Matrix Games Forums

Forums  Register  Login  Photo Gallery  Member List  Search  Calendars  FAQ 

My Profile  Inbox  Address Book  My Subscription  My Forums  Log Out

Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE 2.0

 
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the East Series >> Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE 2.0 Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE 2.0 - 8/2/2016 3:14:43 AM   
Michael T


Posts: 4443
Joined: 10/22/2006
From: Queensland, Australia.
Status: offline
Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE 2.0


I would like to try and have some kind of meaningful and sensible discussion of how WITE 2.0 might best implement the Soviet C&C shambles that existed in early/mid 1941.

For contributors please stay on topic.

From my reading Soviet C&C in this period was atrocious (for various reasons) and in no small way contributed to the many disasters that befell the Red Army in this period.

I have some ideas that could be fleshed out to simulate this mess. Other relevant and constructive comments/ideas are welcome.

Some ideas:

A certain number of random (front area zone) units are fixed for that turn.
Some units Movement Points are reduced by random amounts down to zero. But this is not apparent to the player until he tries to move the unit.
A Random number of HQ’s are not allowed to change attachments.
When making an attack a random chance that some units won’t attack at all, but not apparent to the player until the attack is resolved.
A chance that after an attack extra Movement Points will be expended.
A chance that some hexes will not allow the entry of Soviet units that turn. Again unknown till the player tries to move a unit in to it.


The idea is that the Soviet player should have much less certainty of action or plans actually taking place than the current model. This is a failing in WITE 1.0. The Soviet knows exactly where his units will end up, he can co-ordinate attacks perfectly, he can build perfect lines etc. All this is contrary to the reality of the period. We must surely want something better for WITE 2.0

@John. Is there any push or desire for something like this in the engine room? If not I would like to know why. It would be great improvement. And something we see in other contemporary designs/games on this subject.


_____________________________

Post #: 1
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 4:43:42 AM   
Icier


Posts: 564
Joined: 7/15/2014
From: a sunny beach nsw
Status: offline
I would like to see on both sides some sort of moral penalty for 2 retreats in a row & a continuous
penalty until the unit stands for 2 turns. I also like the idea if a unit is outside its HQ zone of control for than 1 move it either freezes or retreats, until back in control. The exception being
a veteran/elite unit.

(in reply to Michael T)
Post #: 2
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 7:03:57 AM   
SigUp

 

Posts: 1062
Joined: 11/29/2012
Status: offline
I think it's sufficient to just increase the range of MP and supply rolls. So that you get a greater variety of MPs throughout the front, making it harder to coordinate attacks and retreat and a higher chance of failed supply rolls. I'm not a friend of a bruteforce approach of outright forbidding attacks or movement. Especially the idea of freezing entire parts of the front is not a good one in my eyes. It may be an idea for a game with daily turns, but freezing units here means freezing them for an entire week. That's far too much.

(in reply to Icier)
Post #: 3
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:28:18 AM   
Michael T


Posts: 4443
Joined: 10/22/2006
From: Queensland, Australia.
Status: offline
But a known MP value means the Soviet can co-ordinate perfectly. How would you suggest modelling orders that never made it thru to an army or orders ignored? Resulting in units that did not move as ordered or to where intended? Or do you think that such things should not be simulated?

As it stands the Soviet player knows exactly where his units will end up. In reality units often did not move at all or were delayed so much by C&C problems by the the time they did move it was too late. The current system, and what you suggest does not result in any chaos at all. Which is what is really needed. A sense of chaos and dysfunction.



_____________________________


(in reply to SigUp)
Post #: 4
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:32:34 AM   
RedLancer


Posts: 4314
Joined: 11/16/2005
From: UK
Status: offline
Michael

The simple answer is that at the moment there isn't. There may be but I don't know. At the moment we have a huge number of other things to do to create a game, that at the moment is not playable beyond Dec 41. We are still very much in alpha.

