Smokindave vs. Sapper222 (No Sapper)

[smokindave34]

ORIGINAL: Pelton

I do not see any GS in the battles.

You need to leave GS on that will help.

The major issue is you started out badly and your screwed.

TDV was also a master at winning 10-20 battles a turn, despite taking massive losses 4 million plus both games.

Sapper done at being a master of GHC because his fuel exploits have been nerfed, but he is still a master at exploiting attacks as SHC during 1941.

There are a few SHC that have this figured out and now with the morale design flaw they will have a field day attacking in 1941.

I noticed that also. I have ground support set at 120. Maybe I should stop using the Luftwaffe to fuel up my panzers. I'm close enough to the rail lines now that I shouldn't need it anyway.

[smokindave34]

I think I figured out why I'm not gettting any ground support while on defense. Sapper has been bombing my airfields and I didn't pick up on it unitl now. One airbase was bombed 14 times last turn. I suspect all my fighters are getting used to defend these attacks and are not available for ground support.

[smokindave34]

AGN - Turn 12

I was frustrated again by Sapper when I opened his latest turn. He won 20+ battles during his turn and opened one of the pockets. With all these wins I fully expect to be fighting off Guards units during the blizzard. During the last 4-5 turns I have not been leaving any units alone in clear territory as they are magnets for Soviet attacks - even with that tactic stacks of two German units in clear terrain seem to be a decent target for Sapper.

I corps was succesfull in a few attacks and have crossed the Luga. Not much to brag about but I'll take it. If Sapper keeps this area lightly defended I may try to sneak some panzers up there to take a last shot at Leningrad. I'll have to be sneaky though - if he see's them this area will be crawling with Soviet units.

[smokindave34]

Turn 12 AGC

LVI corps forms a pocket of 6 infantry divisions at VL. I expected Sapper to pull out of this area but he stays true to form and doesn't give up an inch. Totenkopf is reinforced with another Stug battalion to try and hold off the inevitable assault. I'm hoping Sapper goes after the panzer division I left stuck out too far east - if he attacks there first it will retreat with Totenkopf and add to the defensive CV. Based on previous results I don't expect to hold out here....

I clean up the Vitebsk pocket (with the exception of 1 tank division) and prepare to move east again.

[smokindave34]

Turn 12 AGC

Sapper really busted open this pocket during his turn but I believe I have it sealed up pretty tight now. Two panzer corps HQ are put in a position to perform a HQBU next turn. The plan is to rest/refit next turn and then move east with 4th armies help.

[smokindave34]

Turn 12 AGS

6th and 11th armies push forward across their respective rivers again - this time with three infantry divisions across. We'll see if 3 divisions can hold the line this time.

[smokindave34]

Turn 12 - Crimea

This pocket holds and the Rumanians clean up all the Cavalry division trapped. I rest the panzers while XXX corps moves across the Dnepr to support 1st panzer group.

[Michael T]

I feel for you Dave. I have said it enough. Others probably disagree but the stock game is totally pro Soviet. For any kind of chance for winning you need some balancing HR or morale adjustments. Playing the stock game against good Soviet players is just asking for a belting. I don't think 2by3 will do anything really so it will be up to the players to sort it out pre game.

[smokindave34]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

I feel for you Dave. I have said it enough. Others probably disagree but the stock game is totally pro Soviet. For any kind of chance for winning you need some balancing HR or morale adjustments. Playing the stock game against good Soviet players is just asking for a belting. I don't think 2by3 will do anything really so it will be up to the players to sort it out pre game.

I enjoy a challenge - thats why I switched over to playing Axis, but this is getting out of hand. I've certainly made some mistakes in this game but nothing I would consider as major game changers. I'm going to stick it out through the blizzard and see what happens. Soon there may not be many axis players left [:(]. The best possible outcome for most axis players now is a draw.

[timmyab]

I must say that I admire your grit and determination, it's a great quality to have.I think I might have thrown all my toys out of the pram a while ago and be on to the sulking stage by now.
The problem is that we know what's coming.If the game from the first mud turn onwards was better balanced then these difficulties wouldn't matter so much, in fact it would be historically quite accurate.The trouble is that unless the Axis player does better that historical in 41, he's toast.Even then he's still probably toast.

ORIGINAL: Michael T
Others probably disagree

If they've never played an Axis campaign against a good Soviet player then their opinions count for nothing with me.And that would be most of them I think.

[Michael T]

Problem is other ill informed or just plain biased people are disagreeing on the post I started about Soviet morale and are just muddying the waters. So 2by3 will get a warped sense of the problem and won't react.
But I agree, Dave is showing some true grit. Good luck, you are going to need it.

