Downside of using D+12 Offensive for 12 days

[WingedIncubus]

Aside from having no TAC support for the Germans, what are the downsides to using the D+2 Offensive card?

Right now using the D+2 Offensive card for the whole 12 days feels like a no-brainer move for the Germans. It ensures the Soviets remain not activable for 3 turns, with no real disadvantage.

[Speedysteve]

Tend to agree

[baloo7777]

Wish I had used D+2 in my current pbem game vs gargamor. He is a great counter-attacker and has hit 1 or more units (especially motorized infantry that stray to aggressively forward) from the beginning, always with many Soviet Divs. A lot of my PzGrenadiers are severely under strength.

[marcpennington]

I'm in complete agreement as well. Air offensive for as long as possible. It's such an obvious choice, that maybe it should cost PP, and the 0 PP option should be switching over directly to tactical air support.

[James Ward]

I think against the AI it may not be as important to continue it. You usually get some relationship benefits by canceling it. Against a human I think you need to limit mobility as much as possible so I always continue it.

[WingedIncubus]

IMHO the following downsides should occur:

a) Since all air assets are taken for the air offensive no Luftwaffe Card should be available. No TAC, no Air Supply, no Fuel Air Supply.

b) Germans begin the game with 100 Luftwaffe Fuel. Each 4 days should cost 10 fuel to maintain the offensive. So after 12 days the German player has 70 Luftwaffe Fuel left to carry on, which means diminished returns on further uses of airpower.

[marcpennington]

ORIGINAL: James Ward

I think against the AI it may not be as important to continue it. You usually get some relationship benefits by canceling it. Against a human I think you need to limit mobility as much as possible so I always continue it.

I haven't really played against the AI, only PBEM, so can't judge there. But it does tie into issues raised in other threads where the game probably needs a seperate set of balance rules for PBEM as against German vs. AI scenarios. I think the long term air offensive is just one of many factors that turns the early turns in PBEM into a spiral in favor of the Germans.