New Self-Vs-Self Game, New Version 01.04.16

[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

LOSING VIEWERS RAPIDLY

I AM CONCERNED THAT VIEWERS ARE LOSING INTEREST IN SUCH A LONG CAMPAIGN DESCRIBED IN DETAIL LIKE THIS!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN IMPROVED MY PRESENTATION, IF MAYBE ONCE A (GAME) MONTH UPDATES ARE BETTER, OR JUST NOT WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME. I AM HAVING A GREAT TIME PLAYING THE GAME, BUT DOCUMENTING SEPARATELY THE GERMAN AND RUSSIAN PARTS OF THE TURN TAKES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MY TIME, AND IF THERE IS LOW BENEFIT FOR OTHERS AT PRESENT, THE CONCLUSION IF OBVIOUS.

FOR INTERESTED PARTIES, PLEASE RESPOND!

[ReginaldBednar2]

BEING AN OFFICIAL MATRIX GAMES PLAYTESTER, I WOULD APPRECIATE OFFICAL COMMENTS FROM THEM NOW AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTION! THIS IS USUALLY THE MODERATOR'S JOB, BUT COMMUNICATING WITH ANYONE AT MATRIX GAMES WOULD RESULT IN GREAT PLEASURE. I THANK THE COMPANY FOR KEEPING COMPUTER PC/WINDOWS WARGAMES FROM JOINING OTHER BUSINESS DINOSAURS. I ALSO THANK ALL THE DESIGN, PROGRAMING, AND PLAY TESTING INDIVIDUALS FOR SUCH A FASCINATING GAME, AND CLEARLY WAS THE RESULT OF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TEAMWORK IN THE UPDATE.

[ReginaldBednar2]

MORE SUPPLY NOTES

THE DEPOT/PORT DEPOT PRIORITY NUMBER (NUMBER INSIDE THE TRIANGLE, 0, 1, 2, 3, AND 4) IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL FOR BOTH GERMAN AND RUSSIAN LOGISTICS!
BASICALLY, THE LOWER THE NUMBER, THE MORE IT ACTS LIKE A STORAGE SUPPLY OR ACCUMULATION DEPOT (INPUT ONLY). THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, THE MORE IT ACTS LIKE A PURE DISTRIBUTION DEPOT (OUTPUT ONLY).

LEVEL 0 DEPOTS
NATIONAL SUPPLY SOURCES (HOPEFULLY FURTHEST FROM THE SHOOTING)

LEVEL 1 DEPOTS
THEATER STORAGE SOURCES (SHOULD BE AWAY FROM THE SHOOTING)

LEVEL 2 DEPOTS
MAYBE PORTS NEAR THE SHOOTING (BEACHHEAD SUPPLY)

LEVEL 3 DEPOTS
PORTS (WANT SOME PORT-TO-PORT SHIPPING OF SUPPLIES AND SOME LIMITED STORAGE (TRADITIONAL PORT IN THE REAR AREAS)

LEVEL 4 DEPOTS
COMBAT DEPOTS (DISTRIBUTE EVERYTHING TO COMBAT UNITS, AND ONLY THEN STORE SUPPLIES)

GOOD GUI APPROACHES
TURN OFF ALL GROUND AND A/C UNITS, THEN SELECT THE LOGISTIC DISPLAY MODE (ONE SHOWING THE TRIANGLES).

RAIL LINES:
THERE ARE FOUR CRITICAL COLORS OF RAIL LINES:
"GREEN" MEANS THE RR LINE IS REPAIRED AND NOT TRANSPORTATION SATURATED
"YELLOW" MEANs THE RR LINE IS REPAIRED AND STARTING TO GET SATURATED
"RED" MEANS THE RR IS REPAIRED AND IS SATURATED (BUILD MORE DEPOTS IN THE VICINITY IF POSSIBLE)
"BLACK" MEANS THE RR IS NOT REPAIRED (IN THE HEX)

ROAD LINES:
IRONICALLY, IF THE ROAD LINE IS BROWN, THAT MEANS IT'S CLOGGED IN MUD (VERY BAD FOR LOGISTICS AND ALL-OUT ATTACKING)

SUPPLY LOSSES:
THESE ARE ALWAYS NOT IDEAL. SUPPLY LOSSES INCLUDE SUPPLIES LOST IN A/C CRASHES AND SPOILAGE DUE TO MUD. IF YOUR UNITS ARE NOT KIDDING ENOUGH SUPPLIES, A LOT MAY BE DUE TO SUPPLY LOSSES

