How feasible is team play?

[Redmarkus5]

I have been wondering how feasible it would be to arrange a team game, say 3 players each side:

- OKH and STAVKA players set strategic objectives, spend AP to assign armies to HQs, create sub-units, and manage the air doctrine and factory moves, as well as the strategic reserves.

- Army Group or Front commanders (one player will need to manage more than one Front) do their best to achieve the objectives given and bid for resources, as well as offering up their suggestions for strategy.

Could add some real life tensions and interesting decision making/politics ??

[Harovan]

Seeing there's a 2vs2 game running, it's probably possible. I bet it's running very slowly, though. I might be interested.

[Redmarkus5]

OK, let's see who else signs up. We could start with a '41 scenario and play a few turns to test the method, then move the the GC if it works...

[Harovan]

good idea

[smokindave34]

I'd be interested in this. I like the idea of dividing up the areas of responsibility - seems very realistic.

[Duality]

I'd be interested if you are looking for another player.

[bairdlander2]

Im interested as well,would like to command AGS

[vonsheaffer]

I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

[bairdlander2]

Why not 4 players each side.Set it up and I will play,I prefer AGS command.

[jomni]

Should be played as regular PBEM outside the servers...

[buchand]

Sounds like a great idea. Some 30 years ago i was involved in a team play, by snail mail, Drang Nach Osten game. Like Guderian you can get frustrated that you aren't given all the reinforcements but probably not as frustrated as the OKH/STAVKA going mad when there strategy colllapses because of "incompetent" commanders[:D]
Would love to get involved.

[jomni]

Hypothetical roleplaying question:
If the leader of your command gets purged (executed) or dies in battle, will you also be out of the game?

[Redmarkus5]

ORIGINAL: jomni

Hypothetical roleplaying question:
If the leader of your command gets purged (executed) or dies in battle, will you also be out of the game?

No - I would suggest that we link the player to a sector, rather than to a specific identity or command. 4 on each side feels right to me, with the roles divided as follows:

Axis

Player 1 = OKH/OKW (commands all AP usage, Air and all reserves until they are assigned to an Army Group. Issues strategic orders. Can 'punish' a commander for not obeying or poor performance by withholding resources. Takes temporary command of any AG whose owning player is unavailable or unresponsive after, say 2 days. Responsible for 'driving' the AAR thread, with inputs [field reports] from each of his commanders).
Player 2 = AGN
Player 3 = AGC
Player 4 = AGS (When AG A and AG B are formed, Player 1 can decide to take over one of them, bring in a 5th player, or let Player 4 run both groups, etc).

Soviets

Player 1 = STAVKA (Commands AP, Air and all STAVKA reserves PLUS Moscow MD and Reserve Front and move of factories. Note; Player 1 moves first and decides how rail move points are to be allocated - he may opt to use them all! Plus the above points as per the OKH/OKW player).
Player 2 = All forces in the Baltic States, Finland and around Leningrad (details to be agreed with STAVKA).
Player 3 = Western MD - all forces from one hex south of Vilnius to the Pripyat R.
Player 4 = Southwest - all forces from the Pripyat R to Odessa.
Player 5 = Optional - may join to take over command of the Caucasus region and/or Crimea when required.

STAVKA will reassign commands as the front expands, to keep the burden shared.

Definitely a PBEM game - interim moves need to be saved and email (NO F12!) and then Player 4 hits F12 when he's done and sends to the STAVKA/OKH player, as appropriate.

A few house rules? Any suggestions?

Also, volunteers for roles? I will make a list here and then start a shared 'Combined Ops' thread in the AAR section to serve as our main reference. No confidential posts in that thread - just discussions involving both sides.

OKW/OKH - BigAnorak
AGN - Redmarkus
AGC - open
AGS - Bairdlander

STAVKA - open (this player needs to create the game and send it to the OKH player, once assigned)
Baltic etc. - open
West - open
Southwest - Smokindave34

Finally, if everyone PMs their email address to me, I will create a master list and get that back out to everyone involved.

RM

[Redmarkus5]

Important note.

The STAVKA and OKH players must also coordinate the boundaries between their subordinates to avoid gaps and clashes. This is a real life challenge and failures in this area have led to major military disasters, as you know

Issuing properly formatted orders (mission, execution, admin & logistics) is critical.

I also have an idea for one more role on each side - Intelligence Officer. His job is to assess the enemy's capabilities and intentions (without going to their AAR thread!) and to post an intelligence assessment each turn, including the body count. Comments?

[karonagames]

Go on then,. As I am not doing any AARs for my other games, I will take on OKH.

Objective - Have Fun!

I will have to change my Avatar I suppose.

[Redmarkus5]

ORIGINAL: BigAnorak

Go on then,. As I am not doing any AARs for my other games, I will take on OKH.

Objective - Have Fun!

I will have to change my Avatar I suppose.

Excellent - I have added you to the list above. Please PM me your email again as I cleaned out my Inbox a while back...

I'll need a new Avatar as well...

[Redmarkus5]

New shared AAR is up at tm.asp?m=2726532&mpage=1&key=&#2726533

Big A will setup the OKH AAR and 'Open' will do the Soviet one.

[Harovan]

Put me down where needed, may take a Soviet command (but not STAVKA please) or perhaps AGC.

EDIT: By the way, will the AG and front leaders have an AP allowance too, or will all leader changes, corps and army OOB changes and reserve handling done by OKH/STAVKA?

[Tarhunnas]

I could take a Soviet command, maybe Baltic.

[ComradeP]

It might be a good idea to continue the discussion in the other thread: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2726532