Russia: Motherland or Lebensraum - All Welcome (Dinglir vrs SparkleyTits)

[Dinglir]

As I have now received turn five finished from SParkley, the AAR can commence.

[STEF78]

Good luck, ST is a very good player.

some comments:
- about my rate of play: You're right, I'm not retired and thus do my turn within 2 hours max when everyone sleeps at home. I can afford more time on the week end...
- at least 2 pockets in the South look breachable
- 105% for the morale is also a big advantage for the axis in 1941. You will get inf units at 99% exp / morale against newly formed USSR units…
- Is 80% logistics for both side or only for the axis?

[timmyab]

Looking forward to this one.

The Northern Pocket may be a bit leaky just South of Riga. This shouldn't be a problem though.

I agree that the Center pocket should hold. Actually a bit of a game design fault when you consider that in real life the Germans couldn't stop it leaking with five pz corps.

In the South I think that all three pockets can be resupplied. Whether Sparkley will chose to resupply the Kovel pocket is another question. I probably wouldn't bother. I would certainly burn a division in the Tarnopol area though to resupply the Lvov pocket. This is something that the game gets right in that it's nearly always a good idea to sacrifice a Soviet division if it causes significant hold ups for the Axis player.
I'm glad you haven't done an extended pocket. Personally I'd be happy with a house rule that forbids it.

The Soviet 34th tank division looks more threatening than it really is. If I remember correctly a hasty attack with a pz corps should shift it.

Yeah the fort attack was a shocker. Luckily it's not a critical attack.

Good luck with the game.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

Both great players so should be a really good game I am unsure of the consequences the morale and logistics will have since any addition is always a plus for the Germans since they have the advantage early game. But we shall see. Good luck to both of you.

@ Stef: I wish I could do my turns in 2 hours

[Dinglir]

Hi all.

The logistics modifier is for both sides, which should also make the coming Soviet attacks more challenging.

As for the Moral rating, remember that the National Morale of either side is the same as always. It is simply the chance of a morale increase due to training, retreating instead of routing etc that has changed. I do see some decent advantages in this for the early war Soviets as well.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

ORIGINAL: Dinglir

Hi all.

The logistics modifier is for both sides, which should also make the coming Soviet attacks more challenging.

As for the Moral rating, remember that the National Morale of either side is the same as always. It is simply the chance of a morale increase due to training, retreating instead of routing etc that has changed. I do see some decent advantages in this for the early war Soviets as well.

Exactly, the modifiers moved and basically you have status quo with different thresholds. With that being said the Germans still has the advantage early game.

[Dinglir]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
Exactly, the modifiers moved and basically you have status quo with different thresholds.

Unlike most people around here, I do not believe that the Germans are actually overpowered as such. Instead, I believe it is the attack itself that has been given to much power. This usually translate into the Germans winning as they start on the offensive.

By nerfing the logistics modifier, the possibilities for deep penetrations are severely reduced. Once you leave the railheads behind, that lack of fuel will hurt you whether you are Soviet or Axis.

If the Soviets stand a better chance of surviving the fall of 1941, getting more of the production evacuated east, losing less manpower centers to deep penetrations etc, they WILL have a better chance of winning the overall game.

Besides that, the fact that the Axis are less able to "script" their advance (having seen every situation 25 times before), that will also help blunting the German blitzkrieg of 1941.

Anyways, shaking the game settings up a little also help create a new challenge for both players. In my opinion, that alone makes the changes a good idea.

[xhoel]

Looking forward to this. The modifiers are interesting and would be nice to see how they affect the game as it goes. Will be following!

[bigbaba1111]

very nice. finaly a new AAR. booked!

[mrhuggles]

Exciting, I don't know who I'm rooting for [:D]

Also that's a lot of planes...

[AFV]

I am genuinely excited to see you back, Dinglir. Your AARs are simply the best. I hope to learn a lot from your triumphs (and failures)- but wishing both of you the best.
I like adding the modifiers. I am always amazed at how people complain about balance but never use any modifiers!

5,691 Soviet aircraft killed on T1 is excellent. Its not an A+ (that's 6,696- Beender, he uses Black Magic), but you have a solid A here.

North and Central look pretty good. I think there is a good chance that the Central pocket was broken SE of Minsk however. I guess we will soon see!

I think in the South- I am guessing the initial pocket was broken, around Tarnopol. However, that is not a disaster, just not optimal. We will soon see of course, fingers crossed.

Questions:
Your spreadsheets- how do you actually populate them? (ie do you use the export function in game or?)
Did you use any AP points on T1?
Where are your planned rail routes?

[56ajax]

I like you calling him Sparkley and not.....

If you think he is a slow player should see me...

In our game ST handed me my hat and pushed me out the door by T11 so good luck.....

[Dinglir]

ORIGINAL: AFV
I am genuinely excited to see you back, Dinglir. Your AARs are simply the best. I hope to learn a lot from your triumphs (and failures)- but wishing both of you the best.

Thanks. Good to be back.

As for the spreadsheets, they are done the oldfashioned way with simply typing the values into the spreadsheet.

[Dinglir]

ORIGINAL: 56ajax

I like you calling him Sparkley and not.....

If you think he is a slow player should see me...

In our game ST handed me my hat and pushed me out the door by T11 so good luck.....

The term I use is "slow paced". Simply saying "slow" is implying something a bit different

If Sparkley, playing as the Soviets, is capable of kicking me out the door (ie out of the Soviet Union) by turn 11, I will be more than a little impressed...

[SparkleyTits]

If I could somehow achieve that unholy miracle I would think seppuku was in order Dinglr!

[Dinglir]

Turn Two

[schascha]

Very good AAR thx[&o][&o][&o]

Good luck for the game

[Crackaces]

I am very interested in how altering starting parameters affects game play. It looks like it has had a desired effect.

[SparkleyTits]

One thing about the morale modifiers is that only the NM cap is increased, it does not higher the actual morale of any units when they come into play they are just bog standard rolls so I have to do training to get the benefits

[Dinglir]

ORIGINAL: schascha

Very good AAR thx[&o][&o][&o]

Good luck for the game

Thanks, hope you will enjoy it.