MattFL -> RE: loss of morale (9/1/2015 3:14:39 PM)
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I have followed this AAR relatively closely along with many others. I was certainly in the camp that for the most part, the game was over in favor the Russians long ago. I took a quick look at what recently happened over on the German AAR that Loki posted a link to. Sure, it's a disaster, but from what I can see, it's by no means game over other than Loki (somewhat understandably) losing his will to carry on. It will take him many turns to fully seal and eliminate the pockets and very few of the units are actually encircled right now and I'm sure a number of them will get away. Regardless, it's certainly a major turning point in the game for sure. But I question why this particular result somehow means the game is broken? I'm not asking sarcastically or anything, I'm really wondering why the 40 NM in particular means the SHC can't defend or attack? I admit, I'm not huge on paying attention to such things (i.e. the morale level of units). Sure I'm aware of it, but I pretty much only micromanage visible CV. Further, from reading this AAR, to me Loki was far too committed to using some of his best units continually attacking in the Smolensk area where I personally would have shifted my best units to defending against the German Panzers. Sure I would attack where I could attack to grind down the Germans where they are weak to build morale and lower theirs, but I wouldn't group together good units to do so. I remain far more on the defensive in '42 than Loki did in this game. So what am I missing (seriously)? Because to me Vigabrand should be credited (as Loki has already said) for building up his panzers and using them in a single massive operation to penetrate what was apparently a weak part of Loki's line. So from what I can see the blame falls on Loki as the Russians can't afford to have weak parts of their line exposing some of their best units to this type of encirclement in the summer of '42. If those units constantly fighting around Smolensk were instead part of a strong defensive line this doesn't happen. I also don't see the CV issues from the screenshots that leads someone to think that the SHC doesn't have the CV to defend. So I ask, what am I missing? Seems to me Loki could well have defended if he was committed to defending rather than constantly attacking too early in the game for the Soviets to be that committed to attacking. The Orel offensive he launched the previous turn is case and point. Serves no real purpose except sticking the necks of all of those good units in the noose. Use those units to defend and this doesn't happen from what I can see.... Most people here probably have more experience than I do, Loki for sure, and my experiences are based on the games I've played and who I've played them against. But I feel like I'm missing something in these discussions about Soviet Weakness as that hasn't been my experience. Thanks, Matt
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