This is the first After Action Report (“AAR”) illustrating the interaction of Illusions of Glory rules with game strategy. As shorthand, this AAR references rules appearing inside parentheses. So, I refer you to a copy of the Rulebook here: Illusions of Glory Rulebook.

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In the Summer 1914 turn (Turn 1), the Allied Powers (“AP”) player has a choice between the historical Russian attack into East Prussia and the alternate Galicia offensive. For this session, the AP player chose the GALICIA OFFENSIVE card during Game Setup and dealt himself six more Mobilization cards from the AP Draw Pile (4.2.1). The Central Powers (“CP”) player chose the RENNENKAMPF card and dealt himself six more Mobilization cards from the CP Draw Pile (4.2.2).

Starting the sequence of play in the Summer 1914 turn, the players did not roll for Mandatory Offensives. For this turn, the AP player’s Mandatory Offensive Table had already selected “RU”, requiring that least one Russian (“RU”) Large Combat Unit (“LCU”) attack CP units, and the CP player’s Mandatory Offensive Table had already selected “AH(SB)”, requiring that least one Austro-Hungarian (“AH”) LCU attack Serbian (“SB”) units (4.3).

Next came the Action Phase, which is divided into six Action Rounds. In each Action Round, the players took one action apiece. The AP player took his action first (6.0).

In AP Action Round #1, the AP player used the GALICIA OFFENSIVE card as an Event and also used its 4 Operations (“OPS”) Points to activate spaces (9.7.1). The AP player activated Lutsk for movement to Brody, activated Dubno and Proskurov for attack on Tarnopol, and activated Kowel for attack on Rawa Ruska.

Since movement comes before combat (9.4.4), the RU IX and X Inf. Corps and the RU Cav. Small Combat Unit (“SCU”) moved from Lutsk to Brody. Then the RU XIX and XV Inf Corps and the RU Cav. SCU at Kowel used their 7 Combat Factors for offensive fire against the AH units at Rawa Ruska. The AP player rolled a 1d6 for a “5” on the 6-7 Column of the Heavy Fire Table, with Die Roll Modifiers (“DRMs”) of +1 for cavalry, +1 for GALICIA OFFENSIVE and -1 for mixed-gauge railroad. The modified die roll became “6”, which produced a Loss Number (“LN”) of 5.

Simultaneously, the AH VI and XVII Inf. Corps and the AH Cav. SCU at Rawa Ruska used their 7 Combat Factors for defensive fire against the attacking RU units. The CP player rolled a 1d6 for a “4” on the 6-7 Column of the Heavy Fire Table, with a DRM of +1 for cavalry. The modified die roll became “5”, which also produced an LN of 5.

Since the attacker’s LN of 5 was greater than the Loss Factor (“LF”) of 1 for the AH Cav. SCU, the defender’s units had to absorb the attacker’s LN (12.6.2). The AH Cav. SCU was destroyed and the AH XVII Inf. Corps was reduced by one step (12.6.3). The defender’s LN of 5 was greater than the LF of 1 for the RU Cav. SCU, so the attacker’s units had to absorb the defender’s LN (12.6.2). The RU Cav. SCU was destroyed and the RU XXV Inf. Corps was reduced by one step (12.6.3). Inasmuch as the attacker and defender had the same LN, the defender did not have to retreat (12.2).

The RU XI and XXI Inf Corps and the RU Cav. SCU at Dubno, combined with the RU VII and VIII Inf Corps and the RU Cav. SCU at Proskurov, used their 14 Combat Factors for offensive fire against the AH units at Tarnopol. The AP player rolled a 1d6 for a “5”, which became a modified die roll of “6” on the 13-15 Column of the Heavy Fire Table and produced an LN of 7.

Simultaneously, the AH III Inf. Corps and the AH Cav. SCU at Tarnopol used their 4 Combat Factors for defensive fire against the attacking RU units. The CP player rolled a 1d6 for a “1”, which became a modified die roll of “2” on the 4 Column of the Heavy Fire Table and produced an LN of 2.

The AH Cav. SCU was destroyed, and the AH III Inf. Corps was reduced by two steps and was also destroyed. AH Troop Quality was reduced by 1 (24.1). The AH III Inf. Corps was replaced by an AH Inf. SCU that was further reduced by one step. The RU Cav. SCU at Dubno was destroyed. Since the attacker’s LN was greater than the defender’s LN by 5, the reduced-strength AH Inf. SCU retreated two spaces to Przemysl (12.7.2). The three full-strength units at Proskurov advanced into Tarnopol (12.8.1).  The AP mandatory offensive for the Summer 1914 turn was satisfied.

AH National Will was reduced by 1, AP War Status was increased by 2, and Combined War Status was also increased by 2 from playing GALICIA OFFENSIVE (2.0).

