Uhu wrote:
There are some inconsistencies in the upgrade-family system of the minors (for example at the Italians) - I would suggest to make a check and fix it.
Some of the family upgrade "inconsistencies" are intentional, e.g. the MC.200 is no longer in the same family with the MC.202 and 205 - it looks very different and had a completely different engine. If they were in the same family the player would just upgrade all MC.200 to the more formidable MC.202 as soon as it gets available and historically the two were being used together throughout 1941-42. So it makes more sense to upgrade the obsolete CR 42s to MC.202 and continue to use the MC.200 as it remains a potent fighter on the Eastern Front, at least for a while.
I also made the L/6 light tank "noupgrade" - historically the Italians only used these light tanks on the Eastern Front in 1941-42 and it would be just too easy to upgrade it a better medium tank in the first city. If the player really wants to use some of those M/13 tanks on the Eastern Front (unhistorically) he can transport there one or more any time from Italy. I will check the other entries though.
Plus there are some german equipment left from the AK Campaign (Panther, Brummbär) for the Italians I think they shall be also taken out from the Italian roster. But maybe some other Italian units could be put in: see my Italian Campaign!
The Italian Brummbar is practically already unavailable for purchase (available form 01.01.1946.), and I only left the Panther in as I thought that the Italians would need a good late war panzer as well (Hungary gets the Tas). But I can remove it as it is not a big problem I guess.
I'm playing now the big scenario: so far so great - maybe the convoy (merchant) destroying system is not full clear: when I get the 50 prestige? If I destroy a merchant on the $ fields? Although it is not easy even in 1941 because my B-Boats gets spotted fast and then comes the fast retaliation...
The message says:
"You will get 50 prestige points (up to a maximum of 250) for every naval unit which ends its turn on these convoy routes. The U-boats of the Kriegsmarine are the most cost effective means of the blockade, but you can deploy some of the capital ships as well. However, in the latter case the British are expected to send some of their battleships to protect the convoys."
So you only need to keep as many Axis naval units on the convoy routes as you can and get 50 prestige for each in every turn. Easier said than done, as allied ASW will get more and more effective. U-boats are best used in groups a.k.a. Wolfpacks, this way they can sink enemy destroyers in one turn. Historically, the cooperation between the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe was far from ideal, instead it was characterized by the childish jelousy between their rivaling commanders. In this mod you can make a difference by sending out one or more long range strategic bomber unit to support the U-boats and the Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier will also become available later. Other than that, the U-boats are definitely fighting a losing war in the long run. It would be nice to add the Type XXI, though, for the late war. All I need is a nice icon for it in vanilla style...
I am also thinking about making U-boats multipurpose with a submerged and a surfaced mode. I am not sure how the AI would use its submarines, though, in this case.
I'm at turn 11: I fight a little in Russia without taking the objectives and focus all power to North Africa and maybe to the later occupation of Cyprus and ... hmm, that is secret!
I'm trying to build up strong naval and aerial presence - but the Brits are already very strong with their planes!
In case you are preparing for Opeartion Sealion all I can suggest is to prepare well (my first attempt was a complete failure so I had to restart), but do not wait for too long! Timing is also very important and winter weather may not be ideal for such an operation. The Fw-190 is a great tool to defeat RAF Spitfires. In fact, I think it is really interesting to think it over, what would have happened if the Germans "reloaded" the Battle of Brittain in mid 1941, this time attacking with this superior long range fighter. In 1940, one of the main factor of their failure was the limited range of the Bf-109E as it could only spend like 10-15 minutes over the target area. Historically, only a handful of Fw-190s could hold the RAF at bay in 1941-42, forcing it to change to night bombing, while the bulk of the Luftwaffe was deployed to the Eastern Front. Now, let's image what could have happened if they produced and deployed more Fw-190s against the UK in 1941, supported by the increased range Bf-109Fs...
Oh, and the Kiel Canal is looking really strange...(but the winter version is correct) or it is in my side with some extra modified terrain? Please look for it.
I should look like this:
if not, the problem is with your files...
Is is also really nice that you implemented this "what if": that Stalin thought in the first weeks of Barbarossa that with minor land-giving a major war could be with the Germans avoided...until 1943 when the Soviet Juggernaut is read!
(I think this is symbolised that if you don't capture the major objectives the Russian Bear stays passive - mostly.)
I hope I will have the time until that...
Sure, but Uncle Joe is not dumb. On the contrary, he is just waiting patiently for the Western Allies and Germany to weaken each other. But, even his patience is not endless, and sooner or later he will unleash his tanks to collect the prize: Eastern Europe
If you take just one Soviet victory objective it will ignite the Great Patriotic War feeling in the Russians and they would attack with more troops and earlier. But, since you decided to concentrate your efforts on the Brirish, in your alternative timeline it is them who are now begging the Soviets to do something in the east. So Stalin would send in a few divisions reluctantly from 1942, but the main crush would come some time later. Still, you should not neglect the defense of the eastern border of Germany and you should keep an eye on the Romanians: if the Soviet tanks get too close to their border they might decide to change side at some point. And since you are playing an alternative timeline, it can happen earlier than it happened historically.
Another suggestion: Schnellboote and Destroyers should have more fuel and because they cannot refuelled on the sea and they will be not useful.
Actually it is quite all right, I think, German Destroyers and Schnellboats were not ocean going vessels at all: the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen went out without these, so did the Pocket Battleships, and the Channel dash was also done without destroyer support if I am right. Historically they were mostly confined to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
iceFlame wrote:
I'm kind of resisting going with a star because of the usual identification with the Soviets. Same for the Iron Cross due to its German association. But yeah, I'll give it some more thought. In the meantime how do you feel about a good old fashioned military push pin? They used them for marking targets on real military maps so perhaps it might work here?
Hm. In the meantime I added an experience star, but I like your pin better.
What I do not really like is the glowing flag, which makes the whole map a bit unreal. If I look at a section of the map with the normal flags it looks quite real, as if I was looking at a table model railway or something like that. But, those glowing flags ruin this feeling a bit, if you know what I mean. However, your pins would go well with it, I guess. On the other hand I do not think that only the pins would be enough to make victory flags stand out. Still, we are getting somewhere, and I think this is the good direction. What I would really like to have is some natural looking object next to or behind the flag which would make those flags stand out, but also go well with the roads, houses, bridges and the other terrain features of the map. I just do not know what it could be. Maybe some kind of HQ building or watch tower which really stands out? Dunno.
Anyway, I do not want you to spend the rest of your life making alternative graphics (do not forget that the Kremlin is waiting for you visit, and I heard they have a nice Mausoleum nearby
), so I think the pin with the glowing flag would do for now unless someone comes up with a really really great and original idea.
