The D21 Road Not Taken....

[atheory]

I've been playing your modded scenario, currently on my 3rd restart, reaching turns 50 and 60 with the previous two games. I'm enjoying the added supply capability, but I do feel it is a bit over powered in its current state. I'm curious if you feel the same way, or if that is by design. With that the case as it is, you can probably shorten the time to complete a turn by just removing the need to repair rails. Since its relatively easy to keep pace with the front lines anyway, why bother with broken rails. Maybe just reduce supply from supply sources instead. The stock bau troops are always kept in the rear until about turn 25 or so when their rail repair crews aren't competing with all the ones in the HQs and security units, to finish repairing the small odds and ends left in the rear.

Also, did you intend for the little MP units of AGN to have rail repair capability and not the ones in AGC and AGS?

The Bulgarian units do not start the scenario fixed, but I do not move them until Sevastopol falls, which I can accomplish by turns 44-46

Your overall pace seems to be speedier than mine, but my tendency by default is to be cautious. By winter my front line stretches from Kerch (owning the Crimea), to Rostov, to Kharkov, to Orel/Bryansk (I do a dash to capture Tula, then withdraw back to Orel), to the river east of Lenningrad (capturing Lenningrad). I have yet to be able to take Kalanin before winter.

Overall, the early blitz turns have a similar feel to playing a WITE game as the Germans. I don't know if that is to suggest it to be good or bad, but simply that it's enjoyable for me.

If the editor wasn't so clunky to me, I would edit a version of the scenario. I applaud your efforts.

Sincerely
Atheory

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: atheory
I've been playing your modded scenario, currently on my 3rd restart, reaching turns 50 and 60 with the previous two games. I'm enjoying the added supply capability, but I do feel it is a bit over powered in its current state. I'm curious if you feel the same way, or if that is by design. With that the case as it is, you can probably shorten the time to complete a turn by just removing the need to repair rails. Since its relatively easy to keep pace with the front lines anyway, why bother with broken rails. Maybe just reduce supply from supply sources instead. The stock bau troops are always kept in the rear until about turn 25 or so when their rail repair crews aren't competing with all the ones in the HQs and security units, to finish repairing the small odds and ends left in the rear.

I'm going to have to agree with you. It's now too easy to repair rails up to the front lines. I'm going to have to taper it down a bit.

ORIGINAL: atheory
Also, did you intend for the little MP units of AGN to have rail repair capability and not the ones in AGC and AGS?

When I got through converting all the AGN MP units I had second thoughts about adding any RR repair cap. at all to the MP units and decided to forego them on the rest of the MP's. I need to deduct it from the AGN MP units next time I mod the scenario.

ORIGINAL: atheory
The Bulgarian units do not start the scenario fixed, but I do not move them until Sevastopol falls, which I can accomplish by turns 44-46

Another thing I need to fix next time I mod this thing.

ORIGINAL: atheory
Your overall pace seems to be speedier than mine, but my tendency by default is to be cautious. By winter my front line stretches from Kerch (owning the Crimea), to Rostov, to Kharkov, to Orel/Bryansk (I do a dash to capture Tula, then withdraw back to Orel), to the river east of Lenningrad (capturing Lenningrad). I have yet to be able to take Kalanin before winter.

Wow. I think my current game sees me making more progress than any previous game but I don't think I've done what you've accomplished. Way to go.

ORIGINAL: atheory
Overall, the early blitz turns have a similar feel to playing a WITE game as the Germans. I don't know if that is to suggest it to be good or bad, but simply that it's enjoyable for me.

The early turns as the Axis is my favorite part of the entire game.

ORIGINAL: atheory
If the editor wasn't so clunky to me, I would edit a version of the scenario. I applaud your efforts.

Go ahead and dive in. Do something simple at first. Explore the editor and see if you can make heads or tails out of it. Maybe study an existing scenario to see how the events are linked together. It's fun once you get over the learning curve.

[larryfulkerson]

T22, Stalino
After the capture of Stalino it seemed like the Soviets backed themselves east to the river and built a rude MLR there. I'm assaulting it as fast as my units can go since the supply levels are excellent and a lot of rapid progress was made in previous turns but now it appears that the Soviets have good odds on stopping me cold at the river. I've been shooting the recon units way out front and it appears that I may have captured one crossing if I can hold onto it during the Soviet half of the turn. That will expedite forces heading east from here. Stalingrad is still a long way off to the east but it's only early September so there may be enough time to perhaps capture Stalingrad before the terrible winter weather sets in. It's worth a try because holding the city will go a long way to helping the Axis find shelter during the worst of the blizzards.

Quick Question:
I was in the USAF and never saw any action on the ground so I'm the last person to answer this question: Did the Germans and Soviets ever call an official truce because of the weather? [I understand that they did to gather up their dead and wounded to get them out of harm's way.] I'll bet it worked out such that to attack in such weather would engarner more risk than normal and it would be appropriate to ask for volunteers. So I'm guessing that when the weather turned nasty both sides took the day off. Kind of like an unwritten rule known by both sides.

The Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Official Lyric Video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krxU5Y9 ... s&index=11

[larryfulkerson]

T22, Moscow
This is part of the struggle for Moscow. It's only 03Sep41....way too early for the Axis forces to start showing up in the Moscow surburbs. With the adding of the RR engineers to so many units I've made it too easy for the Axis forces. I'm going to mod the scenario again to remove the RR engineers from most of the units and do a re-start.

[atheory]

I've dabbled with the editor once or twice, but it was always trying to edit the oob that drained my energy to a point of pure frustration.

As for weather, it wasn't so much the risk of casualties, in fact bad weather tended to decrease the casualty rate in engagements. The risk was the prospect for success itself. Bad weather diminishes the combat capability of units. So on an established front, during a clear day a 3:1 advantage could likely achieve success, bad weather decreases that advantage to 2:1 or even 1:1. To attain additional units so as to make up that loss in advantage meant needing to draw forces away from other parts of the front, which may not be feasible, thus making the decision to not fight in bad weather a predetermined conclusion (usually)

[cpt flam]

Hi Larry,
you'd better follow a bit more scenario notes.
AGN commander would not have lend a corp to Moscow, keeping it for his own advance and denying honors for AGC leader.
From memory, you can't use support units to explore enemy ground from turn 4 or 5 on. [:)]
Effectively your rail conversion is way too fast.
But always interesting to follow you. [&o]

[larryfulkerson]

I hear you. Thanks.