Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: beender

I do have the impression or illusion that panzer divisions under alternative CV are stronger in combat.

quote:

ORIGINAL: beender

I do have the impression or illusion that panzer divisions under alternative CV are stronger in combat.

quote:

ORIGINAL: GamesaurusRex

Copied here for your convenience from my post in another recent thread...
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I have played the Grand Campaign scenario now for five years over and over again as the Russians versus Wheat, who is a "Master Level" Panzer Ball Player. (Through all the patch versions since 1.07.)

The one thing that is glaringly apparent is that, the standard initial morale settings, are entirely too strong in favor of the Germans in 1941-42. The Russian units are incapable of attacking or even penetrating German controlled hexes at that standard initial high differential.

IF you use the standard settings and play the game without the "extreme blizzard" and "1-1=2-1" options, the situation is made impossible, because those two options are the only settings that allow for any Russian attacks at all during 1941 winter... and without making those attacks, the Russians will suffer the well documented "snowball effect" downhill from there.

The fact is, given the current state of the game, there is no point for the Russian player to do anything other than retreat during 1941-42, except during the 41 "extreme blizzard". Using the standard morale settings and other than attacking during extreme blizzard, all Russian units smaller than Corp size are basically nothing but speed bumps that are going to get pocketed, if they stand and fight. (And here I would note that Morvael and Denniss greatly improved the game when they tried to fix the pocket "insta-death" of Russian units in the earlier patch versions.)

I have not yet given up attempting to manage the standard game settings by judicious Russian "fighting withdrawal"... but I am at the point where I have to concede that there is no "contest" here, unless you alter the initial game settings by reducing the Germans and raising the Russians. I don't know yet what a balanced change should be, but I'm guessing +5 for the Russians and -5 for the Germans as a starting point. Maybe, just maybe, this will slow the "Panzer Ball through butter"... but I'm not sure as we have not tried it yet with the latest patch.

The real problem is one of balance... since reducing the German strength in 41-42 in order to make it more reflective of reality must not go too far or it will penalize the German late game too much, while overly boosting the Russians. This is made more complex by the fact that the choice of using the "extreme blizzard" or "1-1=2-1" options completely changes the game, requiring different settings to make for a balanced game.

On the other hand, if you're entertained more by the myth of German Panzer "invinciblity"... then game on with the standard settings. Just accept that Leningrad and Moscow will be overrun in 41 and the Russians will need to run to the Urals before they can attack (unless you use the "extreme blizzard" and "1-1=2-1").