Defender of the Revolution: Q-Ball v Tarhunnas

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

The rule is under review. My own view, based on these results and others, is that it needs to go by this point of the game. It makes things a bit too easy in 1942 as the Soviet can contrive to launch many such attacks.

But no promises, that's just my own opinion.

If forts were easier to crack, then that would balance it out. Because it's tough to get 2-1 on level-4 forts. But if those are easier to crack, or there ain't that many, then the rule should go.

I will say the Germans will get slaughtered in the open with a +1 rule as it stands.

No matter what, I think the Germans need help, and the Soviets are too powerful. I shouldn't be able to roll the Wehrmacht up and down the line like this.

[Flaviusx]

The forts can be cracked with ease once you've got the guns. Trust me on this. It's all about piling on the artillery. And I do mean pile.

[Mynok]

I can tell you from experience that Flavius is right. NO forts...NONE whatsoever...will hold against a Russian attack once they get their artillery parks and guards rifle corps.

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


I can tell you from experience that Flavius is right. NO forts...NONE whatsoever...will hold against a Russian attack once they get their artillery parks and guards rifle corps.

As it should be...

[Q-Ball]

12/24/42: Blizzard

Christmas isn't kind to the Wehrmacht; this turn, we inflicted 63,000 Axis losses during our attacks; we lost 85,000 (plus 750 tanks; added to the losses from German phase, and that's 1,100 for the turn!). I still have surplus in the AFV pool though; I might actually run out if I burn up 1000 a turn. I am just short of 40,000 AFV losses.

I made even more successful attacks than last turn; basically almost one for every hex of the front south of Moscow. I am fully exploiting the +1 rule to multiply attacks and bleed the Axis more fully. I am certain it's working.

This game is basically over; I highly doubt we will play into 1944. I am now just playing to see how far we can push the engine, and build a bigger case to help the German side, because no player can withstand this kind of pounding. Tarhunnas is being a good sport and hanging in.

So, I am trying my best and playing like it's close, even though there is no way I could screw it up at this point, IMO.

I should finish the spring at the gates of Kiev, with a strong campaign into the Ukraine in 1943. I am about a year ahead of schedule vs. historical.

Attached you can see the big problem areas for the Germans

[Q-Ball]

UPDATE:

This game has slowed to a crawl, mostly due to Tarhunnas's RL issues, though I've been busy in RL anyway due to a flooded basement, so needed a break.

We are at 12/31/42; last turn was more of the same pounding on the Wehrmacht. At this point, I am not sure there is much to learn from this one, as any result from here on out, it would be difficult to determine how much the 1.04 rules vs. 1.05 played a role. Certainly, 1942 was NOT a German offensive!

The first 38 turns through the Blizzard though are pretty valid, and probably good material. I certainly have learned some things that I will take forward.

We are still chugging, but I am going to suggest to Tarhunnas we put this down when 1.05 comes out, and I will start a new PBEM, probably as Germans, and hopefully vs. Tarhunnas, who is a gracious and skilled opponent. I would like to play someone who writes an AAR, because it seemed like the gallery got alot out of a "dual aar".

Not over yet, but I sense this is closing. Hope everyone enjoyed the AAR, at least through the Blizzard!

[Klydon]

Yep, it was entertaining and a great read by both players.

I would like to see a rematch between you two with the 1.05 version for sure.

[Ketza]

Was a great AAR that I followed daily. The writing however is on the wall.

look forward to the rematch!

[Peltonx]

Yes, both very good AAR's.

Good peeps also.

Pelton

[Peltonx]

Yes this AAR and Pelton vs Hoooper clearly shows how 1v1=2v1 unbalances the game and tweaking things can't fix it.
1v1=2v1 can in an of itself bleed the German army dry during 42 and early 43.

The combat results are about the same in both games

The Russian player takes 80 to 90k a turn in losses, but has 120k replasements per turn. so hes adding 40k a turn.
The German player suffers about 70k a turn and only replaces about 30k a turn lossing 40k per turn. These losses increase as the German army moral drops.

Another thing that 1v1=2v1 effects during the 42 summer is that as the German you can't hope to cut off any units unless you have atleast a strong 2 hex ring around the cut off units, if your playing an equaly skilled player.

[mmarquo]

There were somewhere between 6 - 10,000,000 Axis casualties (KIA + prisoners) on the Eastern Front; assume about 4 years or 208 week of combat; this means an average of 29,000 - 48,000 casualties per week. What were the Axis losses in the AARs which have been played through to the bitter end?

Marquo

[Mehring]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

The rule is under review. My own view, based on these results and others, is that it needs to go by this point of the game. It makes things a bit too easy in 1942 as the Soviet can contrive to launch many such attacks.

