Case Blue

[Joshuatree]

Looking real neat huh? Almost AT-2 if you ask me.

[explorer2]

OK, I'm going to chime in on the graphics.
Basically they look awesome. One thing though, from someone who's a mountain climber - in real life, the highest peaks have snow on them. In these graphics the ones that appear to my eye to be the highest (most relief) are barren, and the ones with snow on them seem more hill like than high mountain like. If that could be reversed, it would be more realistic.
BUT I do understand how hard it is to put together a really good looking graphics set, much less to modify or create new ones.

[Grymme]

Explorer. Actually i agree with you explorer. The issue is that i want 4 lvls of terrain in this scenario. Rough, hills, low mountains and high mountains. But the lower levels need a 64 sprite solution, or they will produce ugly hex edges if placed next to plain or urban. So if i had reversed them there would be a lot of those problems. Also the Damezzi mountains look higher than the realmod high mountains, but i agree that it looks strange.

[Grymme]

I am now finished with the reinforcement lists up to the extra long campaign. The game stops at round 122, but the reinforcement lists stop at around rounds 116-117.

Other small changes include
- Making it possible for most infantry to carry 2 rounds of supply. Accordingly made jaegers, ski units, cavalry & paratroopers last longer without supply.
- Adding the OT-34/85 Flame tank. Good at assaulting cities and fortifications. Bad at fighting other tanks-
- Made Fortresses buildable.
- Made some changes to the partisan events. Making it less likely for partisans to appear in mainland Ukraine and the Kalmuck Steppes.
- Gave KV tanks, tiger tanks and Flame tanks specific NATO counters.
- Changed Marine infantry a little. Making them a little more expensive
- Added an OP-actioncard to increaese recruitment of cossacks and activate Thibhoresk and Stavropol as recruitment centers.
- Added an OP-actioncard for the soviets to decrease reqruitment of cossacks ad deactivate afformentioned cities.
- Made Soviet tranport planes and recon planes buildable (thanks Rufusthefirefly).
- Updated briefing.

I am hesitant to say it, but with the reinforcement lists finished the scenario is actually finished. I might add an option or two after feedback from betatesting or change some small things because of balancing, but the bulk of the "work" is finished. I started work on the 6th of september with an estimate of 1 month & 2 weeks of work. It took 2 months and 4 weeks.


_______________

Some small statistics.
- There are four campaign lenghts.
- The reinforcement lists alone are 1 494 lines of codes.
- There are 214 predefined units
- 260 SFTs.
- 60-70 events active.
- 125*105 = ca 13 125 hexes to fight over

[Grymme]

Here is the full briefing with finished reinforcement lists.

CASE BLUE - BRIEFING

1. BACKGROUND

This scenario simulates the southern theater of operations in the soviet union between october 1941 and may 1943 during world war II.

1.1 Scale

Each round is 5 days. Units are generally divisions to regiments with some companies and battalions. HQs are armycorps, armies and armygroups.

Placement of units is historical. Reinforcements are semihistorical with historical reinforcements but removal of units not being simulated.

Equipment is semihistorical based on the ostfront scenario with some 20 SFTs added and some generalized naval units added.

1.2 Credit, disclaimers

A big credit to Captain Crüft for the use of the Ostfront masterfile. Thanks to Lunaticus and Rufusthefirefly for playtesting,


2. PEOPLES, MINOR REGIMES etc

The german side has the following peoples

Morale Readiness loss in winter/severe winter
German (grey) 70 (suffer in winter)
SS (black) 90 (suffer less than germans in winter)
LuftWaffe (light blue) (same as germans)
Finnish (metallic blue) 80 (no readiness loss in winter)
Romanian (purple) 50 (suffer badly in winter)
Hungarian (dark blue) 50 (fare a little better than romanians)
Italian (light green) 50 (suffer the worst in winter)
Croatian (light yellow) 50 (suffer badly in winter)
Slovak 50 (suffer badly in winter)
Belgian (suffer in winter)
FARR (soviet) (suffer slightly in winter)

The soviet side has the following people

Soviet union (red) 60 (suffer slightly in winter)
NKVD (purple red) 90 (suffer less than soviets)
Guards (dark red) 70 (almost no impact in winter)
Siberians (purple) 70 (no impact in winter)


2. GENERAL RULE CHANGES

Supply action point range changed to 400,600,800

Transfer range changed to 1000

Rail Transfer activated.

Artillery ranges generally doubled.

Max experience gain per round is changed from 10 to 5. Max experience gained by training set to 30.

Basic infantry can carry supply for two rounds. Mountain infantry and jaegers can last for three rounds. Cavalry for four rounds, paratroopers for five rounds and partisans dont use supply.

2.1 Weather

There is clear weather, mud, winter and severe winter.

Clear weather has no effects.

Mud weather give most units very severe movement penalties (most movement types move at 300 % cost). All units have a 20 % readiness reduction. Offensive action is penalized with a
-40 % modifier for both sides.

Winter weather has some movement penalties (most units move at 150 % movement cost). A A risk of readiness penalties for units from most peoples. Offensive action is penalized with a -50 % modifier for the axis side and a -10 % modifier for the soviet side. Ski units move faster.

