Re-visiting the game . . .

[stockwellpete]

I had a couple of solo games as the Central Powers on the middling level for the AI after a very long break. I got completely slaughtered by about the middle of 1915 both times. Just a few observations . . .

i) the game seems really unbalanced now so I don't really feel inclined to play it any more even though the actual mechanics of the game are a real joy to use. If the historical balance was better then I would start playing again.

ii) The Russians seem to mass produce garrison units that can completely overwhelm the Central Powers on the eastern front. Maybe they should produce more standard size infantry units than garrisons so they do not have so many units? Also their units in 1914 were very badly equipped so perhaps their technological development needs to be slower.

iii) Serbia is too strong now and Bulgaria did not come into the war both times. What is the reason for Bulgaria not entering?

iv) The Ottomans performed the best in both games on the Central Powers side, which is very odd.

v) I don't like the small garrison units now - they just get in the way and clutter the game up.

vi) The Belgians ended up around Lyon when they should stay in the Belguim/northern France area.

vii) The National morale for the Central Powers remained constant at 124%-124%-112% even though we were losing heavily.

viii) A small garrison unit moved out of Stuttgart to destroy a very weak enemy unit and then advanced so that it was 2 hexes away from the city.

ix) The AI was very slow to make its moves but when I started saving the game regularly the speed improved considerably.

[ERA101]

1. I agree, even I can defeat Entente AI with CP at all difficulty, I still feel it's a lot harder than playing as Entente.

2. Russia will mass produce infantry later (winter 1914), that's more problem than Garrisons. I think it'd be good if they only produce garrison, German Inf can attack them for 3-4 damage every turn, and they cannot do much damage. don't left a hole in your front and they can't overwhelm you even with 100 garrisons. Infantry is more problems here.
To defeat Russia, Ottoman has to divert their attention to Caucasus. They have to build a proper defense with 10+ units. If Russia lose Caucasus, the Ottoman can take Tsaritsyn and threaten Moscow.

3. If CP is at a disadvantage situation, Bulgaria won't join. (severely disadvantage)
To defeat Serbia, take Belgrade in 1914 then kill their garrisons every turn. Don't let entente, reinforcement reach Serbia. (With AI it's possible with 2 subs) ,It's too strong but not impossible to beat. Just wait til Bulgaria join.

4. Ottoman is the key to victory in the eastern front. they didn't do that well, it's just AI not fully pay attention at them and let them do what they want.

5. Just disband them.

6. They are controlled with the same player. You can send Bulgarian force to Western front too.

7. Lose major cities or battleships and they will drop.

[Confusedesh]

Disband your Austrian cruiser fleet and two of the German cruiser fleets right at the start you then can build enough infantry to easily defeat the Russians first advance and with a bit of luck you can also take Belgium, holding off France and Britain should not be a problem.

Move all your navy into the Baltic to protect the single convey that will appear every second turn, this is all Germany will need to maintain its forces.

You must take Belgrade as soon as you can , move your German artillery unit in Prussia to Serbia this will give you the extra fire power you will need to defeat the Serbians but its likely the Serbian and ultimately the Russian campaign will be decided by the intervention of Bulgaria with the Turks pushing up through the Caucasus.

Your most immediate concern and greatest threat in 1914 -1915 will be the entry of Italy you must have the forces to protect that border other then that its just a matter of time before you win.

[stockwellpete]

Disband your Austrian cruiser fleet and two of the German cruiser fleets right at the start you then can build enough infantry to easily defeat the Russians first advance and with a bit of luck you can also take Belgium, holding off France and Britain should not be a problem.

I don't allow myself to disband fleets - it is too "gamey" for me.

Move all your navy into the Baltic to protect the single convey that will appear every second turn, this is all Germany will need to maintain its forces.

The Swedish convoy comes every 5-6 turns if that is the one you mean. I do protect it, but not with the entire fleet. Historically preposterous really.

You must take Belgrade as soon as you can , move your German artillery unit in Prussia to Serbia this will give you the extra fire power you will need to defeat the Serbians but its likely the Serbian and ultimately the Russian campaign will be decided by the intervention of Bulgaria with the Turks pushing up through the Caucasus.

Yes, I usually get Belgrade quite quickly, and I stop British and French forces landing in Serbia too, but it takes a long while to grind the Serbians down. Maybe that is why I haven't been able to get Bulgaria in the game recently (I could before). OK, so I need to be more agressive with the Turks in the Caucasus.

Your most immediate concern and greatest threat in 1914 -1915 will be the entry of Italy you must have the forces to protect that border other then that its just a matter of time before you win.

I think the Italians come out of Italy far too easily. Those mountains should be impassable, particularly in the winter.

[Confusedesh]

I agree it is a bit gamey.

Seems to come every two turns if your blockaded.

You cannot protect it if you dont move all of your fleet, its silly but what can you do otherwise German has no real resources other then this miserable convoy.

Serbs are I think the hardest to grind down the German artillery helps.

I agree, at the very least dug in on a mountain should be a very strong defence ,overall being dug in should be stronger.

