Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Michael T

Mild Winter and the no 2-1 rule are both optional. So its up to the players what they want. FWIW my leaning is 2-1 gone, 75 fort level and I will probably be playing with the stock blizzard rules. I have always thought the mild winter goes to far. Personally I would be much happier with the stock winter rules if they would just remove the 1 pt morale loss each turn, make it 50% or something.

The mild winter option is far more historical. No way the entire Wehrmacht should turn to glass. Not that historical is the only consideration.

IMO both blizzard rules are too extreme. Stock too harsh, mild.. well too mild. So with 1-1 gone and a fort reduction and Soviet morale lessened in 41 I think adding the mild winter as well pushes the pendulum too far in the Axis favour. Balance is the issue here for me, as I want as even a contest as I can make before player skill is applied. But its up to the players. If I were Soviet and my Axis opponent wanted a mild winter I doubt I would grant the 1-1 nulling as well. Thats just my take.

T23 - OOB

T24 - North

Final view of the north before blizzard.

T24 - Center

Three attacks on Moscow. Just look at the odds. 14:1 against a heavy urban hex with level 3 fort.

I Corps and Manstein's Corps will be sheltered in Moscow during the blizzard. Most other tanks will be sheltered in urban hexes, cities, and level 4 towns. I will try to hold every city and urban hex for as long as possible.

I have setup a fort checkerboard. The first row of forts are all level 2. The second row has units on reserve. He has to decide whether he wants to attack the first row head on or if he wants to move into the empty hex between the forts. If he does the latter he will be attacked from four sides.

T24 - Orel/Kursk/Kharkov

Same defensive setup here but I will retreat the first two turns until I reach the major cities.

T24 - South

I cleared the Don bend one last time. The focus here is on Rostov and Stalino. I will try to hold Voroshilograd for as long as possible. The mountain divisions will be very helpful in this sector.

T24 - Ground Losses

T24 - Air Losses

T24 - Production

Manpower is down because of all the forts.

T24 - OOB

G'day,

So based upon the conversation above and what we do (or do not) know about the next patch; what should the list of 'standard' Settings and House Rules be for a new Grand Campaign game?

Please see my wider question (and add any responses) on the main forum page under the 1.08 patch thread.

Don

Creative play. With the milder blizzard rules, I don't know the impact, but in the past with your set up 1] it is expensive AP wise (4 AP a pop) 2) it is a drain on manpower, 3) the increase in fort strength in winter ,mud, and blizzard turns is so slow that those hexes are not bastions of defense (unlike cites) and they offer no "extra" defense, they're a unit merely occupying space (ie. ineffectual in your plans), 4)GH's cavalry still reigns supreme and your set up doesn't hinder them, 5) the depth of AGS fort network ??? why ?

Again your play is impressive and personally I'm learning a lot, but your unique blizzard setup makes me scratch my head.

I count 122 fortification zones !!! ??? I haven't heard of any early Thanksgiving sale on them !!!

Most of the FZs were build way ahead of blizzard. Yes, some of them have not reached level 2 and some have not even reached level 1. Building FZs during blizzard is indeed a waste of AP unless you need a unit to prevent the Soviets from marching through.

FZs will be disbanded before they are overrun by Russian troops so the manpower is not lost. Sometimes there are miscalculations and I lose one or two.

We are playing with Sudden Death. Running away is simply not an option and is not my style of game play.

It's an interesting blizzard with lots of fighting back and forth. Maybe not the smartest way to play but definitely lots of fun and excitement.

ORIGINAL: HITMAN202
4)GH's cavalry still reigns supreme and your set up doesn't hinder them,

exactly my thoughts

Your troops are very close to the enemy! Around 4 division could be encircled in the first turn, more in the 2nd.

T25 - North

I stand my ground in the north and center. Luftwaffe will mostly stay in service. Half the bombers are in reserve and will be rotated.

T25 - Center

I and LVI Corps are sheltered in Moscow. My defense relies heavily on level 4 towns, cities, urban hexes and hexes with level 2 forts.

Sorry, I forgot to switch over to defensive CV.

T25 - South

I immediately use my mountain divisions for preemptive attacks.

T25 - Overview