That said here is my opinion for what it is worth:

- I agree that the Soviets did have C2 problems in 1941 that are not specifically modelled at present in the game.
- In a game that is IGOUGO with the Axis starting first the Soviets are already at a significant disadvantage in C2 terms as they are always reactive against a good Axis player. (On the other side of the coin there have been countless requests for a Soviet free setup. We looked at this and it is not a feasible solution.)
- I dislike games where counters suddenly don't do what they are told.
- Additional blanket penalties based on rolls as SigUP suggests might be a solution.
- Whatever is adopted, or not, the game is still balanced to history.
- WitE2 is not WitE. It plays quite differently on a number of levels. WitE issues are not neccesarily immediately in WitE2.

_____________________________

John
WitE2 Asst Producer
WitE & WitW Dev

(in reply to SigUp)
Post #: 5
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:34:29 AM   
morvael


Posts: 11762
Joined: 9/8/2006
From: Poland
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

But a known MP value means the Soviet can co-ordinate perfectly. How would you suggest modelling orders that never made it thru to an army or orders ignored?



Simple solution - available MPs should be hidden :)
The more you move the more you risk hitting the hidden limit, and ending up in an undesirable location.

(in reply to Michael T)
Post #: 6
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 10:15:06 AM   
SigUp

 

Posts: 1062
Joined: 11/29/2012
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

But a known MP value means the Soviet can co-ordinate perfectly. How would you suggest modelling orders that never made it thru to an army or orders ignored? Resulting in units that did not move as ordered or to where intended? Or do you think that such things should not be simulated?

As it stands the Soviet player knows exactly where his units will end up. In reality units often did not move at all or were delayed so much by C&C problems by the the time they did move it was too late. The current system, and what you suggest does not result in any chaos at all. Which is what is really needed. A sense of chaos and dysfunction.



Well, if let's say one unit has 3 MP, the one next to it 11, yeah, as long as you know the value you can coordinate, but it's more of a duct-taping type of coordination since you can't put the whole formation in line.

What you touch here is the general issue of a IGOUGO system with weekly turns. You can't freeze units for one side without giving the other side too much of an advantage. So the German player starts, tears a big hole in the Soviet lines then the Soviet player opens his turn and he can't move his for the entire turn? Highly problematic.

Variable (soft) penalties based on dice rolls is worth considering to highlight the confusion on the Soviet side in the early months of Barbarossa (another possibility could be to let army HQs make a dice roll to determine whether all units under that HQ have to expend 2x the MP than usual, a penalty not seen until you move the first unit of that formation). But outright freezes are not the way to go in my opinion. Also, despite all the confusion, I doubt that whole Soviet divisions were unable to move for seven full days.

(in reply to Michael T)
Post #: 7
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 10:36:43 AM   
morvael


Posts: 11762
Joined: 9/8/2006
From: Poland
Status: offline
Then there is the issue of divisions moving somewhere else you wanted them to move... Basically as you move the counter there should be a chance that it moves to some other hex to the left and right of the target hex (possibly even attacking enemy units there, of course with a smaller chance), wasting precious MPs (which you shouldn't know beforehand how many are left) and perfect battleplans. That would perfectly recreate the utter chaos of war in the game :)

Face-to-face boardgames often limit the problem inherent to IGOYOUGO games (even though they have shorter turns and movement ranges than in WitE, so inaction for a while is not a great problem) by allowing reaction moves in some cases. Unfortunately that wouldn't work in a PBEM game... unless the AI would decide for the absent player.

(in reply to SigUp)
Post #: 8
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 11:01:29 AM   
Michael T


Posts: 4443
Joined: 10/22/2006
From: Queensland, Australia.
Status: offline
Well my idea's are only suggestions. I am open to anything that simulates the chaos. I have certainly read where communications was lost between all levels of command for many days, maybe even over a week in the cases of some armies and fronts/stavka.

WITE would be easily be the most lenient on Soviet C&C problems I have played in recent times. I just know when I play as Soviet I have no sense whatsoever of any C&C chaos. Everything in the system works perfectly and predictably.