Severe winter weather has some harsh movement penalties (most unis move at 200 % movement cost). A big risk of large readiness penalties for units from most peoples. Axis side is penalized with a -75% in offensive actions and the soviet side with a -20% mofier. Ski units move faster.


3. LOCATIONS, TERRAIN etc

3.1 Locations

Supply (2K supply production)
Major Supply (10K supply production)
Fortifications (can be built, cost 200 supply, 2 PP & 200 EP)
Airfields (Can be built, cost 100 EP, 100 supply & 2 PP)
Fortresses (Can be build, cost 500 EP, 250 supply & 5PP).
Ports
Ports with fortress
City (has airfield)
GE production center (10K production)
SO production center (10K production)
SS production
RO production
HU production
IT production
Guards production (3K production)

3.2 Terrain

New terrain features include
Dry lake

3.3. Roads

There are three clases of roads

Railroads (these generally include normal roads)
Roads
Makeshift roads

5. UNITS and classes of units

The scenario uses a modified version of the Ostrfont scenarios SFTs. In addition there are some 20 extra SFTs. These are

Military Police, BMW M75 Motorcycle, Ski Rifle, Mountain Inf, Katuysha, Nebelwerfer, Marine Infantry, Fiat M14/41, Railroad Troops, Cargoship, Destroyer, Cruiser, Battleship, Submarine, HE123, MG 34/42 (Ski), 81mm Moerser (Ski), Maxim HMG (Ski), 82mm Mortar (Ski), MG 34/42 (FJ), 81mm Moerser (FJ), OT-34-85 Flame Tank.

6. SPECIAL EVENTS

Cossack recruitment in Rostov, Korostoy and Vorosjilovgrad.
For each of these three cities that the german side controls they will get a recruitment of 3 cossack SFTs each round arriving in Kherson. Cossack recruitment can be increased by the use of actioncards.

Increasing production
During 1942 german production goes up to 120%. Soviet production goes up to 135%. During 1943 german production goes up to 130 % and soviet production up to 150 %.

Volga blocked
If the german side has troops on the Volga bank then cost of supply goes up to 200 % for the soviet side.

Kerch strait freezing
In severe winter weather the Kerch Strait hex (X36Y38) freezes and becomes traversable. All sea units in the hex when it freezes dies. When it stops being severe winter it will unfreeze and all land units on the hex dies.

German Frostbite
The german army wasnt prepared for the weather in russia. The first time there is winter weather all axis units have an extra reduction in readiness of a random percentage.

Panje Wagen commandeering
During the first winter round of 1941 & 1942 the axis player recieves the Panje Wagen commandeering actioncard.

Mt Elbrus
The first time an axis unit sets foot in the Mt Elbrus hex X79 Y96 it “conquers Mt Elbrus” and raises the german flag there. This is a significant propaganda event and nets the axis player 1 operation point.

Partisans
Each round there is a small chance for partisans to arrive behind axis lines. Partisans are generally more rare in mainland Ukraine and in the Kalmuck Steppes.


7. RESEARCH
Research is buyable but very expensive. At the beginning of year 1942 all lvl II techs will become available to both sides. At the beginning of year 1943 all lvl III techs will become available to both sides.

8. VICTORY CONDITION

There are four different campaign lenghts

The following cities are worth 1VP each. Stalingrad is worth 2VPs. On the map there are 13 VPs in total of which the axis control 2 from the start.

Poltava
Dnepropretovsk
Kharkov
Sevastopol
Rostov
Stalino
Krasnodar
Maikop
Grozny
Serafimovic
Stalingrad
Astrakhan

Short Campaign
Ends after 24 rounds (ca 4 months). The axis wins if they control more than 4 VPs. The soviets win if the axis controls less than 4 VPs.

Medium Campaign
Ends after 54 rounds (ca 9-10 months). The axis wins if the soviets controls less than 5 VPs. The soviets win if they control more than 5 VPs.

Long Campaign
Ends after 91 rounds (ca 1 year and 3 months). The axis wins if the soviets control less than 7 VPs. The soviets win if they control more than 7 VPs.

Full Campaign
Ends after 122 rounds (ca 1 year and 8 months). The axis wins if they control more than 4 VPs. The soviets win if the axis controls less than 4 VPs.


9. SCENARIO VARIANTS

9.1 Soviet AI

An crude atempt at simulating a soviet AI.

9.2 Operation points

By using this option both sides get access to a certain amount of operation points (Ops). Every three months each side gets 3 OPs. These can be spent on various special actioncards.

Also each round there is a 15% chance that Hitler/Stalin will take a personal interest in southern russia and add an additional operation point.

The different options are.

Extra supply (axis, allies)
Playing this actioncard adds 4000 supply to the HQ closest to a home base.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Romanian Flotilla (axis)
By playing this card the Romanian government transfers a flotilla of destroyers and cargoships to the russian theatre. The fleet arrives in Zheltsnyy.
Playing this card costs 2 OP.

Panjee Wagen Comandeering (axis)
Playing this card scrambles a random number (20-70+VPs) of wagens to your HQ closest to Kherson. This card appears at first sight of winter weather in 1941 and 1942. It does not return once used.
Playing this card cost 1 OPs.

