, the forces are evenly distributed since part of the Nationalist force is not in mainland Spain. The Republicans tried for a push for Seville but rolled a 1 and lose 2 units. Both navies failed to find the other side, will have to wait for reinforcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nov/Dec Init. roll: 6(Allies) - 1(+1)(Axis) Allies - 11S CW supports Republican forces, 7(failed) Stalin purges army. Axis - 10P Germany supports Nationalist force. Minors - Belg(+2), Fin(+1), Hun(-2), Iraq(-1), Neth(+3), Per(-1), Pol(-2), Port(-2), Spain-N(-2), Spain-R(+2), Swed(-1), Turk(+2), Yugo(+1) US Entry - -4, +2 Weather - 5 Coup cell: Greece(Axis) - Ireland(Allies) Build - JA(AC,N), CW(1Spain), CH(I), US(N) Comment - A momentous event(argh!!) for the Allies, the result is US(+1), CW(-1), RU(-1). The US finally managed to go up one but still rolled a 10 and got a Republican President!! Well, unless the US plays Allies 12 with secondary effect, the US won't be in the war for at least 1-2 years when General War breaks out. That should allow Germany plenty of time to carve up Russia and France. If the Spain Civil War go the Nationalist way, the Axis might be able to close the Med by taking Gibraltar. The Nationalist is slightly advantageous at this point, but I'm still unwilling to launch a major attack. I initially thought that the Allies would play options 10 & 11 together, but Steve thought they would play option 11 & 7(he's right!!). Ouch, bad dice roll prevails as only option 11 was played successfully. Russia need to purge badly!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary - This has been a real roller coaster game, especially the early gamble of Allies option 16. It looks like a long fight uphill for the Axis this time and a surprisingly aggressive style of play for the Allies. Three(3) momentous events in the first year would have been a real bonanza for US except for the bad dice rolls. A real disaster for the Allies in failing so many options. No one wanted Spain Civil War and naturally it occurred by chance. The failed attack on Seville broke the Republican force but I failed to capitalize on it. A dead even with init. at this point. Japan will probably not attack until 1938 since the US entry is so low(-3, I think). Once again a Republican administration in US, hopefully LoN will be used to counter the +1 to US entry rolls. Overall a real improvement on the last game for the Allies, I guess we didn't expect Allies to play option 16 just to cancel out the modifiers on the minors. I think that was a real positive move and should be used as the opening gambit for the Allies. Of course, the Axis should in the future play something else to counter this!! The Axis objective is still an early capitulation of Russia, still unsure whether Germany would have attacked France or may be just build the Siegfried line instead. p.s. Comments would be very welcome... >From andrewh@pyr.csuhayward.edu Tue Dec 18 23:59:03 1990 From: Andrew Hung To: andrewh@pyr.csuhayward.edu, wif@imryrr.Eng.Sun.COM Subject: DoD/WiF article - 1937/8 This the second part to that game of DoD/WiF which occurred on the weekend of 12/14 and 12/15. Hopefully one of these days we will finish the whole game so that I can write more than two parts. The notations remained the same as part one. This article will contain 1937 and Jan/Feb of 1938, which is the point in which we stopped. ****************************************************************************** 1937 ---- Jan/Feb Init. roll: 2(+1)(Axis) - 3(Allies) Axis - 15P Aircraft and Tanks provided to Franco. Allies - 0(voluntary) no opt. Minors - Belg(+1), Czech(-1), Iraq(+1), Neth(+1), Nor(+1), Pers(+1), Pol(-1), Port(-1), Spain-N(-2), Spain-R(+2), Yugo(-1). US Entry - +2, 0 Weather - 5(-1) Coup cell: Fin(Axis) - Iraq(Allies) Build - GE(AC), JA(I,2N), CW(1Spain), RU(I), US(2N) Comment - Due to the arrival of the new Republican administration, the US entry roll is modified by +1. The US capitalized on this and build a couple of CVs. Unfortunately, this also mean that Japan can have a free rein in naval construction until LoN bill is played(I strongly recommend this). A flanking maneuver resulted in the fall of Valencia. However, the drive to Madrid faltered due to Republican forces dug in at the resource pt SW of the capital. Once again both fleet failed to spot each other and more Nationalist units arrived from Tangier. The lousy weather prevented any real fighting and the mud really slowed things down. