Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alvaro Sousa
This is correct. The idea of the Axis is to gain as much as they can and hold it as long as they can.
The Allies is hold onto as much as they can then take back what they lost as fast as they can.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

The problem with sudden death conditions is that every game will turn into a sudden death match and the Germans will always resign early if they fail. This is boring for the allies.

I like the fact that this game, unlike so many others, gives the Axis a real chance to win on VP and grind it out to the end...but this also gives the allies the opportunity to have their fun in the late game.

Panzer pushers love sudden death conditions. I prefer the game being the kind of game it is now. Indeed, I think I am the only person so far in AAR to play it out to 1945 thus far. (As the Axis, even.) Because I like the long game, even as the Axis.

One thing I have noticed in this forum: the Axis fanboys keep trying to push this game into a design to result in quick Axis wins. I hope the developer resists this. It is absolutely not necessary nor realistic. These Axis fanboys keep claiming the game is biased against the Axis because they want quick wins and don't realize that it is perfectly possible to win the game as a marathon playing the Axis thanks to VPs. (I have done this!) This rewards judicious play and an eye on your war economy and other things besides pushing panzers. It's more subtle, more interesting, more historical, and I'd hate seeing this game losing that and becoming like all the other WW2 games that go the other way on this.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx
The problem with sudden death conditions is that every game will turn into a sudden death match...
Panzer pushers love sudden death conditions.

quote:

I agree with the assessment that an early victory is boring for the Allies. The Axis unless inept should take France in Summer '40, arrange their economy and then Barbarossa. There are variants and the way she handles her economy and manpower is weighed to a perfect scale to handle when she is in '43-'45 now having to defend.
The Allies must slowly bleed the Axis and remove as much manpower as they can early and hurt her economy. Not collapse(this is just boring to watch as the Axis) and then manage their own economy for the final Blitzkrieg they themselves now have mastered in '43-'45.
Both sides have equal chance at attacking and both sides will be judged on not just the Military(tactical) achievements but also the management of resources and strategic decisions. Panzer rushes or Stalemates in France in 1940 prevalent in other games are 'boring'... Gamy tactics to win outright make me not want to play. As the Axis if I am not fighting into 1943-44 cause the Allied player is bored and not trying I would rather not play the game.

Both sides need to be fair, there is offensives and defensive windows for them. This resembles CEAW, they made a very entertaining long game.

CEAW replicated the long game well...and like Warplan rewarded defensive play for the Axis. With VP Victory rather than conquest.

quote:

tyronec,

quoting myself "gamy tactics prevalent in other games," I would play Strategic Command 2. A fellow I would play would use the Morale Boost from invading every Minor on the map Pre-Barbie to completely remove The USSR. The Morale boost was intended to be partial but he would time it perfectly.
In Strategic Command 1, defending France to the death was possible and people would use it to win the game(this was at least entertaining) by bleeding the Germans dry before any other strategy or tactic was employed.
Ceaw had several gamy tactics similar, Time of Fury did as well... I remember in TOF the Russians Declaring War in 1940 and it was just a houserule you either made or didn't. . .

Are some of these realistic or possible in history? I'm sure...

So far I'm yet to see if the Soviets can survive a Blitzkrieg rush in this game. I'm waiting on it... I wouldn't like to see them collapse in 1941 even if historically possible. The best Axis Players pitted against the best Allied players will have to prove it's viability for the Allies to keep fighting past an Axis Panzer Rush. That will take about 3 or 4 more games for me. I assume 6 months?

quote:

ORIGINAL: LiquidSky
The winter seemed rather anemic for the Russians...he was unable to attack at all.