[WarInEur] Comment on Attrition

[Kent & Sue Haunschild]

I am one of the play testers that still has a problem with attrition.  I 
like the concept, but am not sure that the current game can accomodate it 
without changing some other features.


It was almost impossible in the SPI board game to duplicate the German 
historic advances in the Ukraine.  With the severe weather rules it isn't 
even theoretically possible.

The German have a limited amount of time to accomplish their goals. 
Attrition (and its operational pauses) robs them of the limited time they do 
have.

I think that we will find that the limited supply range, the automatic 
exchange for OOS attacks, and the Soviet Ar subsitution result will have to 
be turned off when playing with attrition.

We will also probable have to scrap the First winter Axis 6-5 flips, and 
give the axis the ability to convert Soviet rail in Snow turns for play 
balance as well.  Otherwise we are going to find the entire Axis army at 
about 95% attrition in Spring of 42 at it will take two cycles minimum to 
get supply to them and get them restored to full strength for a 42 
offensive.

Personally I think that a competent Soviet player will not juat damage but 
destroy the German army the first winter unless we also make some rules 
changes to balance attrition.

Kent

Kent






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Denney" <jbdenney at swbell.net>
To: <warineur at mailman.halisp.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 10:11 AM
Subject: [WarInEur] Comment on Attrition


>I am playing the 1941 game and I am 2 cycles into the invasion of the USSR.
>
> I set the game to use advanced Attrition and kept the default values.
>
> This adds an interesting twist to the game. I can get higher odds with my
> panzers in an attack but is the wear and tear on them worth the extra 
> odds?
> This gives meaning to the phrase "operational pause" in the course of the
> advance. Just marching forward puts a strain on the offensive capability 
> of
> the army, especially when you are marching out of supply. It does me no 
> good
> to form up against the Soviet line if my tanks are running at only 50%
> effectiveness.
>
> This also give the Soviets a reason to try to stand and fight farther
> forward than in the old game. The line will defiantly crumble but the
> resulting attrition caused by the Germans killing the line MAY slow down
> their ability to punch at the main defense line when they arrive. Even a 
> DE
> has an erosive effect on the attackers.
>
> I don't know yet what this will do to the overall play balance of the game
> but it defiantly adds a new dimension to handling your attack in Russia. 
> It
> actually feels "more real".
>
> Bruce
>
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