ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
in TOAW the air component isn´t that important it seems, as the Russians have air superiority in this scen basically since end of 41
But if you like playing the air war, it can provide some fun, although it adds time and planning to the scenario. Example - It's 1943 and you want to conduct an offensive, say a double pincer somewhere that looks good enough to net you a nice bag of Soviet units. I won't go into minutia as it would take paragraphs, but move all German air units to the area. Assign some missions, use some in direct support if you want, leave others unassigned (in reserve for later). As the attack progresses there will be some serious air combat. Eventually some of you air units will be reduced and exhausted. Move those away from the action and then start using your 'reserve' units. This type of local concentration and rotation of units can achieve nice results.
the 122mm ER guns
The artillery for both sides was revised for the version in limbo. Sadly, I lost my notes and can't provide the specifics ... but its better !
Yup, you are right regarding the air war. However of course I tried concentrations etc. Main prob is not enough fighter units and some of em too small range (BF109). I "lost" over 200 aircraft in one of those offensives - mostly bombers. In one event they attacked almost unescorted with only 1 ME110 Geschwader hat the range. 100 losses for me 80 for the Russian or so. He just laughes about this because as I know now he has in 1943 May-June still over 10000 fighters of all types in stock
[:D] However issue is not the plane numbers but unit numbers. I also have ca. 500x111s 800x88s and about 2000xmodern fighters (109 late, FWs)in stock. But no units who would take them [:(] Interestingly even the untis that took devastating losses by these airfield attacks described above were back to 100% in short time. Amazingly also most of their PROF did not drop. It seems somehow most of the experienced pilots made it back to base or most of the "losses" were only damaged and limped back with teir crew to fight another day....[;)]
Checked the arty and decided to split 122normal and 122ER for the Russian - he keeps 40-60% of the ER guns (dont now exact number). A change the D21 team already made was to exchange the 1hex range old WW1 howitzer to the more recent 150mm with 2 hexes (in the game named "guns" but were historically called howitzer).
I tried to cope with the editor to make more changes for a new game, but got frustrated. Working and changing formations seem a nightmare. It is easy however to edit replacements and equipment luckily. I tried also to make some experimental units - like late war jet bombers and an SP arty unit. But noted it is too time consuming and it seems to be just to complicated to work in a already complete scen with this massive unit number. But I was able to just change some stuff to "not reconstitute" so German player needs to take more care also he lost ca. 40-50 units. Mostly smaller ones but also some Divs. Also combined some small stuff to one bigger unit so less workload with moving all the tiny stuff around.
Russians had massive losses in this game, in June 43 they finally ran out of stuff - even squads. Only planes they had in masses like written above. I ended the first game in turn 215 or so with MOSCOW&MURMANSK&MAIKOP taken. Fins were moving towards Archangelsk too. Reached the southern most border of the map with Italians&Hungrians. The Rumanians moved then towards the remaing oilfields around Grozny etc. But I quit the game as it made no sense anymore. However I note this was the older version from the game folder....[:)]
I believe vic level was 2700 or so. But I am confident that the edited and new version of D21 will provide better challenge - in most categories the Germans loose stuff - only in the air I gave them 2 or 3 better units (means FW190s when they arrive) also combined some of allied air. Therefore they lose all the minor planes like PZL or G50 or Do17 etc. From which are only tiny numbers available anyway. Means OOB is not historical anymore.
QUESTION:
Is it allowed to upload this revised version of D21 2.3 for play testing by someone in this forum ?? Or is there a more busy forum for TOAW ? It seems a bit empty here
IDEA:
Maybe you could use some of the changes in the next and probably final version when (if) TOAW patch 3.5 finally arrives.... however we need to designate my changes as experimental and not historical correct. Mainly to provide better play and test some alternative units. Like the SP arty or jet bombers...
