Commander: The Great War -- coming in early November

[Jarhead0331]

^Yeah, I'm getting my a$$ consistently handed to me as the Central Powers.  I can hold my own in the Balkans and on the Western Front, but once the Russians come to party, it all falls apart rather fast.

[Nefaro]

^Yeah, I'm getting my a$$ consistently handed to me as the Central Powers.  I can hold my own in the Balkans and on the Western Front, but once the Russians come to party, it all falls apart rather fast.

Are you playing the 1914 start, Jarhead?

I'd suggest starting at 1915 until you're comfortable, perhaps.  It's more forgiving when there's less open spaces to be exploited, I would imagine.  And with the scale of the map, one hole that the AI manages to rush through, at the right time, can really send the player into a downward spiral if it results in lost production or surrounded and cut off units.  With attrition being such a big factor, and production devaluation from bombardment & capture of cities, it's easy to get behind the curve.  At least in the '15 start the west front is firmly entrenched, and the East Front is mostly so, resulting in a more stable situation to start with.

[tgb]

Sprites all the way.  The only counters I can handle are the ones that are on physical board war games.   8)

I'm having to use counters because I can't make out the sprites too well, at 1680x1050 resolution.   The sprites look great, and I'd love to use them, but they blend in too much with the map even despite having the 'glow' option on.  :-[

That's what I found.

[W8taminute]

^Yeah, I'm getting my a$$ consistently handed to me as the Central Powers.  I can hold my own in the Balkans and on the Western Front, but once the Russians come to party, it all falls apart rather fast.

The single best advice I can give you is what the Lordz mentioned in either this thread or the other one.  In 1914 all you should worry about is getting boots on the ground fast.  Don't blow all your money on research.  In fact as Germany and Austria, you need to cut back spending on naval research.  The few PP you gain by doing so will enable you to survive until 1915.  For every one regular infantry you send to the west you must send either 3 garrisons or 2 regular infantry to the east or you'll be done.

[W8taminute]

Here's my situation spring 1915 on all fronts:

[W8taminute]

And finally the situation in the Middle East.

I decided on straying away from Schlieffens original plan and use the WW2 plan for striking in the West.  I've slowly accumulated regular infantry in the East to stem the tide of cossack hordes.  I've got to hurry up and finish the Balkans before Italy enters or I'll be in trouble as I've got nothing on the Italian border atm.

[Gusington]

Funny as the Entente starting in 1914 I am getting my ass blasted by the Central Powers on the Western Front. Not doing terrific in the East either but at least destroying some German and Austrian units here and there. I am hanging on by my toenails in the West.

But now I have got my research and production ramped up a bit and I have noticed a difference almost immediately. Increasing the power of my artillery, researching poison gas, trying hard to get the caterpillar track upgrade for armor...and then I realize, while doing all this 'work', that it is damned fun too, even with the no-nonsense AI.

The best feeling so far in this game is when I have utterly destroyed an enemy unit. I really have to work to do that. One misstep and I feel like the whole thing can come undone. I have seen infantry attack my aircraft, which I don't like too much but I guess for 1914-1915 it is pretty realistic.

With my research upgraded, and the channel somewhat secure, I am counting on the British to save the Entente cause. Each turn for the last 3-4 I have been landing upgraded infantry and artillery in the northeastern-most corner of France...this better work.

I think that somehow sheer numbers and strategically placed upgrade will save me in the East.

Fingers crossed.

[Jarhead0331]

^Yeah, I'm getting my a$$ consistently handed to me as the Central Powers.  I can hold my own in the Balkans and on the Western Front, but once the Russians come to party, it all falls apart rather fast.

Are you playing the 1914 start, Jarhead?

I'd suggest starting at 1915 until you're comfortable, perhaps.  It's more forgiving when there's less open spaces to be exploited, I would imagine.  And with the scale of the map, one hole that the AI manages to rush through, at the right time, can really send the player into a downward spiral if it results in lost production or surrounded and cut off units.  With attrition being such a big factor, and production devaluation from bombardment & capture of cities, it's easy to get behind the curve.  At least in the '15 start the west front is firmly entrenched, and the East Front is mostly so, resulting in a more stable situation to start with.

I am playing in the 1914 scenario...interesting.  The only reason I would be hesitant to switch to the 1915 scenario would be that the 1914 scenario seems to be the best chance to implement Schlieffen.  Starting the game with the western front gridlock seems to take some of the strategy away.   

[Nefaro]

^Yeah, I'm getting my a$$ consistently handed to me as the Central Powers.  I can hold my own in the Balkans and on the Western Front, but once the Russians come to party, it all falls apart rather fast.

Are you playing the 1914 start, Jarhead?

I'd suggest starting at 1915 until you're comfortable, perhaps.  It's more forgiving when there's less open spaces to be exploited, I would imagine.  And with the scale of the map, one hole that the AI manages to rush through, at the right time, can really send the player into a downward spiral if it results in lost production or surrounded and cut off units.  With attrition being such a big factor, and production devaluation from bombardment & capture of cities, it's easy to get behind the curve.  At least in the '15 start the west front is firmly entrenched, and the East Front is mostly so, resulting in a more stable situation to start with.

I am playing in the 1914 scenario...interesting.  The only reason I would be hesitant to switch to the 1915 scenario would be that the 1914 scenario seems to be the best chance to implement Schlieffen.  Starting the game with the western front gridlock seems to take some of the strategy away.

Sure, you don't have the big initial rush.  But I think the AI is best at finding such holes and exploiting them, and starting my first game in 1915 has helped come to grips with it, on the Entente side anyway. 

The AI is still giving it's punches but I'd like to think I've learned faster with the 1915 start since I've gained some ground, overall.  The most difficult points have been when part of my line has been breached, an opening made, and the AI delivers a swift kick to the groin that I must scramble to recover from.  I'm sure that with all the extra opportunities the 1914 start provides the AI, it's probably more difficult for a time.  Other than maybe the west front for the CP, anyways.

[TheCommandTent]

I keep running out of PP trying to repair and upgrade my units.  I really need to work on how I spend PP.  Also I am slowly getting the hang of rotating units out of the front line where I can.

[Gusington]

^I am not even close to mastering the rotation. I just hold the line and feel good about myself.

[TheCommandTent]

^I am not even close to mastering the rotation. I just hold the line and feel good about myself.

Never said I mastered but its becomes a necessity when the cohesion of my forces falls dangerously low.

[Gusington]

I am at the end of summer, 1915, Serbia is stable and the Italian front is stable too. Russia, not so hot, but holding their own.

France is almost out of the war! Got clobbered early but in one turn I had six infantry units deployed, upgraded and now I am on the verge of taking back some lost French cities.

And the British are really ramping up in northwest France with some well equipped infantry. I am hoping to have the Germans over-extend themselves and then pincer them to pieces with fresh French infantry from the south and a born-again BEF in the north.

[Nefaro]

One issue (possible Bug!) that keeps bothering me is when enemy subs attack and they're supposed to be 'revealed' for one turn after the attack.  Problem is... my 'cruiser' squadron cannot attack them!   >:( 

It's kinda ruining the fun for me, as I've had three opportunities to take a shot at a German sub unit right after it attacked one of my convoys - and after moving next to it, I can't friggin' attack them!  Of course, next turn they disappear again.   

I'd been keeping a couple of the so-called 'cruiser' squadrons out near the convoy routes for this purpose, and they have sub attack values, but it's all for not right now.

>:( >:(

[Gusington]

I ask this sheepishly but wtf am I supposed to be doing with my convoys?