BletchleyGeek
Posts: 4713
Joined: 11/26/2009 From: Living in the fair city of Melbourne, Australia Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Q-Ball I tend to believe it's about right now. And I would prefer to play the Soviets. Historically, the Soviets DID run out of gas in the Winter, starting in January. So what you are experiencing PDH is about right. Historically, where the Germans did have a crisis, and did experience big problems, was in AGC sector. The reason for this was partly Blizzard, but it had as much to do, IMO, with the fact that AGC was dangerously overextended and very depleted heading into the Blizzard. I would bet anything, PDH, that you were NOT overextended and overdepleted heading into the Blizzard. The fact that you didn't experience those issues is a reward for prudence. Stick your neck out, and you can expect greater problems. This is similar to the fact that the Soviets usually enter the Winter with more guys than historical. Why? Because they don't allow millions to get surrounded in stupid pockets, and ALSO reap the rewards of good play (and hindsight). It could be argued that the Germans have too easy a time in Summer '41 now. That is a separate debate. This is a considerable work in progress, and Blizzard was just one lever. There are several other schools out there who are thinking that: 1. Germans are too powerful in Summer '41 2. 1942 isn't fluid enough; too many trenches. A "Case Blue"-type breakout is just about impossible for the Germans 3. In 43/44, Soviets have too easy a time smashing german formations, until the Wehrmacht collapses I don't 100% agree with all of these, but I think they have some merit, and we need further play to parse all of these out. Nice post Q-Ball I tend to agree with you about First Winter. Perhaps I will de-rail the thread but the points you brought out here merit some comment: 1. Germans are too powerful in Summer '41 I think they're OK, especially after the buff the Soviet player received with the Armaments stockpile. That really helps getting the masses formed into combat units. Soviet players that are able to defend in depth and are able to foresee German spearheads penetrations will get to Winter '41 OK (i.e. fighting for their lives at the gates of Moscow and on the banks of the Donets). I can't say much yet about the "Leningrad question". I'm currently on two GC's against human german players and I have managed to entertain them enough on the Pskov - Ostrov region to avoid the kind of rough rides one can see on fiva55 game and elsewhere. Again, defense in depth and not underestimating the amount of ground german motorized units can cover in one turn is key. 2. 1942 isn't fluid enough; too many trenches. A "Case Blue"-type breakout is just about impossible for the Germans I just don't agree with this. The breakout into the Caucasus and Stalingrad is possible, but most players will find it's not a wise course of action. Demjansk can become an early little Stalingrad. The situation of 9. Armee and 3. PzArmee on the Rzhev salient is less rosy than it seems, a massive assault on this salient from east and west can be successful if the German player commits to heavily to the south. The mystery of the 42-45 GC is to obtain strategic surprise against your opponent as the German player. No surprise and then the campaign will degenerate into a horrible meat-grinder with only one possible victor. 3. In 43/44, Soviets have too easy a time smashing german formations, until the Wehrmacht collapses Can't say much about #3, I haven't played it much myself. But if in '42 the Wehrmacht is in a very delicate position - it's just not obvious at first sight - in '43 the situation is much worse. Once the german infantry is dislodged from its level 3/4 forts the name of the game is to run to a prepared defense line further west. I think that our perceptions of 1942 and 1943 campaigns would be very different if the starting dates were other (say April 1942 and April 1943). Players wouldn't be constrained by several painful -- and very historical -- dilemmas...
_____________________________
|