Help with Central Powers?

[Warbringa]

Ok so I am a veteran at many strategic and tactical wargames. I have played PanzerCorps extensively which is more on the tactical side for example. I started playing the Central Powers on the easiest difficulty and built infantry and researched infantry upgrades and got my behind handed to me in just a few turns. Someone please explain how the Central Powers have any chance? I know they lost the war but seriously, I am not new to these type of games and just got pounded on easy and I have tried it 3 times now, I can barely make it to turn 25. What major strategies or parts of the game am I missing for the CP? I understand the basics of combat (entrenchment, efficiency, etc.) There doesn't seem to be a tutorial. I haven't even tried playing as the Entente as it looks way too easy to do so based on what I have seen from playing as CP. Artillery sounds amazing on posts I have read but I don't find it seems to very much of an effect early on.

[krogo]

well, beside artillery try fighters. they do not cause damage (in the beginning), but efficiency...
anyway, it is a slow game, and you have to plan at least 3-5 rounds forward. winter makes it more slower... with cp you have to multithink.
no hurry, if you can eliminate all the continental powers before 1917, you are good.

[operating]

Ok so I am a veteran at many strategic and tactical wargames. I have played PanzerCorps extensively which is more on the tactical side for example. I started playing the Central Powers on the easiest difficulty and built infantry and researched infantry upgrades and got my behind handed to me in just a few turns. Someone please explain how the Central Powers have any chance? I know they lost the war but seriously, I am not new to these type of games and just got pounded on easy and I have tried it 3 times now, I can barely make it to turn 25. What major strategies or parts of the game am I missing for the CP? I understand the basics of combat (entrenchment, efficiency, etc.) There doesn't seem to be a tutorial. I haven't even tried playing as the Entente as it looks way too easy to do so based on what I have seen from playing as CP. Artillery sounds amazing on posts I have read but I don't find it seems to very much of an effect early on.

Try reading the AARs over at the Matrix CTGW forum, as well as numerous other threads, keep in mind there is another patch (official 1.60) being released soon, which will further improve the game, plus some added goodies. I hate to say it; But the Matrix site has a lot more activity than the Slitherine site as far as CTGW goes. There are numerous sources of AARs for CTGW that are covered by the Matrix site, but there are members there that suggest these other informative sites. Some will be from older versions of the game that are shown on Youtube.

Most players who are new to the game have similar stories to yours, including myself. After awhile you will appreciate the game better with practice, it's better to have it hard, than to be a bore. If you have any "Specific" questions, ask away (again try asking over at the Matrix site), one of the reasons I suggest that site; Is that it is easier to post "screen shots" (to me) for example, for demonstrations. Good Luck! and stick with it....

[Warbringa]

Ok guys, thank you for the advice and replies. I am finally on my fifth attempt and this time I am having success to some degree with the help of some very lucky combat results in the west. I was able to knock Belgium and Serbia out of the war early and put steady pressure on the French pushing them back along the coast. It is now November 1915 and I have captured all of mainland France (although they haven't surrendered which I find puzzling), most of northern Italy (leaving the Italians reeling) and sunk 1 British battle fleet and several lesser naval units and stopped multiple British amphibious landing attempts in France. The Turks are at a stalemate with the British in Palestine while putting some weak pressure on the Russians in the east. The Bulgarians recently joined the CP, they are preparing for an eventual Romanian entry into the war. The one front which continues to trouble me is the Russian front. I made this my secondary front while pushing early in the West and was able to give a slight amount of ground while slowing reinforcing it. What surprises me is the economic power of Russia (which seems ahistorical to me) and the fact that they are able to out research and upgrade both the German and Austrian units on my line.

Any advice on taking it to the Russians in the east when they seem it have unlimited units in their line in depth? I am thinking about an amphibious assault into the northern Baltic states or Finland once I am able to transport units from the west? Is there any reason for me to leave significant units in the west with mainland France conquered?

