The Wrath of Time

[JLPOWELL]

You may want to play a bit longer before declaring victory but it does sound like you are on a roll (AI gets many more units than Human for USSR from what I see BTW so Battlevonwar is going to have a tough time). Just taking Moscow Leningrad and Stalingrad won't knock out the USSR. You need to go DEEP and Moscow is only half way there...)

The main thing which would balance is to 'fix' the way crazy collapse events (1% effectiveness what were they smoking when they came up with that number?) Certainly it should not last 10 turns. Perhaps if they keep the event it should start 'wearing off' , with the large effect for a turn or two (IMO the full current effect is too to high so this would be something less than current) then a bit less each turn wearing out at turn 5 or 6 of the invasion. Also units aligned against Finland or say more than 25 hexes from the border should not be subject to shock and awe if they haven't even seen a German. In addition units in cities should be not be affected at all after perhaps the first two or three turns. If its not patched this should be pretty easy to mod as its just a few events.

IMO the USSR should just have reduced effectiveness pre conflict then start to get their act together when attacked that's what they had and pretty much what happened.

The Germans also achieved total surprise (they had quite a bit of luck there as the USSR REALLY dropped the intelligence ball missing a MASSIVE buildup (they really didn't completely miss it Stalin didn't believe the evidence). This should not be automatic, lacking surprise they would not have been nearly as effective.

BTW Freeboy I enjoyed our game and look forward to playing again after the patch comes out & keep up the AAR its fun to read.

[FieldOfGlory]

Makes sense. 10 turns is an eternity when you got a bunch of Panzers rushing towards you. Could change things quit a bit for the sovs and give them more of a fighting chance.

I like the idea of the gradual recovery of the soviet units and I agree 1% may be a little to much. The sovs were caught by surprise by the attack but they didn't sleep through it. They did manage to get a few shots off.

[battlevonwar]

In this case it's not really about History. The Opponent has launched an early attack and it's dreadful. With full Strength Russian Units and no Crash and Burn of the Army I would have issues defending against this opponent. With it, you see 50% of your PPs gone and he's at the gates of Moscow/Leningrad/Stalingrad and is now entering Maykop, fully supplied... In less than 4 months(most in Mud and Snow) he has done what only Napoleon Managed to do in the past two centuries(plus Napoleon actually lost some men along the way, so far the Germans have lost less than 70k men)

I will show the Battlefield layout for you a little later.(how the Red Army Stacks up against the Germans) I will fight on. I don't give up but I tell you now....America is at 6-7% war entry, England is not in any position to fight....There is only one way to even the Score here...

When the Germans finally start shooting at Capitol cities it is quite extreme to still have 33% of your actual fighting strength in the game. I would think that a script like this about now would be nice, "Stalin Order's NO RETREAT!" All Russian Units get + on top of their current ability 150% Effectiveness and some decent Suicidal Generals that last about 2-3 turns to fight off the Infidels...

[freeboy]

Several Len and Moscow hex fall... more and more Panzers reach the cities... Myokop falls.. Stallingrad approached in strength

[freeboy]

One thing , when my supplies fall off as in Finn resupply efforts, without a convoy of supplies.. oops.. then the reds actually had the upper hand.. take away the fast rail repair among other things and suddenly things are not so rosy...
I started with a stupidamount of troops.. by May, I think, I counted 15 UPK, 42 arm divisions and of course inf that is only garrisoning as they cannot even come close to doing anythin at the front, they cannot get there they are weaker than panzers etcetc

[Flaviusx]

ORIGINAL: JLPOWELL

The Germans also achieved total surprise (they had quite a bit of luck there as the USSR REALLY dropped the intelligence ball missing a MASSIVE buildup (they really didn't completely miss it Stalin didn't believe the evidence). This should not be automatic, lacking surprise they would not have been nearly as effective.

BTW Freeboy I enjoyed our game and look forward to playing again after the patch comes out & keep up the AAR its fun to read.

Oh the Sovs had plenty of intel. Stalin just disregarded it -- he was sure this was all a provocation. Not an intel failure at all, but rather a leadership failure.

[freeboy]

I think that is what he said , no?
So, perhaps its not just suprise, but a wholesale leadership failure due to purges of what 75% of general staff ??? how about a no purges event?
Seriously.. I cannot imagine taking on a germany in 41 as USSR when they have over fifty armored formations and 15-20 UPK at 17-28 power..
The supplies should weigh heavily, thats what should allow a general sov offensive in winter of 41... so..
add Blizzard weatrher and cripple the Germans with Blizzard fiorst winter rule.. or event for a few weeks...
that is not tooo hard
After Luenn falls and I liberate Finland.. Moscow and Stalingrad.. will the soviets fight to the last man holding Persia and urals?

[freeboy]

June 41, Lenn totally taken, Moscow taken and advanced to next group.. several air exposed to ground forces, at least one over run..
Stalingrad holds on... Pushing passed Myokop towards Grosny
Starting to withdraw air to attack England before the wait of US intervention hits in force...

[battlevonwar]

England is Infertile due to an extremely successful U-Boat Campaign. Air War Starts in the West for Domination for Normandy Air.

In the East, Moscow is Overrun... Russian Tanks unable to operate out of the Finnish Pocket, force Finland to surrender and party down Up in the Icy North.

In the South, Stalingrad and Caucasus are slowly falling. All Russian Forces sound two orders, retreat or die.

[freeboy]

After the losses, with Stallingrad and the rest, I wonder how much you have for pp production, In my agaisnt ai game.. lossing, as USSR, I could not rebuild my armor as it costs so much
turn to you.. power back on in my area!

[battlevonwar]

PP production is no worse or better with or without Moscow/Leningrad/Stalingrad.

Irony of it all.. Those Tank Korps I have are worthless now, I would not have built them. Though on the flip side, they run faster than Infantry and are the only thing I have left...Plus they defend a lot better. All and all they are a better buy than Russian Infantry(UPK Training Targets)

[freeboy]

that is odd, I wonder where your pp prod is coming from

[battlevonwar]

July 1941:

Finland is cut off from Supply. So now we're running through the countryside stealing gas, hunting deer to gain what is needed to fight.

1 Panzer Division is destroyed by the Russian Elite Tank Korp...

In the Caucasus, because the GHC has become a bit tired and lax, we managed to push back some Italian and a German Division, inflicting Heavy Losses with our Tank Korps there. Apparently I was right after all. They are the only equipment the Russian Arsenal has that will kill German Divisons...

Right now scratch 100+ Russian Divisions, Scratch 3-4 German... The Depth of Russia is near cut off.......Finland now, all the Caucasus next...finally the Urals ( We Brace )

[battlevonwar]

July 1941:

The USSR is completely overrun ... Skipping a Sea Lion 1941 : ) Great Game

[FieldOfGlory]

Awsome job guys! Very entertaining and revealing.

[freeboy]

I applaud my oponent .. very well played and making things hard..
We all look forward o evening out the UPK... hope things change so we can continue to enjoy 2 player games ...