Great War PBEM

[Scott F]

Now that we have all of the players needed, I figured that I would start a thread for the game, so that people can boast about their exploits and so on.

The order of play is as follows:

German Empire - Scott - sfluhr@indiana.edu
Russian Empire - Case - nick_dowling@hotmail.com
United States - Hans - tuckfarm@nelson-tel.net
Briish Empire - Hodad - m_carreras@hotmail.com
Confederate States - JamesJKirk - JamesJKirk@aol.com
French Republic - Jimmywax - hellonwheel247@netzero.net

I need to update the files to take into account a few requests from Case, as mentioned in the other thread. I'll post the urls when I get that done in a few minutes.

Other relevant threads can be found here:

http://www.tb3.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=000012

and

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=562907&t=8663

[Case]

Czar Nicholas celebrates by issuing the mightly Russian army with a double ration of Vodka

[Jimmywax]

All my men will get is some cheese to go with their wine. I really don't like the French, even if I do have a little froggie blood in my veins.

[Scott F]

I have updated the various files. Only the main zip has changes in it though, mostly in the scenario file itself. The units files have the new camo barrels and tanks in them also. Within the scenario, the mines in the Dardanelles have been homed to Constantinople. The CSA, the French, the Germans, and the USA have a few zeppelins at the start now (one of my playtesters was harassing me about this). Russia, sadly, cannot yet build ships (they didn't build many ships during the war anyway, and Russia will have more pressing problems )

The scenario itself can be downloaded from here (about 800 kb):

http://php.indiana.edu/~sfluhr/turtledove_v12.zip

And the sounds can be downloaded from here (about 2.5 mb):

http://php.indiana.edu/~sfluhr/turtledovesounds.zip

Please set everything to 1914.

I'll go play my turn, so we can get started.

[Scott F]

Berliner Zeitung

WAR!!

Following the treacherous assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian assassins, the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire have declared war on the tyrannical forces of Serbia, France, and Russia. Addressing the Reichstag, Kaiser Wilhelm condemned the enemies of the Reich and declared the war to be "the final struggle of the forces of civilization and order against the forces of subhuman barbarism and pan-Slavism. The Reichstag, after hearing a long litany of the inequities of the Reich's enemies, has issued a series of war bonds and given wide war powers to the General Staff and the War Ministry during what promises to be a short war. Below, the Kaiser's War Order is read to a crowd in Berlin that waits with rapt attention.



Germany and Austria Advance on All Fronts!

In the days that followed the declarations of war, the heroic soldiers of the German Army and the Imperial and Royal Army, led by the great Field Marshal von Scottsendorff, are advancing on all fronts. Below, German troops are shown at the ready during their move westward through Belgium.



Here, a squadron of the High Seas Fleet sorties out of the Kiel Canal and into the Baltic.



And below, a German battleship shells Russian positions on the Baltic coast.



Young Berliners rush to enlist upon hearing the news of the utter and total destruction of the British Expeditionary Force in Europe.



On all fronts, the Central Powers now advance. From Serbia to Belgium, from Flanders to Poland, German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish troops are advancing and the forces of the Entente are in retreat. The Kaiser has now boasted to the Berliner Zeitung that the war will be over by Christmas. Field Marshal von Scottsendorff has demurred, waiting to hear news from North America on the successes of Germany's Yankee allies.

[Dr. Nick]

Dispatches from the Foreign Office

It seems that Germany does not even have the courtesy of declaring war upon the British Empire and treacherously attacks British troops on excersises in the continent. London shall not forget this treacherous act.

We also see that the Germans have unwisely decided to invade Belgium. Under the terms of the Belgian Neutrality agreement Britain sees no other response than to respond in force and under these harsh conditions we deem it vital for the defence and security of the British Empire to declare war upon the German Reich.

[Case]

Imperial Russian Army Communiqué No. 1

In responce to Austro-German agression Czar Nicholas II has personally taken to the field to command the mighty Imperial Armed Forces. He looks forward to leading his mighty armies into battle, and linking up with his eternal allies on the banks of the river Rhine.

The Czar is disapointed with the performance of his inferior Serbian Allies, and vows to liberate the City of Belgrade in the name of pan-slavic unity.

The Czar is also reported to be unhappy with the performance of the British Army, and has ordered his Ambassador in London to distribute the following poster in order to remind the British of what they're fighting for:

[Case]

And here's the file:

[Case]

This site looks like a very good source for photos: http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one...s/greatwar.htm

[Jimmywax]

Here is another site that has quite a few pictures. I think most of them are WWII or other, but still a good site. Just scroll to the bottom for the picture links though. Also, lots of pop up ads and some of the pictures, vids, and sounds are to be payed for, I think.

http://www.earthstation1.com/

[Hans2]

Boo-ya!

[Scott F]

*waits (im)patiently for Hodad*

[Scott F]

While waiting (im)patiently for Hodad, I have done a nice map showing progress thus far.

[Jimmywax]

Damn nice work there Scott.

[Dr. Nick]

The Times, August 1914 Issue

Battle of Taranto, British Success in the Mediterranean
Rome (From our correspondant).- The Maltan task force sortied to the Adriatic Sea in order to blockade the German fleet in the Mediterranean and avoid incursions onto British sea lanes in the Mediterranean Sea in full complement.

At 08.05 of the morning of the 15th of August, a destroyer from the task force sent to scout for enemy vessels discovered a lone German cruiser scouting the seas in the area for merchant vessels. Immediatelly the whole task force was sortied. Reported losses are a sunk German cruiser and some light damage on a British dreadnaught.

A british dreadnaught opens fire on the German cruiser squadron in the Battle of Taranto.



Shelling over the Suez Canal
Al Suways (From our correspondant).- Shelling of Turkish positions began in the night of the 20th of the month. The turkish forces have managed to exhaust British artillery crews deployed to Suez, but a relief force is on its way to relieve the current crews. All in all, reported losses are that of a Turkish infantry unit but intelligence reports of this conflict have been dodgy at best.

Morale At an all Time High
London.- Thousands of Londoners have poured into the recruiting offices after the German declaration of war. Imperialists and members of Parliament have begun signing contracts to make Britain a true island fortress, unbreachable by any naval force. Also, weapons procurements have risen and women are beginning to become commonplace workforce in munitions factories across the Empire.

Canadian Posessions in Check
Ottawa.- The dominion of Canada has been placed in check by American troops that have moved up the eastern seaboard endangering the continuance of sea trade and many think that Canada may be forced to sue for peace with the US if her eastern shipping lanes are cut from Britain, where most of the materiel is coming from.

Despite a grim situation and continued losses in the Canadian battlefield, thousands of Canadians have flocked to the recruitment stations and the eastern cities are being prepared for the mass production of war goods in order to help bolster the Canadian front. Also, thousands of reinforcements have been dispatched to the trenches in the Canadian front to bolster the defence effort which is expected to hold out for a some more time while Canada prepares for a bitter campaign.

Canadian troops evacuating wounded soldiers from the frontline in the eastern seaboard.