IronDuke_slith
Posts: 1595
Joined: 6/30/2002
From: Manchester, UK
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I just got sent a copy of this (my thanks to Buzz and SMK). Just a few random early thoughts, no order of important, these are just the things I was poking around with first.
Replacements
I noticed the SS units for AXIS are set to very high priority when everything else seems to be set to High.
Historically, I don't think it was the case that the SS were given priority replacements. The only examination of the issue I've seen was Zetterling's in Normandy 1944 and you certainly couldn't show the SS had priority using tank deliveries. The Germans essentially ran most units into the ground before withdrawing them for rebuilding. Some infantry formations were disbanded, after service on the eastern front left just a handful to form the cadre of something new, but armoured formations were generally built and rebuilt because they took the brunt of the fighting.
Even more to the point, the Germans from summer 1942 onwards allowed the strengths of the infantry divisions in some sectors to take a hit in order to ensure the formations taking part in Blau were at 85%+ strength. This was a policy that continued on throughout the war as some divisions were downgraded in status as fit for defensive operations only or fit for limited offensive operations etc.
I'd argue the only real priority is for the mobile troops over the infantry troops. Certainly, as the war progresses, the AXIS essentially mass armoured reserves to counterattack Soviet breaches. The ever thinning front line is held by weakening infantry formations. This is essentially my experience of FitE during Winter 41 counterattack as well.
So, I'd suggest dropping the replacement priority for SS formations or increasing the replacement priority for all Pzgr and Panzer formations. The main item in quesiton are clearly the Heavy rifle Squads and if the Germans are going to sustain offensive operations, these need to be given priority when rebuilding.
Since some infantry divisions were rebuilt or reinforced to full strength at different times to support offensive operations, one option might be to "decide" on (say) 25% of German infantry formations that are given a boost in priority. As these units reinforce faster, the German player could remove them from the line and asign them offensive tasks wherever he pleases as the war progresses. We could create a list of these formations for player use. Gamey? A little, but then it would allow the concentration of these fitter formations for Blau in 42 and Citadel in 43.
One other option might be to create "SS heavy rifle" squads in the bio editor and give them their own replacement pool, reducing the overall pool accordingly. Then, I'd set everything to Normal priority save the premier formations which were rebuilt time and time again like Liebstandarte, Das Reich, Totenkopf and Wiking. This would see them strengthened at the expense of some of the lightweight SS formations.
Without this, I think recreating full or close to full strength armoured formations in summer of 1942 might be difficult unless the Wehrmacht had a really easy time in 1941.
Shock
What is this actually simulating? I see the point of shock in 1941 as the Soviet C3 meltsdown and without it, Soviet player will halt the AXIS too early. General shock levels are also fine because they help simulate general combat efficiency.
However, in the winter of 41, the Germans lost heavily because of factors which can already be simulated without giving the Soviets ten turns of advantage.
They were weak after months of heavy casualties and few replacements; they were ill supplied; they were facing increasingly hostile weather; they were in exposed forward positions with big flanks frequently in the air; the Soviets were massing enough to achieve local superiority in areas they wanted to.
All of the above can be simulated. Since most Soviet offensives were well masked, I can see value in giving them two turns of shock to simulate that and aid the breakthrough, but after that the shock should be wholly dependent on the German operational position.
In other words, lets imagine a German player has reached the line of the of the Luga, Lovat, Ugra, Oka and Donetz late in 1941. Lets imagine he has dug in behind these rivers with infantry formations that have time to become fully supplied before the Soviets attack. Lets imagine casualties were not prohibitive and railheads have been established and forward troops are fortified behind rivers at decent supply.
Why are we giving big shock bonuses to the Soviets for turn after turn when the German player has not created any of the operational conditions that gave the Soviets the advantage in late 1941? It was a surprise, so they should have two turns, but by the end of the first week etc, the surprise was wearing off. Much the same for the post Typhoon drop to 80%. If the Germans have really stretched themselves out in going for the prize during Typhoon, fail and are exposed, the Soviets have the conditions necessary for to hit back.
I'd be tempted to revamp the German and Soviet position re shock completely. One idea I had was to create several shock theatre options for each side, each year, from winter 41 onwards. Each one would generate two turns of shock advantage (although this is open to suggestion). If the German player had three at the turn of 1942, he could choose to use them whenever he wished before they disappeared at the end of 1942 and were replaced by "Shock 43" events. The Soviets would get more since they routinely launched more offensive action in most years after 1941.
This would allow the two sides to pick and choose when they launched their offensive action and where. It would also allow limited offensive action at times, since a surprise offensive to snap out a bridgehead could be done without endangering proper offensive action elsewhere which could utilise one of the year's other shock theatre options. Under the current system, anything the German players wants to do in 1942 has to happen during Blau if he wants shock advantage. It also gives the other side advance intel on when something is likely to happen.
Just a suggestion, but with the odd house rule, this might open up the system to a little variety.
Any thoughts? Including any starting with "The game system wouldn't allow this to be done in this way" at which point I'll shut up completely.
regards,
IronDuke
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RE: German trucks - 
- they don't break down and there's not as many of them and they're quite easy to trap and kill!!
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