"Senno", Oleg posted in his AAR that you plan to resign?!?! [&:]
IMHO that would not be good idea - the process of learning is the process of making mistakes and trying to fix them by continuing to play!
Thus I strongly encourage you to continue (even though you think you might be in big trouble in blizzard and suffer greatly) because this is the best way you learn new things!!!
Leo "Apollo11"
+1
Even if you plan on playing the Russians in the future (based on a post you made some time back about thinking you may be better suited for the Russians), it is important to learn and get a feel for what your opponent can and can't do and first hand experience is big.
I think a lot of us are surprised you are thinking of resigning.
feel no shame if you have to hit the reset button, but if I could peek your interest would you be open to calling a cease-fire during the blizzard with oleg to get an idea on attrition losses with your final dispositions and also see if you can launch a couple of offensives in 42?
if it is a waste of time in your opinion , I digress.
“We are limited only by our imagination and our will to act.”
– Ron Garan
OKH does not accept your resignation. The Führer will not be pleased, as well as your helpful Generals and those who remained silent and enjoyed your AAR.
Please rethink your resignation.
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
Nice AAR and lots of good discussion topics being raised! I am reading it for the first time now.... I think it's fair for me to read it now as there's been a week since Senno's surrender/resignation letter, and he's not replying to any of the arm twisting to continue the game, which is a pity.
In fact, in his last e-mail he said: "You can have the last word in the AAR's, if you desire."
Like others, I think he made interesting comeback after a sub-optimal start and, if nothing, it was a great learning AAR with lots of good questions being asked and answered, probably one of the better threads for starting German players to read. Pity he didn't continue.
Anyhow, I am starting a new game in place of this (I have "mental slots" for 3-4 games, no more than that). Senno, if you're reading this, and happen to reconsider and continue the game after all, or let someone take over, let me know. It will then be somewhat of a mental overkill (fifth game), but I'll do my best.
The game started in place of this could be interesting - Big Anorak the beta tester is Axis, I am Soviet, we are playing something new - 43 GC, random weather etc.
I would have at least continued until Leningrad fell, for practice and satisfaction. He was across the Neva (I think you made a mistake there Oleg with your lack of heavy forts), which meant Ostinovets, and by extension Leningrad, was doomed. No matter what happens elsewhere, taking Leningrad ensures at least an OK Summer campaign, though it's not at all a fatal blow for the Reds. Far from it actually.
He was bogged-down in the south big-time, can't tell but probably because he failed to bag much of Southwest Front on Turn 1-2.
But other than the Ukraine, he was doing at least OK.
After reading about the collapse of BA's and Oleg's game, I decided to contact Oleg to see if he wanted to resurrect this game. He has agreed, so we will continue playing.
Had I read the PM from BA, I would have consented for him to take over the game.
Oleg has said that he's out of town on business for the next 4 days or so, so I don't know when I will get a turn back.
I'm not sure if I have proven German supermen with my own play.
But Oleg will have the chance to prove his Soviets are supermen now, at least. So the Superman in this is Oleg....
I only read the last page of his AAR, and don't know his dispositions. I think he read my AAR, but most of my dispositions are obvious, anyway. I have less than a Corps of Panzers that might still be hidden. I've rotated to keep them partially hidden, and to have a reaction force available should he decide to counter-attack.
It's to close to mud now, so everything will be committed. I believe I am close to hooking up with the Finns, Northern Leningrad will be taken next turn. I will have the Finns in place for blizzard defense in the north...
AGC = Going for Moscow, 2nd Panzer had one Corps do a build-up, but he's put masses in my way, I'm going to see how close I can get before mud, then decide if I want a pre-blizzard offensive in the Moscow area. Should I do as Hitler did and commit to a full offensive, or retreat back out and redistribute for winter?
I'm building forts around Leningrad, but he might get a roll for a Finnish surrender. got to re-read the rules on that, as well. I've got to be really careful with how I defend in AGN, for sure...
AGS = screwed. I'm just going to set up for winter defense now. Can't really dislodge him in the limited time available. I think he's going to head for Odessa, and try to get a Romanian surrender.
I have some defenses build along the upper Dnepr, but need to get some built in AGS.
Assuming I have an army left after his winter offensive, '42 will probably start with an assault on Moscow, with AGS second priority. AGN will be last priority going forward.
I fear Oleg's upcoming winter offensive. But he should get the chance to smack my army around...
Not that I'm going to sit still and let him do it. I'm envisioning a fighting withdrawal along all fronts. He's going to have to spend some mp's to catch up to me. Not many, I'm just going to play defense like he has done.
Will he be using Big Anorak's blizzard rule? If the answer is "no" you might try to convince him [;)]
Nah. He gets the chance to prove his "Soviet supermen" theory.
Gonna have a mobile defense though. He's gonna have to catch up to me every turn, some units may have enough for a deliberate attack, but not most units, for sure. That should limit how many successful attacks he has per turn.
I also need to try to limit how many hex-sides he can attack from...
South of Lake Ilmen, Second Army has moved to contact, converting hexes to our control. This provides a bit more buffer for us during the Soviets offensive.
He will probably be able to conduct a general offensive along the entire front. I expect Leningrad to be the main goal in AGN, but he might be hoping to force a Finnish surrender by capturing Vyborg, Narva and Pskov. Reading how many guns he lined up onto BA in their '43 campaign is intimidating, lol. Not really sure how many he can put together for an offensive at this point of the game. It's gonna hurt, though. I know that for sure.
Attachments
Turn16So..keIlmen.jpg (180.11 KiB) Viewed 413 times
Senno, I don't think forcing the Finns to surrender is a realistic goal, so you should be safe. I mean, I can't see how he would take Vyborg during the blizzard.
Oh, a favour please: could you toggle the controlled hexes on? We could easily see what's going on: thin corridors, salients, etc. [:)]
"Hitler is a horrible sexual degenerate, a dangerous fool" - Mussolini, circa 1934
Senno, I don't think forcing the Finns to surrender is a realistic goal, so you should be safe. I mean, I can't see how he would take Vyborg during the blizzard.
Oh, a favour please: could you toggle the controlled hexes on? We could easily see what's going on: thin corridors, salients, etc. [:)]
I hope he can't take Vyborg.
Oops knew I forgot the toggle, sorry. Will remember it in future.
Third Panzer and elements of Fourth Panzer tighen up the Mezha River Pocket. Not a ton of units in there, but it's decent compared to the pockets I've been able to form. Reducing it will also take some pressure off the rail line that's closing in on Vzyama now.
This screenie was taken before all movement was completed.
Moscow seems a bridge too far at this point. I'm really behind on getting a defense set up....
Elements of Second and Third Panzer for a smaller pocket south-east of Rzhev. We have cut the distance to Moscow in half again, but am running out of time before the mud hits. The Panzers remain in good to excellent shape, so a winter offensive is possible, before the blizzard hits...
Elements of 9th Army have also moved into position south-east of Rzhev to hold the supply lines open.
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turn16AG..dPanzer.jpg (189.25 KiB) Viewed 413 times