_____________________________


(in reply to morvael)
Post #: 9
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 12:11:10 PM   
RedLancer


Posts: 4314
Joined: 11/16/2005
From: UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

I have certainly read where communications was lost between all levels of command for many days, maybe even over a week in the cases of some armies and fronts/stavka.



That may very well be the case but it does not mean that the Armies did nothing. In this system you are simultaneously commanding at each and every level, albeit with a number of command rolls thrown in. Whhich leads me to suggest that instead of immediately conducting a leader roll further up the chain of command if the first roll fails there is an additional check which considers whether any further checks are conducted at all.

_____________________________

John
WitE2 Asst Producer
WitE & WitW Dev

(in reply to Michael T)
Post #: 10
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 12:31:27 PM   
Aditia

 

Posts: 573
Joined: 3/27/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

Well my idea's are only suggestions. I am open to anything that simulates the chaos. I have certainly read where communications was lost between all levels of command for many days, maybe even over a week in the cases of some armies and fronts/stavka.

WITE would be easily be the most lenient on Soviet C&C problems I have played in recent times. I just know when I play as Soviet I have no sense whatsoever of any C&C chaos. Everything in the system works perfectly and predictably.


It is simulated by low leadership rolls, low morale and low movement points... Remember these are week long turns; So e.g. the low movement points are simulating difficulties in C2, in the end the orders get there, but movement is not so efficient. Or do you think German vehicles are more adaptable to Russian roads than Soviet ones, or do you think Germans march more efficiently than Soviets? No, if anything the majority of German transportation was wholly unsuited for Russian roads.

I'll try and give a historic perspective later in a separate thread, but the sacrifices to reality for the benefit of game play that the designers made for the Soviets in the early game, are at best equal to the sacrifices to reality for the benefit of game play made for the Germans. Most importantly on supply, vehicle and AFV attrition due to movement and the binary way pockets are handled, while in effect German pockets were very 'leaky' resulting in roaming bands of Soviet troops wreaking havoc in the rear.

I am mostly getting this from Stahel. I cannot recommend David Stahel's groundbreaking work on Barbarossa (2009!!!) strongly enough to anyone with interested in the subject. Stahel found out that no decent historical work, complying with the rigors of Western historical science, on Barbarossa existed, and he decided to learn German and dive into the wealth of German documents in existence. This research was never done by German historians as military history is apparently frowned upon in the BundesRepublik

< Message edited by Aditia -- 8/2/2016 12:32:55 PM >

(in reply to Michael T)
Post #: 11
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 12:33:04 PM   
Farfarer61

 

Posts: 713
Joined: 7/21/2004
Status: offline
What about a large or random reduction in Initiative and Admin ratings? Is it difficult to reduce the command radii and supply distances for June 1941, then have them increase to 'normal' later in the year ? Similarly could the "trucks lost due to resupply" be set high/higher for the Soviets, as an indirect approach to your aim, with the attrition reducing to 'normal'. Just trying to think of possible simple changes to emulate the end effect sought. I also do not support randomly "frozen" units or formations. Frozen Corps and Army HQs may be an option. This might lead to units staying near the HQ (to protect it or in order to rally) or lead to more forced relocations and consequent inconvenience.
Finally, you could allow frozen HQ to voluntarily relocate (as their only form of movement) as a depiction of bugging out in a chaotic environment. Hard core would be making this the ONLY form of movement for Soviet Corps and Army HQs until Turn X. :)

(in reply to RedLancer)
Post #: 12
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 12:52:52 PM   
morvael


Posts: 11762
Joined: 9/8/2006
From: Poland
Status: offline
In the early turns their trucks are overloaded, thus more are lost. Also, due to parts of ammo being lost on delivery, there is increased need of supplies every turn, which again increases truck losses. So this is already in, but of course there can be a debate whether the increase is historical/realistic/significant from gameplay perspective.

(in reply to Farfarer61)
Post #: 13
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 1:07:10 PM   
Aditia

 

Posts: 573
Joined: 3/27/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: morvael

In the early turns their trucks are overloaded, thus more are lost. Also, due to parts of ammo being lost on delivery, there is increased need of supplies every turn, which again increases truck losses. So this is already in, but of course there can be a debate whether the increase is historical/realistic/significant from gameplay perspective.


