[AAR] No Retreat - Berkut vs. Tamas

[Berkut]

I think a lot of designers get so wrapped up in the mechanics that they fail to keep their eye on the ball, which is interesting decisions. 

I am actually surprised how many game players don't even seem to understand that. They buy based on how cool it looks, not how good of a game it is...

[JacobL]

Nice to see this continue.

Yup.

[Tamas]

TURN 15 CONTINUED


Major Soviet victory near Rostov! The city has been liberated, the 11th German army shattered, the 3rd Panzer Corps destroyed, as the Soviets swept aside the SS Panzer unit which initiated a Counterblow attempt on the northern flank of that sector, the shock assault shattered the 11th army defending Rostov, then the employment of Wave Attacks allowed all these units to converge on the 3rd Panzer from all directions, with no route to retreat.

All is not fine however, the German panzer concentration north of Kharkov initiated a Counterblow which in turn resulted in a CB itself, in a trick situation open to German exploit next turn.
Luckily however, one of the two panzer units there is the 2nd Panzer, which will be removed to the Western Front for good at the start of next turn.

Also, forecasts already indicated snow weather for Turn 16 instead of the previously expected mud. We of course had unexpected mud this turn, so it's fitting. But winter, if it stays that way, means 3 things:
-the germans can more easily plug the southern hole, their movement will not be so restricted
-the soviets can exploit the southern hole, their movement will not be so restricted
-two-hex advance open in snow, and the tricky situation at Kharkov mean that still both sides can deliver major punches, altough clearly it would be more risky for the Germans to attempt so, what's with their reduced efficiency in the cold and all.

[Berkut]

Pfft, the German army has zero offensive capability at this point. They cannot achieve even a 3-1 odds attack anywhere without crippling themselves. Once they are upgraded, every Soviet unit is considerably stronger (sometimes 3 times the strength) of most German units.

I think I understand what the designer is trying to do with this - it's not that unit for unit they are trying to show that the Soviets are twice as strong as the Germans, but that they want to keep counter density down, so upgraded Soviet units represent MORE units, really. However, that makes it nearly impossible for the German army to counter attack, since there won't be any "vulnerable" Soviet units, even if they over-extend a little bit.

Combined with Soviet super "armor" (Shock units that get the armor shift that the Germans only get in perfect weather and clear terrain in any and all circumstances), and the Soviet army in 1943 is significantly superior in both quantity and quality to the Germans.

It's kind of funny, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've gotten an armor shift against the Soviets. The Soviets can get the shock shift anywhere and everywhere.

[Tamas]

TURN 16 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1943

Last turn southern breakthrough is proving to be decisive, at least on the short term. The German forces conducted a retreat all over the front, even abandoning mighty Leningrad.

The Soviets were quick to catch up and launch various offensives, including an attempt to tackle the Kharkov fortifications head-on:



I would note that I cannot stack, so I can only amass reasonable odds at hexes where hex sides allow for it, making my offensives quite predictable I think.

As for the game situation, I have 16VPs, altough this is something we might have to doublecheck. But, the Axis High Tide marker is at 23, and there will be two VP-increasing event for me in '44. That means, I still have 5VPs (5 cities) to capture before 1944 runs out.

[Berkut]

Now you guys know the situation better than I do, since Tamas didn't bother sending a game file...

[Tamas]

Now you guys know the situation better than I do, since Tamas didn't bother sending a game file...

Sorry I thought I did.

They don't know everything, I forgot to mention that I played Western Offensive to have you discard two cards of your choice.

[Razgovory]

What are the Soviet Units that look like a combination of Artillery and Infantry?  Like that chap 3 hexes west of Moscow with the "8-2" score?

[Tamas]

What are the Soviet Units that look like a combination of Artillery and Infantry?  Like that chap 3 hexes west of Moscow with the "8-2" score?

shock armies

[Razgovory]

Ah.  Thanks.

[Jacob]

Are you guys going to replay, taking opposite sides after this?

[crazy canuck]

Are you guys going to replay, taking opposite sides after this?

I would like to see that.

[szmik]

Are you guys going to replay, taking opposite sides after this?

I would like to see that.

and Tamas ragequit

[Tamas]

I haven't given up on this yet, just waiting for Berkut to be available for real-time battle resolutions