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mar/Apr Init. roll: 6(Allies) - 4(Axis) Allies - 7(failed) Stalin purged the officer corp. Axis - 13P Germany gears up PM from 1 to 2. Minors - Aust(+1), Belg(+1), Czech(+1), Den(+1), Fin(-1), Neth(+1), Nor(+1), Pers(-1), Pol(+1), Rum(-1), Spain-N(-1), Spain-R(+1), Swed(-1), Turk(-1), Yugo(+1) US Entry - 0, +1* Weather - 2 Coup cell: Bulg(Axis) - Belg(Allies) Build - GE(N), JA(2I,N), CW(3Spain,N), RU(C) Comment - Another momentous event, the result is CW(-1), RU(+1), US(+1). I don't know whether to laugh or cry, the Allies tried to purge which would have helped immensely but failed again. We were hoping that some of the positive modifiers on the minors would be canceled out by the Allies option, but we didn't expect another failure. My Nationalist troops continued to try to outflank the Republican. Fierce air battle raged as the Nationalist forces attempted to get thru the bottleneck in mountain south of Madrid. The attack on the resource point succeeded with all except for 2 units disorganized. Republican forces moved to block the advance but leaving only the HQ to defend Madrid. However, Nationalist force sallied forth and managed to capture Madrid on a 10-1 attack(initially only 4-1 since I didn't notice the 6-3 can also make the attack, thanks goodness Steve spotted that!!). Victorious Nationalist forces paraded down the main avenues of Madrid and cutting off the supply to all the Republican force in central Spain. Oops, I read afterward that the effect of losing Madrid is that there is no production for the Republican force that turn!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ May/Jun Init. roll: 1(+1)(Axis) - 1(Allies) Axis - 12S Germany signed econ and mil pact with Rumania. Allies - 13P(failed) France gears up PM from 1/2 to 1. Minors - Aust(+2), Belg(+1), Bulg(+3), Czech(-2), Den(-1), Fin(-1), Greece(+2), Hun(+2), Iraq(+1), Neth(+1), Nor(-1), Pers(-1), Port(-1), Rum(-4), Spain-N(-1), Spain-R(+1), Swed(-1), Turk(+2), Yugo(-1). US Entry - +5, 0 Weather - 1 Coup cell: Spain-N(Axis) - Spain-N(Allies) Build - JA(I,N), CW(3Spain), RU(AC), CH(I) Comment - The option attempts by the Allies are looking real ugly, so many failed dice roll that not much have been done. YOW!! Good thing I have saved up for Italy to protect the Spain Nationalist force, it turned out that the Allies bought the same coup cell. Things are looking grim in Spain as more Republican forces are destroyed and Italy no longer send any resource to support the Nationalist force which is overflowing with resources!! Now I hope for a speedy ending to the civil war so that I can use the fac and resources in Spain for Italy. I have finally decided to postpone the attack on Russia until 1938(may be Mar/Apr) to get a bigger forces to face China in case it intervenes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jul/Aug Init. roll: 6(+1)(Axis) - 5(Allies) Axis - 6S Hitler support Rumanian claims against Hungary. Allies - 0(voluntary) no opt. Minors - Aust(-1), Bulg(+1), Czech(-1), Greece(+1), Hun(+2), Pol(-1), Rum(-2), Turk(+2), Yugo(+1) US Entry - +3, 0 Weather - 6 Coup cell: Yugo(Axis) - Neth(Allies) Build - GE(N), JA(2I), CW(4Spain), RU(AC) Comment - Wow, a momentous event for the Axis, the result is JA(-1), IT(-1). No a real good turn of event for us in lowering