As the manual says “Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics.” Unfortunately, this is lip service. The game pays minute detail to the 'boys' stuff like squad and equipment types, yet doesn't even make full use of the good but, in themselves, inadequate logistics mechanisms it does have, like three supply types.

Bite the bullet and sort logistics and you won't have to tinker with much else, it will all fall into place.

[Q-Ball]

1/7/43: Blizzard

This game is winding down, but we're still playing it out until 1.05 comes out. In the meantime, we are pushing things as much as possible.

The Wehrmacht is on the ropes now; the trenches have run out, and when 1943 turned over, the Red Army got stronger. 38 new Rifle Divisions flipped to Guards (probably hit the cap again), and we now have 128 Guards Divisions. That's NUTS!

We also spent some of our AP hoard, creating many Rifle Corps. We have at least 60 now, and 45 of those are Guards Rifle Corps. Scary! All have Sappers.

Here is the map: Attacks everywhere, with the Romanians in particular taking it on the chin.

[Klydon]

60 Rifle corps and 32 tank corps. Heh. Well, not to cross index some food into this, but I think the Axis are going to be Emeriled as in it is going to be "Bam!" and "kick it up a notch" time on the front.

Masterful job of reorganization.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

60 Rifle corps and 32 tank corps. Heh. Well, not to cross index some food into this, but I think the Axis are going to be Emeriled as in it is going to be "Bam!" and "kick it up a notch" time on the front.

Masterful job of reorganization.

Not sure how masterful it is, I just did what the testers said. I think I pretty much know how to build the Red Army though, and I've spent some time on how to accumulate mass, which is what the Reds are all about. I've learned to build big units, and attach lots of SUs to corps. I love Tank Regts, I created so many I had to cut back to save vehicles, but I think all that armor helps.

I just sent another turn, 1/15/43, and the Werhmacht is close to collapse I think. I have asked Tarhunnas how many Rifle Sqds left, and the Germans are just over 2.5 mil now. Ouch!

I just created my 48th Guards Rifle Corps, along with 20-ish Regular Rifle Corps, so we're getting stronger up front. Next step may be to create more Artillery Divisions on top of the 15 or so we already have. Not that it matter much.

This turn, we launched over 110 attacks, with 73 Successful. That is a ridiculous number for 2 months into the offensive. We are starting to have supply problems outrunning rail lines, but still.....we shouldn't be getting these results.

Poor Tarhunnas is a punching bag to prove more the Germans need help. I have also allowed him to read the AAR, so if you see him in here, don't freak out.

[Pipewrench]

Q-ball,

2 Questions:

what would be your estimation in the time needed to reach your victory point objectives with weather considerations factored in. 

edit: lol

and second do we need the German player to stand up and be seen in 1943 [:)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zekiZYSVdeQ

[SoliInvictus202]

ORIGINAL: pipewrench

Q-ball,

2 Questions:

what would be your estimation in the time needed to reach your victory point objectives with weather considerations factored in. 

We need the German player to stand up and be seen in 1943 [:)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zekiZYSVdeQ

I absolutely love that one!

[randallw]

How many rifle divisions are not in rifle corps yet?

[Flaviusx]

Around 250 is my guess. There's enough rifle divisions in the Red Army (assuming no fresh builds in 1942 or permanent losses and all rifle brigades flipped to divisions) to crank out 150+ rifle corps. So Q-ball is just about at the halfway point here.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

Around 250 is my guess. There's enough rifle divisions in the Red Army (assuming no fresh builds in 1942 or permanent losses and all rifle brigades flipped to divisions) to crank out 150+ rifle corps. So Q-ball is just about at the halfway point here

I haven't gotten a turn, so I can't look it up until I do. But I can say that I should have almost the max; I merged maybe 6 Brigades during winter to keep front-line units up to strength, and I lost 2 Divisions in that landing in Ochakov. Other than that, I should have the max.

I have so many divisions, that many have never been active. They came in as "shells", and most have gained strength here and there because I topped out my REFITS, but mostly they sit behind the lines and gain experience. I have pulled a couple up here and there. I had so many understrength divisions I considered disbanding some.

So, I should be able to build 150 Corps if this game goes any further. I think it would be tough to convert ALL divisions to Corps; you need some divisions just to hold the line and maintain contact with the Germans to attrite them. But most can be converted.

You get a few divisions anyway, the Mountain and Paras, but if I play Soviets, I would try to keep the Mountain units out of risk of encirclement, because you can't build any. Planning WAY ahead, you will need them once you hit the Carpathians. Having a "Mountain Army" of 6 divisions or so is useful once you get to that phase.