Razing the Reich

[janh]

Yes, this game isn't about winning or loosing for Pelton or Michael anymore, that's rationally over since Pelton failed to adjust his axis of advance once he got stuck in the Valdai to keep going elsewhere, but instead fled to Poland. It is now about watching what the game allows. And I hope it will brand the retreat a very bad tactic, giving a clear major victory well ahead of spring 45. Just as -- correct me if I am wrong -- it so far stands that a too voluntary and too far Russian 41 retreat leaves them too far behind schedule to make Berlin in time if the German player defends skillfully.

ORIGINAL: carlkay58
He has gotten some advice from The Unknown Player. Essentially using minor allies stacked with Germans to increase the SUs available for the defense and to spread the losses better away from the Germans. There seems to be some other things that it can do and it seems to be a new twist that the Axis can use to defend better and get some relief for German manpower.

I don't get this, can someone enlighten me? Yes, I followed the numbers game above, and the Wehrmacht will (perhaps?) be relieved manpower-wise with this tactic. But at the same time with my Russian experience I would be delighted to see that -- and would focus now on grinding forward in the south. Hitting a mixed Rumanian/Axis stack is cheaper than hitting a double-Axis-ID stack. It might serve to build Russian morale. Plus, the Axis minor pools are also finite, and in my experience I'd say I often am scraping the bottom of that barrel for a while come 43.

Not only is the terrain much more favorable in the south, but it allows stretching the Axis lines longer and longer, which is of Russian benefit anytime after December 41. Ideally until the minors surrender and he has to man the whole southern belly with Wehrmacht units? One might be able to lure Pelton in holding his Riga line while outflanking him via Lvov? Maybe a possibility for a turning movement there?

[Michael T]

Janh there is no chance of any kind of movement battle that I can instigate. It takes entire fronts to dislodge 1 or 2 hexes. His units did not suffer the morale and troop losses normally associated with a 42 Wehrmacht. He still has 1941 type INF units. He has moved behind the dniepr in the south. His stacks cost 1000's and 1000's to dislodge. As stated above all I can do is bleed him. And at some considerable cost.

[randallw]

Attacking with a single brigade may not be high enough odds ( on the attacking side ) to even make defending activations possible.

[randallw]

Oh, and this has certainly become a grudge match.

[Michael T]

this game isn't about winning or loosing for Pelton or Michael anymore

No, I want to win.

A brigade against a 3 or even 2 division stack in a level 3 fort just dies for no apparent effect. If only interdiction affected reserves I might have a chance.

[sillyflower]

Michael

I read both AARs and I think you worry too much about 'leakage' for want of a better word.

Obviously I can't give away anything on P's AAR, but there is nothing to indicate any sort of inappropriate behaviour. Unsuprising - P has beeen able to read your AAr until very recently. Even without that access, your strategy will have been very clear to P.

There are players with more late game experience as German than most and he has had some advice from them. There is no reason to think that that comes from anything other than their experience as opposed to from reading your AAR.

[Seminole]

It is an incredibly difficult task to try and achieve anything with this 1942 Red Army. No one should mistake that.

I'll get my AAR rolling again and you can see how I learned that lesson the hardway!

I wouldn't mind if Pelton came up with his own ideas, but when individuals seek to offer him potential 'silver bullets' then I think that’s a little unfair and something I would not endorse.

I don't care who came up with the ideas, but I do find AARs that don't explore an individuals actions, but instead keep them secret, to be hollow bores. AARs should be about tactics and exploring the nuances of the game engine.
For some people it's about the d*ck waving instead.

[Ketza]

This game is one for the ages. One of the most enjoyable AARs going.

[Flaviusx]

Michael, are you using offensive reserves?

I do not agree at all with these human wave attacks you are putting in. You're getting in around 2k guns per attack. That's manifestly inadequate.

These same assaults conducted 6 months from now will have double or even triple the amount of guns, including oodles of mortars. Not just from arty divisions, but also upgrades to your corps. You will be closing in on a 10:1 firepower superiority at that point, and that makes all the difference in the world. Right now you are at around 3:1. Pelton is consistently getting 700ish guns into each battle.

[Michael T]

Yes I use reserves where possible, depends on the situation.

