Barbarossa

[dhucul2011]

No matter how many times I restart my invasion of the USSR with different combinations of units and strategies I can never seem to recreate the gains anywhere near what happened historically.

On the first impulse (with an O-chit) I can take the first objectives of Brest Litovsk, Lvov, Kaunus and Minsk etc but after that all the USSR has to do is put single units as roadblocks and inevitably a few bad rolls and I am stuck at Riga and Smolensk when the rain comes.

I am nowhere near reaching beyond by end of 1941.

Am I completely useless (very possible) or is this common in MWIF?

I have read something about No Surprise ZOCs and maybe that rule was introduced to try and fix this?

[Courtenay]

Are the Russians defending forward or back? I can't make general statements without knowing what the Russians are doing. However, I would almost never use an O-chit early, particularly if I only had one. You will need one to crack the Dnieper. Don't make many attacks early in the turn; those you make should be high odds ones. Instead, try to advance by infiltration and outflanking. I would, against almost any Russian set up I can imagine, not take Minsk the first impulse, and I might not take L'vov. Go slower, go around places, and attack hero cities from many hexes. In one very successful game, I never took Brest-Litovsk, leaving the two units in it isolated in the rear.

I have had Russia blown off the map in the initial campaign (or at least driven back past Moscow; it felt like I had been blown off the map); I have failed to get anywhere as the Germans. So no, the Russians do not always stop the Germans.

[bo]

Courtenay is right on with his assessment of the German invasion of Russia. The picture below is after the first German impulse of the May/June Barbarossa start. I am playing Barbarossa fast start that comes with the game which IMHO is not a good Russian setup.

Already the Russians are in deep trouble and it will only get worse in the 3rd impulse of the scenario which will be another land attack by the Germans. No "O" chit. I used zoom 3 to get in a broader picture of the combat.

German Panzers just below the Pripet marshes will be attacking Kiev in the 5th impulse [German impulse] there is nothing to stop them. the only hope the Russians have is to make a strong stand behind the Dnieper river line.

German army command North can either sweep through what remains of Lithuania and continue on into Latvia or Estonia with ultimate goal Leningrad, or concentrate on reducing Russians forces in and around Vilna and Minsk, or they could race on to the Dvina river line before Russian forces get there.

German command south is not in great shape [not shown] I can sweep in behind the Russian defenders there later on with some Panzer units from German Command Central if I choose to do so. "ach" so much to do before the May/June 1941 turn ends [:(]

Come on dhucul get with it [:D] just kidding, not easy the tactics in this brilliant game. actually I just saw this post, I have not played Barbarossa for at least a year or more as I have been testing Fascist Tide and Guadalcanal for the last 2 years. It was fun to play the first impulse today.

Bo

[bo]

This is the destroyed pool after the first German impulse, the two Russian ships caught hell from a German port attack in the opening move of the game, did not always do that well with port attacks in the past.

Eight Russian ground units were destroyed in the first impulse, not very powerful or elite Russian units destroyed but I take what I can get. But the most important statistic is that there was no damage to any German Panzer or infantry unit [meaning no disorganization for any German unit]

Bo

[paulderynck]

I had not played the Barb scenario before playtesting it, I always played Global War. From what I've seen, the Russians are stronger and the Germans weaker then any Global War campaign I've seen.

[bo]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

I had not played the Barb scenario before playtesting it, I always played Global War. From what I've seen, the Russians are stronger and the Germans weaker then any Global War campaign I've seen.

Paul when you test net play is it always a new game or can you use the fast start game?

Bo

[paulderynck]

I took one look at the fast start and decided I'd rather not play with that one (either side).

[bo]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

I took one look at the fast start and decided I'd rather not play with that one (either side).

Ok but can you if you wanted to, play fast start.

Bo

[paulderynck]

Yes.

[Courtenay]

My opinion is that the Russian set up in the Fast Start Campaign is awful. That is why I posted a revised version of the setup in this thread:
tm.asp?m=3504213&mpage=1&key=&#3504213

My setup undoubtedly can be improved, but it is better than the one provided in the game. For one thing, the one provided in the game allows a first impulse overrun if the German ground strikes work, which the Russian player should never allow.

[AxelNL]

In my current email barb game with Mayhemiser I am the Ruski, and he is kicking my ass on the north front!

[Centuur]

That's the way to do it. Choose with Germany on which part of the front you are going to attack. North or South. Not both.

If you do so, there comes a point in the game where the Soviets have withdrawn so many unit on the not so quite active part of the front, that the total front line collapses.

However, if Germany runs into a lot of bad weather, they can't win this game. Weather is everything in Barbarossa...

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

My opinion is that the Russian set up in the Fast Start Campaign is awful. That is why I posted a revised version of the setup in this thread:
tm.asp?m=3504213&mpage=1&key=�

My setup undoubtedly can be improved, but it is better than the one provided in the game. For one thing, the one provided in the game allows a first impulse overrun if the German ground strikes work, which the Russian player should never allow.

I agree it is not a good Russian setup, when I did a new game the Russian defense was better but still porous.

Bo

[Joseignacio]

Then make your own BOrbarossa setup. [:)][:)][:)]

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

That's the way to do it. Choose with Germany on which part of the front you are going to attack. North or South. Not both.

If you do so, there comes a point in the game where the Soviets have withdrawn so many unit on the not so quite active part of the front, that the total front line collapses.

However, if Germany runs into a lot of bad weather, they can't win this game. Weather is everything in Barbarossa...

Good plan centuur, I attacked everywhere and of course one front has to suffer a little and that was the southern front and it really never got much better while the Germans were steamrolling in the North.

Bo

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

Then make your own BOrbarossa setup. [:)][:)][:)]

Very clever Jose, [:(] I did that a long time ago but truthfully I dislike the Barbarossa scenario, same old same old, plowing through Russia whether it be MWIF, Strategic command, or War in the East, BORING!

Bo

[Centuur]

Well... I think Barbarossa is quite nice for a quick game. It can be fun.

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Well... I think Barbarossa is quite nice for a quick game. It can be fun.

You better be nice to me you left your green light on Skype all night and I was tempted to call you at 4 am Netherlands time [:D]

Bo

[Joseignacio]

ORIGINAL: bo

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

Then make your own BOrbarossa setup. [:)][:)][:)]

Very clever Jose, [:(] I did that a long time ago but truthfully I dislike the Barbarossa scenario, same old same old, plowing through Russia whether it be MWIF, Strategic command, or War in the East, BORING!

Bo

T'was only a joke, dear Bo. And it can indeed be boring.

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

ORIGINAL: bo

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

Then make your own BOrbarossa setup. [:)][:)][:)]

Very clever Jose, [:(] I did that a long time ago but truthfully I dislike the Barbarossa scenario, same old same old, plowing through Russia whether it be MWIF, Strategic command, or War in the East, BORING!

Bo

T'was only a joke, dear Bo. And it can indeed be boring.

I knew that Jose, No I actually thought it was very clever of you to do a Bo arossa, appreciate it. [;)] I really do get tired of the invasion of Russia I should not have used the word boring I just could not think of another word to fit Barbarossa at the moment [:(] But like centuur said, a quick fun scenario, thank god only 5 turns. [:D]

Bo