Germany in Russia with new Patch update 1.14

[HarrySmith]

Hi all,
I am finding with the new Patch updates 1.14 playing as the Axis in one game and the Allies in another, there now seems a heavy biased advantage for Russia. Both games are roughly Jan/ Feb 43, without Germany able to get to historic advances at any point. I am finding the Supply, ( scorched earth too high?), Winter, morale drops to minimal level. At the end of my last turn as Allies a report comes up again as "Soviet winter Strikes" so I am sure that will hit my axis opponent hard. I am now expecting that in my other game.
How are others finding it now with the change? Curious to hear some feedback as I am wondering if it is impossible now for Germany to take Russia? ..... Thoughts ????

[petedalby]

I agree that it is much tougher now for the Axis. As well as the effects you mention Russia received several other boosts including additional supplies via Persia, 2 more Elite armies and cheaper Production Tech.

In my last game I took Leningrad, Stalingrad & the first 2 capitals but fell short of Perm. Perhaps with less committed to North Africa I could have made it.

I suspect the ELO roster will soon start to show more wins for the Allies.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

I have the opposite view on this as I have mentioned before. Here's an edited response when conversing with Harry about this matter on Gaming with the Colonel's YT channel. I'll also post a link to that episode..just scroll down to the comments to find a quite large thread.

copy of a reply I made to Harry>
OldCrowBalthazor said: "Ah..we shall see. I just got off the phone with The Colonel about our next rematch we are planning. I'll be Axis. I won't have to completely take down the Soviets to win the war if I play out what I have planned. Depends of course, of what the Allies (and Soviets) do to counter.

Rather looking forward to a realistic challenge of what the facts were when dealing with the USSR, its topography, climate, and above all its sheer size.
My opinion was that the pre 1.12.00 version of WaW wasn't realistic at all. Others have the same opinion.

Of course, your opinion matters also and will help with my plans I'm testing before the match." <end excerpt.

(Been SP testing newest version as Axis on into into Barbarossa-yeah its rough for Germany..and I like it.)

So anyway...my view is that the USSR was a colossus. As soon as Germany declared war on the Soviets, Germany chances to win the war were diminished greatly. I have read the counter arguments that this is a game and balance is important. Well, in my view, it wasn't balanced pre V 1.12.00. I have a planned match vs Ed Prem (Gaming With The Colonel) and I will playing Axis in a rematch that will be featured on both of our YT channels. The first match...I thought the scorched earth mechanic was way too lenient..even though it benefited my side. So..I am looking forward AS the Axis, to get stung properly by the first winter..as I have experienced in every other East Front wargame whether computer or boardgame that I have played for decades.

Here's a link to an episode of Gaming With The Colonel...read full comments under Yuri's thread there for the full discussion on this subject between Harry and I.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ew_MMA ... Z8cR5hJsFU

[Elessar2]

A way to help the Axis a bit would be to give mech/armor units more movement points. Crispy's scenarios give them all (except Tank Armies) +1 movement across the board, which helps, tho I'd argue to give them at least +2. This way they at least get the manuever abilities that they in fact had, forcing Russia to beware the possibility of encirclements.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

Yeah I agree Elessar. Then encirclements can happen, especially on the Eastern Front. Soviets units would be out of supply in some cases..hence cost more. This would would probably alleviate this perceived imbalance felt by some. Also..it would be more realistic..as version 1.12.00 for the Soviet position now stands in my opinion. Chrispy's Fall Weiss certainly has improved the experience of breakthrough and pocketing with the enhanced AP's.

[Chernobyl]

That +1 movement for tanks is an interesting idea.

Perhaps tanks could start with their normal base movement, but Mobile Warfare tech could grant +1 movement? This would make it slightly more expensive to get to Japanese or Italian speedtanks. One of my balance concerns about faster tanks would be Japanese investing in tanks and crushing China too easily.

I'm also toying around with the idea in my head of removing the mobility upgrade from tanks (replacing it with anti-tank gun upgrades), and just start tanks out at +1 or +2 movement points, but make them more expensive (250 -> 300 MPP?)

Mobility/Motorization could then be for motorized infantry units and not for tanks, which are always motorized by definition.

I'm making a fun mod where I give the USSR a half dozen extra armies, but a problem was that these armies would most likely prevent encirclements due to less space and more ZOC. But perhaps faster tanks could make things more dynamic.