MY UNITS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SUPPLIES: WHAT TO DO:
(1) IS THERE A BREAKAGE IN THE HQ CHAIN (HQ NEXT TO HQ NEXT TO HQ NEXT, ETC. DUE TO RANGE/MP VALUES (SPLITTING COMMANDS)?
(2) WEATHER (MUD OR BLIZZARD); CHECK FOR BROWN ROADS
(3) RR LOGISTICS (UNREPAIRED RR LINES, IMPROPER DEPOT VALUE, LACK OF DEPOT, ETC.)
(4) PARTISAN ACTIVITY IN REAR AREAS CUTTING RAIL LINES (MAINTAIN GARRISON REQUIREMENTS: EARLY UNIT STATIONS AND LATER VIA R THEATER
(5) DAMAGE TO LOGISTICS DUE TO A/C BOMBING

[ReginaldBednar2]

End of German Turn 16: October 5, 1941

WEATHER
Muddy roads

COMBAT

Sent I Corps/18 Army from Narva River Line towards Gdov. Am not going to assault the line but force its evacuation by all-out attack S/SE of it. Limited attacks north of Novgorod because of mud.

Attacking NW of Vyazma to bypass it this turn (too strongly defended with mud).

Major assault NE of Kiev to take critical rail line. Attacked unit around Kherson.

In general, limited attack to save MPs to minimize mud fatigue. Heavy addition of depots all to way into German Proper. Spend a lot of time trying to equalize support units. Have decided on ideal Corps support units: 1 x Pz Jaeger or Stug AT, 3 x artillery/mortar/rocket "medium" artillery, 2 x AA (at least one with 88mm anti-T34), 1 x construction, and 1 x engineer. Currently this is limited by important attacks next turn. Heavy artillery is going to Leningrad and Sevastopol area (16th, 18th, and 11th Armies). It is not wise to assault fortresses with Panzers with their limited infantry and multitude of tanks.

THIS IS AN AREA WHICH IMPROVED USER INTERFACE WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL, BUT A DATABASE FORMAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT. THE EASIEST WAY SEEMS TO BE A DOUBLE-MOVE ALLOWED TO GO FROM CORPS TO ARMY, AND THEN ARMY TO CORPS, DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY. THE RUSSIAN PLAYER USES ARMY HQ, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.

AVOIDING GERMAN INSTANT DEFEAT
Recall the Axis HIGH VP total must be 525 VP in 1941, thus the blizzard counterattack is not applicable. The current total is 477 VP (475 VP + 2 theater bonus). The following VP cities (all 10 VP) are logical, while trying to maintain an advance line: Rzhev, Orel, Kursk, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, and Zaporozhye.
Hopefully, the weather in Crimea will be moderate in the blizzard (unlike W.I.E). Therefore, the Wehrmacht 11th Army should swarm into Crimea and besiege Sevastopol.

[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

WAR IN THE EAST III IDEAS

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBER OF LOCOMOTIVES (COAL/STEAM) AND LOCOMOTIVE MAINTAINENCE AND REPAIR FACILITIES MODELED, BUT NOT REQUIRING A COMPUTER. THUS, ONE CAN DECIDE THE BEST TRADE OFF FOR INDUSTRY TRANSPORTATION, SUPPLY TRANSPORTATION, UNIT TRANSPORTATION. IDEALLY, THE USER WOULD SPECIFY THE MAIN COMBAT SUPPLY DEPOTS (TOWNS OR CITIES) FOR EACH ARMY, AND THE COMPUTER WOULD COMPUTE THE NUMBER OF SUPPLY POINTS REQUIRED PER TURN TO FULLY STOCK IT (BREAKING DOWN INTO AMMO, FOOD, FUEL, AND SUPPORT, FOR PRIORITY TUNING. THIS WAS DONE DISASTEROUSLY IN REAL LIFE (SUPPORT == COLD WEATHER CLOTHING). INTERESTINGLY, THE TRAINS BACK INTO THE FATHERLAND CARRIED WOUNDED, BUT NOT THE DEAD FOR EFFICIENCY. THE RUSSIAN ARMY WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL ABOUT PREVENTING ANY LOOT GOING BACK ON THE TRAIN. MILITARIES IN REAL LIFE BASICALLY WORK ON STANDARD COMBAT SUPPLY EQUIVALENTS, WHICH IN THE GAME IS OBVIOUSLY ONE WEEK (UNITS OF SUPPLY). THIS SHOULD BE HOW THE INTERFACE SHOULD RELATE SUPPLY TO THE USER. IMAGINE GUDERIAN GETTING A DRY REPORT OF SUPPLY TONNAGE NEARBY!

I WOULD LIKE A WEHRMACT MOBILIZATION OPTION (FOR A FIGHTING USSR).

