War in the East Q&A

[Helpless]

Does the Axis AI start a week later against the Soviet Southern Army Group as was historically the case?

Yes, southern sector is frozen at the start of Barbarossa.

[Muzrub]

Hi,

Will special SS units such as (below-to name a few) be included in either regiment, brigade or even later as a division during the game?

36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS - Dirlewanger
28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien- Léon  Degrelle
29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS RONA (1st Russian)- Kaminski
18th SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division Horst Wessel
26th Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS


Also, if such units which begun their service as a battalion sized unit- will they grow in time to become a divisional strength unit (but with their strength determined on numbers and experience)?

Also would they have to be removed from the line for refit (either automatically by the computer, or by the player), or would they unit be automatically refitted with extra troops, and or vehicles and tanks (if upgraded to a Panzer unit).


Also, if a unit went through a historical refit would the game alert the player to its removal from the front line?
And will such a feature be included?
ie Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler- removal from the Eastern front in early 1944 after several heavy battles, and eventual reformation by april '44 in the West.

Essentially how would the game allow for refits, and increase from battalion to divisional size?

I'm sure any German Eastern front commander would have demanded his best units be on call- but Hitler could move one unit from the East to the West at whim, or if he saw it fit to do so for an offensive of his choosing ie Ardennes Offensive dec 1944 (West) and Operation Spring Awakening march 1945 (East) (unit example being the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler).

(of course the game may not factor the Ardennes offensive- but none the less units and equipment were taken from the East and used in the West, and as such it does have an effect on the Eastern campaign, in terms of fighting units available and the receiving of replacements in terms of men and materials)

In that case would the game, which places you in control of the Eastern front be able to remove units based on Fuhrer orders?
ie the removal of elite German units for the Ardennes Offensive 1944 and allocation of replacements of men and equipment?

The reason I ask is because the game is based heavily on being historical (ie no control of production- fight with what you have), so in essence does that mean that elite German units on the Eastern Front would be pulled for the planned offensive of dec 16 1944.
And the player would just have to fight on, regardless with what resources he has at hand?


Cheers
Muzrub

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Muzrub

Hi,

Will special SS units such as (below-to name a few) be included in either regiment, brigade or even later as a division during the game?

36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS - Dirlewanger
28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien- Léon  Degrelle
29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS RONA (1st Russian)- Kaminski
18th SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division Horst Wessel
26th Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS


The 18th, 28th and 36th are in the game, the other two are not. Both the 18th and the 28th begin as brigades and upgrade to divisions.



Also, if such units which begun their service as a battalion sized unit- will they grow in time to become a divisional strength unit (but with their strength determined on numbers and experience)?

No combat units (units that appear on the map) are smaller than a regiment. Units which upgrade to a larger formation or any unit understrength which receives replacement will take a hit to their experience ratings.




Also would they have to be removed from the line for refit (either automatically by the computer, or by the player), or would they unit be automatically refitted with extra troops, and or vehicles and tanks (if upgraded to a Panzer unit).

Units do not have to be "off the line" to receive replacements; as for units upgrading to a different kind of unit some upgrade "in the field" and others are withdrawn and later return as the upgraded unit.


Also, if a unit went through a historical refit would the game alert the player to its removal from the front line?
And will such a feature be included?
ie Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler- removal from the Eastern front in early 1944 after several heavy battles, and eventual reformation by april '44 in the West.

Yes and yes.

Essentially how would the game allow for refits, and increase from battalion to divisional size?

I'm sure any German Eastern front commander would have demanded his best units be on call- but Hitler could move one unit from the East to the West at whim, or if he saw it fit to do so for an offensive of his choosing ie Ardennes Offensive dec 1944 (West) and Operation Spring Awakening march 1945 (East) (unit example being the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler).

(of course the game may not factor the Ardennes offensive- but none the less units and equipment were taken from the East and used in the West, and as such it does have an effect on the Eastern campaign, in terms of fighting units available and the receiving of replacements in terms of men and materials)

In that case would the game, which places you in control of the Eastern front be able to remove units based on Fuhrer orders?

Units which left the Eastern Front only for rest & refitting purpose stay on the Eastern Front; units which left the Eastern Front, engaged in operations and then returned leave and return in the game; units which left the Eastern Front and did not return are permanent withdrawals in the game.

ie the removal of elite German units for the Ardennes Offensive 1944 and allocation of replacements of men and equipment?

The reason I ask is because the game is based heavily on being historical (ie no control of production- fight with what you have), so in essence does that mean that elite German units on the Eastern Front would be pulled for the planned offensive of dec 16 1944.
And the player would just have to fight on, regardless with what resources he has at hand?

You got it! You're in the same boat as the Eastern Front Field Marshalls were.

Cheers
Muzrub

[Shupov]

Are HQ names and hierarchy updated throughout the campaign as they were historically?

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Shupov

Are HQ names and hierarchy updated throughout the campaign as they were historically?

The Soviet Fronts names change over time. I'm not sure if Gary has added any code yet to have the German Army Groups change names (e.g. Army Group A becoming Army Group South Ukraine). Obviously late war scenarios would have the names in use at that time but whether all the German Army Group name changes will be in the grand campaign scenario (Barbarossa) I don't know.

