How am I doing?

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:39 am

Hi!

In my 7th or 8th go as Axis vs the AI and was wondering if folks could look at my current situation (beginning first mud turn) and give me some feedback.

Analysis, comments, thoughts, recommendations... all welcome. Thanks!

Edit:

The map and stats have been posted a bit lower on the thread because they came out too small to read.

Thanks!

Klydon · Post by **Klydon** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:47 am

Losses for both sides look typical up to this point from what I have seen. Would say your line is too long going into winter. I would look to shorten it up where you can and also figure out where you are going to attack during the snow turns before blizzard hits because you need to reduce the amount of Russians that will be attacking you during winter. 

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:49 am

Images are a little small... let me see if I can fix that...

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:55 am

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Losses for both sides look typical up to this point from what I have seen. Would say your line is too long going into winter. I would look to shorten it up where you can and also figure out where you are going to attack during the snow turns before blizzard hits because you need to reduce the amount of Russians that will be attacking you during winter.

Sounds pretty sound to me. In the last few moves I've been concentrating on capturing as many Soviets as I can and am a bit disorganized.

I've noticed how the Soviets seem to have concentrated their airpower... should I be doing the same?

Here is a better shot of the stats:

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:04 pm

So let me see if I understand what is going to happen here.

First there will be mud, then snow and then blizzard.

If that is correct, should I concentrate on reforming and getting supplies to my Panzer Corps for a big push here or there when the weather turns to snow?

Do you think it is possible for me to isolate Leningrad or capture Moscow before the blizzard?

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:21 pm

Here is a little animation of my first 7 turns:

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 1:38 pm

Pretty good so far. A very long line to defend in the winter though.

You have not taken Odessa? That is going to hurt. Because I made that mistake versus the AI only 1 time. During the Blizzard the AI can blow right thru the Romanians and now you have trouble in your rear area. The AI actually sent 2 armor brigades in there and they raised all kinds of problems for me. Cutting rail lines, displacing air fields and HQ's.

I would rail some Germans down and kill that place during the snow. But the Romanians can kill it on their own, but I see Guard units there. Don't think they can handle that one.

ParaB · Post by **ParaB** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:12 pm

Just to provide some info: I'm also currently at turn 17 (1st mud) in my GC against (normal AI). I've captured Leningrad and Moscow and have advanced roughly to a line running from Tula to Rostov and am advancing towards Sevastopol on the Crimea. Axis losses are ~390.000, Soviet losses ~3.8 million.

The defences at Leningrad don't look too scary in your game, if you manage to take this city before the blizzards then I'd say you're still doing good. Getting the Finns to reinforce you line should be a very high priority.

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:09 pm

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR
I would rail some Germans down and kill that place during the snow. But the Romanians can kill it on their own, but I see Guard units there. Don't think they can handle that one.

I've assaulted Odessa three times and still the Romanians have failed to take it. [:@]

I'm not sure whose side they are fight for. [;)]

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:18 pm

ORIGINAL: ParaB
The defences at Leningrad don't look too scary in your game, if you manage to take this city before the blizzards then I'd say you're still doing good. Getting the Finns to reinforce you line should be a very high priority.

I figured that someone would recommend pushing hard on Leningrad. But I don't know if I have enough force to do it. Would you assault or try to isolate?

The Soviet dudes in front of Moscow seem quite brittle, and with a refit I might be able to encircle...

Sounds like you push a lot harder than I have been... perhaps I need to dial up the aggression.

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:25 pm

Well, you have gone further than I have territory wise. I find myself pulling the "horns" in to allow rail to close the distance and to allow infantry support to arrive.

The Finns are great, but I have found the swamps to be a royal pain. I have tried too many times to isolate Leningrad it is not even funny. I have yet to do it. Just cannot figure out the magic solution.

