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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 10:19:58 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 18, 2014 10:19:58 GMT -6
Thanks to some helpful guidance on where to locate the campaign, I am ready to delve into a full campaign as the Russians. For which, I intend to keep a detailed AAR. The settings are normal difficulty level and one week turns.
I have always been fascinated with warships, it never really mattered from which error as I feel the soul of a warship changes little in the generstions. There has and still is a code of honor onboard. Growing up in Boston, I was surrounded by a rich maritime heritage. I tried to spend as many days on the water as time would allow and would often go to the old Boston Naval Yard to imagine it in full swing in WW2. That must have been a sight.
Ok, enough rambling. I must preface this AAR with the fact that I am a complete noob. I may make gross errors, and war changing blunders. Believe me that where ever the office is of the Russian CIC of the Navy, I don't even think I will unpack my belongings. Mine is a tenuous grasp of this posistion at best.
I am leaning toward a naval policy of training first, maintainace second, and patience lastly. I think that if the forces that start out at PA all are trained sufficently, and repaired/upgraded, that I will have a formidable force of highly skilled sailors. This force through careful preservation will become the core of a much larger navy when the reinforcements arrive. I will not have as much time to train the reinforcements, which is why the core group needs to be as good as it can be. I know that Japan gets few replacements, we have the luxury of time. I think I will actively mine and hunt for merchants to bide time
First turn.
I order the first and second BB divisions to train. This costs 12 of my 50 Op points. I was ordered to sink a TR so I have dispatced my CL Boyarin and Novik for the job. Ths cost 10 OP. I decided to lay mines with the 2 ML. This cost 16 OP. My total is 38. I am banking 12. I will post results in a bit. Wish me luck!
Neospapa
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 10:39:49 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 18, 2014 10:39:49 GMT -6
Well, the first turn is done. I sank the Brazil maru off the coast of the Sir Christpoher Hall islands. Well, no shots were fired. She spotted my 2 men of war through a heavy rain and wisely abandoned ship. We scuttled her. We picked up 148 men. My minefield was alo laid near PA. Let em come.
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 13:03:29 GMT -6
Post by Fredrik W on Jan 18, 2014 13:03:29 GMT -6
Keep it coming. Published AAR:s are very useful for us developers!
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 14:01:55 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 18, 2014 14:01:55 GMT -6
Thanks, I will.
The second through fourth turns are done. One month in my war is complete. The Current score is IJN 54,167 to 5,159 for Russia. I must report with sadness the loss of the CA Bayan on 3-2-04. I was given an order to get a BB to a point near Weihaiwei. Since my BBs were still under repair/training I sent the Pereseviet alone with the Bayan, Askold, Pallada and a DD div. I had saved some op points for this because without being stingy with them, I could never have sent a fleet this size. It seems the IJN can deploy far more vessels.
Not far from PA I encountered the mighty HIJMS Mikasa and 2 other BB's. Along with CL and DD. On the way out of PA one of the DD ran aground in the night was damanged so heavily she is still under repair. This was a bad omen. In the first few moments, the cruisers took on the CL's and DD's. They were doing well. Sinking the CL Idzumi, DD Hayabusa, and DD Chidori. The BB did not hit a thing. The crew quality was +1. I think pretty fair compared to what it was. All of a sudden a DD rammed the Bayan sealing its fate. It fought well with the Mikasa giving it medium damage before getting sunk. HURRAH!
After that, I have been training. I ran a raid to the Tsugaru with the AMC Lena before refit. She sank 2 small merchats. Kokaru Maru, and another I forgot to record. At the start of turn 5 I have 36 ops points and feel that another strong fleet deployment from the IJN is due.
Any ideas on how to score some points? I feel I am failing at this war and want to prove to the Tzar that we are a might empire with a navy to be reckoned with.
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 16:09:37 GMT -6
Post by phoenix on Jan 18, 2014 16:09:37 GMT -6
Like the AAR, neospappa. Keep it coming. But, can you attach some screenies too, please? Just to illustrate and add interest?
