Something isn't right

[sabo10]

I was 'finally' able to crack Riga last turn with many casualities, I still haven't been able to get through to Odessa. I can't use my siege arty due to red rail lines. My question is why do I always have to depend on siege artillery on a city for a successful battle? Where are the pioneers? where are the Fallschirmjäger?, There's got to be an easier and less bloody way to crack open the big cities besides a siege gun..

[lancer]

Hi sabo,

Big cities aren't a problem unless they have a major garrison present. This is semi-randomised and can vary from game to game.

The major garrisons not only represent men and equipment but a deliberate fortification of the city.

Historically a big city in a fortified state was a very tall order for the Germans.

They didn't get close to taking Leningrad and Odessa took 73 days (they only captured it because the Soviets abandoned it) and over 90,000 casualties. Sevastopol, in '41 and '42 was almost as tough.

Cheers,
Cameron

[sabo10]

Hey Cameron,
Thanks for the response. It would be sort of awesome though if their were specialized infantry units, like Pioneers and para-troopers to use though, or do you think that would just complicate matters?

[lancer]

Hi Sabo,

The design approach has been to minimise the counter count where ever possible. The limiting factor in doing so was the AI as it needs as certain amount of discrete units in order to operate effectively.

Cheers,
Cameron

[Romainpek]

But sometimes, while playing German and having German troops just next to enemy fortifications for a while, you get a message saying that the pioneers damaged them. Maybe it's only the field fortifications that are reduced?

[lancer]

Hi Romainpek,

Yep, Pioneers are assumed to be assaulting fixed fortifications whenever the adjacent units have Direct Fire artillery support. The effect of this is cumulative (more units, more reduction in fortifications) and proportional to the amount of artillery support they are receiving.

Cheers,
Cameron