I want to open a discussion about a few things as mentioned above...
History vs. Fun
If a Game would be very historical then there would be nor reason to play a German campaign - cause they just stood no chance to survive or win against SU out of many reasonsn which repeated in history (Starting with Alexander the Great, the Romans, Golden Horde, Turks, Napoloen, WWI (with the exception of a revolution which gave a good peace condition for Germany) WWII no one seriously conquered or defeated Russia in thier own teritory ...so if this is a totally historical or relistic Game - why including a German campaign - for loosing it??? - no fun for sure! (They were outnumbered in manpower, material, morale worked very differently (losses counted - SU did not mind) plus General Winter...
Gameplay / Core Units vs. Realism and History
The main fund for playing turn based Games is the core Unit effect - having Units that survive through all the campaign (and as many as possible surviving
gaining XP and Medals and Heroes.In fact losses were extremly high on both sides ... hardly any Unit survived (if it comes to the same soldiers in it) from start to end - but then the fun of Core Units is gone forever...
Commercial success vs. Realism and History
Again - I am a hardcore player but even for me the above factors are very important - and the artillery, air strikes and mines are destroying the fun for me quite bit as the game is right now...and I beleive will do it for most players - with a few adjustments to it I believe it is the most fun game since Steel Panthers
A Game needs commercial success to have a future - so here come my suggestions - as argued above based on Fun and Commercial Success
1. Artillery strikes can be as often as before but mostly in the effect of surpressing and not killing - tanks should be even when hit directly very seldomly be killed and infantry have moderate losses if hit directly - mostly the effect should be supressing and pinned/stunned
2. The same for air strikes as mentioned above
Example: Right now in my 127 Battles campaign half of my force got wiped out first secenario (especially tanks) by one Katyusha strike and one Air strike - now the in Game Balance of units I like a lot (did not loose one unit and had wiped out about 30% of the Russian forces before the artillery and air strike mess) - but I have to concentrate my force /firepower to win a secnario and some battles just take longer as rushes would destroy my army quickly - so I make up an ideal target for artillery strikes and air strikes - so they just have to be put down enormuosly by killing rates...
3. Mines - just make them detectable by slow moving tanks and infantry and removeable by infantry...so I keep my Cores alive...as in Steel Panthers
Additional suggestions for fun:
More XP Levels like in PC 5 levels to keep up a long term motivation and more Medals and Heroes as well as in PC
Naming Units individually by player - or missed I this possibilty?
Higher chance of destroyed or hurt units to recover after the battle - to keep my Core alive
I really love this game and will start promoting it in the many strategy forums as soon as some minor changes as above mentioned are done - I believe it is the better more potential and modern Steel Panther
I tried to register in the members area but did not receive an Email - please check my name is the same as now
With a good patch this game is ment to be very successful in my opinion...hopefully for many years and become a great series