Not sure if the formulas are unrealistic, it is mostly that I hardly see Soviet players fight and attack in WITE in July/August 1941, so the formulas are probably inconsequential. I never played Soviets, but in reality Soviets counter attacked fanatically during July and August. Yes, this destroyed the attacking forces, but it also damaged German units to a point that their 'attack readiness' was severely reduced.
Can the soviet player in WITE do enough damage to German units by attacking them? Either in elements or supply/ammo usage, that there is a benefit from spending units that way? I would love to try and use that tactic as Soviet, but usually losses on German formations are so low when they are defeated early game... Let alone if they are not defeated.

< Message edited by Aditia -- 8/2/2016 1:29:27 PM >

(in reply to morvael)
Post #: 14
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 1:12:31 PM   
SigUp

 

Posts: 1062
Joined: 11/29/2012
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aditia

Can the soviet player in WITE do enough damage to German units by attacking them? Either in elements or supply/ammo usage, that there is a benefit from spending units that way? I would love to try and use that tactic as Soviet, but usually losses on German formations are so low when they are defeated early game... Let alone if they are not defeated.

No you can't. In WitE something like that is suicidal. But I hear it's different in WitE2

(in reply to Aditia)
Post #: 15
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 1:21:23 PM   
Cavalry Corp

 

Posts: 3107
Joined: 9/2/2003
From: Sampford Spiney Devon UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: morvael


quote:

ORIGINAL: Michael T

But a known MP value means the Soviet can co-ordinate perfectly. How would you suggest modelling orders that never made it thru to an army or orders ignored?



Simple solution - available MPs should be hidden :)
The more you move the more you risk hitting the hidden limit, and ending up in an undesirable location.



This is an excellent idea.

(in reply to morvael)
Post #: 16
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 1:32:48 PM   
morvael


Posts: 11762
Joined: 9/8/2006
From: Poland
Status: offline
You can't blame players for not doing something that would (in their eyes) only hurt them in game terms to no gain. Victory conditions fail to give incentive to make suicidical attacks, and the attacks themselves do little damage to the Germans to be a worthwile tradeoff. From what I know in WitE2 the second part will change, it will be good to actually sap the Germans of their strength (by removing combat preparation points) and by forcing them to expend more ammo and lose some troops (which will be constrained thanks to more realistics supply system).

(in reply to Cavalry Corp)
Post #: 17
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 2:05:31 PM   
Aditia

 

Posts: 573
Joined: 3/27/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: morvael

You can't blame players for not doing something that would (in their eyes) only hurt them in game terms to no gain. Victory conditions fail to give incentive to make suicidical attacks, and the attacks themselves do little damage to the Germans to be a worthwile tradeoff. From what I know in WitE2 the second part will change, it will be good to actually sap the Germans of their strength (by removing combat preparation points) and by forcing them to expend more ammo and lose some troops (which will be constrained thanks to more realistics supply system).


A great change for realism. Now, will more realism make for a better game? We'll see

< Message edited by Aditia -- 8/2/2016 2:06:18 PM >

(in reply to morvael)
Post #: 18
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 4:56:03 PM   
HMSWarspite

 

Posts: 1401
Joined: 4/13/2002
From: Bristol, UK
Status: offline
You have to be really careful not to put things in that in reality just increase player workload. So, only finding out what a units MP are only when you try an move it would be instantly got around by moving each relevant unit one hex, then the next etc. to maximise the coordination without surprises. You thus lose most of the intended benefit of the rule but give much increased player work load (which is just annoying).

IMHO, attempting to physically change the way the game is played for the first few months is a big mistake. Later on, we are (as Red Lancer says) playing all command levels. You shouldn't take that away in special rules for the first turns. To really have the mechanism Michael T asked for you need a game where you give orders to HQs, and don't move units at all (or some really wicked MultiPlayer, with players moving their sub commands in response to emails but no knowledge of other moves! You then give the Russian side only 20 character dot matrix printouts for player comms for 4 months and the Germans get Live chat and photo messages!). Nice game but not this one I suspect.