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEUTCHLAND INDUSTRIAL MOBILIZATION OPTION (FOR A FIGHTING USSR).

I WOULD LIKE THEATERS TO UPDATE SOME METRIC WHEN ONE SELECTS A UNIT (OR SELECTING UNITS !!!!!) TO CONSIDER MOVING INTO OR OUT OF.

I WOULD LIKE PLAY TESTORS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY HOURS TO PLAY A TURN COMPLETELY, FOR VARIOUS USER INTERFACE MODIFICATIONS (MICROSOFT???).

THEATER REQUIREMENTS SHOULD REQUIRE A THEATER COMMANDER ESTIMATE FOR COMBAT UNITS AND A/C IN TERMS OF: AVOIDING RETREATS, HOLDING THE LINE, AND FACILITATING ADVANCES (-1, 0, +1) RATING SYSTEM. ALSO, THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE THEATER SHOULD BE FACTORED IN. FOR ROMMEL: PANZER DIVISIONS, LOGISTIC TRUCKS, A/C (ESPECIALLY ANTI-SHIPPING), PANZERGRENADIER DIVISIONS, 88MM AA UNITS, ETC., WITH INFANTRY DIVISIONS, PARACHUTE DIVISIONS, AND STATIONARY ARTILLERY UNITS BEING ALMOST USELESS. BRITISH SUPPORT FOR USSR SHOULD BE BASED ON ROMMEL ACHEIVEMENTS (EVEN A HURRICANE IF BETTER THAN NOTHING).

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OPTION WITHOUT "THE GREAT STALIN GENERAL PURGE".

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OPTION WITH HIGHER USSR MORALE TO REPRESENT BETTER LOGISTICS WARGAMING FIELD EXERCISES IN EASTERN POLAND.

I WOULD (NOT) LIKE TO SEE AN OPTION WINSTON CHURCHILL LEGIONS ARE COMING TO SAVE STALIN!

I WOULD LIKE GERMAN LOCOMOTIVES AND FREIGHT CARS FOR THE WESTERN FRONT TO BE EXPLICTELY MODELED.

I WOULD LIKE A 1941 SPEER SUPERMAN OPTION FOR MINIMIZING PANZER AND AIRCRAFT DESIGNS.

I WOULD LIKE THE LUFTWAFFE TRADEOFF BETWEEN EASTERN FRONT USAGE AND HOMELAND INDUSTRIAL/HOUSING DAMAGE.

I WANT STARVATION MODELED INTO VICTORY CONDITIONS AND POW TREATMENT.

[tm1]

LOSING VIEWERS RAPIDLY

I AM CONCERNED THAT VIEWERS ARE LOSING INTEREST IN SUCH A LONG CAMPAIGN DESCRIBED IN DETAIL LIKE THIS!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN IMPROVED MY PRESENTATION, IF MAYBE ONCE A (GAME) MONTH UPDATES ARE BETTER, OR JUST NOT WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME. I AM HAVING A GREAT TIME PLAYING THE GAME, BUT DOCUMENTING SEPARATELY THE GERMAN AND RUSSIAN PARTS OF THE TURN TAKES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MY TIME, AND IF THERE IS LOW BENEFIT FOR OTHERS AT PRESENT, THE CONCLUSION IF OBVIOUS.

FOR INTERESTED PARTIES, PLEASE RESPOND!

Hi @ ReginaldBednar2

Not everybody is on everyday, I like weekly updates but I am not a Soviet player I play Axis only however that does not mean that there aren't Soviet fans so posting both sides of the coin is up to you.
I asked this question of you in previous post which was why play both sides, its an interesting idea and different but there is no sense of randomness at least with the AI its not totally predictable, the AI may end up being repetitive but in this current game that your playing you already know the moves that have been done! which leads me to ask why do you have the " fog of war " setup on.

I am keen to know how the outcome of this game progresses but in your next game how about trying to play against the AI on moderate or high if you need a challenge.


regards

[tm1]

MORE SUPPLY NOTES

THE DEPOT/PORT DEPOT PRIORITY NUMBER (NUMBER INSIDE THE TRIANGLE, 0, 1, 2, 3, AND 4) IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL FOR BOTH GERMAN AND RUSSIAN LOGISTICS!
BASICALLY, THE LOWER THE NUMBER, THE MORE IT ACTS LIKE A STORAGE SUPPLY OR ACCUMULATION DEPOT (INPUT ONLY). THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, THE MORE IT ACTS LIKE A PURE DISTRIBUTION DEPOT (OUTPUT ONLY).

