ORIGINAL: Pelton
The rail lines are not being hit very hard by WA's.
I always keep a reserve of 3-6 panzer divisions on trains, yes sitting on trains.
This way they can rail about any place on the map as long as they are in center France slightly to the south.
I also have a net work of depots so supplys are not an issue defending as long as I manage my trucks.
Historically WA's pounded Frances road and rail net work for 4+ months ( zero bombs on Germany), why players think they can bomb Romania, Germany, Italy and France thinking they can slow the Germanys response to invasions is Middle Earth.
The air engine is just about perfectly historically, so players have to simply do what was done historically.
Stop bombing everything and focus on the invasion.
In your attempt to defend the air and logistical systems of WITW, you inadvertently show their weaknesses.
First, I posit that if the Wehrmacht had 3 to 6 Panzer divisions loaded on trains somewhere in France on June 6th, there would not have been enough rolling stock to keep everything in supply. Furthermore, these would have been easy targets as they began to move. And, have you ever been involved in loading and unloading heavy equipment (tanks, assault guns, half tracks) off of rail cars? It takes more than a day to unload a division, even if one has a large unloading facility to do so. Those were bombed out of existence in the war. Can't do that in the game. No, in the game one can rail right up to the front and Bam! unload, even if there is no rail head and it's just in the middle of nowhere, and attack several times at full strength. Uh, huh. Sure, interdiction MAY have an impact, but I would argue that a few trains unloading several divisions that close would receive quite a bit of attention, if it were possible. No provision for that in the game, either.
Second, please tell me which 4 months the 8th Air Force did not bomb Germany. I have included a listing of their
missions for your convenience. Sure, the emphasis was on supporting the invasion preparation, but strategic bombing never did cease. Oh, and please tell me how I can have he 15th Air Force help with an invasion in Northern France. Should I move all the planes to France to help? Did the WA have to do that in real life, or did they continue the strategic campaign?
Third, please tell me which bombing option breaks rail lines altogether. Interdiction/railway bombing only lasts the current turn, and bombing marshaling yards in cities is almost useless since they can be easily circumvented by taking alternate rail lines. If the WA could bomb a rail line and have it broken for a few turns, then I'd agree with your "bomb the railways" comment. I've not found the options available to be nearly as effective as you say.
The point is that the air system is not "perfect." It is flawed. Some of that is because converting reality into electronic bytes always comes with compromises, but, part of it is that there is a bit of "play balance" that has been considered. If there were no interior bombing, what would be the effect on victory points, for example? The air system is what it is because of other game mechanics, including the movement/combat system.
I agree that a more robust air campaign can help the WA, but the fact is that the Wehrmacht can just get too many assets too involved in combat in the first week. That's a fact.
Occasionally, and randomly, problems and solutions collide. The probability of these collisions is inversely related to the number of committees working on the solutions. -- Me.