Within the mechanics of the game, the existing stats should be used or modified. So, make AP costs of changing unit HQ allocation a function of leader admin and unit readiness. Ditto unit attachments. Poor admin leaders at start would then mean you cant do much of it. Introduce a MP debit based on unit readiness and not just as a function of supply (or make MP costs a Fn of readiness).

Then test the effect late war, and make sure the same rules give a good effect (i.e. little to none) then.

The more special rules there are the start or end on specific turns, hexes or for odd cases like in certain turns if there is an R in your user name, the more players will find ways to exploit the discontinuity in them and get around them (or at least use them to get some benefit)

_____________________________

I have a cunning plan, My Lord

(in reply to Aditia)
Post #: 19
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 5:19:47 PM   
loki100


Posts: 10920
Joined: 10/20/2012
From: Utlima Thule
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: HMSWarspite

...

The more special rules there are the start or end on specific turns, hexes or for odd cases like in certain turns if there is an R in your user name, the more players will find ways to exploit the discontinuity in them and get around them (or at least use them to get some benefit)


I think this statement should be stickied .

The second you use special rules you create discontinuity in play and you can bet that the more creative members of the community will make it work. Remember the days when no self-respecting German player would actually destroy a pocket until after the date when auto-returns ceased to happen? And we have all seen massive German run aways once the winter rules shift. Or the frustration (for both sides) at the impact of the arbitrary NM shifts etc etc.

At a risk of upsetting him, I find myself in agreement with MichaelT that you want some way to capture Soviet problems in the early phase .

Where I don't agree is his solution. I'm not sure but the new rules on supply, rail and road capacity are going to produce some interesting challenges (different ones) for each side. As an eg, I suspect the Germans can live without railing too many actual units around (in the first summer) so most of their (limited) cap can go on moving up freight (ie replacements/supply/fuel and ammo). Nothing maxes out a rail hex capacity like a couple of divisions being moved through it and the Soviets will need to do this (and cope with factory evacs). So they seem to have a global supply shortage and will have a substantive problem in delivering that supply.

So where might that leave us? Well all this is guesswork and supposition but odds on Soviet players will find themselves trying to cope with a fast degrading army (as drawing down reinforcements - even if they exist - is going to be hard) and really struggle to move up reserves and/or to shift forces by rail. Edit - by this I mean a lot of units will only be able to cope with one (maybe two) rounds of combat before falling apart ... certainly seeing more low morale/exp units collapse due to shattering than in WiTE. Its a bit akin to playing on the harder settings when they were on a log not a linear scale. I remember constantly having to cope with unready units that took time to recover from combat (vs the AI this gave a great game).

So that may well produce a dynamic where both sides need to leave gaps - covered by non-combat ready formations. The constraint on the axis side is that yes you can exploit a weakly held area but if it takes you into a supply desert (like the Valdai) it may be a false move.

What you get (maybe) is a situation where the Soviet player is constantly off balance - but its a slower process of decline than in WiTE. As Red Lancer put it above - its not that good an idea simply to read across from how WiTE plays to how WiTE2 is going to work out.



< Message edited by loki100 -- 8/2/2016 5:25:47 PM >


_____________________________


(in reply to HMSWarspite)
Post #: 20
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 5:24:29 PM   
EwaldvonKleist


Posts: 2038
Joined: 4/14/2016
From: Berlin, Germany
Status: offline
@ warspite
A multiplayer game with 20+ players with hirarchy from Stalin / Hitler, Stavka/OKW/OKH to Fronts/AGs to Armies would be awesome. Commanders dismissed or promoted by their superiors, rivalry among them and everyone claiming that he did better then all the rivals. Hitler cant See every Detail everywhere while Army commander at Rostov has few Knowledge about the situation at Leningrad.
But impossible to realized something like this (unfortunately)

(in reply to HMSWarspite)
Post #: 21
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 7:49:13 PM   
rmonical

 

Posts: 2474
Joined: 4/1/2011
From: United States
Status: offline
If Soviet operational capability rapidly increased in July, August, September, then I agree with the earlier comment that perhaps this could be easily reflected in leadership values. Thus using an existing game mechanic.
I assume the attack/no attack idea is already reflected in the current leadership/combat system. So Soviet leadership nerf early on would be reflected here.