Railroad Gun Battalion (axis)
Playing this card lets a battalion of Railroad guns complete with railroad troops and transport arrive in Kherson.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Luftwaffe assistance (axis)
Playing this actioncard calls for reinforcement from the luftwaffe. A group of ME110 arrives in Kherson.
Playing this card costs 2 OPs.

Fallshirmjaegers
Playing this card calls for the transfer of parts of the 7th Fliegerdivision (parachute division) to the theater. They are highly trained and motivated.

1st LW FJ Reg
3rd LW FJ Reg
2* Ju52(t)
arrive in Kherson. (2nd LW FJ Reg arrive on round 16 anyway).
Playing this card costs 1 OP. This card can be played only once.

RONA Recruitment (axis)
RONA (Russian National Liberation Army). Playing this card increases recruitment in Rostov, Kovorostoy and Voroshilograd from 3 cossack SFTs/round to 4 cossack 6 3 rifle 1941 SFTs/round. It also opens up Thibhoresk and Stavropol as recruitment cities. Playing this card gives the soviet union the surpress cossacks card.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Surpress Cossacks (soviet union)
Only playable if axis has played RONA Recruitment. Playing this card decreases recruitment to the level before RONA Recruitment was played. Playing this card gives the axis back the RONA Recruitment card.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Extra partisans (soviets)
Playing this actioncard recruits extra partisans The extra roll on the partisantable has a larger chance of success than normally and the partisans appear directly in the soviet turn.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Stalin Mobilizes the workers (soviets)
Playing this card adds 6 worker divisions to Stalingrad hex. A prerequisite is that Stalingrad hex X96Y30 is soviet owned.
Playing this card costs 3 OPs.

Railroad Construction (both sides)
By playing this actioncard engineer troops can construct Railroads instead of roads untill the end of the turn. Railroads cost 100 EP to construct.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Evacuate Ukraine (soviet)
Playing this card evacuates the cities of Stalino and Kharkov to the east of the Urals provided these hexes are still owned by the soviet union. If a city is not owned by the soviet union it will not be evacuated.

Only a small production capability will remain in the cities (500 BPs). The evacuated factories will produce 1300 BPs each.
Playing this card costs 1 OP. This card can only be played once.

Evacuate Donbass region (soviet)
Playing this card evacuates the cities of Rostov, Krasnograd and Maikop to the east of the Urals. Only cities still owned by the soviet union will be evacuate.

Only a small production capability will remain in the cities (500 BPs). The evacuated factories will produce 1300 BPs each.
Playing this card costs 2 OP. This card can only be played once.

Ski Battalions
Playing this card adds 7 additional battalions of Ski trained troops to the Soviet union.
Playing this card costs 1 OP.

Lend Lease Trucks
Playing this card adds a random number (9-20+VPs) of trucks to the HQ closest to Astrakhan.
Playing this card costs 1 OPs.


9.3 & 9.4 Axis or Soviet advantage

Choosing either of theese options adds a german production center in the north (with an additional 5K production) or turns Astrakhan port into a production center (producing 5K).

11. REINFORCEMENTS

11.1 Soviet union reinforcements arriving in Pallasovka

Round

2
Yak-1
LAGG-3

4
I-16.
I-16.
I-16.

7
57th Army HQ
333th Rifle Div
335th Rifle Div
337th Rifle Div
341st Rifle Div
349st Rifle Div
351st Rifle Div
PE.2.
SE.2.

8
79th Cav Div

10
37th Army HQ

11
11th Rifle Bde
16th Rifle Bde
Yak.1.

12
54th Tnk Bde
7 * Ski Bat

16
Saratov Mil Div

18
23rd NKVD Inf Reg
Mig.3.

19
6th Tnk Bde

20
76th Rifle Div
Stalingrad Mil Cav Div
Art Bde
Mig.3.

21
24th Tnk Bde
Art Bde

22
IL.2.

24
78th MAR Bde
79th MAR Bde

25
62nd Cav Div
64th Cav Div
70th Cav Div
26th Cav Div
28th Cav Div
30th Cav Div

26
28th Army HQ
248th Rifle Div
278th Rifle Div
293rd Rifle Div
38th Rifle Div
244th Rifle Div
103rd Rifle Div
162nd Rifle Div
242nd Rifle Div
106th Rifle Div
124th Rifle Div
78th Inf Bde
Mig.3.
Mig.3.
Yak.1.
Su.2.

27
Pe.2.
Pe.2.
2nd Grds Rifle Div

28
41st Rifle Div
253rd Rifle Div
277st Rifle Div
5th Grd Cav Div
6th Grd Cav Div
32nd Cav Div
121st Tnk Bde

29
21st Mhz Bde
"Moscow" Area Defense Bde

30
35th Cav Div
36th Cav Div
66th Cav Div

31
30th Cav Div
34th Cav Div
60th Cav Div

35
64th Tnk Bde
68th Mar Bde
76th Mar Bde
81st Mar Bde
79th NKVD Brd Reg
90th NKVD Brd Reg
95th NKVD Inf Reg

36
"Stalingrad" Tnk Bde
23rd Mot Rifle Bde
3* Art Bde

38
2* Katuysha Bde

43
2* Art Bde
SB.2.

52
91st Rifle Div
301st Rifle Div
65th Tnk Bde
84th Tnk Bde
LaGG.3.
2* Mig.3.
TB.3.
P39Q

53
37th Tnk Bde
38th Tnk Bde
I.16.