I take Odessa by force ASAP. I will use Germans if I have too. Depends on what he has there. He has Guards in your pic, I would have Germans hit him.

heliodorus04 · Post by **heliodorus04** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:36 pm

Hijacking thread, for a quick sec:
2-ACR:  Have you seen my posited idea for a house rule for the Finnish no-attack line?  House rule would be that Soviet player isn't allowed to create fortified regions along that line - have to defend it with actual units.  Basically creating forts along that line is gamey, to me, and ensures the Lake Ilmen right hook cannot succeed in opening the area for the Fins.

(Would be even cooler if WITE had a randomizer for that line that the Soviet couldn't see...)

*Lava* · Post by ***Lava*** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:47 pm

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR
The Finns are great, but I have found the swamps to be a royal pain. I have tried too many times to isolate Leningrad it is not even funny. I have yet to do it. Just cannot figure out the magic solution.

Yep... it's rough going.

The first time I took way too long to get there and ended up facing at least 3 level 4 forts.

Now this time I have got there quicker and there are a lot less forts. At the same time it appears that Leningrad itself is also light on forts and possibly vulnerable, but my mobile forces are not in a position to threaten.

Also, now that I took a hard look at the map, I notice that Odessa has at least 2 Guards units there...[X(]

The AI must be rotating forces in and out of Odessa. That would explain why I have been beating my head against the wall there, even with a 3 to 1 combat ratio.

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:47 pm

Yep, I have seen it. Right now, my opponents are (without me asking) placing units on the border. Granted they are not strong units. A few forts, but security regiments mainly.

But I can see how having 10 div covering that same line would make a difference. The randomizer for the no attack line would be great. Or even remove it entirely in human vs human play. Make it a versus AI handicap, but human versus human should be allowed the added flexibility.

I understand why it is there, to simulate the political air at the time, but heck, I doubt the Finns would have stopped if only a few border guards where there.

Zoetermeer · Post by **Zoetermeer** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:37 pm

ORIGINAL: ParaB

Just to provide some info: I'm also currently at turn 17 (1st mud) in my GC against (normal AI). I've captured Leningrad and Moscow and have advanced roughly to a line running from Tula to Rostov and am advancing towards Sevastopol on the Crimea. Axis losses are ~390.000, Soviet losses ~3.8 million.

The defences at Leningrad don't look too scary in your game, if you manage to take this city before the blizzards then I'd say you're still doing good. Getting the Finns to reinforce you line should be a very high priority.

Can you post a screenshot of your game? I have a hard time believing that you've managed to get Leningrad, Moscow, and Rostov all before the first mud hits, especially given that you haven't inflicted an unusually high number of casualties on the Soviets.

ParaB · Post by **ParaB** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:11 pm

ORIGINAL: Zoetermeer

Can you post a screenshot of your game? I have a hard time believing that you've managed to get Leningrad, Moscow, and Rostov all before the first mud hits, especially given that you haven't inflicted an unusually high number of casualties on the Soviets.

I've posted an AAR on SimHQ showing my progress.

BTW I haven't (yet) taken Rostov, just reached the city gates.

@Lava: I did cut off Leningrad 1st, and even then it was a brutal fight in the heavily fortified hexes. I don't know how accurate your reconnaissance is, from the screenshot it looks like a direct assault might work. The "right hook" IMO only works as long as you can surprise the Red Army. Slugging through the marches can be a real pain.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:45 pm

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

I have tried too many times to isolate Leningrad it is not even funny. I have yet to do it. Just cannot figure out the magic solution.

I am on my first Axis GC on Normal, AI Morale 110, and I butted into a very heavily defended Leningrad and Volkhov river line also around turn 11(?) I believe. I don't have a magic solution, but I used the 2 Pz Corps of AGN to sequentially isolate a stack north of Novgorod and then the stack above it. Once that was open I made a beeline for Tikhvin and then isolated the rest of the defenders as the AI hadn't fortified in depth. I took a fair number of losses and am still trying to reduce Leningrad (Turn 18), but I have turned the corner and the Finns are now free to help my line during winter.

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:17 pm

Must be nice, I hit a carpet defense up there every time. 3-4 rows of level 2+ defenses.

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