In CP Action Round #1, the CP player used RENNENKAMPF as an Event. As a result, activation of any space occupied by an RU LCU cost 1 additional OPS for the rest of the turn.

In AP Action Round #2, the AP player used STAVKA as an Event. It cancelled the effects of RENNENKAMPF, increased AP War Status by 1, increased Combined War Status by 1, and increased future AP Mandatory Offensive die rolls by 1.  

In CP Action Round #2, the CP player used LANDWEHR TO THE FRONT for its 3 OPS Points to activate Osijek, Novi Sad, and Lemberg for movement.

The AH Cav. SCU at Lemberg moved to Rawa Ruska, and the AH XI and XIV Inf. Corps at Lemberg moved to Przemysl. The AH XV and XVI Inf. Corps at Osijek moved to Valjevo. The AH IV and VII Inf. Corps. at Novi Sad moved to Miskolcz.

In AP Action Round #3, the AP player used ZHELEZNODOROZHNYYE VOYSKA (“Railway Troops”) as an Event changing mixed-gauge railroads to single-gauge for AP units, and also used its 2 OPS Points to activate Brody and Dubno for movement. The “AP Railroads” marker was placed in the Summer 1914 turn space.

AP War Status was increased by 1 and Combined War Status was increased by 1. Although this increased the AP War Commitment Level from Mobilization to Limited War, the AP War Commitment Level could not be changed until the War Status Phase of the Fall 1914 turn (4.3).

The RU IX and X Inf. Corps at Brody moved to Lemberg.  The RU XI Inf. Corps at Dubno moved to Lemberg. The RU XXI Inf. Corps at Dubno moved to Kowel.

In CP Action Round #3, the CP player used BURGFRIEDEN for its 3 OPS Points to activate Przemysl and Miskolcz for movement and activate Valjevo for attack. Movement occurred first. The AH XI Inf. Corps at Przemysl moved to Czernowitz. The AH VII Inf. Corps at Miskolcz moved to Przemysl. The AH IV Inf. Corps at Miskolcz moved to Sereth.

The AH XV and XVI Inf. Corps at Valjevo used their 6 Combat Factors for offensive fire against the SB Inf. SCU at Uzhitse, a mountain space. The CP player rolled a 1d6 on the “5” Column of the Heavy Fire Table because attacking a mountain space causes one column shift to the left. He rolled a “6”, which produced an LN of 5. The SB Inf. SCU at Uzhitse concurrently used its 1 Combat Factor for defensive fire against the attacking AH units. The AP player rolled a 1d6 on the “1” Column of the Light Fire Table. He rolled a “5”, which produced an LN of 1.

The attacker’s LN of 5 was greater than the LF of 1 for the SB Cav. SCU, so the defender’s unit had to absorb the attacker’s LN. The SB Cav. SCU could not absorb the entire LN and was destroyed. The defender’s LN of 1 was less than the LF of 3 for each the attacking units, so the attacker did not absorb a loss (12.6.2). The attacker won the combat, so the full-strength AH XVI Inf. Corps advanced after combat into Uzhitse (12.8.1). The CP mandatory offensive for the Summer 1914 turn was satisfied.

In AP Action Round #4, the AP player used KITCHENER for its 3 OPS Points to activate Kowel, Tarnopol, and Kamenets-Podolsk for attack. 

The RU XIX, XXI, and XXV Inf. Corps. at Kowel used their 8 Combat Factors for offensive fire against the AH units at Rava Russka. The AP player rolled a 1d6 for a “2” on the 8-9 Column of the Heavy Fire Table, with a DRM of +1 for GALICIA OFFENSIVE. The modified die roll became “3”, which produced an LN of 4.

Simultaneously, the AH VI and XVII Inf. Corps and the AH Cav. SCU at Rawa Ruska used their 6 Combat Factors for defensive fire against the attacking RU units. The CP player rolled a 1d6 for a “5” on the 6-7 Column of the Heavy Fire Table, with a DRM of +1 for cavalry. The modified die roll became “6”, which also produced an LN of 5.

Since the attacker’s LN of 4 was greater than the Loss Factor (“LF”) of 1 for the AH Cav. SCU, the defender’s units had to absorb the attacker’s LN. The AH Cav. SCU was destroyed and the AH VI Inf. Corps was reduced by one step. The defender’s LN of 5 was greater than the LF of 2 for the RU LCUs, so the attacker’s units had to absorb the defender’s LN. The RU XIX and XXI Inf. Corps were each reduced by one step and the Inasmuch as the defender rolled a higher LN than the attacker, it won the combat and did not have to retreat.