55
175th Rifle Div

57
64th Tnk Bde
198th Tnk Bde
199th Tnk Bde
21st Mot Rifle Bde
3rd Tnk Bde
13th Tnk Bde
91st NKVD Brd Reg
45th Rifle Div

58
266th Rifle Div
24th Mot Rifle Bde

59
6th Tnk Bde
130th Tnk Bde
23rd Mot Rifle Bde

61
115th Cav Div
140th Tnk Bde
149th Rifle Bde
2* Yak1
IL.15.

62
90th Tnk Bde
156th Tnk Bde
"Voro, Voro" Railroad Reg

64
114th Tnk Bde

66
102nd Rifle Div
228th Rifle Div
168th Tnk Bde

68
150th Area Defense Bde
162nd Area Defense Bde

69
137th Tnk Bde
66th Mar Bde

70
24th Army HQ
85th Tnk Bde
88th Tnk Bde
167th Tnk Bde
20th Mot Rifle Bde
73rd Rifle Div
308th Rifle Div
166th Tnk Bde
70th Area Defense Bde
2* SB.2.
Pe.2.

72
130th Tnk Bde
176th Tnk Bde
2nd NKVD Brd Reg

73
84th Rifle Div
112th Rifle Div
284th Rifle Div
350th Rifle Div
9th Mot Rifle Bde

74
91st Tnk Bde
22nd Mot Rifle Bde

76
66th Tnk Bde
67th Tnk Bde
174th Tnk Bde
99th Tnk Bde
31st Mot Rifle Bde

77
52nd Area Defense Bde
53rd Area Defense Bde

79
10th NKVD Rifle Div
13th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 20th & 22nd KV Tnk Comp
Pe.2.
II-2MR

80
96th Rifle Div
100th Rifle Div
219th Rifle Div
49th Rifle Div
160th Rifle Div
173rd Rifle Div
214th Rifle Div
298th Rifle Div
182nd Tnk Bde
134th Tnk Bde
74th Area Defense Bde

81
4th Tnk Army HQ
205th Rifle Div

82
62nd Army HQ
1st Rifle Div
147th Rifle Div
153rd Rifle Div
63rd Army HQ
161st Rifle Div
181st Rifle Div
192nd Rifle Div
195th Rifle Div
196th Rifle Div
197th Rifle Div
64th Army HQ
127th Rifle Div
87th Rifle Div
126th Rifle Div
A.20.

84
39th Tnk Bde
55th Tnk Bde
56th Tnk Bde
32nd Mot Rifle Bde
189th Tnk Bde

85
163rd Tnk Bde
193rd Tnk Bde
169th Tnk Bde
229th Rifle Div
18th Rifle Div

86
63rd Rifle Div
131st Rifle Div
159th Rifle Div
204th Rifle Div

1st Stalinggrad Reg
2nd Stalingrad Reg
3rd Stalingrad Reg
Vinnitsa School Reg
Zhitomir School Reg

87
135th Tnk Bde

89
61st Rifle Div
107th Rifle Bde
256th Rifle Bde
Mak-ala NKVD Rifle Div
63rd Cav Reg


90
319th Rifle Div
Rostov School Reg

91
4th Grd Rifle Bde
84th Mar Bde

92
5th Tnk Army HQ
4th Grd Rifle Div
38th Grd Rifle Div
39th Grd Rifle Div

107th Tnk Bde (16th)
109th Tnk Bde (16th)
164th Tnk Bde (16th)
15th Mot Rifle Bde (16th)

19th Tnk Bde (26th)
157th Tnk Bde (26th)
216th Tnk Bde (26th)
14th Mot Rifle Bde (26th)

26th Tnk Bde (2nd)
27th Tnk Bde (2nd)
148th Tnk Bde (2nd)
2nd Mot Rifle Bde (2nd)

93
Grozny NKVD Rifle Div
34th (II) Rifle Bde

95
230th Rifle Div
51st (II) Rifle Bde

96
120th Rifle Div
221st Rifle Div
231st Rifle Div
23rd Rifle Div
24th Rifle div
64th Rifle Div
1st Grd Tnk Bde (1st)
49th Tnk Bde (1st)
89th Tnk Bde (1st)
1st Mot Rifle Bde (1st)

97
57th (II) Rifle Bde
52nd (II) Rifle Bde
83rd (II) Mar Bde
255th Mar Bde

98
92nd Rifle Bde
38th Mot Rifle Bde
77th Area Defense Bde
78th Area Defense Bde
110th Area Defense Bde
Mig.3
Pe.2.
TB.3.
Li.2.