[carlisimo]

You should be fine now that you don’t need many units in Western Europe – achieving that much by late 1915 is pretty fast. I’m usually unable to make a breakthrough in the west until the Ottomans start drawing Russian units to the Caucuses. That lets Germany ease up on the Eastern Front and slowly force a crack in the French army (which tends to overcommit in Italy, in my experience).

[Warbringa]

Ok, I was able to crack the Russian lines by invading Romania and then punching a hole through Romania and into Russia using the Bulgarians and some AH troops. The Russians were forced to surrender after I captured most of the Ukraine and several other small cities in the North as their lines collapsed. I also easily crushed the Arab Revolt but I am still at a stalemate with the British in Palestine as I barely hold the line since they have multiple fighters and airships with masses of infantry and garrisons but my Turk artillery helps counter their land units. I have transported an AH fighter, bomber and airship to Palestine to try and help shore it up. I think I may be able to slowing grind down the British land units over time here.

I have attempted to launch amphibious assaults against mainland Britain but haven't met with much success. I was able to capture Norwich and then stupidly realized it wasn't a port so my unit was at half supply and was taken out easily. I currently have two infantry units landed and attacking Portsmouth (the most southwest british port) however just as I was almost able to eliminate a small and regular garrison that had been holding the port, the british moved in two infantry and a tank unit. Both infantry are fully upgraded and I don't think I will be able to take it now. I do have 1 artillery in Brest that I am considering moving behind the 7 str infantry but I am concerned because if that infantry falls I will lose the artillery as well. I believe I have worn down the British Navy to just one Battleship which is wounded and in port for the time being. The USA and Portugal will be joining soon as it is mid/late 1917 and I just began unrestricted submarine warfare on transports. Is there any way of successfully invading Britain by sea? Every time I land a unit or two they use their rails to transport upgraded infantry and level 1 armor to halt me. I know I do need to upgrade Germanys naval transports so I can transport more units at a time. I would appreciate any advice on trying to take out Britain through invasion! Any insight into what to expect when the USA joins the war too would be great!

[Warbringa]

In another note, my manpower is dwindling and quality is beginning to take a hit. Is it possible to reverse economic deterioration by disbanding a significant amount of garrisons and infantry? Secondly, why do some units not seem to provide manpower and PP back if you want to disband them and others do? Do you have to disband them in your home territories?

[markja]

LOL, I find it difficult NOT TO WIN the war.

Few tricks to win the game:
1) Disband all artillery and replace them with airships. Lots of airships. Cost less ammo and has superb range.
2) Concider disbanding cruisers too at the start of the game. Get infantry instead. Lots of infantry.
3) Its slow to kill France, you must destroy their air and artillery units with airships and then try to make a breakthrought somewhere. Once you have that breakthrought, you need to storm in with lots of infantry, just go go go and then start encircling the enemy troops and cutting them off supply.
4) Serbia is also tought to kill. It will take time and effort. Dont try to hurry with it.
5) Always put your positions so that you can attack with atleast 3 infantry to one hex - and that enemy cannot attack your lines with more than 2 units to one hex. It is vital to get good, straight defence line working atleast against Russia and against UK (with Ottomans). You should also concider having reserve infantry units behind this line, lets say 1 to 4 ratio, so you can replace the units that have suffered damage and prevent enemy from getting breakthrought to your lines.
6) Use subs to destroy enemy merchants and transports. When you have good enought subs and lots of them, you can go ahead and kill enemy battleships with them too.

[markja]

Do you have to disband them in your home territories?

Yes, everything should be disbanded at home territories.

[carlisimo]

Capital ships along the coast can supply adjacent units. But it's difficult to get invasions to work. You need that country to be close to folding already and/or out of money.

At least with the UK it's possible. If you have to invade the US and they're defending their territory it's impossible. By the time your transports make it across the Atlantic they're red, and I've never been able to get a landed unit to survive the AI's turn.