Play Balance - PBEM

[Speedysteve]

Hmm. Maybe as an individually agreed to token in specific PBEM's it would help. Sounds like a potential band aid over a problem (if any exists[;)]) though.

[marcpennington]

Three suggestions I would make to balance the game a bit more is to first, change the AP penalty for previous combats to more like they were in DC1/2. Previously, creating a breakthrough was a bit of an art form, as one usually needed to use the fast divisions in the initial attacks (in a painstakingly thought out way), as otherwise, they'd lose their AP anyway moving through the captured hex. Now with the fairly moderate AP penalties, it's way too easy to just attack with infantry first, then just run the mobile divisions through after.

That problem is amplified by the too fast movement of infantry (IMHO). Here, when infantry is in blitzkrieg stance, I would keep the attack bonus, but take away the AP bonus. That, I think would be enough to slow down the rapid infantry marches where they can almost keep up with the panzers.

Finally, in previous DC games, if combat occurred near a bridge, there was a chance it would be destroyed. I have not seen this happen in DC3 yet. Maybe I'm wrong that it is absent, but if it is, restoring the destroyed bridge chance would be a great way to add random hiccups to the German advance.

[lancer]

Hi,

People's perception of the games balance is highly subjective and there are a lot of variables involved.

Our aiming point is to make the game as balanced as possible, will still presenting a challenge, for the majority of players who will be playing at the normal AI level.

Beat the game on normal, go up a notch in AI difficulty where there are specific extra features designed to present a challenge that isn't just centred around increased AI bonuses.

PBEM balance is a different beast. We'd like to get more data back (turn on your 'Metrics' setting, it's a big help) from completed PBEM games before we make any changes here.

As pointed out elsewhere, during Beta testing we had a Soviet Player who beat all-comers in PBEM.

Cheers,
Cameron

[battlevonwar]

Haven't opened the beta patch, too ill. Though both 1.01 games(PBEM) I played as Germany was really a cakewalk for the Russians. I think I counted 4 deep in the Center. 4 Divisions deep and stacks of 8 or 9 divisions per hex in some places. I had 22k in fuel when I quit cause my Panzers were down to like 15% of their original strength and the last objectives I took were in the parameters of Operation Typhoon. I cannot see where you bag 220 Red Divisions pre Moscow reinforcement Phase where the Reds should be doing so well. The real mega battle should be around the objectives. I got within 3 hexes of Leningrad, 4 of Moscow and probably 10 from Rostov(not devoting resources to it) but there was no way of digging the Russians out of their forts.



In Leningrad region those forests and a stack of say 80 red and reinforcements was just dreadful. You grind into them and the mud hits and you mine as well swap a Panzer for a regular Army cause you have no use of it up North.

In the South you could do the most if you devote resources... It's the most open terrain all the way to Rostov.

In the end one opponent offered me a deal, if I could hold Minsk or I think it was Warsaw we would call it a draw... I thought that fairly generous...



Forts + Terrain + limited strategic frontage + a little luck = victory once you know game mechanics... The Russians in capable hands under 1.01 should never lose, so now. I don't know if I check this out and play a couple games on either side. I will report back. As it was I would say the Russians should win 100% of the time in 'capable hands' unless you broker a deal like Smolensk as a Victory Objective in 1.01 or All surrounding Cities in the AGN sector before Leningrad and

ultimately in the South I would say Kharkov... That's about the best any Fair German can do

[baloo7777]

If you don't do well vs the AI on normal as the Germans, does it mean that you probably would not do well against an average Russian pbem player?

[Michael T]

Who is this guy who never lost as Soviet?

[&o]

[WingedIncubus]

Indeed, who is this Red Army demigod or demigoddess? Impair us of your wisdom! [&o]

[Vic]

I would like to to a test run against a reasonably good German player (but not a genius either) with me playing the Soviets.

Any volunteers?

I'll do about 1 turn a day. If you want you can do an AAR, but I might surrender mid-game since for me the objective is to personally get a sense of balance with the current version.

PM me please.

Best wishes,
Vic

[Iñaki Harrizabalagatar]

I am playing a PBEM game vs Gunnalf, and by September 10th the frontline is very similar with the historical one, so so far I amvery happy with game balance.

[Flaviusx]

MT and I are going to give 1.01 a whirl to compare and contrast 1.02. He thinks he doesn't need all the goodies in 1.02 as the German. I don't entirely agree with that, the original accelerated reinforcement schedule is a bit much even if this was overcorrected in 1.02. But it'll be interesting to see how it shakes out.

I'm not convinced by either version at present. Like Goldilocks, I'm looking for something in between the two. The differences between the two are quite dramatic. 1.02 should probably have not introduced quite so many changes on the Soviet side as it did, and aimed for a more gradual testing approach.

[Flaviusx]

ORIGINAL: baloo7777

If you don't do well vs the AI on normal as the Germans, does it mean that you probably would not do well against an average Russian pbem player?

Honestly, unless you are MT (who is insane and actually played both sides at the same time to hone his skills, because he's just that kind of gaming machine) I would strongly recommend getting up to speed against the AI first as the German and be able to beat it on normal vanilla settings before plunging into PBEM.

For one thing, this will give you invaluable experience on the decision process as the Germans, and allow you to avoid pitfalls later on. It's pretty easy to bork this up the first few times and wind up with some very unhappy generals.

[Vic]

Right.. ignore my previous text in this post.

Trying to get a game started with Chuck.

best wishes,
Vic

[Michael T]

With version 1.02 I think Chuck will roll you Vic [:D]

Good luck...

[Vic]

ORIGINAL: Michael T

With version 1.02 I think Chuck will roll you Vic [:D]

Good luck...

Lets see

I'll keep you'all posted.

[battlevonwar]

I have never played the Soviets, beyond the beginning.. Really an amateur but in 1.01 when I am up it if you would like a game C: I would gladly take your Germans on with 'literally no Soviet Experience'...

Personally I beat the AI after many tries(but I don't read books either and learn from losing, it's so much more fun and who wants to know that there is a 4% advantage to an attack on a rail line? maybe after the fun)) I rather find out by accidents. Two of my Soviet opponents were as green as me. I would love to see a German sack Moscow/Leningrad and Rostov personally against equal skill

ORIGINAL: baloo7777

If you don't do well vs the AI on normal as the Germans, does it mean that you probably would not do well against an average Russian pbem player?

[baloo7777]

ORIGINAL: battlevonwar

I have never played the Soviets, beyond the beginning.. Really an amateur but in 1.01 when I am up it if you would like a game C: I would gladly take your Germans on with 'literally no Soviet Experience'...

Personally I beat the AI after many tries(but I don't read books either and learn from losing, it's so much more fun and who wants to know that there is a 4% advantage to an attack on a rail line? maybe after the fun)) I rather find out by accidents. Two of my Soviet opponents were as green as me. I would love to see a German sack Moscow/Leningrad and Rostov personally against equal skill

ORIGINAL: baloo7777

If you don't do well vs the AI on normal as the Germans, does it mean that you probably would not do well against an average Russian pbem player?

Hey battlevonwar. Were you asking me or someone else about a PBEM game?