So far I'm impressed you've worked out how to play the campaign, because I've found it difficult to understand what to do, even after reading the manual.
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 16:44:13 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 18, 2014 16:44:13 GMT -6
Thanks for reading Phoenx! I will try to figure out some how to post a screenie. I think you are right that they will add interest.
At the start of turn 5 I have 57 OP saved. I have a mission to get one BB or CA to very near Chempulo. It is 4000 points. This is a similar mission to the one that I lost the Bayan. This time I am going in force. The Tsesarvitch, Poebida, Poltava, and Sevatapol are going. Along with the Pallada, Diana, and 2 DD. Lets sink some ships!
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 17:34:54 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 18, 2014 17:34:54 GMT -6
Disaster!
I lost the Tsesarvitch and Sevestapol. The Japanese have cut the RR to PA and we are soon to be under seige. That was a trap with 3 IJN BB 3 CA 2 CL and 6 BB. How they are able to out deploy me even when I save for 3 turns is beyond me. The IJN losses were 2 first line DD though. This makes 4 lost so far. My fleet is beaten up but not defeated. It is time for a rally cry. To arms my men to arms! I have a whole 22 OP for the next turn. Lots of minelaying.
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 18:25:30 GMT -6
Post by randomizer on Jan 18, 2014 18:25:30 GMT -6
Mines... The gift that keeps on giving!
Nice AAR and looking forward to the next chapter. thanks.
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 19:04:30 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 18, 2014 19:04:30 GMT -6
Thanks for the great compliments Randomizer! Your mine comment was so true. our mines sank an enemy warship. The CL Akashi. Granted small and old still a victory!
Look at this list of sunk ships! All by the Boyarin, Novik, Askold.
Medium TR Saipan Maru Small TR Soya Maru AMC Kumano Maru CL Akitshushima CL Akashi
The CA Kasuaga was also heavily damaged!!!! This is a great ship to be in the repair yard.
A 50,000 swing in points in one turn.
I was given a mission to sink 2 TR off the coast of Japan proper! Fukuoka. That is a long, long sail. My ships were at 17% fuel when they returned. It started out clear and bright and we ended up in a strong gale! We sank the AMC alone before the weather go too bad. She was near Fusan. Then the 2 transports in declining weather. I hightailed it home and we got near PA in terrible weather. Just then the CL came out of the blue and we fired. The Askold fired a full broadside and stopped the CL Akitshishima. She then sank in the heavy seas. Then the CA came along. The Askold fired again and we spotted flames on the Kasuaga. She turned for home as did we. They returned to many free drinks I am sure to a grateful port. I have 28 OP and will continue "the gift that keeps giving" Randomizer.
I think that is it for the day. Who knew this virtual sailing was so tiring.
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RJW AAR
Jan 18, 2014 19:51:14 GMT -6
Post by oldpop2000 on Jan 18, 2014 19:51:14 GMT -6
Mines... The gift that keeps on giving! ......and taking away. Mines are friends to no one, once laid. They are amoral and apolitical. They will kill anyone that hits them.
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RJW AAR
Jan 19, 2014 2:09:29 GMT -6
Post by Fredrik W on Jan 19, 2014 2:09:29 GMT -6
How they are able to out deploy me even when I save for 3 turns is beyond me. The Japanese have considerably more OP than the Russians, and better intelligence, which gives them the ability to react to many Russian sorties. Historically, almost every Russian sortie from Port Arthur was intercepted in one way or another by the Japanese.
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RJW AAR
Jan 19, 2014 4:58:55 GMT -6
Post by phoenix on Jan 19, 2014 4:58:55 GMT -6
Heroic stuff that long haul attack on the Kasuaga and Akitshishima.