I heartily endorse the comment that we should not introduce throw-away feature. So if there is a feature then it should apply to both sides and throughout the game. So if there is a chance a Soviet unit cannot move then there is also a chance an Axis unit cannot - especially during the first blizzard. So the Axis player also gets a little command and control chaos. Indeed, perhaps the blizzard rules can simply be replaced by an Axis leadership and national morale decrease during the first blizzard.

(in reply to EwaldvonKleist)
Post #: 22
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:05:58 PM   
SigUp

 

Posts: 1062
Joined: 11/29/2012
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: rmonical

I heartily endorse the comment that we should not introduce throw-away feature. So if there is a feature then it should apply to both sides and throughout the game. So if there is a chance a Soviet unit cannot move then there is also a chance an Axis unit cannot - especially during the first blizzard. So the Axis player also gets a little command and control chaos. Indeed, perhaps the blizzard rules can simply be replaced by an Axis leadership and national morale decrease during the first blizzard.

Even though it's veering away from the original topic, but I disagree with morale or leadership decrease during the first winter. That's not capturing the issue at all. The problem for the Germans in the first winter was largely twofold:

1) Their units were burnt out, despite knowing the risk of burning out the divisions the leadership still decided to push forward after the mud period, believing that "one final push" may be enough to win the war. Thus the German units in December 1941 were badly exhausted, essentially standing in the open without cover and far too extended.

2) The German logistics system collapsed. They had a very hard time delivering ammunition, fuel and other supplies to the front so that the combat efficiency and mobility of the divisions dropped significantly. By early December 1941 some 60-80% of the German locomotives in the East were not operational. In December on average only 53 trains per day were railed into the Eastern districts and in January 1942 only 46. The German forces though needed a minimum of around 75-80 trains. And that number drops significantly if one calculates the actual amount of trains that reached the depots close to the front. AGC main supply line, the Brest - Baranovici - Minsk - Orsha - Smolensk - Vyazma line, for example could only send around eight trains to the front per day. With the army group in theory needing 32.

I've never been a friend of the artificial cuts to German CV during the first winter. Introduce a severe penalty on the rail capacity to starve the Germans and have their CV drop (WitW has severe CV penalties for lack of ammunition or fuel) that way and keep the artificial cut to a minimum to simulate the equipment failures.

As to prevent German runaways, one major issue for the Germans during the winter was the lack of mobility. So a large-scale withdrawal would have risked losing a significant amount of the heavy equipment. Therefore, if it can be done, ramp up equipment attrition when moving during the first winter and have the German player make a choice. Either stand and fight and risk troops getting beaten up or cut-off, or run away but losing a painful and possibly irreplaceable amount of equipment in the process.

(in reply to rmonical)
Post #: 23
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:17:21 PM   
EwaldvonKleist


Posts: 2038
Joined: 4/14/2016
From: Berlin, Germany
Status: offline
Completely agree with sigup, Soviet Counteroffensive should made possible by german overextension not by artificial rules.
Blizzard=less supply, more attrition, less mobility through lack of supplies-->enough to allow for soviet attack
But if Germans stockpile after mud and dig trenches, no soviet attack possible

(in reply to SigUp)
Post #: 24
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:35:23 PM   
SigUp

 

Posts: 1062
Joined: 11/29/2012
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

But if Germans stockpile after mud and dig trenches, no soviet attack possible

It shouldn't be possible to completely prevent Soviet success during winter. Severe German rail problems (even before the amount of trains reaching the front was below the required amount) began to manifest itself during October. September 1941 saw the highest amount of trains railed east with 70 per day on average. In October this figure dropped to 60, and in November to 57.

