Solo Empires & Alliances October 1914 Turn

This was a bloody turn! The Germans lost 6 Inf and 2 Art XXX, the Austrians 1 Cav and 3 Inf XXX. The Allies lost the remainder of the Belgian Army (2 Inf XX and the Cav XX), and 2 French Inf XXX in the West. In the East the Russians lost 3 Inf XXX, a Cav XXX and Art XXX, while the Serbs lost 4 Inf XX, the Cav XX, and an Art XX.

A lot of difficult decisions, and some interesting rules conundrums.

THE WESTERN FRONT

The September Allied turn saw the BEF safely evacuated from Ghent to Calais. In October, with the rains beginning (Mud) the Germans finally eliminated the last of Belgian resistance, completing their conquest of the country according to game rules. They also pushed their lines up to the French, and then took a very risky 2.8:1 attack on a pair of French corps in hex 2554. They scored a HX blasting a hole in the French lines 2 hexes ENE of Paris!

The Allies were forced to respond to this and another hole in the southern part of the massive German salient, rallying all the replacements they could. The biggest dilemma was what to do with the BEF--these units are very strong and leaving them up near Calais could force the Germans to keep a lot of units occupied; but in the end the Allied command felt that the desperate need for troops required a shortening of the line. The troops in Dunkirk evacuated to Le Havre, while the majority of the BEF, holed up in Calais, hoofed it to defensive positions across the Somme. The eventual plan will be to relieve the French defenders in Amiens to bolster the lines further south.

The Germans did not garrison Lille, reasoning that the loss of a replacement point (rules require garrisoning of captured cities) was worth grabbing as much territory as possible. They will hope to push the French Territorials out of Amiens. The fall of Belgium has freed up ten whole corps of Infantry plus a few others, and the Germans will be wondering whether there are more possible weak spots to probe on the Western Front, or whether they will need to seek opportunities elsewhere.

BALKAN FRONT

Another risky attack pays off! The Austrians launch a 3.3:1 attack along the Serbian eastern flank at the Danube and score an exchange, devastating the Serb army. Another attack in the center eliminates another Serb division and leaves the Austrians with an open road to Nis! They are left thinking the Serbs may be conquered soon and that they'll be able to transfer to the Galician front.

Unfortunately such hopes are dashed as the Serbs are able to organize a strong replacement division in the city of Nis proper. They pull back what is left of their army in an attempt to establish a defensive line.

This front leaves a lot of questions with the rules which I'll address below.

EASTERN FRONT

The Germans were able to massively increase their military strength this turn, receiving 6 Inf and 1 Art XXX, while replacing another 4 Inf and 1 Art XXX. All but one of those units went East, with effective results. The Russian corps in Cracow was eliminated, restoring the rail line. Tannenberg was recovered, Lodz captured, and the Russians were put on the defensive throughout central and northern Poland. The Russians spent the majority of their reinforcements and replacements hoping they can form a defensive line along the Vistula, but the Germans will try to curl around it to the North.

In Galicia the Austrians pulled back to the mountains as quickly as possible.The Russians have sent a cavalry XXX down the Lemberg-Bucharest rail line; now that it is entirely out of enemy ZOCs they will try to use it to supply their troops as they curl around the south end of the Austro-Hungarian line and threaten the Hungarian plain.

RULES ISSUES / GENERAL NOTES

The game has been very exciting so far; I find myself thinking a lot about all the options. But I do have a couple of concerns; the most significant is the conquest of Belgium and Serbia. Historically, both countries managed to retain an army in the field despite the loss of all but a sliver of territory. The rules as written do not allow for this; once all of Belgium or Serbia's cities are captured the countries are conquered and their armies withdrawn. I am wondering if this should be changed. Politically, if the Central Powers can capture Skopje and this eliminates the Serb army it is hard to see the establishment of a Salonika front.

I'm also wondering about some of the rules on cutting off supply and placement of Reinforcements and Replacements that I may query Compass Games about. I have been allowing myself to essentially place 2 units in some cities, one as a reinforcement and one as a replacement; but I feel I'm taking advantage of something I shouldn't here.