99
233rd Rifle Div
29th Rifle Div
106th Rifle Bde
105th Tnk Bde
241st Tnk Bde
Art Bde

100
Katyusha Bde
2* Yak.1.
LAGG.3.

105
116th Area Defense Bde

107
61st Cav Div (4th)
81st Cav Div (4th)
47th Tnk Bde
180th Tnk Bde
3* Lagg-3
62nd Inf Div

108
65th Army HQ
8th MC Reg
117th Tnk Bde (1st)
159th Tnk Bde (1st)
44th Mot Rifle Bde (1st)
96th (II) Rifle Bde
160th Rifle Bde
Katuysha Bde

252nd Rifle Div

109
3rd Grd Rifle Div
24th Grd Rifle Div

110
3 * Art Bde

111
36th Mhz Rifle Bde (4th)
59th Mhz Rifle Bde (4th)
60th Mhz Rifle Bde (4th)
158th Tnk Bat (4th)
44th Arm Car Bat (4th)
61st MC Bat (4th)
235th Flame Tnk Bde
510th Flame Tnk Comp
511th Flame Tnk Comp

112
21st Mtn Cav Div (8th)
55th Cav Div (8th)
112th Cav Div (8th)
119th Rifle Div
346th Rifle Div

113
8th Grd Tnk Bde
3* Art Bde
10 * Pontoon Grp


11.2 SO reinforcements arriving in Kamenski

Round

3
172nd Rifle Div
184th Rifle Div
335th Rifle Div
72nd Cav Bde
LAGG-3

4
421st Rifle Div
I-15.

8
5th Abn Bde
6th Abn Bde
212th Abn Bde

10
NKVD Inf Div "Crimea"

12
130th Mhz Bde

14
1st Kras Mil Cav Div
2nd Kras Mil Cav Div
3rd Kras Mil Cav Div
SU.2.

15
51st Area Defense Bde

17
13th Rifle Bde
SB.2.

20
102nd Rifle Bde

21
6th Mot Rifle Reg
12th Rifle Bde
1st Mar Bde
83rd Mar Bde

22
24th Tnk Bde
Art Bde
PO.2.

24
78th Mar Bde
79th Mar Bde

27
10th Cav Bde
12th Cab Bde
55th Tnk Bde
63rd Tnk Bde
1st Mtn Div
103rd Mot Inf Reg
54th Mot Inf Bde
I.15.

32
39th Tnk Bde
13th MC Reg

35
109th Rifle Div

36
PO.2.

37
139th Rifle Div
143rd Rifle Div
95th NKVD Rifle Brd Reg

39
1th NKVD Inf Div

42
40th Tnk Bde

45
56th Tnk Bde
LAGG.3.
19th NKVD Inf Div

50
302nd Rifle Div

56
207th Tnk Bde
151st Area Defense Bde

62
113th Rifle Bde
155th Rifle Bde
138th Mar Bde
142nd Mar Bde
TB.3
TB.3.

63
9th Rifle Bde
10th Rifle Bde

64
389th Rifle Div

66
417th Rifle Div

68
203rd Rifle Div

69
32nd Grd Rifle Div

71
414th Rifle Div
15th Cav Div
116th Cav Div
I.15.
IL.2.
IL.2.
Su.2.

72
136th Tnk Bde
138th Tnk Bde
139th Tnk Bde
21st Mot Inf Bde
2nd NKVD Brd Reg

73
151st Tnk Bde

74
Li.2.

77
318th Rifle Div
32nd Cav Reg

80
89th Rifle Div
"Maikop" Lt Tnk Bde
Su.2.
Su.2.

81
73rd Area Defense Bde

84
191st Tnk Bde

86
69th Area Defense Bde

87
Grozny School Reg
Krasnodar School Reg

88
41st Mot Rifle Reg

89
66th Army HQ
25th Grd Rifle Div
207th Rifle Div
315th Rifle Div
173rd Tnk Bde
246th Tnk Bde
124th Rifle Bde
152nd Rifle Bde
250th Rifle Bde
54th Area Defense Bde
75th Area Defense Bde
Czech Inf Bat
IL.2.

90
6th Army HQ
172nd Rifle Div
387th Rifle Div
116th Rifle Div
133rd Tnk Bde
173rd Tnk Bde
176th Tnk Bde
182nd Tnk Bde
22 Mot Rifle Bde
115th Tnk Bde
36th Tnk Bde
217th Tnk Bde
33rd Mot Rifle Bde
Art Bde

91
292nd Rifle Div
41st Grd Rifle Div

92
5th Grd Rifle Bde
6th Grd Rifle Bde
7th Grd Rifle Bde
8th Grd Rifle Bde
9th Grd Rifle Bde
10th Grd Rifle Bde

93
"Grozny" NKVD Rifle Div
34th/II Rifle Bde

94
62nd Mar Bde

95
51st/II Rifle Bde

98
57th Rifle Bde
119th Rifle Bde
"Ordonze" NKVD Rifle Div
Nat. Grd Rifle Reg

99
Ind 3 Cav Reg
976th Rifle Reg
1331st Rifle Reg
60th Rifle Bde

100
Yak-1
I.15.

102
164th Rifle Bde

103
58th Army HQ
43rd/II Rifle Bde

107
Tuapse OP Grp HQ
59th Rifle Bde
159th Rifle Bde
40th Mot Rifle Bde
32nd NKVD Bdr Reg
OMSBON NKVD Commando Bat
76th Area Defense Bde
IL.2.

108
Sukhum NKVD Rifle Div

114
165th Rifle Bde

116
7th Rifle Bde
IL.4.


