Matrix Games Forums

you are correct sir, they are good for building but you should disband them when the front arrives. Based on what I see so far from my games and other that are in progress (PBEM) i can't see many German players getting historical results in there attacks due to Russian players falling back quickly (no reason not too in my opinion) and not taking the losses they did in real life. Unless your losses are severe you get a ridiculous amount of troops to fill your ranks and with the blizzard effects they can march right through the best set up defenses. Of course i could be wrong but thats how it has gone for me so far.

On the screenshot of your #285 message (near Leningrad) we can clearly see your opponent has not understood how these fortified regions should be used though, as Randall has said. They are supposed to be well on the rear, far from the fight [:)]

He is learning for sure, but I can tell you he has done better so far than my other opponent, who i routed across the map in every area but Leningrad. This guy has reserve positions and has positioned his troops well so far. The question is can it hold up to 3 months of assault[X(].

I am thinking of offering a challenge game in the 42 campaign to someone and seeing how that plays out. Might be more balanced.

From what I am reading on the forums I smell a big, fat rat... [:D] Maybe I'm wrong but it looks like a lot of people are complaining about the Soviets being too powerful, the horrendous massacre during the blizzard... Not saying they are wrong. Just that I think many people (most of the German players possibly) want the Soviets to be castrated [:'(] They might win after all.

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

From what I am reading on the forums I smell a big, fat rat... [:D] Maybe I'm wrong but it looks like a lot of people are complaining about the Soviets being too powerful, the horrendous massacre during the blizzard... Not saying they are wrong. Just that I think many people (most of the German players possibly) want the Soviets to be castrated [:'(] They might win after all.

I for one don't want the Soviets to castrated but I think that German defensive values should drop slower than they do now. It seems like one turn there fine, the next there rubbish. A decline in values over 2-3 weeks would be better IMO.

The testers seem to be monitoring these AARs and want data on Blizzard effects. Let's give them data. I plan to play both sides, and want a fair game both ways.

One thing is certain: if the game is well designed (I take it that indeed it is), the Germans should survive the first winter and resume offensive operations in 1942. But of course, we all are noobs... So avoiding the destruction of the Axis during this first blizzard / nightmare could be complicated (German players are not supposed to be Patton, Manstein etc.).

So it's hard to know... Maybe it's simply the noob's (all of us) fault. So if the Soviets are castrated, when the level of the players will be increased (inevitable) maybe we will find out that the Soviets will then be very weak. Time will tell.

EDITED: Miller, I beg you pardon for bringing this thing. Not trying to hijack YOUR AAR [:)]

Ditto, although I only have played the Soviet side I do want the game to be challenging and as fair as it can be. It is a blast to play and if the German player is rewarded for pulling up prior to the winter and has a chance to survive intact with alot of hitting power I think 42 could be a really fun time for equal players. If he wants to risk an all for nothing lunge before the winter then he should suffer more from not being able to dig in. In this game my opponent chose to hold up and dig in, it should be harder for me to push him back then it was in my other game where my opponent went for an offensive in November and was really strung out when the blizzard hit. Will have to wait and see how the situation in each game looks after the first winter and how the Germans recover. My offensive in the other game is over, it is second week of march and i am stopping to gid in and rest my tired troops.

Bowling night again[:-] so no map posts, but here are the losses and production as of turn 28. Will do maps after next turn. I had no major breakthroughs and he is doing a fighting withdrawal and doing it well. Notice his effective combat strength though, it is getting low.

Soviet Air Force completely sitting in national reserve?

Nope, actually they are at the front, just cant seem to do anything, attacks are with so few aircraft it is not worth it right now. Just doing recon and partisan supply.

It just seemed like a lot of planes in the pool to me.

Dude, they are produced like rabbits[:D] I have about 8 airbases I am moving forward just to accommodate them but their mostly useless at the moment.

I also saw you chimed in on the "Utter Madness" thread about a players losses not making sense. I read that entire thread and you know while people may have some good points in it, there were way to many personal attacks for my tastes. I have read many Eastern Front books, mostly written from the german prospective, and even then most writers agree that soviet infantry for the most part fought hard more often than not, even against panzer divisions. I expect some losses no matter how overwhelming the odds, because lets face it, people are shooting back at you when you attack and losses are going to happen. Sometimes plans don't work as they should either[:D]

And the year turns over, it is Jan 42 (Turn 29 for you time challenged people[:D])
The Red army continues to grind away at the Germans all along the line. Have managed to cut off a Panzer Division but otherwise it is assault after assault to work through his line.

Here are the losses and strengths up to now.[:D] This is after all my attacks for the turn.

Leningrad front. Am doing better here than I expected and believe i can break through the swamps before the blizzard ends. I am surprised I was able to push him out of the entrenchments here considering the time he had to set it up. Blizzards really suck if your from Germany

Will say though that my losses have been heavy attacking him, normally about over 3-1.

Kalanin front, have reserves i am not committing because the infantry armies are doing well in the rough terrain.

Learned in the other game to keep a reserve because the front line armies are going to burn out quickly. Not many attacks here, he pulled back and I just moved up. Going to draw me away from my rails[X(]




.

Smolensk, this front is looking better for me. To many russians

Kursk Orel front. Did see a result that surprised me. Panzer Division in a town, dug in to level 3 attacked by 6 infantry divisions retreated, figured being dug in in a town would help them hold longer.

Gotta keep pushin him despite being on the losing end of some casualty counts;  I always like hitting from 3 or 4 hexes onto 1.

That little group of Germans west of Leningrad could be put in trouble if you send some reserves that way; displace the division stacked with the HQ, HQ leaves behind it's supplies,  take some slaps at the panzer division.

Some of the Germans ahead of Reserve Front could be surrounded before attacked; namely the fort unit stacked with something else, the hex 2 spaces south, and the yellow-level experience division in the swamp.

Unless you are worried about things collapsing later on, maybe you can disband your own forts set up near Moscow.

That German HQ on the lower part of the map may be alone; bomb it.    Support squads are soft and the HQ will lose supplies n' fuel.