[Stryder]

Do leaders have random (or historical events) where they are sick, reassigned, sacked, die so that we lose them?

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: jfarber

Do leaders have random (or historical events) where they are sick, reassigned, sacked, die so that we lose them?

This is an area that has not been completely nailed down yet but as of now the game keeps track of each active leader's victories and defeats so it is possible for leaders to both get promoted (acquire better ratings) or sacked (removed from command). There is also a very small chance a leader will get killed from bombing or his HQ overrun. I personally have never seen a leader killed but it's in the code.

Leaders exist at corps and higher headquarters and we do have these HQs entering and exiting the game so some leaders would be assigned or transferred (withdrawn) as a consequence of commanding one of these entering or leaving HQs. Beyond that there is no historical transfers of leaders (no von Kluges being sent to the West).

Of course you, the player, can replace a leader with another leader at any time but you pay a cost in administrative points to do that and you usually need those administrative points to do more important things.

[Sentinel Six]

Forgive me if these questions have already been asked elsewhere as I've only just discovered this thread.

1. Can a player control production, if so how long does it take to retool a factory?

2. Can a player bring forward the in service date of equipment by R&D?

3. When a unit's equipment is upgraded does it effect its experience or readiness. Can a unit train to work up its efficiency with the new weapon system.

[paullus99]

1. No

2. No

3. Interesting question.

[Iñaki Harrizabalagatar]

Hi
I am very much interested on this game.
I wonder, about units that a retired from the front historically to come back later.
Let´s imgaine the unit has been destroyed during the game, will it come back anyway?
I guess this could open a window to some gamey play, for instance I know one of my units will be retreated to come back later at full strength, so in the meantime I use it as a suicide unit, has this been taken into consideration?

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Sentinel Six


Forgive me if these questions have already been asked elsewhere as I've only just discovered this thread.

1. Can a player control production, if so how long does it take to retool a factory?

2. Can a player bring forward the in service date of equipment by R&D?

3. When a unit's equipment is upgraded does it effect its experience or readiness. Can a unit train to work up its efficiency with the new weapon system.

Forget everything you knew about production from playing WAR IN RUSSIA, not only is the production system (actually I would describe it as a replacement system) completely computer controlled but there is no concept such as retooling a factory in the game. A factory can be producing one type of aircraft or AFV one month and switch to producing another type the next month with no impact on output by the switchover per se. Factories exist merely to regulate overall production.

Replacements in general, whether of new equipment or old, will impact experience.

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Iñaki Harrizabalagatar

Hi
I am very much interested on this game.
I wonder, about units that a retired from the front historically to come back later.
Let´s imgaine the unit has been destroyed during the game, will it come back anyway?
I guess this could open a window to some gamey play, for instance I know one of my units will be retreated to come back later at full strength, so in the meantime I use it as a suicide unit, has this been taken into consideration?

Gary has already thought of that one. Units slated for withdrawal must be at a specified strength or they will remain frozen on the map until they reach that strength. If a unit slated for withdrawal is completely destroyed before its withdrawal date it would be returned to the map as a cadre and sit frozen until it rebuilt enough to withdraw.

[Iñaki Harrizabalagatar]

Thanks for the answer, looks a good solution
Another question, what about Soviet Tank Corps and Mech Corps, how are they represented, ax single units or as agregate of several units?

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Iñaki Harrizabalagatar

Thanks for the answer, looks a good solution
Another question, what about Soviet Tank Corps and Mech Corps, how are they represented, ax single units or as agregate of several units?

Tank and Mechanized corps are "built" by combining tank and mechanized/motorized brigades. You can also break them back down into brigades.

The major difference between tank & mechanized corps versus rifle and cavalry corps is that that tank/mech corps have unique TOEs they follow while rifle/cavalry corps are simply the sum of three divisions. Therefore while you can form a tank corps from three tank brigades, the TOE of a tank corps is not the same as the TOE of a tank brigade times three (i.e. tank corps contain combat elements not found in tank brigades).

[Sentinel Six]

Thanks for your quick answers.

Glad to see that new equipment effects experience. Pity the player can't tweak production but such is war.

[Iron Duke]

Do the minor Axis countries switch sides if Germany is loosing the war ?

If they do what causes them to switch ?

[Sentinel Six]

How are partisans represented?

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Iron Duke


Do the minor Axis countries switch sides if Germany is loosing the war ?

If they do what causes them to switch ?

Currently no, Italy withdraws in 1943, Slovakia withdraws in 1944 and the rest eventually surrender.

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: Sentinel Six


How are partisans represented?

Partisan units can be either inactive (invisible to the Axis player) or active (visible to the Axis player). Inactive partisan units can neither attack or be attacked. Once an inactive partisan unit has grown to sufficient size, improved its morale, and accumulated enought supplies (automatically air dropped to it every turn) the unit will become active. Active partisan units attack Axis rail lines in an attempt to damage them to disrupt the flow of supplies and troops. Axis units attack active partisan units by moving adjacent to them which causes the partisan unit to re-locate to another hex and automatically become inactive again.

[Jeffrey H.]

Ok, lets cover supply and interdiction of supply. Please describe the supply methodology in general and factors that influence the supply status of a unit.