11.3 Axis reinforcements arriving in Kherson

Round

1
Romanian Cav Corps HQ
5th Cav Bde
Aufk. Bat

4
132nd Inf Div

5
Korne Cav Bde

11
18th Inf Div
Dubrovski Cossack Cav Bat
HE 111
BF109e

14
42nd Armycorps HQ
197th AG Bat

16
2nd FJ Reg
Abn Bat

20
JU87b

21
106th RR Bat
43rd Pioneer Bat
29
BF109e

35
HE111

36
Rotta Ski Bat

47
Bf109e
JU87b

49
Entire 22nd Pz Div consisting of
I,II & III of 204th Pz Reg
129th Pz Gd Reg
140th Mot inf Reg
24th MC Bat
140th Pj Bat
Art Reg

50
249th AG Bat

56
28th Jg Div

58
I/223rd Fr Pz Comp

62
HE111

65
1st Werfer Reg
83rd RR Bat
HE111

66
JU87b

67
v. Urach Cossack Cav Bat

70
7th RO Army Corps HQ
57th RO Cav Bat
BF109f

74
JU.88

87
II/223rd Fr Pz Comp

89
616th Flak Bat
403rd Cossack Cav Bat

92
Oil Exploitation Bde (Krasnodar)
2nd RO Mtn Inf Bde
9th RO Cav Div
Bergman Turk FJ Bat
13th Cal Cav Reg
13th Ros Mot Cav Reg
Art Reg
"Platov" Cossack Cav Reg
"Sinegorski" Cossack Cav Reg
801st N. Caucasus Ost Bat

93
Terek Camel Cav Bat

94
92nd Werfer Reg

95
V. Jung Cossack Cav Reg
795th Georgian Ost Bat
805th Azerbaijan Ost Bat
450th Turk Ost Bat
452nd Turk Ost Bat

96
2* JU 52(T)

100
IAR.80.

104
1st Cauc LW Ost Bat
31st Art Reg

109
Lehman Cossack Cav Reg
287th Snd Mot Commando Reg

111
287th AG Comp

113
66th Kalmuck Cav Bat

115
128th PJ Bat

117
580th Cossack Inf Bat



11.4 Axis reinforcements arriving in Mirgorod

Round

1
62nd Inf Div
294th Inf Div
298th Inf Div
102nd HU Sec Div
108th HU Sec Div

2
51st Army Corps HQ
44th Inf Div
79th Inf Div
105th Sec Div

3
369th Inf Reg

8
111th Inf Div
113th Inf Div

10
SM.81.

11
6th Romanian Corps HQ
2nd RO Inf Div
56th RO Cav Bat
Art Grp

19
221st Fr Pz Comp
318th Fr Pz Comp
445th Fr Pz Comp
Walloon Inf Bat
I/3rd RR Bat
II/3rd RR Bat

20
JU-87b

23
MntFort Pz Bat
511th RR Bat

27
617th Wacht Bat

28
10th RO Inf Div
Finnish SS Mot Bat

32
88th Inf Div
102nd Werfer Bat
37
IT Ski Bat M.Cerv
JU87R

38
454th Sec Div

46
3rd Pz Div consisting of
I/6th Pz Reg
II/6th Pz Reg
III/6th Pz Reg
394th Mot Inf Reg
3rd Mot Inf Reg
1 Pz Rec Reg
3rd Krd MC Bat
Art Reg,
and
177th AG Bat

48
8th Corps HQ

52
KG Friedrich

54
4th RO Inf Div
2* HE123

55
20th RO Inf Div
543rd PJ Bat
13th PJ Bat

61
BF109f

62
5th SS PJ Bat
BF109f

63
23rd Pz Div consisting of,
I/201st Pz Reg
II/201st Pz Reg
III/201st Pz Reg
126th PG Reg
129th Mot inf Reg
23rd Krd Mc Bat
128th Art Reg

384th Inf Div
551st Pol Bat
I/5th Flak Bat
I/7th Flak Bat
I/9th Flak Bat
I/12th Flak Bat

JU87D
JU88
4 *Bf.109f
3* Bf.110.
IT MC.200
IT SM.81

66
71st Inf Div
305th Inf Div
608th Flak Bat
619th Flak Bat

68
Bf.109f

69
Bf.109f

70
203rd AG Bat
210th AG Bat
3 * Art Grp

71
40th Pz Corps HQ

72
LAH PJ Bat
12th Lt Pz Bat (Ryschla Div)
336th Inf Div
389th Inf Div
376th Inf Div
I/2nd RR Bat
II/2nd RR Bat
416th Sec Bat
2nd Werfer Reg
3rd Werfer Reg
70th Werfer Reg
12th Slovak RR Bat

From Daosta IT Cav Div
47th Brs MC Bat
67th Lt Arm Bat
13th AG Bat
90th Mortar Bat
3rd Brs Mot Inf Reg
6th Brs Mot Inf Reg
Art Reg

Barbo It Cav Bde
19th RO Inf Div

76
160th Pz Bat
160th PJ Bat
5th SS PJ Bat (Wiking)

77
129th Pz Bat
29th PJ Bat

78
JU-88

80
370th Inf Div
323rd Inf Div

81
371st Inf Div
23rd HU Inf Div
19th HU Inf Div
4th Lithuanian Pol Bat

13th Pz Div, consisting of
I/4th Pz Reg
II/4 Pz Reg
III/Pz Reg
66th PG Reg
93rd Mot inf Reg
13th PJ Bat
13th Krd MC Bat
Art

