The Political Question?

[Pford]

If it is so, the we can factor all Hitler's/stalin intervention; historical weather (which is unrealistic by the way as it give an information no one had)

Good point. If the Germans knew the severity of the winter that was around the corner than, yes, it was unwise to turn south and undertake the Kiev encirclement. But they weren't seers. So one could argue, in the interests of realism, that 'weather' should be subject to non-historical unpredictability. A better example of disastrous intervention from on high would be allowing 200K troops to be cut off and isolated in the Courland Pocket. That was pure Hitler, and a decision no sensible player is likely to make.

[PyleDriver]

Well Guderian was German, after the Kiev move, he said lets make winter quarters...hum...Guess no one heard him. I follow his lead, smart guy, and it works...

[Sigurd Jorsalfare]

Some kind of random political override as an optional rule would be great. "AH wants you to take Stalingrad in 2 months" or "Joe wants you to hold Minsk for 4 weeks". I don`t like it when the player gets total freedom over operations, assignment of commanders etc.After all the progression and outcome of the Eastern Front were as Capt Cliff said heavily influenced by Dolph and Joe. Imagine FDR ordering an invasion in the Calais-area in 1943. "Präsident-Befehl 01".[:D]

[freeboy]

I could not dissagree more with the above, please do not include history in these set box games

[PyleDriver]

Relax, no politics in the game. You just have to deal with the same deck of cards they had, without the two assholes. Which really opens so many options for fun in the game...

[Fred98]

I noticed in the screen shots that some generals are worth some political points.

What does the player need to do to acquire more political points?

When i have them what can i spend them on?

How do I force my oponent to lose political points?

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[elmo3]

A leaders political rating is factored into promotions and dismissals.  You can't change that number for your leaders or enemy leaders.

[Fred98]

And why would I want to promote or dismiss anybody?

This is a game. If I make a bad move that's my fault.


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[elmo3]

It is an historical wargame and obviously plenty of leaders were promoted and dismissed on the Eastern Front.  Not all leaders are created equal.  A poor one may be dismissed for losing too many battles just as a good one may get promoted for winning battles.

[Fred98]

Where is the benefit for the player?


(answer most hoped for: some generals are good at supply, some good at defense and some good on the attack. If the player places the right general in the right place the units beneath him gain a bonus on either the attack, or the defense or in supply. The amount of bonus each general can provide will go up and down over the game based upon how he performed his last mission)


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[elmo3]

Please remember that we're still in alpha so this is subject to change. You can see von Bock's ratings below. Leaders affect movement, combat, morale, and logistics. So yes there is a big benefit to having good leaders in key positions. The ratings don't change but as mentioned above they do get promoted or dismissed based on performance.

[MengCiao]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

Where is the benefit for the player?


(answer most hoped for: some generals are good at supply, some good at defense and some good on the attack. If the player places the right general in the right place the units beneath him gain a bonus on either the attack, or the defense or in supply. The amount of bonus each general can provide will go up and down over the game based upon how he performed his last mission)


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I'm guessing part of what is going on with leaders/generals in this game is that the designers are following the Glantz line that Soviet command got steadily better as good commanders moved up and bad commanders went elsewhere. Of the Glantzian reading of Soviet improvement is the model, then commanders ought to improve as they win battles. Fortunately for the Germans, they will be starting with relatively good commanders and probably the German player will not be removing his better generals for suggesting rational strategies. On the other hand over time, command improvement may turn out to be relatively less for the Germans since they start pretty well and win early on, while command improvement (following the Glantz model) will be
very important for the Soviets since they start bad and lose a lot at the beginning.

It will be interesting to see if cases like Mereskov at Tikhven can be modelled in the game (Mereskov was released from Post-purge prison and given a crucial command in Oct 1941, managing to produce the "Miracle of Tikhven" by November 1941).

[Captain]

On the main topic itself, I would not want to see arbitrary political decisions put in, I would rather have political realities reflected by victory points, (for example: the USSR loses if the Axis has captured Leningrad, Moscow and Stalingrad by 1/1/42, to prevent the Soviet player from just retreating and coming back in force in 43).

In this type of game, I see the player as wearing many hats, from Hitler/Stalin down to corps commander. You want to be able to explore various options without being tied to solely the historical outcome.

Everyone always assumes that they will do a better job than Hitler or Stalin. Now is your chance to find out...[;)]

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: elmo3

.....but as mentioned above they do get promoted or dismissed based on performance.

Is the promotion / dismissal done by the player or done automatically?

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[Helpless]

Is the promotion / dismissal done by the player or done automatically?

It may happen automatically

[freeboy]

regardingthe retreat to the East comment, is there certain on board production and resources that the Red army player would lose if he withdrew forces?
Seems I remember hearing about factories and resources, if they are in affect  Iwould expect the lose of them to affect moral, troop levels.. manpower and equipment/supplies. The loss of Lenningrad, Moscow the Baku fields all would have have terrific/Terrible consequences.
 

[elmo3]

Yes factories can be moved and resources can be captured.  We're still in alpha so there isn't much more to say than that right now.

[PyleDriver]

Well theres a real balancing act the Soviets have to do. If they just retreat they don't have the time and railpower to move them east. So you have to delay the advance and manage that time and space in order to do so...

[freeboy]

you cannot move 35millian workers out of Moscow, Don basin and Lennigrad and the North!

[jaw]

ORIGINAL: freeboy

you cannot move 35millian workers out of Moscow, Don basin and Lennigrad and the North!

You don't; you can only move factories. There is a function which allows for some civilian evacuation (refugees) but it is computer controlled only.