The first rule of Blogging an After Action Report (AAR) is to blog right after the game.  The second rule of Blogging an AAR is to……you know the rest

I’ve let two weeks pass since Tim and I sat down for a session with the game that gives both of us headaches.  So many situations, so many theaters,  and so few cards

We managed to get through the Winter 1916 turn, and left it with Bulgaria entering the game.  Tim had a definite advantage at that point, as my Ottomans were badly attrited, and barely hanging on in Caucasia.  But, that situation had stabilized to some degree and his Commonwealth forces had bogged down in Gallipoli.  On the other hand, my situation in Mesopotamia was not the best, with only a corps between him and Baghdad.  Still, I now had the Plucky Bulgarians along with their powerful German friends ready to go.

Here’s a shot of the situation at the end of the (first) Fall 1914 Turn.  Plot Spoiler:  These photos are up to my usual (sub) standard.

I failed to capture the cards played in this photo and, as you will see, it happened again in the Summer 1915 turn.  Lack of attention to detail.

My strategy from the outset was to increase the Jihad level as quickly as possible by playing  event cards and capturing Jihad cities.  Of course, starting the time track towards the Russian Revolution was a priority.  I needed  the “Parvus To Berlin” card on the table as quickly as possible.  From an operational standpoint, I wanted to actively defend my victory point cities in Caucasia.  Any loses would delay the revolution. I kept a relatively strong force in Western  Anatolia to act as a reserve, especially to counter an Allied amphibious invasion of Gallipoli.  One challenge for the Ottomans if reserves are kept there is their rudimentary rail system, limiting their ability to shift troops from one theater to another.

I’ll ask Tim to provide some comments on his strategy and operational intent.  From my perspective, he was aggressive in Caucasia, and did an excellent job of wearing down the Ottomans.  This is important as the Turks have limited and dwindling replacement opportunities as the game wears on.

During the turn I played the “Goeben”, “Persian Push” and “Pan-Turkism” cards.  I was able to destroy the fort at Batum, and the latter two cards started jacking up the Jihad level, and my ability to place dissident tribal units on the map.  These tribes can take isolated victory point cities and delay/defend Allied moves in Persia and Mesopotamia.

Tim enjoyed playing the “Enver Goes East” card, forcing me to undertake mandatory attacks at time I wasn’t quite ready for them.  He also opened up the Mesopotamia theater by playing the “Russo-British Assault” event.  Surprisingly, he played the “Churchill Prevails” (more on this later) event for replacements.

Here’s the situation at the end of the Winter 1915 turn.

The Allies began the turn by playing the “Kitchener” card.  This allows the British player to provide the Russians with replacement points.  The “Project Alexandria” initiated a build-up of forces in the Aegean.   And,  it got worse for the Central Powers.  The “Royal Naval Blockade” event was played.  It “caps” the Ottoman replacement pool at 25 points, with each point taken reducing those available and with a -1 Victory Point (VP) adjustment each winter.

The Central Powers used their cards for operation points to undertake less than successful mandatory offensives and taking advantage of victory point opportunities in Persia.

The situation at the end of the Spring 1915 turn is shown below:

During this turn the Allies played the “Churchill Prevails” card, bombarding  forts guarding the entry to the Bosphorus.  Fortunately, for me, only two forts were destroyed.  The “Murray Takes Command” card was also played.  This card initiates the construction of the Sinai Railway,  required for an Allied corps size unit to participate in any regional offense/defense.

Again, the Central Powers concentrated on operations in Caucasia and Persia, launching a corps eastward into Persia, while playing the “Enver To Constantinople” to reduce the havoc that rascal plays on operational planning.

I’ll leave this fragmented account for now, with a follow-up post later this week.