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Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 12:43:58 AM

RCHarmon
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I'm still very new at this game and have been through my 3rd blizzard as Germans (vs AI, normal). Here is what happened and is causing me some consternation:

Pre-blizzard: I had closed in on Leningrad had them surrounded, but had not taken the ports to finish the job. I decided to try and hold this position through the blizzard and try to get the ports in early '42. I started digging in when mud came. With so many troops up north this left about 50 miles in the south that the Romanians were going to have to hold. The Reds had taken 3 Million casualties and I hoped for a quieter blizzard then my previous 2.

The blizzard like always was brutal. Brutal in effects and length. First blizzard move and 3/4 of my Romanian units became "unready". The Soviets in the south were beaten up pretty good and didn't attack the Romanians in the first 6 blizzard turns. The line held by them was 40 miles short of Nikolaev.

I held well around Leningrad and was pushed back everywhere else except in the deep south where the Romanian line hadn't been attacked. When the attacks against the Romanians came it was a disaster. They were thrown back easily and they were generally unable to hold anywhere at any time. By this point all my (German) reserves were on the front line elsewhere and reserve Romanian units were ineffective as the first line Romanians. They were driven back so far so fast I didn't even try to fill the gap. The only thing I could have done was fall back from Leningrad and send divisions south. As the blizzard was close to being over and it would have taken time to pull the units out and send them south I decided on another plan. I would rail panzers south as soon as the blizzard was over and attack south cutting of the Russian units. I assumed the Russians would have outrun their supply having advanced as far as they had.

That is what I did, and I started attacking south at the first snow turn with the first panzer corp to arrive. Soon I had all the newly arriving infantry units organized into a corp to help with the drive south. I eventually had 3 panzer corps in the offensive. I didn't make much headway. The Romanians lost Odessa and were still falling back. I fought only pausing when the mud came. The supply issue for the Russians wasn't evident. They fought and held up very well. How , I do not know. I covered about a fourth of the way well short of my objective. The Russians entered Romania and they capitulated.

I am still terribly new at this game, but it is a bit disheartening. Those Russian units should have been far extended and short of supply, but their tanks drove on with only a few turns where they were paused. My offensive force( 3 panzer corps, 1 infantry corp, + other mixed units) fought very stubborn resistance and made little headway.

I was pushed back over 120 miles all along my front, except for in front of Leningrad. The Blizzard is either too long or 2 severe. I don't believe it is at all historical. All the games I have followed have been similar. The Axis player is driven almost to the point of complete route.

I think their is little chance of an Axis victory in '42. For the Axis player the what if's like what if the 6th army wasn't cut off and destroyed means very little.

The Soviets were unready for war and got kicked around pretty hard by the Axis. It took them some time to get "it" together.

Can the game be won by the Axis? If not why play.

Blizzard lesson. Train the Romanians and send them home until spring.

I'd like to here some effective Axis strategy for winning in '42.

Post #: 1

RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 12:53:48 AM

Angelo
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There are a lot of threads about this topic. And a lot of hard opinions.

Do a bit of searching and you'll see what I mean.

There are a number of ideas that can be tried, again see the threads. But in the end you'll have to decide for yourself.

Personally I prefer the shorter scenerios as both side have a good chance to winning.

(in reply to RCHarmon)

Post #: 2

RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 3:14:23 AM

Mynok
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Just curious, what version of the game were you playing?

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RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 3:15:59 AM

Oleg Mastruko
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There are literally tons of threads on blizzard and yes I agree that it's both too severe and far far far FAR too long. Read the "Winter idea..." thread in the main forum (plus many more).

And don't expect Russians to have any supply problems. Something may stop their offensive, eventually (spring, probably

) but it won't be the lack of supplies.

(in reply to Angelo)

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RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 4:47:57 AM

RCHarmon
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1.02 I haven't upgraded to 1.03 yet.

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RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 4:56:40 AM

2ndACR
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From: Irving,Tx
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You need to go Beta 3 if for anything to get rid of the TOE upgrade bug and experience bug.

(in reply to RCHarmon)

Post #: 6

RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 2:37:25 PM

Mike Parker
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I think the supply issue is that they captured ports along the Black Sea to remain in supply from the coast. That is likely why you did not see the Soviet Offense begin to blunt.

(in reply to 2ndACR)

Post #: 7

RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/1/2011 3:14:09 PM

pat.casey
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Parker

I think the supply issue is that they captured ports along the Black Sea to remain in supply from the coast. That is likely why you did not see the Soviet Offense begin to blunt.

They're doing fine in my AI game up around khrakov (gained about 15 hexes of depth in the first 4 weeks). Don't seem to be slowing down.

Root of the problem doesn't necessarily have to be a bug in the winter logic in this case, think the soviets just get too many trucks making supply in general too easy.

(in reply to Mike Parker)

Post #: 8

RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/2/2011 2:32:24 AM

Graycompany
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It's brutal.... that being said, Moutain divisons are your friends. You have to support the Rums with Germans. I break down a few german div, Regts stacked with them help, Calvary behind the lines set on reserve. Bolstered with broken down German Mt Div. in Fortified positions at key points in the line. You have to start creating a 2nd line a few hexes back from the main line and that still may not hold. Only pull back when you have no choice. Dont counter attack, you just waste troops. Dig, pull back, dig, Pull back....hope for spring.....

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RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/2/2011 2:39:52 AM

2ndACR
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And cry. Bring lots of tissue's.

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Post #: 10

RE: Blizzard observation/question - 3/2/2011 5:16:00 AM

RCHarmon
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I understand about the port supply. My panzers began their attack 50 miles NE of Kishinev. Those Soviets that I attacked were far from the port and more likely receiving supply from a rail head somewhere west of their position. Railroads generally run North South in that part of the map, so even if a rail crew was at work it would take awhile. The Soviets held up after advancing through the blizzard and went through several mud turns. Now these mud turns can be tough on the trucks, but I saw no ill effects. When the weather was clear, I had to attack with 2 to 3 divisions making deliberate attacks. It's hard to get moving very far when it takes the whole corp to drive back a few units.

In my first serious blizzard game I was driven back, but I was able to hold a line. In this game I really wanted a shot at capturing Leningrad and that meant keeping more troops in the North. If I had fallen back from Leningrad I would have had more troops available in the south and would not have relied on the Romanians.

During the blizzard I rarely attack as Axis.

I'd say here that I do like the game and will continue playing, even if that means only playing the shorter battles until some possible changes can be made in the campaign.

(in reply to 2ndACR)

Post #: 11