HE.111.
3*BF109f

82
46th Sec Reg
57th Sec Reg
7th HU Corps HQ
101st PJ Bat
7th Bicycle Bat
7th Pioneer Bat
Art Grp

83
Aufk Bat (GD)
1st Pz Bat (GD)
AG Bat (GD)
Grenadier Mot inf Reg (GD)
Fùsilier Mot Inf Reg (GD)
Art Reg (GD)

84
4th HU Corps HQ
4th Bicycle Bat
4th Pioneer Bat
12th Inf Div
13th Inf Div

85
4th Pz Gruppe HQ

24th Pz Corps HQ
48th Pz Corps HQ
13th Corps HQ

24th Pz Div consisting of
I/24th Pz Reg
II/24th Pz Reg
III/24th Pz Reg
26th PG Reg
21st Mot Inf Reg
4th Krd MC Bat
Art Reg

3rd Mot Div, consisting of
103rd Pz Bat
8th Mot Inf Reg
29th Mot Inf Reg
53rd Krd MC Bat
3rd PJ Bat
Art Reg

243rd AG Bat

87
3rd RO Mtn Inf Bde

90
4th PJ Bat
16th PJ Bat
6th SS Pol Reg
698th Pol Bat

2nd It Corps HQ
Ravenna Inf Div
Sfzsca Inf Div
2nd CCNN AG Bat
15th CCNN AG Bat
30th CCNN AG Bat

2nd RO Corps HQ
430th Penal Bat

JU.88
RE.2000
MC.202
SM.81.

91
2nd IT Mg Bat
102nd IT Mg Bat
IT Art Reg
52nd RU Cav Bat

92
Alpini IT Corps HQ
Cunense Mtn Div
Julia Mtn Div
Tridntina Mtn Div
Art Grp

1st RU Corps HQ
13th Inf Div
51st Cav Bat
Art Grp

93
Cosseria Inf Div
23rd CCNN Mar Inf Bde
94
Vicenca Sec Div
10th Pj Bat
109th MG Bat
156th MG Bat
8th RR Bat
215th, 217th, 218th, 247th, 441st, 450th, & 454th Ter Bat,
2 * Art Grp

96
1st RU Pz Div, consisting of
1st MC Bat
I/1st Lt Pz Reg
II/1st Lt Pz Reg
3th Mot Rifle Reg
4th Mot Rifle Reg
Art Reg

97
5th RU Inf Div

99
380th Sec Bat
Croat BF109g
IAR.81
Rumanian Bf109e

100
4th/VII FJ MG Comp

105
11th RU Inf Div
14th RU Inf Div

106
Savoia Cav Bat

107
3rd CCNN Gen Inf Bde

108
1zbV Mot LW Bat
798th Sec Bat
5th RU Corps HQ
7th Inf Div
55th Cav Bat

114
40th PJ Bat

115
4th RU Corps HQ
54th Cav Bat
Art Grp

[Grymme]

Finally, here is a picture from my other testgame. I am playing the soviet union against Lunaticus Axis. (i dont mind if you look Lunaticus).

It is round 11. Which translates into mid november.

The first rounds where devastating for the soviet player, loosing some 900 infantry the first round. The russian army has something like 5 600 infantry at start. After 11 rounds i have retained my infantry army and increased my airforce, but equipment in the form of tanks and artillery has been depleted.

I retreated behind the Donets with delaying action and waiting for bad weather. I also ordered the evacuation of Stalino and Kharkov quickly. Then Stalin mobilized the workers. During the delaying action i used the mobilized militia to construct a defensive line behind Donets.

Around round 7-8 the Germans broke through the Donets and started a bridghead that can be seen in the northern part of the map.

In Crimea the axis ventured to far and a counterattack from the russian 47th and 51st armies around Kirovskoy killed of most of an german infantry division, an artillery regiment, an AA battalion and a nebelwerfer regiment. I still hold Sevastopol and have advanced from the Kerch area, holding the mountain area in the south.

Right now i am slowly being driven back in the north, trying to fortifie it as the axis advances while waiting for large reinforcements coming online during rounds 20-30. Also i am planning a winter offensive within 8-10 rounds.

[Grymme]

Here is round 16 in the same game. Mid december 1941. The testgame where i am the germans is at round 9 (since we had to start over). What this game would need was a way to vary how long each round represented. Then maybe each summer round could represent 3-4 days and winter rounds could represent something like 10 days.

Playtesting is still continuing. A couple of changes.

- Gave airplanes antiship and antisub values. Since there were no naval units in the original ostfront scenario i had forgotten to give them their capabilities back. Painful and boring work, but important. (thanks Lunaticus)
- Made Marine infantry even a little more expensive and made them producable in "port cities" to incourage production.
- Turned of the freeezing Kerch straits event since it causes exec errors.

Right now i am mostly concerned with balancing. Will i be able to perform a winter offensive and will the germans be able to execute Case Blue?
I am thinking about the impact of weather vs production of new troops etc. Right now it feels that maybe both sides will be able to produce to much during winter. Armies will simply be to big when the mud clears in march.

[RufusTFirefly]

The planned large circle movements of 9th and 57th army are very optimistic in my eyes. You might be in danger of being cut off yourself. Especially as 9th army is in a foreward position with a gap between this army and the 56th army south of it. But it is a challenging plan. It will be interesting to see how it works.
 
