<t> I shouldn't use Laramie, Wyoming as an example (living at 7200 feet means a lot of cold in the winter), but for 2-3 weeks after the "thaw" starts in April/May here (we are behind the Eastern Front) the lakes are still navigable by vehicle. Ice that is feet thick with a high reflectivity doesn't ...

<t> My question was a serious one. Has anyone here, under the latest series of patches, tried to run an 1941 campaign without HQ buildup? <br/> <br/> I have gone through turn 13 doing so against Jame, and the results suprised me - not much less in distance achieved, a far higher kill rate (this migh...

Has anyone here tried to play without HQ buildup?

ORIGINAL: JAMiAM
Agreed, and so strongly, in fact, that I will not play any game that has non-random weather.

This is because James is a Weatherlord, capable of bringing down mud when his opponent leasts wants it.

<t> During the Axis logistics phase at the start of the turn the unit attempts to regain fatigue, I assume from the shots above that the incident happened the turn before, and the unit routed behind the lines and into quite good supply (also free of enemy units so units could also repair themselves ...

The unit did regain some fatigue as well at the beginning of the turn...

<t> To the original question. I don't think that the Lvov Pocket need be a rule at all - because by now it is an expected opening, but that is simply because everyone did it. Rather than this, there are a myriad other things the Germans can do in the South and so few do them. Simply cutting the rail...

<t> I really don't care. There was once a heated argument that the use of NATO symbols is goofy and wrong for a World War 2 game - just because they are the symbols we all know, we agree they are "right" for the circumstances. Indeed, it took me a while to get used to the German World War 2 symbols ...

<t> I would not underestimate the psychology of the game on the player attacking too. Just as the blizzard can unnerve the Germans (and make him, as you said BG, do foolish things), knowing the 1:1-2:1 rule can improve the psyche of the Soviets and they will attack (even if a majority of the attacks...

<t> I do not think that the Germans have no incentive to move in 1942. We shall have to see how it plays out, but the premise of taking more land (more to take back) and more importantly harming the Soviet army and perhaps creating some pockets cannot be understated.<br/> <br/> While the conservativ...

It comes as a shock that there are others ways to play this game, and perhaps (maybe) ways that are more successful. I know JAM is presently doing a great job as the Germans by just beating the snot out of the Soviets in 1941, no raiding at all.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
2. BULGARIANS: Just for fun!

Really, this one may well overpower the system.

60% of all facts are made up, 72% of the people know that.

<t> I think this is an interesting topic. Just the effect of winter on entrenchments will make it play out far differently. As the Germans, don't expect a unit pulled back to have entrenchments in two turns - therefore the winter casualties will be far greater. As the Soviets, don't rely on those ma...

ORIGINAL: Aurelian
No commander is going to shoot at factories if he has enemy troops in front of him. Least I would hope not.

I would, a factory is a big target - I would get way more hits and likely more XP to level up.

<t> They do have a better TOE, but the fact is that the Soviet Army was generally worn down by the winter counter offensive - in terms of men, leaders, equipment, etc. While we have not seen the end of how it plays out, the "red" units at the end of winter often were not much better than the line tr...

The rule is to try and show the low point of Soviet organization, implementation, and abilities. Remember, always remember, that morale is not Napoleonic morale, but rather training, staff ability, etc.

<t> There was the "rubber band" defense talked about a long time ago, slow phased withdrawals to limit the amount of losses due to unready squads being forced to retreat. At the time it worked fairly well, but perhaps that poot is moot now as the ability to entrench has been impacted.<br/> <br/> I h...

As JAM said, you have to be careful with that one or you might go off half-cocked.

(that was as clean a pun as I could do)

I guessed right! See, even a broken record can tell time once in a blue moon of sundays.