Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

You can encircle units vs. carpets in 1942, but it's tougher.

First, you have to concentrate nearly all your Panzers in one spot. I noticed on that one shot, it looked like just a Panzer Army. You need 2 or all of them in one sector, to give you all the attacks you need in order to make pockets.

Second, you may need to make pockets in stages; pin a bunch of Russian units one turn, surround them the next. Looks like you are attempting that, though a little risky in spring when the weather can turn to mud.

Finally, you probably won't romp in the Soviet rear and surround 20 divisions at once, like 1941. Won't happen. If you can gobble up a half dozen or so divisions a turn, you are still making progress.

The German objectives in 1942 are primarily to rebuild your own morale (through atttacking), and find better defense positions for later. You also want to kill Soviets 3-1 which you can do, and capturing Reds has the side benefit of giving you Hiwis.

quote:

\Yeah, that is pretty much my take on the idea as well, however I doubt we will manage to capture 6 units per turn tbh. Our forces are just too worn down, and the USSR ones too well dug in. Shall be interesting to see what I actually CAN manage when the mud clears up, but I am not too optimistic about the summer.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

With respect Flav, I stand by my opinion that a very good Soviet will still draw or beat a very good German even with muling. A very good German can not win against a very good Soviet.

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ORIGINAL: glvaca

I think this game is just as bad an example on play balance you can find, sorry terje! This game was lost a long time ago.
If anything, and even without muling, 1941 heavily favors the German. It's practically impossible to keep Leningrad & Moscow. 2 cities which did not fall historically. And if the Soviet is not careful, he'll lose Voronezh and Rostov too.
So how can anyone really claim 1941 is to easy on the Soviet?

Secondly, if the Axis gets seriously mauled during the Blizzard, it's his own fault. Just like the Russian in 1941, he has the option to retreat (if necessary) and save his army. If he doesn't, and fights unprepared, it's his own damn fault. The judgement of where to fight is the players choice, not the game. And let's not forget Blizzard was dialed down substantially over the patches. So what do German players expect?

In summary, the game mechanisms are clear, it's up to the players to make the choices that will gain them the advantage, be that in where to attack, where to defend, where to retreat. He who does this best will likely win.

What do people want more?

And by the way Micheal T, I would not play with or against your Southern opening, there is no better example of raping the system because of perfect knowledge.

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ORIGINAL: vicberg
Flav, you wouldn't like to hear this, but muling is a requirement against a competent soviet oppoenent. This game is out of whack, which is why there's so few posts on the AAR forum. Too much FOW. Too random CV on hasty attacks. No two hex (or more) attacks on hasty. Fuel and morale is key. Muling is a requriement.

quote:

ORIGINAL: glvaca
Incidentally, MichealT, your reference to the Operational Combat Series in defence of muling is completely bullocks. Anyone who has played the East front games of that series knows that the Germans are critically *SHORT* of supply and NEVER can afford to run around all their panzer divisions every turn, at all. In fact, the supply system there is actually the designers way of LIMITING mobility NOT increasing it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812

Concentrate an army of 'good" morale and cv infantry along with 3 or 4 panzer corps to make a breakthrough and try for an encirclement. Does anything in your OOB look like you can gather that kind of force now? Infantry not armor needs to be used to make the breakthrough and armor/mobile units exploit. One of the troubling things I have noted is the level of tank losses you seem to incur and that has me wondering exactly how you are using those panzer divisions?

I know my advice/suggestions might seem totally obvious but i have also fallen into the rut of pushing attacks passed when an operational plan needed modification or to be discarded. Are the attacks you are taking now just opportunity attack where you think you have the reds at good odds? Or are you working toward a plan to setup a favorable operation? My guess is the former but i'm hoping its to set up an Op.