Have to mention bombers seriously who thought this was a good idea.

[ERA101]

Attack first
Declare war on Italy and Romania before they join the war
For Romania, you can take Bucharest, Constanta and cut Arad from the rest of Romania in one turn. Make Romania a burden for Russia, with a longer but weaker front, prone to encircling from the south, almost no benefit in their joining.
For Italy, it’s not that important. You just get to the proper defensive position before they attack (their forcecannot get out of Italy).

It's a bit gamey but I think CP has enough disadvantage. (I didn't took advantage of ai stupid airforce and artillery position in return)

[stockwellpete]

Attack first
Declare war on Italy and Romania before they join the war
For Romania, you can take Bucharest, Constanta and cut Arad from the rest of Romania in one turn. Make Romania a burden for Russia, with a longer but weaker front, prone to encircling from the south, almost no benefit in their joining.
For Italy, it’s not that important. You just get to the proper defensive position before they attack (their forcecannot get out of Italy).

It's a bit gamey but I think CP has enough disadvantage. (I didn't took advantage of ai stupid airforce and artillery position in return)

I have just played the full campaign game up to December 31st 1914 this afternoon.

On the western front, the Allies held me easily on the French border. I took Liege and Brussels but not Antwerp - I never, at any point, looked like I was going to threaten Paris.

On the eastern front, I did a bit better, by the end of 1914 battle lines were solidifying in front of Warsaw. I lost Posen briefly but recaptured it. I then captured Kovno. I did lose one Baltic convoy, the other one got through. Russian garrison troops at level 2 started to appear in December meaning the Russians had closed the technology gap with the Germans. Obviously the Germans would reach level three well before the Russians but I think this catching up is wrong - the Germans should always be ahead.

Against Serbia, I have taken Belgrade, lost and recaptured Sarajevo, and I have prevented any french or British troops landing there. But even with the German artillery there is still a long way to go to defeat the Serbs. They seem to be too strong (and too numerous to me). Their new garrison units were also at level 2 which puts them level with the Germans as well.

The Turks were holding the British in Palestine comfortably enough, but the Russians were just getting the better of them in the Caucasus. There is not too much the Turks can do about it though as they have very few PP to spend. I think the Turks are probably represented quite well in the game.

I spent most of my resources on recruiting infantry units for both Germany and Austro-Hungary. I also purchased some cavalry for both powers and I bought another fighter plane for the Germans. I also raised Austro-Hungarian shell production to 6. I did not buy any research labs or focus my research at all.

So the prognosis for the Central Powers is that they will eventually lose the war. Bulgaria will not enter, the Serbs will fight on to the bitter end and survive until the Italians join the war. Then the Austro-Hungarians will start to crumble.

[stockwellpete]

Have to mention bombers seriously who thought this was a good idea.

I found this article on Wikipedia about strategic bombing in WW1 . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_ ... orld_War_I

So they did have bomber planes, but there were not that many of them and they were not too effective - so they would seem to be far too powerful in the game (I actually think they should still be in the game though, but they should be much less effective).

[ERA101]

Focus on one front in 1914
Paris can fall in 1914 but you need all support you can get, 2 Arty, 1 Airship and 1 Fighter.
Don't attack Antwerp (too costly), just cut them of and move south.
Block Antwerp with 1 unit (Cav or Gar) at the south hex, if they move you take the fort and their supply'll be cut off.
If they don't, just sit there.
Defend Metz and Strasburg with Garrison, it's enough for now.
Rush attack with all infantry you have at western front and you can take Paris in 5 turn.
Don't fear, your Inf are better than theirs, unless in a trench.
(Add new 2 Inf and 1 Gar there will help.)

*Trick to take Antwerp* against AI
It may delay the rush to Paris, but if you just want to take Belgium, and entrench it's OK.
Make the open move like CP AI, you'll have a line of 3 Inf in front of Brussel, and 2-3 behind that line.
AI will bring AC or Gar to the hex north of brussel.
Attack with 10HP Inf in the SE, it will retreat to Antwerp. don't follow.
Bring Inf behind the frontline to follow instead, attack and take Antwerp. They will retreat again.
Move another unit to attack and follow them at South of Antwerp after that move unit to connecting hex.
Now you take Antwerp and encircling brussel

[Egge]

Paris can be taken in 1914, at least against the AI. I have taken Paris and surrounded Rouen which I will most likely take next turn while ignoring Lorraine and Verdun. Consequently the front is very fluid. Neither the Entente nor I have enough units available in France to fill all the gaps in front and there is ample space to flank units. This is good because the AI is poor at waging a war of manoeuvre.
They key is to attack boldly in 1914. Just don't let the front bog down. It's tough to break the stalemate again.

Against Serbia there is a chance to attack in the east at the Romanian border. That will likely cause the whole front to collapse. You must crush Serbia before Italy joins the war.

Against Russia there is the chance to cut off the polish salient. That should remove a substantial part of the Russian forces.

IMHO it is possible to win the war as the CP. But there is not much point in playing against a human-controlled Entente.


tl;dr: The war can be won for the CP. Be bold and don't play against humans.