ORIGINAL: uw06670
Just to throw my two cents in.
I'm more in Silly's camp that others. Adding to the ability to micromanage things is nice for those that wish it (assuming its balanced/not exploitable) but I would also prefer to see these types of things be an option that you can turn off or on. Red Lancer mentioned having an semi-automated way of placing depots, which seems like the right direction IMO.
Not sure where 2.0 will land in terms of production/assignment of ground units. I've heard some want to be able to control these things to the point of say building Pz IV F2 in 1941 (just to point out a German fantasy). As fun as that could be, I think allowing this level of change would be difficult to balance. The Soviets already have good tanks in 41. What do you give them to counter? Improve their command and control/organization? Increase the number of T-34 and KV factories pre-war?
In the "what if" world of things, instead of selecting which TDs get built when at what factory, I think a more abstract but still impactful and fun concept would be to allow emphasis to be placed on one of several options at war's outset. The old DOS game Clash of Steel (still one of my favorites) had a similar concept, but might have been overpowered.
For example Germany might have these options:
1) Heavy Tanks (earlier/more Tiger's)
2) Luftwaffe (higher output of aircraft, a "Ural" bomber, etc.)
3) Assault Guns (have the Panzer snobs embrace the cheap little TDs)
4) Motorized Army (horses are for farms)
5) Historic
Each would have an impact on some other facet of production (except Historic). Also could reduce Admin point accumulation.
I think those types of options (and Soviet similar) make for interesting changes allowing different strategies and might be easier to balance than allowing AFV micromanagement.
You could create this in a scenario, but it reads like a German fantasy scenario to me.
In WiTW there is one scenario (4th Supreme Command?) that assumes most of the Axis units escaped from N Africa and far better streamlining of the production system. It produces a great game for the Allies vs AI, it is horribly unbalanced if you play the Axis vs AI or in PBEM. But its based on a pretty realistic set of assumptions.
As to #4, and where is the fuel (and indeed the trucks) going to come from? There was a very good reason why the Germans relied so heavily on horses (as did everyone else apart from the Anglo-American armies).