Looking at the scenario in general I dont think that there will be a problem of too big armies. It is a wide area and frontlines are spread over long distances. There is no danger of concentrating all units on a few strategic positions while the rest of the map remains unimportant. But it is too early to say whether it is balanced or not. Anyway, a challenging scenario and I cannt wait to get the next turn. [:)]

[Grymme]

ORIGINAL: RufusTFirefly

The planned large circle movements of 9th and 57th army are very optimistic in my eyes. You might be in danger of being cut off yourself. Especially as 9th army is in a foreward position with a gap between this army and the 56th army south of it. But it is a challenging plan. It will be interesting to see how it works.

Looking at the scenario in general I dont think that there will be a problem of too big armies. It is a wide area and frontlines are spread over long distances. There is no danger of concentrating all units on a few strategic positions while the rest of the map remains unimportant. But it is too early to say whether it is balanced or not. Anyway, a challenging scenario and I cannt wait to get the next turn. [:)]

Thanks Rufus. I agree that the operations feel very optimistic. But i am going out on a limb. Maybe much like the original soviet command. Trying to get a feel for the game. We will see what happens, maybe its just a scare to the germans.

I am still working on the scenario. But now its mostly polishing. You and Lunaticus (and anyone else) are very welcome to say what you think of the following changes i have made or plan to make.
- Limited air weather. During each round there is a chance, depending on weather conditions, that air operations will be impossible. The chances are 16% in clear weather, 55% in mud, 40% in winter and 50 % in severe winter.
- German winter equipment card. Me and Luntaticus are well into the winter. But it feels kind of boring for him to not be able to do any major counterattacks for more or less the whole winter. So by paying 1 OP in a round with winter or severe winter weather. you can get a limited amount of winter supply that lasts for one round and reduces the -50/75% offensive modification to -10% for germans and -5% for SS.
- Upping the chance of recieving an OP from 15% to 25%/round. So potentially the germans could continue to attack every fourth round during the winter, but it might be better to save up some supply and do something like a 3 round winter offensive. Very abstract, but i think it might bring some strategic depth.
The question (mainly to Lunaticus). If you had a 25% chance every round of recieving an OP and got 3 OPs every three months. With the cards there are. Would you consider this card interesting to play? I am aiming that every card should have a cost equivalent of something like 10K production. What do you think.

Also some other "minor changes"
- Changed some AA in italian divisions to italian people
- Made the river "Don" a major river
- Added some more names to the map.
- Added the city Elista to the map
- gave germany "winter supply card"
- Changed chance of recieving extra OP point from 15 to 25 %
- Changed name of some SFTs, notably soviet and italian inf gun. Added some descriptions.
- Implemented limited air operations.

Also i am thinking that maybe the soviets get too much supply and its to easy to buy fortifications. I am constructing such huge fields of fortifications. But of course. The map is large.

[Grymme]

A small update for this scenario

- Have removed Soviet R & D itemtypes from the buildable itemtypes (since they werent buildable anyway) (thanks Rufus)
- Have disabled research altoghether since both players get researchupdates anyway at the beginning of 1942 and 1943
- Reduced artillery exhausted effect by 50% (thanks lunaticus)
- Made soviet urals produce 3000 less supply/round.
- Gave the germans a small location 3K production. That can produce aircraft, Antiair, supply and luftwaffe infantry. (thanks lunaticus)
- Redesigned the winter supply system a little. The basic function is that the germans have large offensive penalties in winter -50% and severe winter -75%. This makes for a little bit of a passive winter game for the germans. Since the winter is quite long (25-35 rounds) this might not be so fun. So i introduced the Winter supply card.

Playing this more or less negates the penalty for german/SS troops. It becomes -10%/-5% instead. Before the german player could pay 1 OP to get the effect directly. But since i am not sure it would be used i changed it. Now you can pay 1 OP to get an extra card. But you also you get a winter offensive card for free at the frostbite event and at beginning of 1942 & 1943. Finally the germans has a 9% chance of getting a card for free every normal winter turn. That makes for a guaranteed 2 rounds of german winter offensive and a 9% chance for each winter turn + opportunity to buy new winter offensive cards.

Hopefully this will balance it so that the germans still have to slow down for winter. But they will still have a capability to strike back with a short winter offensive, so the soviets still have to be carefull.
- Updated briefing

Current version 205b

________________

Test games are at round 20 and 13. Will post update on the round 20 game.

[Grymme]

An update to my game against Lunaticus.

The situation at december 31st, 1941 (end of round 19)

The soviet winter offensive hasnt gone as expected. Both the 57th and the 9th army have gotten stuck in front of strong defensive lines. Nevertheless the offensive have caused some considerable axis losses. Some italian units were caught in the offensive together with a german motorized regiment, some AA and antitank battalions etc. On the other hand the tank brigades of the southern pincer has lost almost 90 % of their equipment in a strong axis counterattack. The northern offensive has fared a little better since it has 7 dedicated ski battalions. But is still stopped in its track.

In the Crimea the germans have retreated behind the northern river south of Inshun.

Nevertheless i am pretty positive since i am replacing my losses and building new units.

[erichswafford]

My pathetic .02 - I'm fairly certain OCS uses 5mi/hex scale.