Hit 'Print Screen' to take a screen shot. Open 'Paint' (it comes bundled with all windows up to 8, I think), click on the screen, hit Ctrl-V and your screenie will be loaded there. Mess around with it as you wish, save it as a gif (using the 'save as' drop down) to the location you wish. Then post here using the top right-hand 'Reply' button(instead of 'quick post') and you will get an option to attach files which is very easy to use. I would have liked to have seen a pic of the action off the coast of Japan, certainly! Thanks for sharing this though. It's inspired me to try the campaign too.
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RJW AAR
Jan 19, 2014 9:09:30 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 19, 2014 9:09:30 GMT -6
Thanks for the help with regard to a screenie. I will try to capture one today.
The war prgresses toward a Russian defeat. Dalny is lost, PA is now under seige. The VP difference is 344,220 in favor of the IJN. While no large battles have occured, I tried to get the Petropavlosk, Revitstan, and Pobeda out on a mission in the dark for stealth. This is necessary as the enemy is creeping close to our shores. The collided in the night and one ran agroud. I now have no BB that are in fighting trim.
We have had more success from Vladivostock! The Rossia and Gromboi sank a troopship and a medium merchant. That was great! The troopship never heaved to like all the other merchants. The fought it out with 2 large crusiers. My hats off to them. We did rescue nearly 1,000 sailors from her when she was sunk. Well, at least those men are'nt going to besiege PA.
Since the enemy had taken Dalny, I mined the entrance. We took out a large light crusier of 5,000 tons. The HIJMS Kasagi. She was well armed and as good as my armored crusiers. That is the largest warship Japan has lost to date. Mines also sank the tiny HIJMS Yaeyama. In the same night. I hope this proves to them that Dalny is not a safe anchorage. Ironically, the minelayer Amur struck a mine of Dalny and sank. Regrettable indeed.
I am only getting 20 OP a turn now and with my fleet so banged up, the Russian Navy might as well be called the The Navy of Detroyers. Other than Vlad that is all that is servicable. I am thinking of raiding the Japaneese coast once more. The raid by the Boyarin, Novik, and Askold was the highlight of the war. Let's see if we can repeat this.
OT
After this AAR, I am going to try the enemy side, IJN. Does anyone think that this will give me an unfair advantage againt the AI against Russia? I now know that they can at best yield full fleet actions very, very seldomy. I could sail anywhere I want most of the time.
I also intend an AAR with screenies. Does this format work? Any ideas on how to make it more interesting?
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RJW AAR
Jan 19, 2014 10:04:32 GMT -6
Post by neospapa on Jan 19, 2014 10:04:32 GMT -6
Well, the war was lost.
My men fought bravely and it is to their credit we made it so long. It is 8-3-1904. We ended at -441,357. I was out to sink some easy shipping off Hakodate with the Rossia, Gromboi. I sank the DD Akagi. Strange craft. Then bombarded the coal stocks, and 4 in battery. I was heading for home when the 4 modern cruisers came out and sank both ships.
I think it has been stated that while victory with Russia is possible, it should be difficult. I think that it is difficult. I sank 3 times the number of ships as did the IJN. Granted, they did not lose a ship larger than a CL and I lost 2BB and 3CA. Overall, I did not encounter a single bug nor a moment when I questioned the AI. After 8 months of simulated time and 12 naval battles I find this most impressive!
My overall opinion is that this game is indeed balanced well and you need real skills to pull off a victory as Russia. I am going to take a day break or so until I start the next AAR. Part 2 I suppose.
I hope I made this a fun read and sorry I let you all down and lost so completely.
Thanks for a great game!!!
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RJW AAR
Jan 19, 2014 10:36:17 GMT -6
Post by randomizer on Jan 19, 2014 10:36:17 GMT -6
What let down? You provided tight narratives and an excellent sense of the flow of the campaign.
Thanks for sharing and hope that you post further AAR's. For what it's worth I was rather surprised by the ease of winning that some Player's reportedly experienced when playing the Russians in the Campaign so your comments are most welcome and appreciated.
The Japanese side presents very different problems; good luck with them.
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