Another thing that annoys me is the SD CG only helps one side without a summer 41 check. It favours the Reds by not preventing them running in 41 but stops the Germans running. But the way the game is going these days I see no reason for the Reds to run anymore anyhows.

[Flaviusx]

MT, if you do a SD check in summer of 41 the Soviet will lose every time solely on account of the Lvov opening and the south generally. Kiev never holds until September. Not even in this game.

There are lots of problem with 1941. But you and others insist on seeing only this one, because it is new, and have taken the old problems to be a state of normality. It isn't.

[Michael T]

The SD I will use in 1941 for the Reds will be a end T10 check (mid August). Being 200 VP, an example line of the required territory is the line:

Novogorod, Rzhev, Vyzama, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Kharkov, Z-Town

It takes in to account the Lvov opening. And here are my HR set at this point assuming no change from the 2by3 guys.

With morale adjustment I will be dropping my Reserve Limits.



-----------------------------------

Alt 41CG Sudden Death Scenario
Server game
Locked HQ Support Axis/ Unlocked Soviet
Full FOW
Non Random Weather

House Rules

No Para drops to break pockets at anytime in the game. No Para missions at all by the Soviets until the first
Blizzard.

No bombing of air bases more than 3 times a turn (after turn 1).

No bombing of HQ's unless stacked with a ground unit

No extra German units can be moved in to Rumania until they activate.

Morale adjustments:

German +5
Soviet -3


Additional Auto VC (in place to prevent ludicrous runaways) If the Axis player has 200 VP
at the beginning of the Axis T11, he wins a Sudden Death Victory.

Example Line: Novogorod, Rzhev, Vyzama, Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Kharkov, Z-Town.

----------------------------------------------------------

[Michael T]

I might add that in my game with Kamil by turn 10 I had Tula, was at the gates of Rostov and had Tambov. All of which were gained simply because they were given up. As much fun as the game with Kamil is I prefer games with less running. Hence the August check in future. I might also add I will be looking to play as Russian with the above rules as well. I like a challenge, not a one-sided cake walk.

I agree Flavius the game has problems. But I still believe a contest is attainable with some HR and morale adjustments.

[Flaviusx]

Bah. I want to fix Lvov, and then set the VPs around that, this is just a bandaid measure that assumes Lvov to have happened. Make it possible for the Soviet to hold Kiev until late...and make him pay if he doesn't. Basically get the south to behave as it should but never does.

That said I admit that it's vanishingly unlikely that Lvov will get a true fix until WITE2. So you are probably stuck with bandaids until then.

[Michael T]

There is only so much we have the power to do as players. I agree WITE 2.0 is the real hope but till then WITE is still the best around on the subject. So I persist. Better than just moaning for 2 or 3 years. I want to play.

[smokindave34]

Turn 15:

I continue to try and make the best of a bad situation. I have tried to pocket a handful of units each turn to try and minimize the beating I'm going to take during the blizzard. On average I've probably pocketed 4-5 units per turn. Here are the numbers at turn 15:

These numbers are comparable to my last game versus "The Pro's" however I'm a LOT further west than I was in that game. One advantage I have in this game is that I've captured about 300K more Soviets so that should help a little (I'm trying to be optimistic!).

I've also focused on getting my morale up prior to the blizzrad and I have all but 3 of my armor/motorized units at "elite" level and the remaining three units are at 85 morale so I'll get them across the threshold before the blizzard. Sapper has been helping me in that regard by parking tank brigades next to all of my motorized units and they have given me some easy wins.

Although my morale is in pretty good shape and my army is strong this summer offensive has been pathetic. I probably won't even capture Smolensk - very dissapointing. I'll be starting the blizzard at about the same spot I normally end the blizzard. The new morale rule has certainly helped Sapper thus far and I'm hoping that I can take advantage of it to restore my infantry morale after the blizzard. If I can prevent Sapper from capturing many of my units I'll be able to shuffle units in and out of the line and get my morale/CV restored.

My Luftwaffe numbers are very low and Sapper has been bombing my airfields 10+ time per turn (each airbase). This turn I've asked him for a house rule to limit that to 3 per turn. Seems like overkill and I should have asked for this house rule from the start. Hopefully he will agree.

[smokindave34]

Turn 15 Losses

[smokindave34]

Turn 15 AGN

I'm using XXXX panzer corps to push Sapper back to gain some breathing room north of Lake Peipus. I want to be able to hold that choke point as long as I can during the blizzard. If he breaks through there I may be in trouble.

[smokindave34]

Turn 15 AGC

A few attacks here but nothing substantial. I'm averaging a winning percentage of about 90% over the last 3 turns to gain morale.