Is this just an air campaign game?

[spinecruncher]

If so, how does that work? War is not won by bombing alone.

[warshipbuilder]

Yes, it is an air campaign game both strategic and tactical. If you are looking for a game that combines an air campaign and boots on the ground, I suggest War in the West, although the air game is not as complex as this one, nor IMO as interesting, but I am biased.

[simovitch]

ORIGINAL: spinecruncher

If so, how does that work? War is not won by bombing alone.

Wait a second here. There is a ground campaign in the BTR campaigns that is influenced by the use of Allied tactical and strategic bombing of Axis troops, rail centers and supply lines. Breaking the Westwall early is essential for a timely Allied victory. Axis ground troops take damage, repair, resupply, relocate, retreat and fortify. The historic divisions of the Western and Italian fronts are visible on the map (but the Eastern front troops are invisible and the frontline advances along historical timelines). Allied troops are not displayed.

The German Player can fly CAP or gain air superiority over the front lines and rail centers or move flak units into positions with the troops to help delay the inevitable collapse.

The AI then takes over to process all the movement and combat of the West Front/Italy troops based on their level of damage and disruption so in that respect the ground campaign is somewhat abstract and passive and does not require human interaction.

[spinecruncher]

I do not understand. So is all the ground action happening abstractly? I always thought of air campaign as supportive to the boots on da ground. So in this case, how does affecting breaching the westwall etc get effectuated? By an air campaign?

[mark dolby]

It's tactical and strategic.
The air attacks on the factories stop supplies and armaments being built, the tactical attacking of rail and road links along with direct attacks on ground units helps bring about a decline of unit cohesion allowing the line to be broken (eventually). If none of this was done those boots would be 6 feet under. it's a long campaign BTW.

[simovitch]

how does affecting breaching the westwall etc get effectuated? By an air campaign?

Yes. There are no Allied ground units to fire and maneuver. If the Allied player doesn't aggressively pound the daylights out of the German troops the front lines will hold out longer than historical in Normandy in July '44, and then in the Westwall in spring '45. Same for the Gustav line and Gothic line in Italy.

The East front collapses along historical timelines, but since most of the industry is west of Berlin, the westwall has to collapse before mid April '45 or the Allies will likely lose regardless of the shape of the Luftwaffe.

The Game notifies you when major events happen like D-Day, Avalanche, Soviet offensives, or when a front collapses. For an air war game, the ground war mechanics are handled quite well by the game system really.