Matrix Games Forums

HardLuckYetAgain wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:06 pm

jasonbroomer wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:58 pm I don't quite understand this question.

are you asking is it possible for Axis to win before '41 winter?

Obviously its a 100% yes.

Or are you asking how likely is Germany to win?

Against equal opponents what is the likelihood that a German can win before Winter of 41 with highwater mark VP attainment.

Between equal opponents I think it is impossible for either side to win in 41, which is how it should be.

If you broadly group players into Beginner/Intermediate/Expert I think that...

- An expert player can beat a beginner with either side in 1941(Axis) or the 01/01 1942 sudden loss check (Soviet)
- An intermediate Soviet player can beat a beginner Axis player at either 1942 sudden loss check
-An intermediate Axis player can beat a beginner Soviet by the 01/10/42 sudden victory check
- Most intermediate vs intermediate games will get past 1942 although if the Soviet player makes some big mistakes the 01/10/42 victory is achievable for the Axis player. If the Axis player makes big mistakes and wrecks their army/doesn't make much headway in 1942 the 1943 Soviet victory checks are achievable.
- Most Expert vs Expert games will go to the 1944 HWM check or to the Berlin victory conditions. That said it is the expert players who are most likely to be pushing the boundaries of the game engine and finding 'exploits' (note I don't intend this to be a value laden term) in the game engine that might potentially break campaigns and lead to early victories/resignations.

Personally I think the VP system is really good in terms of achieving what it is intended to do - bringing early ends to games that are unbalanced in terms of player skill and otherwise giving a historical framework for a game between two players of equivalent skill.

That said I don't think there is a 'right' way to play and enjoy the game. Whilst it is not my own cup of tea I completely understand how players on both sides might prefer the more fluid/volatile gameplay of 1941/early 42 and not have so much interest in playing campaigns out into the later years and a slow attritional Soviet march towards the 1944 HWM/Berlin. As with so many games I think it comes down to player matching and finding an opponent who wants to play in the same way as you do. Under the current VP system a straightforward way for two equally accomplished players to compete without having to play the later years would be to agree to play two games to a certain date in 1942 (or even 1941 if you want a game that short), swapping sides half way through, and seeing who gets the higher VP score for the Axis at that date.

It will be virtually impossible for a German player to beat a Soviet player who is of the same caliber before winter (and should be EXTREMELY difficult to ever win). I will vote 1-5% on the 1 out of 100 games the Soviet player just plays consistently very poorly.