So, of course, a wise German player will not attack in late November 1941 when the logistical base is not there anymore. However, if the Germans don't attack it should be possible for the Soviets to attack and a while not pushing through - increase German supply difficulty by forcing them to expend ammo and fuel and prevent a large-scale build-up of stockpiles. Of course, the Soviet player then has to find the right balance between spoiling attacks in November to prevent German supply build-up and keeping units fresh for the blizzard. But that's the thing, make it a game of choices and not a game of restrictions.

(in reply to EwaldvonKleist)
Post #: 25
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:37:38 PM   
RedLancer


Posts: 4314
Joined: 11/16/2005
From: UK
Status: offline
Please don't stray off topic. This thread is about Soviet C2 in the first three months. If you want to discuss blizzard rules please start another thread as I get easily confused when referencing people's ideas.

< Message edited by Red Lancer -- 8/2/2016 8:40:00 PM >


_____________________________

John
WitE2 Asst Producer
WitE & WitW Dev

(in reply to EwaldvonKleist)
Post #: 26
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 8:59:35 PM   
EwaldvonKleist


Posts: 2038
Joined: 4/14/2016
From: Berlin, Germany
Status: offline
I agree with you Red Lancer and sorry for my off topic post.
C&C: Same as with blizzard, as few artificial rules as possible. I like the leader roll idea for MPs similiar to the CV one: Leader roll influences MP, allowing for more or less than standard MP for both sides. During the early turns soviet leaders are hindered a bit by demanding unusual good rolls for full MP, so some units maybe have close to 0 MPs while others have normal MPs.

(in reply to RedLancer)
Post #: 27
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 9:27:09 PM   
RedLancer


Posts: 4314
Joined: 11/16/2005
From: UK
Status: offline
From the WitW Manual:

11.2.4. Administrative (Admin) Rating
The Admin leader rating is used for determining the
actual number of movement points a unit will have
during its turn,
checking for repair of damaged aircraft
and ground elements, determining
the number of air directives an air HQ unit can be
assigned, and determining fuel and supplies wastage
as a result of air missions. When a motorized unit is
performing an admin leader check, leaders of Panzer
Army or Panzer Corps HQ units involved in the admin
leader check receive a +1 to their admin rating during
the check. Admin checks are specifically affected by the
actual number of support squad ground elements in the
leader’s HQ unit as compared to the HQ unit TOE (11.3).

I think Michael's original post suggests even more uncertainty than that delivered in a roll but I may be wrong. I like the idea of greater variation of handicap to upset plans but personally I wouldn't want to lose control when implementing my choices based on the hand dealt. The main reason for me being that it doesn't mesh with the perfect knowledge of the battlefield that the game gives me. I so wanted to like TOAW3 but hated it.

_____________________________

John
WitE2 Asst Producer
WitE & WitW Dev

(in reply to EwaldvonKleist)
Post #: 28
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 9:37:17 PM   
EwaldvonKleist


Posts: 2038
Joined: 4/14/2016
From: Berlin, Germany
Status: offline
Thx, good to know it will be included, I don't own Witw so I did not know this.

(in reply to RedLancer)
Post #: 29
RE: Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE... - 8/2/2016 9:57:35 PM   
Aditia

 

Posts: 573
Joined: 3/27/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

Thx, good to know it will be included, I don't own Witw so I did not know this.


Isn't this already in WITE? Initiative and Admin ratings are involved in determining MPs.
As stated before; the low MP that Soviets start with in the game is already simulating C2 problems.

Their equipment is better than the Germans, so the vastly reduced MP as compared to German units comes from C2 issues.

Don't see the problem that OP is stating.

For major issues with WITE, I would more look to the dynamics that performance of both sides in 1941 and 1942 has on the gameplay in 1943 to 1945.

(in reply to EwaldvonKleist)
Post #: 30
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the East Series >> Soviet C&C difficulties June/July/August 1941. WITE 2.0 Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Jump to:





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
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

1.313