Festung Germania?

[SeaMonkey]

What a tough nut to crack. I have been playing each side a number of times, learning the ropes, still have USSR to go. Always have the AI play everyone else and I'm getting absolutely no help from the USSR trying to take Germany.

As the WA, I'm about to close these guys out, Japan is no problem, but the Axis have a maelstrom of units in W.Germany. Fighters' ev at 9, along with Armor and infantry, and TAC, their attack values are not that great, but its hell to neutralize these guys.

I've built my Armor up to 10 LA, along with artillery, my fighters are at 9 AA, bombers at 7 & 8 LA. It is very slow going, almost been a year of huge air attacks and some medium size land battles, but they're still hanging in.

Since I will eventually be going to PBEM, is this the usual configuration for the human Axis end game? If so, what is the best strategy to reduce this Fortress of West Germany?

[Maginot]

Get a Russian ally to sieze East Germany, negating the fortress value of the West.

[SeaMonkey]

Pretty obvious Maginot, but that does jingle the bell. I guess I'll have to go in and take western Poland and present an example for the Russian AI. Hadn't thought about that.

[Maginot]

There are many players out there that most likley aren't aware that you can destroy West Germanys 'fortress' postion by taking East Germany. That then makes West Germany like any regular territory. (You most likley already knew that judging from the above post, but for the benfit of others...)

[ilovestrategy]

Oh boy, I'm in the same boat. I had to build up my forces for over a year and hit them hard right after the Russians attacked and failed.

[Drax Kramer]

Fort in Germany is an ahistorical element that should have never been introduced in the first place. It allows both, human and AI Germans to skew the game play and try to win by beating the clock.


Drax

[SeaMonkey]

Well it seems to me the WA have another dilemma to add to the Axis AV. First you have to play to abort any Axis thoughts of Sealion. Then do the "hit and runs" to avoid the AV, all the while in the back of your mind slowly preparing for the demise of "Festung Germania".

I like the challenge and will continue to investigate, any ideas, other than what have been expanded on, are appreciated.[:)]

[haruntaiwan]

Doesn't it simply represent the Rhine crossing problem?

[Drax Kramer]

ORIGINAL: haruntaiwan

Doesn't it simply represent the Rhine crossing problem?

Europe is full of rivers that can't be crossed by mechanised armies without extensive engineering efforts. Rhine is no bigger problem than Oder, Danube, Dniepr or Volga.

I guess designers tried to simulate the propaganda effect of "Siegfried line" since its real effect was of little practical importance. Allies were delayed by logistics, not concrete pillboxes.


Drax

[Gargoyle]

ORIGINAL: SeaMonkey

Well it seems to me the WA have another dilemma to add to the Axis AV. First you have to play to abort any Axis thoughts of Sealion. Then do the "hit and runs" to avoid the AV, all the while in the back of your mind slowly preparing for the demise of "Festung Germania".

I like the challenge and will continue to investigate, any ideas, other than what have been expanded on, are appreciated.[:)]

So you think it is a duanting task to defeat the Germans? Well so did the world in 1941. I personally like a game that doesn't make the Allies feel so superior that they don't sweat it.

As for the Western Germany fortification, I think 3 things make it reasonable.

1- There were fortification in this area (but were they formidable?)
2- The Germans did fight with more tenacity to defend the Fatherland.
3- The game would be to easy if it were not so.

[SeaMonkey]

Not daunting Gargoyle, just a bit monotonous. I mean it is at the end of the game, and the conclusion is not in doubt, just the level of victory.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ok with this end game, I was just looking for the ideal play to wrap it up.

[bmodified]

Pretty subjective view here, but I agree that the "Fortress Germania" thing doesn't feel right to me. Perhaps the only way to do it would be an entirely different set of victory conditions that made the WA casualty conscience...as in they could bust right in if they wanted to, but the cost is too great.

[SeaMonkey]

That "feel right" perspective is shared bmod., but I think we'll just have to live with it. In this scale configuration the operational flavor of maneuver is a little difficult to simulate.

Hoping that SC2 overcomes that shortfall, it definitely displayed the proper mechanics in the original version, only needs a hint of CoS.