Re: Some thoughts on Blitzkrieg
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 2:28 am
I agree with much of what's been said above. I've was going to mention the understrength, demoralized, broken, (red) enemy units ability to cut supply, but glad to see it mentioned by others. Since even 10 strength red units are essentially useless, how does a 1/2 strength red unit have the ability to cut supply lines? This is a significant problem and must be addressed.
The kill xx units as an objective has been criticized in several threads, which I feel is warranted. It really is terrible as presently constituted. While this was an actual German objective (especially during Barbarossa), it needs to be rethought and implemented in a different way. One way of dealing with this is by giving the Germans more units. Germans are outnumbered in Dunkirk and Kiev 3/4 to 1, which I know is supposed to enhance playability but is simply the lazy way to do this. Giving the computer a lot more units has long been the simplest way to deal with dumb AIs, but in this case it makes for long, boring games. Please change this, please, please.
I might also mention the blue, uncontrollable, units that often appear in scenarios (particularly as naval unit). While I understand their use in certain scenarios (Norway for instance, where it makes sense), their use in the 2nd Polish scenario is downright stupid. German land units you have no control over!? I've had the blue units just pull away from my flank and a Polish unit immediately cut my supply. They also just congregate and mill about in the woods outside Warsaw near the end of the game. What's the rationale for having uncontrolled German units? This just seems ludicrous. No German units acted this way unless they were routed (which these aren't). Any units that didn't coordinate with their flanks would have had their commanders shot. Turn these units over to the player.
Recon units. The planes are okay. The armored cars I mostly use to fill out 2 unused CPs and then they serve mostly to attack routed or understrength units. They're great at killing damaged artillery or antiaircraft guns since they can move a long distance and don't have to worry about supply. Not a realistic usage, but it's about all they're good for.
Lot of criticism, so here's kudos. Norway is a great scenario. Using the paratroops to best advantage takes some practice. Almost all unit types have a role to play. Well thought out, nicely developed scenario. Which of course puts it in stark contrast to the Dunkirk and Kiev scenarios.
The kill xx units as an objective has been criticized in several threads, which I feel is warranted. It really is terrible as presently constituted. While this was an actual German objective (especially during Barbarossa), it needs to be rethought and implemented in a different way. One way of dealing with this is by giving the Germans more units. Germans are outnumbered in Dunkirk and Kiev 3/4 to 1, which I know is supposed to enhance playability but is simply the lazy way to do this. Giving the computer a lot more units has long been the simplest way to deal with dumb AIs, but in this case it makes for long, boring games. Please change this, please, please.
I might also mention the blue, uncontrollable, units that often appear in scenarios (particularly as naval unit). While I understand their use in certain scenarios (Norway for instance, where it makes sense), their use in the 2nd Polish scenario is downright stupid. German land units you have no control over!? I've had the blue units just pull away from my flank and a Polish unit immediately cut my supply. They also just congregate and mill about in the woods outside Warsaw near the end of the game. What's the rationale for having uncontrolled German units? This just seems ludicrous. No German units acted this way unless they were routed (which these aren't). Any units that didn't coordinate with their flanks would have had their commanders shot. Turn these units over to the player.
Recon units. The planes are okay. The armored cars I mostly use to fill out 2 unused CPs and then they serve mostly to attack routed or understrength units. They're great at killing damaged artillery or antiaircraft guns since they can move a long distance and don't have to worry about supply. Not a realistic usage, but it's about all they're good for.
Lot of criticism, so here's kudos. Norway is a great scenario. Using the paratroops to best advantage takes some practice. Almost all unit types have a role to play. Well thought out, nicely developed scenario. Which of course puts it in stark contrast to the Dunkirk and Kiev scenarios.