janh
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Joined: 6/12/2007
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I don't think either of them will turn entirely static, but both probably will show an idle phase or a phase with only limited action as the Red Army will be build up between 43 and 44. Just natural.
If you want a real challenge, even against AI, play the 1942 start. In a PBEM GC the Axis player probably would have bailed the game with the Wehrmacht in that shape. Imagine if this would be the typical state an Axis player would go into July 42... Almost all divisions in the AGN sector are around 50% ToE, Panzers included. Towards AGS things look up, but the majority of the units is still around or below 80% ToE. AGS is poised to spring the trap and can go forward for at least a couple of turns, and Svevastopol is enclosed, too.
Numerous Panzer and Mot. Divs. are shells of their former self (40-50% ToE), a "living" account of how desperate and attriting the autumn offensives and the blizzard fighting must have been. The Russians are also rather weak, but at least the are numerically much superior in contrast to most 41 GC games. There is the Demyansk pocket (German), which looks particularly scary -- I don't think with the present blizzard rules such a pocket is likely to be formed and held by the Axis (but since playing in modern times is different, i.e. more conservative and casualty-avoiding, than fighting desperately with your land and career on the line, I understand the need for some blizzard rules else the Axis wouldn't fight itself to frazzles and overextend to be ripe for the Russian counterstrike).
There is another pocket N of Smolensk (Russian), which is ripe for harvesting, but you'll find the Germans need good dice rolls to get that done with the weakened units they have in AGC.
I only played the 43 GC start once for a few turns, but I will return there later. Against AI, you can pull off another limited offensive, but just not against the Kursk salient itself. Wehrmacht is in much better shape, but the Red Army disproportionately stronger as well it felt. The anchors N and S of the salient appear to be much weaker, but my Panzer's and Landers lacked the power to break through and gain operational freedom in the depth -- plus Soviet AI decided to go on the offensive as well. In a PBEM game, I would probably not go on the offensive on a strategic scale anymore. The Panzers are just more valuable for blunting Soviet attacks, and I would retire in some areas to shorten front lines, look for better terrain and start fortifying for the next years. This will likely lead to short passive phase until the Red Army can really start large-scale offensives of its own. I would say that the 43 start has a temptation of its own.
< Message edited by janh -- 5/2/2012 9:47:41 AM >
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