The RU XII and XXIV Inf Corps and the RU Cav. SCU at Kamenets-Podolsk combined with the RU VII and VIII Inf Corps and the RU Cav. SCU at Tarnopol to attack Czernowitz. Since they were attacking across a water obstacle, the defender fired first (12.4.3). The AH XI and XII Inf. Corps and the AH Cav. SCU at Czernowitz used their 7 Combat Factors for defensive fire against the attacking RU units. The CP player rolled a 1d6 for a “4” on the 6-7 Column of the Heavy Fire Table, with a DRM of +1 for cavalry. The modified die roll became “5”, which also produced an LN of 5.

Since the defender’s LN of 5 was greater than the Loss Factor (“LF”) of 1 for the RU Cav. SCU, the attacker’s units had to absorb the defender’s LN. The two RU Cav. SCUs were destroyed and the RU XXIV Inf. Corps absorbed the remaining LN of 1 without suffering a loss.

Then the RU XII and XXIV Inf Corps at Kamenets-Podolsk, combined with the RU VII and VIII Inf Corps at Tarnopol, used their remaining 12 Combat Factors for offensive fire against the AH units at Czernowitz. The AP player rolled a 1d6 for a “6” on the 10-12 Column of the Heavy Fire Table, with a DRM of +1 for GALICIA OFFENSIVE. The modified die roll remained “6”, which produced an LN of 7.

Since the attacker’s LN of 7 was greater than the Loss Factor (“LF”) of 1 for the AH Cav. SCU, the defender’s units had to absorb the attacker’s LN.  The AH Cav. SCU was destroyed. The AH XI Inf. Corps was destroyed and replaced by an AH Inf. SCU that also lost a step.  AH Troop Quaity was reduced by 1. Since the attacker rolled an LN that was greater than the defender’s LN by 2, the attacker won the combat and the defender had to retreat 2 spaces (12.7.2). The AH XII Inf. Corps retreated to Turka and the AH Cav. SCU retreated to Klausenberg. The full-strength RU VII and VIII Inf. Corps advanced two spaces after combat through Czernowitz to Stanislau. The full strength and RU XII Inf. Corps advanced after combat to Czernowitz. The AP player received 1 VP for Czernowitz, a red-bordered Victory Space.  AH National Will was reduced by 1 for losing Czernowitz

In CP Action Round #4, the CP player used GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS (CP14) as an Event to bring the GE II, XXI, and XXVIII Res. Inf. Corps onto the mapboard at Budapest and bring the GE XXVIII Res. Inf. Corps onto the mapboard at Vienna, where there are AH/GE Supply Sources (15.1).  GE Troop Quality is reduced by 2 (24.1).

In AP Action Round #5, the AP player used PRITTWITZ as an Event to increase the OPS cost of activating a space containing GE units by 1.  GE National Will was reduced by 1.

In CP Action Round #5, the CP player used GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS (CP3) for its 2 OPS Points to activate Budapest for movement.

 The GE II, XXI, and XXXVIII Res. Inf Corps at Budapest moved to Debrecen.

In AP Action Round #6, the AP player used RUSSIAN REINFORCEMENTS (AP2) as an Event to bring the RU Guard, XVIII, and I Turk. Inf Corps onto the mapboard at Brest-Litovsk and bring the reduced-strength II Cauc. Inf. Corps onto the mapboard at Kiev. The RU Troop Quality Level was reduced by 2.

In CP Action Round #6, the CP Player used GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS (CP12) for its 2 OPS Points to activate VIENNA.

The GE XXXIX Res. Inf Corps at Vienna moved to Ungvar.

This ended the Action Phase. No units suffered attrition in the Attrition Phase because none were Out-Of-Supply. No forts were besieged in the Siege Phase. In the War Status Phase, neither player had an automatic victory because the VP Level was 14. There was no Armistice because the Combined War Status was 4. The AP War Commitment Level was 4, but could not increase to Limited War in the Summer 1914 turn. There was no danger of rebellion because AH National Will was 10, GE National Will was 11, and RU National Will was 12. There was no danger of poor troop quality because the AH, RU, and GE Troop Quality Levels were 14.

GALICIA OFFENSIVE, RENNENKAMPF, STAVKA, PRITTWITZ, GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS (CP14), ZHELEZNODOROZHNYYE VOYSKA, and RUSSIAN REINFORCEMENTS (AP2) were played for their events. Since each card had an asterisk, they are removed from the game (6.0). The AP cards played for their OPS Points were put into the AP Discard Pile. The CP cards played for their OPS Points were put into the CP Discard Pile.

Opening a campaign against the Central Powers in Galicia instead of East Prussia changed the course of battle in Summer 1914 from the historical. Russia avoided the mauling of its First and Second Armies in East Prussia, which opened the Polish Salient to a German pincer. Instead, German units were sent into Galicia to block a Russian breakthrough against the Austro-Hungarians. It is an open question whether the Russian Army can attrition Austro-Hungarian units and collapse their defense of Galicia before German reinforcements can shore them up. If German units overcommit to Galicia, then this may open East Prussia to a Russian offensive against limited opposition.

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