The "new" winter effects

[Aolain327]

Although new with WitE, here are my observations about the "new" winter effects on the Germans in 1941\42.

1) Does the winter stop the German offensive? Yes.

2) Can the Soviets engage in an offensive during the winter? Yes.

3) Does the Wehrmacht dissolve? No.

4) Can, when the weather is right, the Germans engage inlimited counter-attacks? Yes.

5) Is the winter punishing, but not destroying, for the German? Yes.

Ultimately, for me, the new winter effects "feel" right.

So for me, I think the "new" effects simulate the situation in 41/42.

[pompack]

ORIGINAL: Aolain327

Although new with WitE, here are my observations about the "new" winter effects on the Germans in 1941\42.

1) Does the winter stop the German offensive? Yes.

2) Can the Soviets engage in an offensive during the winter? Yes.

3) Does the Wehrmacht dissolve? No.

4) Can, when the weather is right, the Germans engage inlimited counter-attacks? Yes.

5) Is the winter punishing, but not destroying, for the German? Yes.

Ultimately, for me, the new winter effects "feel" right.

So for me, I think the "new" effects simulate the situation in 41/42.

Agree.

Also, if the Germans have over-extended and allow the Russians to start pushing them back early the Winter can still get as ugly as it ever was (constant movement, no rest or refit, no forts). I think that the new rules pretty much "feel" historical (instead of hysterical [:D])

[Speedysteve]

Good stuff. What are other people finding with Blizzard under this version?

[Zoetermeer]

As a mostly Soviet PBEM player, I'm on board with the new winter rules. By January, my offensive is running out of steam and German strength is increasing. Should make 1942 much better.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Zoetermeer

As a mostly Soviet PBEM player, I'm on board with the new winter rules. By January, my offensive is running out of steam and German strength is increasing. Should make 1942 much better.

It's the other way around on my game LOL [:)] My forces are MUCH more dangerous now, february 1942 (and middle, late january). Already 7 german divisions annihilated. Possibly 4 more will be bagged as well. And that's a minimum...

[Speedysteve]

Tullius are you saying you've found the Axis are affected more in January and then more again on February? Or just that your offensive hasn't really stalled and you're breaking the Axis down more and more?

[Mynok]

How many turns of winter did you play before 1.04 though, TD?

[TulliusDetritus]

We stopped the game until 1.04 was ready. We started the blizzard massacres with 1.04.x minimum [:)]

Speedy, humm, all I know is what 2ndACR says on the emails. Apparently he's been totally dislodged from his fortified places (from Orel to the 3 cities in the south: Gorlovka, Stalino) In this area he can't do anything to stop me now (he had concentrated his forces in the north, center and around Stalino itself). In other words, I am hitting him very hard in this concrete place (11 divisions might be the big prize).

[Q-Ball]

I think they feel right. The only problem is that I was forced out of most of my forts in December, so by Jan/Feb although the Wehrmacht isn't in too bad of shape, there are no trenches. Caught in the open, it's still pretty easy to roll the Germans, and I'm losing lots of battles as a result

This is what Tullius I think is experiencing in his game. You should be able to get the Germans out of forts in December, which means you should still be able to roll them in Jan/Feb, because there is no way to dig-in effectively

I think the attrition is right, and I think the CV changes are good as well

[TulliusDetritus]

Yes, this is what I am experiencing, Q-Ball. I would add something though. Unlike during my summer defensive campaign, I haven't concentrated my forces for this Blizzard Offensive. Au contraire, I spreaded my forces: all the armies were 20:24 or so. This was my first blizzard. I was thinking about merely pushing my opponent: a small and slow steamroller.

The key (for the Germans)? IF you manage to have 2-units stacks (German infantry) and decent for levels (= or > 2) your position IS relatively strong. 2ndACR could NOT do that in the area I mentioned: from Orel to the 3 cities in the south. The result? He was constantly forced to retreat, he finally ran out of fortified hexes and then the destruction of the German divisions started (because it was possible). In the north and center, he had done his homework though. When he was dislodged he still had some fortified hexes. The 2-units stack thing IS important, in my opinion. They proved to be unvulnerable most of the time.

[neuromancer]

Ah, so it wasn't so much that the mechanics were unreasonable as his position was far from optimal.  That is as it should be then.
 
My thoughts -
 
I'm playing my first winter at 1.03 vs. Soviet AI, I think I'm over extended, and expect to get hammered.  I decided to see what I could learn about winter fighting in 1.03 (mostly about positioning and such) before starting a new game under 1.04.