2by3+

[wallas]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

I don't know if we can build new air regiments yet, I think that starts turn 5 or so, but I agree that air command should get some AP.

For one admin point I can convert an exiting regiment

[wallas]

Regarding Para divisions I do plan on using them for air drops in game but if I was a front commander I would not want these divisions in my front if I was not in control of them do to command point restrictions. What do you commanders think would be best ? leave them in the fronts they are in or move them to a front such as the far east or trans caucus front where they will not impact your command limits ? The problem with moving them would be the expense in command points.

[thedoctorking]

ORIGINAL: Psych0

Re evac; why wouldn't we evac from nearest the front. Try and give the Germans nothing, nada, zip, zilch. Leningrad, Moscow and Voronezh we have plenty time for. The ones most at risk at the moment are Odessa, Kirovograd and Gomel. With our remaining rail cap we can evac all A & HI. Maybe leave some A behind in Gomel as I need to rail back a couple divs from the far south near Rumania.

Leningrad looks vulnerable right now. I don't want the NKVD to shoot me for defeatism but I still think it's a good idea to get those AFV factories out of there.

[thedoctorking]

Sorry, here everybody's been waiting on me and I was thinking that South needed to go first. My turn is up now.

On factory evacuation: I'd do Mogliev right now because we're about to lose it.

There is essentially no defense in front of Velikie Luki. There needs to be an army in there. I'm noting the presence of lots of STAVKA armies to the south and east of my position, including some powerful units.
Also, there's quite a mix of fronts and STAVKA units at the front in the center. Is this intentional? And I thought my front was mixed-up.
And finally, comrade Air Commander, could you bomb the heck out of those tank divisions in the swamp in front of my position north of Pskov? The more damage you can do in terms of reducing their movement points the better chance we have of not losing Leningrad before the tank factories can be evacuated.

[Psych0]

Don't evac Mogilev. It costs double as Germans are next to it. We can evac twice as much from elsewhere.

Let's spend absolute minimum rail cap for units, only if really really needed.

Re VL, why wouldn't we just let them have it? If Centre and North are not in a position to defend it then we just have to make sure they can't outflank us. Personally I would fall back and give them scorched earth. Something I should have done myself in the South last turn! Bonus though that I will have a 40+CV stack in the rough right on the rail line they want to convert next turn. Please keep air supplying that Wallas!!

I can do my turn tonight after drking. Salut!

[Psych0]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

ORIGINAL: Psych0

Re evac; why wouldn't we evac from nearest the front. Try and give the Germans nothing, nada, zip, zilch. Leningrad, Moscow and Voronezh we have plenty time for. The ones most at risk at the moment are Odessa, Kirovograd and Gomel. With our remaining rail cap we can evac all A & HI. Maybe leave some A behind in Gomel as I need to rail back a couple divs from the far south near Rumania.

Leningrad looks vulnerable right now. I don't want the NKVD to shoot me for defeatism but I still think it's a good idea to get those AFV factories out of there.

Agree with vulnerable. Falling back from Pskov-Velikaya-Sinyaya to Luga line should fix that for 2 turns at least right? Then next turn we could spend most of rail cap on evac on Leningrad.

[Psych0]

ORIGINAL: wallas

Regarding Para divisions I do plan on using them for air drops in game but if I was a front commander I would not want these divisions in my front if I was not in control of them do to command point restrictions. What do you commanders think would be best ? leave them in the fronts they are in or move them to a front such as the far east or trans caucus front where they will not impact your command limits ? The problem with moving them would be the expense in command points.

I'd leave it as is for now. I would like to move them though as - while we're retreating - they are perfect screens to soak up MP before panzers hit defensive lines.

[thedoctorking]

My policy is generally to leave para brigades in the second line to slow breakthroughs. Also, if para corps hq's can be assigned some artillery and AT guns, they can become useful normal infantry corps HQ's, extending the command reach of armies. And since they don't vanish in October, they keep on being useful in this role going forward. In the winter, we will get a whole bunch of new airborne guys (though they are too low experience at first to actually get on a plane). If I had my way, I'd prefer to move the para units in my fronts myself unless the air commander lets me know he's planning an airborne operation and would like specific units left for him.

Were you all aware that army HQ's have to be within 5 of corps HQ's in order to support them with artillery, sappers, etc.? I just realized this last night.