LEVEL 0 DEPOTS
NATIONAL SUPPLY SOURCES (HOPEFULLY FURTHEST FROM THE SHOOTING)

LEVEL 1 DEPOTS
THEATER STORAGE SOURCES (SHOULD BE AWAY FROM THE SHOOTING)

LEVEL 2 DEPOTS
MAYBE PORTS NEAR THE SHOOTING (BEACHHEAD SUPPLY)

LEVEL 3 DEPOTS
PORTS (WANT SOME PORT-TO-PORT SHIPPING OF SUPPLIES AND SOME LIMITED STORAGE (TRADITIONAL PORT IN THE REAR AREAS)

LEVEL 4 DEPOTS
COMBAT DEPOTS (DISTRIBUTE EVERYTHING TO COMBAT UNITS, AND ONLY THEN STORE SUPPLIES)

GOOD GUI APPROACHES
TURN OFF ALL GROUND AND A/C UNITS, THEN SELECT THE LOGISTIC DISPLAY MODE (ONE SHOWING THE TRIANGLES).

RAIL LINES:
THERE ARE FOUR CRITICAL COLORS OF RAIL LINES:
"GREEN" MEANS THE RR LINE IS REPAIRED AND NOT TRANSPORTATION SATURATED
"YELLOW" MEANs THE RR LINE IS REPAIRED AND STARTING TO GET SATURATED
"RED" MEANS THE RR IS REPAIRED AND IS SATURATED (BUILD MORE DEPOTS IN THE VICINITY IF POSSIBLE)
"BLACK" MEANS THE RR IS NOT REPAIRED (IN THE HEX)

ROAD LINES:
IRONICALLY, IF THE ROAD LINE IS BROWN, THAT MEANS IT'S CLOGGED IN MUD (VERY BAD FOR LOGISTICS AND ALL-OUT ATTACKING)

SUPPLY LOSSES:
THESE ARE ALWAYS NOT IDEAL. SUPPLY LOSSES INCLUDE SUPPLIES LOST IN A/C CRASHES AND SPOILAGE DUE TO MUD. IF YOUR UNITS ARE NOT KIDDING ENOUGH SUPPLIES, A LOT MAY BE DUE TO SUPPLY LOSSES

MY UNITS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SUPPLIES: WHAT TO DO:
(1) IS THERE A BREAKAGE IN THE HQ CHAIN (HQ NEXT TO HQ NEXT TO HQ NEXT, ETC. DUE TO RANGE/MP VALUES (SPLITTING COMMANDS)?
(2) WEATHER (MUD OR BLIZZARD); CHECK FOR BROWN ROADS
(3) RR LOGISTICS (UNREPAIRED RR LINES, IMPROPER DEPOT VALUE, LACK OF DEPOT, ETC.)
(4) PARTISAN ACTIVITY IN REAR AREAS CUTTING RAIL LINES (MAINTAIN GARRISON REQUIREMENTS: EARLY UNIT STATIONS AND LATER VIA R THEATER
(5) DAMAGE TO LOGISTICS DUE TO A/C BOMBING

Hi
As an official tester I gather your aware that as Germany there is a 1941 supply penalty then from Dec 41 to April 42 you get hit with a second round of penalties on top of your 1941 penalty though by Feb 42 it starts to peter out and you can start to launch half decent counterattacks.

regards

[ReginaldBednar2]

Vaguely...

I was just specifying what to look for in general. Unfortunately, rain is occurring in the freezing cold USSR weather in October 1941! Please recall the need to attack all-out in late 1941, rain or not, or the game is over for the Wehrmacht.

[ReginaldBednar2]

End of Russian Turn 16: October 5, 1941

Abandoned southern-most hex of the Narva River Line. General retreat towards Leningrad in mud.

Velikie Luki abandoned.

Kherson abandoned. Established Dnepr River Line. Crimea Isthmus garrisoned but had to build the maximum allowable of construction units (at 4 AP apiece!).

[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

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[ReginaldBednar2]

WEATHER MODELING NOTE

Due to all the dust and debris from bombs, artillery fragments, forced demolitions, gunpowder residue into the atmosphere, extreme locomotive traffic burning goal, and military factories running at 100%, 24/7, the atmosphere went into a minimum ice age on October 2, 1941, the start of Operation Typhoon. Perhaps the designers are on the side of crazy non-scientists that WE CAN JUST TRASH OUR ENVIRONMENT WITH IMPUNITY, OR TRASH OUR WARGAMES WITH IMPUNITY.

[ReginaldBednar2]

Matrix Games has indicated to me that the weather model is working as intended. From a military simulation commander standpoint, resignation as the German side at this time is required, and I may start a new series using W.I.E.!