Pelton is only putting up examples of worst case battles. You need to look at the overall results.

I am winding back the attacks slightly. I am being more selective and I am looking to accumulate some ARM's now. I still aim to put a drain on his manpower and ARM pools.

[hfarrish]

Would be good to get a sense again (when you feel comfortable) of what the overall strategic situation looks like and where you are focusing your efforts - granted if the front is moving by inches then I guess we wouldn't need to see it very often. Feels a bit abstract at the moment, but then again I don't have to do the work...

[Michael T]

I have a map ready to go, just waiting for the game to progress a bit more. But you won't see any changes in the lines apart from the odd hex here and there.

[mevstedt]

An OOB would be nice and shouldn't be of any real use to Pelton.

Also, maybe some pool numbers (averages or from a few turns back or so) unless you feel too uncomfortable with that considering Pelton is quite good at guesstimating growth per turn.

[Michael T]

OK I am finished my attacks for the current turn and I have had pleasing results. I cannot say what I am doing differently as I don't want a counter formulated thru leakage, they can figure it out for themselves. But I have toned down my level of suicide to what I beleive will still bleed the hun and allow me to accumulate men and ARM.

Total assault losses for my attacks were 22K Axis (~20K German) to 54K Soviet. I am pretty sure I can maintain losing around 50K a turn and still build a reserve. And I am getting more Corp in to the line every turn. Things can only get better barring a sudden counter attack from Pelton, but I am being as careful as I can. Maps and data in a turn or two [;)]

[AFV]

54:24 ratio (2.25:1) seems quite favorable. If this was a "normal" game, with the German on the offensive, I think I would be quite pleased with that loss ratio.

[Michael T]

Yes thats true, if it were a 'normal' 1942 then the Soviets would be very happy to only lose 50K of troops to German attacks. Pelton stopped attacking long ago.

[randallw]

If this leakage problem continues, see your primary care physician.

[Gunnulf]

Been following this with interest for a while. I must admit I really hope the Axis crumbles for the good of the game. It would be a real shame if 'invade deep into Russia, pack up and go home for winter then invade again in spring' became a valid strategy. Not much Germanic martial spirit there.
Does seem like as pointed out above the losses you are taking are high, but possibly nothing compared to what you would be losing getting routed and pocketed all over the steppes. And if the front line is still where it was last map update you must be drawing in much more manpower from the centre's he is foregoing by not being 500 miles east where he should be by now? Each hex you ultimately have to take between here and Berlin will cost, but you have less to take back. So I guess the only worry is the armaments situation as the one constraint you have is standard factories I guess. But as above you could be losing alot more under 'normal' circumstances.
Keep flying the banner mate.

[BletchleyGeek]

ORIGINAL: Ketza
This game is one for the ages.

It's going to get right into my personal Hall of Fame, along with the Tarhunnas vs. Gids game [:)]

[Michael T]

Situation End Soviet T59 (30 July 1942) Clear. Delay 3 turns.

Not a great deal to add as its pretty much all been said above. Not a lot I can do other than chip away at the Axis OOB and Arm Pools, while building Red Army 2.0. My 'Stalin' attacks continue but this turn was the last where they were unlimited. My rule of thumb now is to limit my attack losses to around 50K, less if my target of German losses is met.

This is what Pelton doesn't get, I am not interested in win/loss ratio's, as in retreats V holds. My only concern is the loss ratio of permanent losses V permanent losses. This turn you will see my attacks cost me 73K and Pelton 27K. The ratio in the turns since have been better for me but he has lost fewer men, around 20K each time. T61 saw the ratio very close to 2:1

Pelton has become very passive. He rarely attacks. And even in some cases will not reoccupy hexes I have retreated him from, afraid of defending unfortified hexes I guess. I don't mind, this just gets me closer to Berlin.

Things are still going according to plan. His new reserve system caused a hiccup for a turn or 2 but we have adapted and it no longer has any real effect on what I do. Actually I don't mind as it costs him more ARM to replace his Mech losses.

I now just bomb his Mech units sitting in reserve to the max, obviously I concentrate on the units in the immediate vicinity of any planned attacks.

I will post some OOB shots of my big bangers soon. They are an impressive bunch of bullies.