[wallas]

The parachute division belong to air command and only I will be moving them. My concern was more about them taking up your front command points, but based on your comments you guys are fine with that, so thank you for the answer. Based on my actions it is pretty obvious I am not risking them at all and will keep moving them back. Be advised they will end up on near there respective front HQ on air bases. Going forward if any of you are planning an offensive private message me turns in advance if you want para support, and I will try to accommodate/support. It takes a special kind of soviet soldier to jump from the wings of a TB-3. I will not waste highly trained elite offensive soldiers in trivial defensive screens risking overrun and annihilation that is the job of the mighty Soviet conscript.

[Psych0]

South done and used next to no rail cap to leave it all for evac. Gomel is unlikely to fall next turn so I propose evac of Kirovograd, Odessa and Nikolaev. Then next turn all for Leningrad, Gomel and Krivoy Rog. Kiev probably after that. Or maybe I'm saying that I'd be happy to volunteer to take evac responsibility

Wallas, respectfully request those paras near Krivoy Rog to cover D and Z towns until their industry has been evacuated.

I left a separate save file with proposed factories moved (and even some M50 & AC from Leningrad to use the remaining 2700 rail cap). If you want to use that file Drakken, feel free. Odessa and Kirovograd are empty and Nikolaev partially, again if you like the proposed evac executed.

[wallas]

ORIGINAL: Psych0


Wallas, respectfully request those paras near Krivoy Rog to cover D and Z towns until their industry has been evacuated.

I am reasonable I can help with screening the heavy industry regions from North to south

[wallas]

I am not sure how long any of you been playing or your experience level with game so I figured I would throw out some thoughts for you based on what I have learned over the years. First thing is leader morale rating is a very important leader stat period ! Another interesting fact that effects us now is during 1941 our leaders have to make two successful admin leader checks if we fail the first roll ammo 50% lost if you fail second ammo 75% lost to that HQ. In 1942 that check is only needed to succeed once in one attempt. So before your spending a ton of admin point on leaders I would make sure they have good morale and admin ratings. Of course your free to do as you want just something I thought I would share comrades. If any of you have some air thoughts or any other game play mechanics feel free to post them. Also regarding combat value (cv) it is a guide only of a hex strength, but if the goal is to hold a hex reserves and attached support units is king.

[thedoctorking]

This is my first game against actual human beings.

I haven't been doing much with leaders in our game. In my solo game against myself, I have switched out some leaders who were really miserable (2 Mech 4 Armor or 3 air in command of an air corps). I did swap out the commanders of Reserve and Northwest Front (for Zhukov and Koniev respectively). I didn't even look at their Admin or Morale stat. Is Morale more important for the actual force commanders (Armies or corps)? I'd think that Admin would be what you would be looking for at the Front level.

Do you put your guys in the second line on reserve status pretty much always? Or just one or two guys per army?

How useful are support units other than artillery and sappers? I've been doing construction battalions because there aren't enough sappers but I was assuming sappers were much better. Also, the 41b AT gun guys and machine gun-mortar artillery guys are useful because there are plenty of those sorts of units in the pool. But I haven't been using AA, independent tank or scouting units. Is this a mistake?

[WingedIncubus]

My apologies for the delay, I am now home tonight.

I will complete the Turn to send it to the Axis before they come knocking with torches and pitchforks. [:o]

[WingedIncubus]

ORIGINAL: Psych0

I left a separate save file with proposed factories moved (and even some M50 & AC from Leningrad to use the remaining 2700 rail cap). If you want to use that file Drakken, feel free. Odessa and Kirovograd are empty and Nikolaev partially, again if you like the proposed evac executed.

No problem, we will go with this.

Turn is ready, I am putting it in the Dropbox right now.

As an aside, maybe I should relinquish the role of Deputy Supreme Commander. Do we have any update from neogodhobo?

[Psych0]

You're doing a great job comrade Drakken. Love the 'role play' aspect you put in it too.

As said, I'm happy to take some of the burden of your shoulders by taking responsibility of factory evac. If you grant me this honor I propose we use as much of the railcap as possible for evac. Troops can walk to the front unless they arrive deep in Russia. Bodies are cheap, factories are not!

For the Motherland comrades!

