Ketza (Axis) vrs Timmyab (CCCP) game over

[Ketza]

AGS - Lvow pocket is only marginally reduced but it is constricted. Another small pocket is created from some of his checkerboard. Its looks as if he is going to defend a line in the middle of the Ukraine. This is mostly good news to me but it does promise some hard fighting ahead.

[Ketza]

And the far south. Nothing major going on other then the typical advance.

[Ketza]

Losses for the turn. I will post unit kills next turn.

[Michael T]

The use of brigades and regiments to slow down whole corps with zoc's and lost mp thru ineffectual attacks is a blight on the game. I have been banging on about this for months, it needs to be fixed.

[Ketza]

Turn 3 I had a folder of screenshots but I deleted them by accident. Bummer.

So instead I offer a few words.

AGN - Moved up infantry and opted not to attack with just Panzers across the river. They could use the gas.

AGC - Pretty much the same thing.

AGS - He was setting up a very strong line as I pointed out earlier. Going against my usual agressive posture I decided to wait for the infantry here as well. All 4 Panzer corps had gas in the 20-30 mp area so I wanted to get them all up to 40-50 without HQ buildups. The infantry hugged his line and I threw the ball in his court. If he stayed I was going to crush his line and if he left I would gain ground free of charge.

Since I do not have any screenshots:

This time last year I was in Normandy. Here I am at Juno beach. I am the guy in the green shirt. Sorry its so big..

[Ketza]

Turn 4 AGN start - He only has one division in Pskov so thats where we will cross with an infantry corp from 16th army leading the way. Its not an overly serious defensive line so it should be able to be broken.

[Ketza]

Turn 4 AGC start - Just going to plow forward until the infantry arrives in force.

[Ketza]

Turn 4 AGS start - He decided to fall back and set up a checkerboard. I have had success against checkerboards in other games so its a positive development. I plan on herding some units into a pocket as well as getting as close to Kiev as I can. He moved half the industry and catching any of the Kiev industry at all to me is a bonus. He also moved Odessa but that is all as far as I can tell.

[Ketza]

Finland final - typical Finnish attack trying to pin a few good divisions.

[Ketza]

AGN final - Pskov fell easily and the Panzers exploited but not to far as gas was low. 16th army is now in range for deliberate attacks. 18th army is storming towards the Baltic.

[Ketza]

AGS - Everyone heads East. Zhitomir pocket is formed with 9 divisions herded into an enclave. I skirted around some of his big CV stacks and to my surprise got to Kiev with a 10 CV motorized unit with Flam tanks attached. He had Kiev held with one weak division and the place was overrun rather easily.

Not sure what he will do at this point.

[Ketza]

Zhitomir pocket - Some decent sized divisions in here.

[Ketza]

AGS rest of front - Still some sizable forces in Lvow pocket being reduced by security forces, Rumanians and one Corp from 17th army that has weak morale. Some of the security divisions are over 70 moral now. 2nd army is coming on line.

[Ketza]

AGC 4 final - A few attacks to cut down on forts but mainly a turn of moving up. Like the South turn 3 he is faced with a decision to either stay in place and get crushed or give up some ground free of carnage. Either option is fine with me.

[Ketza]

Turn 4 losses - I want to average 250k a turn for first 8 turns. Counting whats in the pockets this pace is being obtained but this is a stat that is driven by Soviet play.

[Michael T]

Well done in the south, I was getting worried for you.

[CarnageINC]

You've had some good pockets going on there.  I definately think going to a pure checkerboard in the south was a mistake, it appears your cutting him up pretty good on your drive to Kiev [;)].  Has he attacked you any or is going totally defensive?

[Ketza]

I spent a few days at Virginia beach and while there mulled over the 1.05 changes while I lounged on the surf. I decided to ask Timmy if he was interested in playing a game after that patch as I felt we may have a more interesting game after the proposed changes. It was early enough in our game to not give up on too much of a commitment. He agreed and this game will come to an end.

Timmy is an excellent Soviet player and I although I made some large gains against Leningrad this past turn I felt like I was not really getting anywhere this game from a strategic standpoint. Every turn I watched his factories evaporating and his main forces slipping away before I could nail anything down. The pockets I made were not very substantial and I was off of a decent timetable by a considerable amount of time by his excellent management of his forces.

I am hoping the proposed changes make the game more competitive for the Axis. Although it is true in my opinion a very good Axis player can do well against and average or below average Soviet player I do not hold that opinion when 2 evenly matched players meet. To me Soviets have an edge if they follow the proven Soviet formula. In order for the Axis to maintain the momentum needed to reach minimal objectives that will impact the game long term the Axis player has to rely on the Soviet player to make blatant mistakes. The highest level of Soviet play in my opinion always trumps the best an Axis player can do. Of course I could be wrong or still have a lot to learn but that is my opinion for now wrong or right until 1.05 changes hit [8|]

Perhaps I am underestimating my position in this game but I have to give Timmy the nod that he is winning this one long term. To me the 41 and 42 campaigns should be nail biters. I do not see that happening in a game of me vrs him with the current state of the game. He may very well best me even in 1.05 but we will have to see [:)]

Thank you Timmy for being an excellent opponent and I look forward to the next round whenever that may arise.