both of those countries political effectiveness. Republican forces are now pushed back to Barcelona and Bilbao area of Spain. I should have attacked more vigorously but my forces are still in the area south of Madrid trying to sweep up the Republican forces. The Nationalist force has so much resource that I ended up building the other LS in the force pool. Out at sea, the Republican LS was hunted down and destroyed with the aid of the German TAC(7 factor - Rudel practicing early). The only course for the Allies is to drag out the civil war in order to erode Spain's support for the Axis cause. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sep/Oct Init. roll: 6(Axis) - 4(Allies) Axis - 20P(failed) Italy send Condor Legion to support Franco. Allies - 7(failed) Stalin purged the officer corp. Minors - n/a US Entry - 0, 0 Weather - 4 Coup cell: Neth(Axis) - Yugo(Allies) Build - JA(I,AC) Comment - Another momentous event for the Axis, the result is JA(+1), IT(+1). Geeze, back where we were at the beginning for those two Axis powers. No much happening in Spain as the weather closed down most operations. I ended up buying an offensive chit for Spain to get more of my forces moving. The first and only failure on option play, I rolled a big 11 for Italy. Japan build the ATR to fly the HQ over to Manchuria. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nov/Dec Init. roll: 5(+1)(Allies) - 4(Axis) Allies - 13P(failed) France gears up PM from 1/2 to 1. Axis - 2S Italy signed NA act with Yugo., disarm army as good will. Minors - Aust(+2), Belg(-1), Bulg(-1), Czech(-2), Den(-1), Fin(-1), Greece(+1), Hun(+3), Iraq(+1), Neth(-1), Nor(-1), Pers(-1), Rum(+1), Spain-R(-1), Swed(-1), Turk(+2), Yugo(-3). US Entry - 0, +2 Weather - 3 Build - JA(2I), CW(3Spain), RU(ARM,I,AC), FR(I,AC), CH(I) Comment - More failures on the Allies who failed to gear up for France. Bad weather make it impossible to make any inroad in Spain. The white print 7-4 Nationalist unit gambled and moved to the coast to get back in supply. Russia did a massive build to booster its forces. Both sides forgot to buy coup cell. CW continued to pour money to Spain in hope of delaying the inevitable. ****************************************************************************** 1938 ---- Jan/Feb Init. roll: 3(Allies) - 2(Axis) Allies - 12S US gears up PM from 1/8 to 1/4, passed LoN bill. Axis - 20P Italy send Condor Legion to Spain. Minors - Aust(+2), Bulg(+2), Czech(-3), Den(+2), Greece(-2), Hun(-2), Iraq(-1), Pers(+3), Port(-3), Spain-N(-4), Spain-R(+4), Swed(+1), Turk(-2). US Entry - -5,+3 Weather - 4 Coup cell: Czech(Axis) - Czech(Allies) Build - JA(2I), RU(2I) Comment - At this point we stopped the game, but things were not looking so good for the Allies. Despite the improvement on the minors, the Allies were unable to get much done in term of options. Spain is a lost cause except for dragging it out. The passage of the LoN bill will at least get the US entry back in track, which at this point is at -3. If General War breaks out at this point, another -5 would be tagged on to make it -8. This is a significant delay of 1 1/2 year but there are still so many more option to change it. Japan is military ready to attack Russia and still has enough force to guard against China. Italy is in real danger if France starts a war with it as I have removed the units in E. Africa for the disarmament with Yugo. Russia is politically cripple and probably can't do much until it purges. Should be interesting to see if Poland joins our cause and open the way for the conquest of Russia. However, Turkey will present some problems for us and it's very likely to join the Allies. The overall situation for the Allies is better than the previous games but they will have to work on the gear up a bit. I have never seen so much momentous events within 13 turns!! ******************************************************************************