[Psych0]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

Is Morale more important for the actual force commanders (Armies or corps)? I'd think that Admin would be what you would be looking for at the Front level.

Do you put your guys in the second line on reserve status pretty much always? Or just one or two guys per army?

How useful are support units other than artillery and sappers? I've been doing construction battalions because there aren't enough sappers but I was assuming sappers were much better. Also, the 41b AT gun guys and machine gun-mortar artillery guys are useful because there are plenty of those sorts of units in the pool. But I haven't been using AA, independent tank or scouting units. Is this a mistake?

Morale has the biggest impact on CV strength of units so I also consider that most important. Well second only to the actual Infantry / Mech rating of the leader.

Reserve I don't use much as it reduces digging in speed massively. Doesn't appear to matter much anyway in battles.

Construction / sapper SUs don't work for digging in, to be fixed in next patch I hear. So artillery regiments x 2, AT, AA and sapper regiments x 2 is my prefered mix. More than 6 SU per corps is a waste apparently. I have not been building any this game yet, I thought that was the supreme commanders job? Also leader assignments are the supcom's job. Maybe I misunderstood?

[wallas]

I always try to have three reserve units per army. I would personal rather have a line with 2 units stacked backed by reserves then 3 unit stacked line with no reserves. Same theory with a one line with reserves versus 2 with no reserves. One thing to be aware with reserve units is if they reserve unit has less then a 55 morale it has a much greater chance of routing. Inf/ Mech is important but just remember if any HQ in a chain of command fails a initiative check your units lose 20% movement. If any HQ in your chain fails a admin check you lose another 20% movement so that could be 40% loss without even the other modifiers due to vehicle shortage etc. You can have the highest combat rating possible but without movement your not going far. Regarding digging in I believe it makes a admin roll for that also so even if a fort has 3 construction battalions as support(which is not bugged atm), and the leader fails its admin check then your digging in nothing regardless of support added so make sure leader admin is decent. Admin and Initiative are subtle and do not effect CV much but do not overlook them. The holy grail of recon in force during combat is based on initiative alone I believe. Again just some thoughts from me but we win as a team and regardless of your play style you all have my support.

Air Command

[thedoctorking]

Wallas, as an experienced player, do you have a sense that we are doing worse than average in this game? I'm very new to this game. I played a couple of games against the Axis AI through the spring 1942 and in both cases the results were encouraging for the USSR. Then, I played a game of "Road to Moscow" as the Axis and realized how poor the AI was. Now, I'm playing a game where I do both sides, I'm up to turn 16, just before the rains start, and the Axis is pushing hard for Moscow, about to take Leningrad, but nowhere in the south (took Kiev and Odessa, across the Dnepr near Cherkassy and north of Chernigov, but not even to Dneprpetrovsk). Our Axis is doing a heck of a lot better than I did.

[wallas]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

Wallas, as an experienced player, do you have a sense that we are doing worse than average in this game? I'm very new to this game. I played a couple of games against the Axis AI through the spring 1942 and in both cases the results were encouraging for the USSR. Then, I played a game of "Road to Moscow" as the Axis and realized how poor the AI was. Now, I'm playing a game where I do both sides, I'm up to turn 16, just before the rains start, and the Axis is pushing hard for Moscow, about to take Leningrad, but nowhere in the south (took Kiev and Odessa, across the Dnepr near Cherkassy and north of Chernigov, but not even to Dneprpetrovsk). Our Axis is doing a heck of a lot better than I did.

This year will be ugly we just need to get out all our armaments, vehicle and heavy industry out. If axis pressure does not allow for it then shipping out just one pip of each equipment factory type (planes,tanks,Armoured cars etc) is fine they will slowly replenish. I think we are doing fine so far though we just need to trade space for time and minimize there exploitive movement. If you inspect named locations it will show you under details how much supply and oil are in a named location. 2 or more units stacked in a urban hex can stay in supple for awhile and if on a rail line even better for holding axis up. Force him to attack those urban hexes its the only way we really inflict losses in 1941. For example when the Dnepr river is lost I would leave 2 units in each urban hex of kiev rinse and repeat for ANY urban hex. I have been playing this game for a long time, but I have not played it in a long time either and there has been many changes and like you guys I am learning all over again also lol.