glvaca
Posts: 1312
Joined: 6/13/2006
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Zort
quote:
ORIGINAL: SMK-at-work
Err...the soviets giving up "vast tracks of land that politically they wouldn't have" is pretty much nonsense - it was taken from them! Remember the dates those cities fell - mink T3, Smolensk T8
the southern cities longer but only because of the effort that was put into caturing up to Smlensk - then they swung south - up until the southern swing the Axis had only advanced as far as Tarnapol in the Ukraine - in FITE they can normally keep the southern advance in line with the northern one and take Kiev by T10-13 instead of 27.
In fact the Axis player almost alwys carried out this optimum strategy and I see no reason why hte Soviet should be unished for carrying out the onely sensible response given the way he's already shackled by things like losing tank production when non-tank producing cities are lost, by random freezing of armies due low shock and the like!
I always love this arguement. In fact in the game between SMK and me, he did not reinforce the frontier units in the south but started a line at the Dnepr. Could he have pushed guys forward, yes but piecemeal since the rail capacity is less in my mod then in the stock game.
Whereas Karri pulled his forces back such that it took me 5 to 8 turns to get to them. He gave up all the urkraine, everything south of the Luga line and west of smolensk. So he gave up just about everything the germans took historically by oct.
Remember the soviets did hold out longer in the south historically and the germans bypassed Kiev with their armor to surround the soviets at Ulman. The soviets didn't give up the Ukraine as has been done in both the games I am playing now. The Germans couldn't take Kiev with their inf and the soviets gave them the opportunity to surround them. I don't see the massive armies being surrounded very often in FITE. It does happen though. Most of the time once the soviets have dugin the game becomes WW1, who can attrite who based on the production system. Which did happen historically and the germans lost. But the soviets still lost thousands which was based on their strategy and capabilities.
I don't see the soviets being punished either for doing the best strategy for them. But once we launch into comparing the game to what historically happened we then have to balance the game. On paper there is no way the germans can win and I bet most players stop at the first cease fire since the germans didn't get to moscow. There are a few games that go on but I bet not many. So if the soviets want to fall back to the furthest defensible terrian then fine, but then the germans should be able to get back into supply much more quickly so they if they punch a hole then it will be much more devasating then historically, ie the germans might win.
I respectfully disagree. The Germans CAN win before the onset of mud, even when confronted with a runaway defense. The key is to have multiple combat rounds (4-5-6) and mass your Pz and PzG divisions and Arty for the breakthrough. Use your airforce/arty to un-entrench those Russian divisions and have plenty of Arty and Air in the attack to support. You'll hurt your bombers but that's what they are for. The key is to be patient, don't rush. Do NOT attack the Russians when dugin and/or with arty to back them up. If you spot arty in reserve behind the line go after the arty with bombers and/or your long range arty to un-entrench the succers so they won't fire defensively. A strong line of 3-4 deep will take multiple turns to break through sheer weight of numbers and force. I usually have 1/3 of the forces resting/resupplying while the 1/3 is attacking and the other 1/3 is close by to exploit a potential breakthrough.
Do NOT try to advance (fight) over the entire length of the front. It won't work and the Russians will thank you for it. Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate! The AGS is lavish on Arty so redeploy 2/3 to AGC. Take your time to setup for the attack (but don't dally), assemble the troops, convert the raillines, stock up on supply especially for the arty. But when you start, don't let up, keep on pounding but make sure you rotate the front line troops so they are in peak condition while his force deteriorates. Keep the front wide as to threaten from all directions, make him defend every stretch of it by just being there. After a few turns you will see that he starts running out of fresh divisions and resistance will crumble. If you have done it properly you will have launched 2 attacks or 2 pinchers which then move to encircle (or threaten) to encircle his line and he will have no choice but to retreat. Once you have broken the line and he is on the run, throw your panzer and moterized divisions in the pursuit with recless abondon. If you have done it properly you will have rested reserves which will now prove their worth as the Russian infantry, battered and disorganized will not be able to get away quickly enough.
When you reach his next line, catch your breath and repeat the above. However, each time will be easier as his divisions will have less and less supply and heavy equipment and less arty to back him up.
Another common strategy is the Soviet player leaving strong rear guards in Kiev and Odessa in a strong defensive postion guaranteed to cost the Axis lots and lots of casualties. More often then not, the Axis takes the bait and wrecks a good part of his army of a few less replacements for the Soviets. 
My advice; encircle and move on. After a turn or 5-6, they will be so weakened by lack of supply they will evaporate like snow under the sun at almost no cost.
Lastly, CONCENTRATE! Not only Pz, PzG divs but also infantry and arty on the main axis of advance. When converting rail lines, pick a few important ones and concentrate on those alone. Do not try to convert all lines at once! You need to get there quickly on the few axis that matter.
In most of those beautifully AAR I see the same mistakes over and over. Once you become a master of the above, the Russians will suddenly seem so much more fragile and you will conclude that against a skillfull Axis player, the Russians will need all the help they can get.
If anyone is interested, I'll play the original FiTE as the German gladly.
Best,
Glenn
|
Printable Version
RE: Buzz's Fite Mod - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread