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tiggwigg -> (5/15/2003 4:19:24 AM)
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Personally, I don't think the german forces required a 10% bonus...or anymore panthers...unless to make the scenario unwinnable by the british.
The problem with including only a section of key units, like the panthers or fireflies...is that should they be knocked out or immobilised, it can swing the balance of the game. In this game Lars and I were both lucky, as I had a firefly degunned by an artillery hit that left it suppressed and then killed by Lars; while he had a panther killed by artillery. Lars also made the mistake of moving the other panther across the battlefield, exposing its side armour and an op-fire disabled it. Still, after I had congegrated shermans to knock out two of his suppressed Panzer IV's, those two killing machines in one turn knocked out 3 of them, including a firefly, and a couple of stuart recce vehicles.
I considered at the start that I had a modest chance of a draw and almost none for a win. Scorewise, I have the draw...which I expected to be expensive in units lost, and it was. Tactically, I think Lars would concede I have gained control of the battlefield. However, it was a very, very close call.
Defense is about shooting the enemy as he appears. SPWAW's great failing is PBEM defense. In any turn, the defending player is reliant on op-fire, which the attacker can turn to his advantage. Accuracy (and so risk) from op-fire can be reduced through the use of multiple attackers (so every shot is a first shot, whichout accumulative accuracy bonus), and terrain defense. Enemy op-fire shots can be triggered wastefully until all are used, allowing the attacker to close for the kill. Assault guns and Stugs are vulnerable to this, since they have fewer op-shots than a tank.
The main factor in the British not being wiped out, is that Lars allowed me to choose or force the location of the main fighting. This was rough terrain with limited lines of fire due to trees and limited visibility due to smoke and hills. This allowed the British to minimise the weakness of the churchill (poor accuracy and firepower), while minimising the strengths of the germans (good accuracy and firepower). Thus we fought an even battle, which I won through sheer force of numbers, since almost my entire force was concentrated in the one area, and so able to destroy german forces more or less piecemeal.
The British forces were very vulnerable to counter-attack, particularly from the flanks. At anytime 50-75% of my armour was suppressed or in retreat from german artillery attack. The British have poor morale and take a long time to rally once suppressed. With limited orders, the British were unable to react quickly to any threat.
The greatest threat to the British was an attack from the flank (which would rob me of the advantage SPWAW gives the attacker). It is likely I would have lost my entire force with minimal loss to german forces. An attack on the flank also means that the germans would be rolling up the british line, and so never having to deal with more than a few tanks at a time, while concentrating a company against them.
So, as you can see, I feel I was fortunate to have success in a battle where the germans held an inherent advantage. I believe the battle was won before a shot was fired, in that I was allowed to choose the field of fighting.
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