Tyronec vs BrianG. 12.03

[chaos45]

Tyronec points out the key fact as the game goes on Soviet manpower keeps declining, especially if they keep losing ground and dont retake anything. Even when you factor in retaking soviet cities by the time you retake them, they are damaged for awhile and usually by then your multiplier is lower due to year changes.

Its why Leningrad and the south being auto takes by the axis is 1941 along with Moscow being seemingly easy to take for skilled German players in 1941 creates such a negative long term snowball for the soviets its night impossible to recover from. As not only do you lose the manpower centers that the soviets historically held, but you lose them right when the manpower multipliers is at its highest. So these are massive both short term and long term manpower hits for the soviets.

The short term hit then makes the soviet army immediately weaker in late 1941 and 1942 when the German army is still on the offensive wherever they want....and the long term is it then takes the soviets longer and longer to build a large enough army to stop/slow the german advance. Compounding issues that are nigh impossible to recover from the way the game is built.

One thing that probably needs to be added for a more successful representation of history is triggered replacement units/floods of manpower based on German progress not historical timelines. The militia units/divisions mobilized by the major soviet cities were all done when Germans got close yet the game doesnt mobilize those units until historical dates...this gives the Germans a massive incentive to push harder than historical if possible to make these units not really matter like they did historically. As by the time they arrive on the historical timeline the damage is already done. As well the soviets should probably get a massive at least one time bonus of manpower when a city is either closed in on by German forces or taken one of the two to represent to the last push to arm everyone able to carry a rifle with one like they often did historically--would help offset the longer manpower lose and be actually historical.

[BrianG]

I had much fun playing this out.

I would add Russian supply source points at Guriev , and allow Astrakhan to operate as a functioning port once the rr get cut off on either side. Tyronec had no incentive to: keep any garrison force in the Caucuses. My guys just withered and surrendered without any enemy contact.

Also, once Astrakhan is nullified as an area, the Germans have no fear of flank attacks southeast of Stalingrad and can mass troops elsewhere.

But, in any case, Tyronec would have crushed me late if he tried to surround more units south of Gorky. I was planning a major retreat east with these units to bide more time but since he was doing the bludgeon approach, i had no need.

Tyronec is a very skilled played and, although I read of 'his mistakes', I saw very few from my view. I saw a player who was prepared and the exploit down near Baku was masterful. I wont comment on my Baku road block. Hint: is was made of sand.

My tank corp fuel problem was also a major problem. Some turns my avg MP's for them was 20. No way to break into the enemy's behind and do a real disruption. My 56th Army had a good tank general. Its mp's became good late when it was resting near a major urban center. The use of cities for supply has really changed things.

Also i lost a few urban centers to direct attack when my defensive cv was over 50. I found that a change and thought attacking cities was supposed to be harder under the new beta.

Partisans are just useless! and they never merged to create larger units. Partisans should merge and move closer to the front lines and working rr's. and then they should cut the rr's

Russian troop transport should have a minimum of 20K no matter what. It was unclear to me in late 42 why the Russians have reserved rr for factory removal. By then it should be optional.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: BrianG
My tank corp fuel problem was also a major problem. Some turns my avg MP's for them was 20. No way to break into the enemy's behind and do a real disruption. My 56th Army had a good tank general. Its mp's became good late when it was resting near a major urban center. The use of cities for supply has really changed things.

Did you attempt to provide them additional fuel by air?

[BrianG]

Did you attempt to provide them additional fuel by air?

I would say no, although i did start that in the last few turns.

It was very odd how the 56th army which was near kazan, regained its good mp's after a few turns.

I think t being near major city was the big difference in fuel supply. Which leads me to question the supply system as it relates to getting from cities.

Someone who likes tests should do a test of away from city v being near major city for fuel.

Also, the toe of all Army's was raised in July so they went from 98% toe to 80% and were building back up by the time the game ended. maybe that had an effect too.

add in lousy rr supply. I had plenty of trucks as can be seen in my last end game photo's.

[BrianG]

turn 63 tank corp mp's.

before moves

[CapAndGown]

What I question most of all is German logistics. It seems overly generous if a German player can generally take both Leningrad and Moscow in 41. Moscow in particular stretched the Wehrmacht's logistical system beyond the breaking point. Why weren't the men equipped for winter in 41? Not because everyone thought it would be a short war (though of course they did) but because the Germans had to make choices between sending supplies and sending winter equipment. If the German's had not launched Typhoon, they would have been much better equipped to handle the coming winter.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: BrianG

turn 63 tank corp mp's.

before moves

Never mind the MPs, this is an example of how not to manage tank corps. You have but one guards corps in August 1942. Remember that each guards corps gives you 10+ morale. You ought to be able to create half a dozen by June 1942 at a minimum. Anything less, and you are doing something wrong, particularly during the blizzard period. I would have had 10-14 by now.

[BrianG]

Never mind the MPs

a wee harsh.

The point is low mp's meant i could not threaten him with any maneuver. Could not do any hit and run.

Also, I rather sacrifice a low morale, high mp unit than a Guards tank Corp.

that said, I had 3 by the end of Nov 42, and 3 waiting for upgrade. Its been a rough war.

[M60A3TTS]

Sorry, but you won't beat someone like Tyrone with middling gameplay in this one example. Chaos is absolutely right, once you lose Moscow, the margin for error is razor thin. You just don't have the manpower to turn things around when you've been thrown this far back. I don't know that you were on the verge of turning anything around, given the manpower cuts that were going to kick in come January. WiTE has been decidedly tilted in one direction for about three years now, maybe more. All the patching done since then has yet to demonstrate otherwise.

And I never throw away high MP units, period. You're just consuming your seed corn when you do that.

This isn't about tenacity, you have tons of that and hats off to you. Best of luck on your next one.

[chaos45]

Another note on your tank corps management.....they should always be in tank or shock armies, only put them in normal armies after you have filled up shock/tank armies. The admin bonus is huge in making sure you get MPs.

As well the tank armies end up supporting far fewer units than a normal army so more support for the tanks overall.

My typically build would be Cav corps mainly in shock armies to make sure they get good MP, then build tank armies as soon as available and put the tank corps in the tank armies at 3x tank corps per army with some supporting assets...artillery BDE/Div can work well for this without overloading the tank army HQ.

Another tactics I learned was to put your offensive/reserve shock armies and tank armies under one front if at all possible. Then you can put a good leader in the front HQ which should allow all you key armies to make sure they dont fail rolls, as even if the Army leaders fail you then have a good back roll from the front commander.

Since you have so few really good commanders this seems to work the best for making sure those armies stay up. Also Since in 1942 the Germans usually go to panzer ball strategy you will need most of these assets wherever the panzerball is.....then once you can transition to the offensive you already have a very well lead veteran front to assault with.