We'll call it (c) but VERY minor

[Mark Stevens]

Pelle noticed a few more overassigned units and formation proficiency oddities

Built a river with anchorages so that a reconstituting US fleet can escape from the Great Lakes (and made them deep water so that it won't sink)

Radius for Allied capture of Tripoli (which triggers the 50% chance of an Allied seizure of Messini causing Italian surrender) was set to 'one', so even entering the outskirts would trigger it - reduced to 'zero' now

Some more minor tinkering with the OOBs - e.g. Mussolini's post-surrender Fascist forces are correctly named and iconed instead of being two imaginary corps, few more like that

Any other thoughts? My only concern, although I've played tried it only once, is that the introduction of the 'Afrika' formation as the only Germans allowed in the Middle East has swung things too far: instead of Germany unrealistically swamping the Desert Campaign with infantry corps, the small 'Afrika' formation, however many Italians are backing it up, can be beaten by an Allied player willing to ship enough units to the theatre. Or is that what happened?

Does anyone have any other thoughts/suggestions/beefs?

I've given up trying to construct a weather 'loop' repeating over the five years: just not clever enough.

[TacCovert4]

It was thought that 4 full panzer divisions could take out the Brits in NA, with Italian Assistance. The German high command only sent 2 divs and a brigade, resulting in the stalemate that ensued. As the German high commander, you should be able to send in what you want, within reason. Would it be possible to allow sending of up to 6 divisions, with penalties beyond the third?

[Mark Stevens]

'...within reason.' Famous last words.

We've been discussing this for about four years. If the Italians had pulled their fingers out in their harbours, or the Germans could have provided their navy with more fuel oil, how many more German divisions could have been supplied in the Desert Campaign? As I never tire of pointing out, Kesselring and Raeder believed that with a little extra effort the Italians and Germans could have gone a long way to undermining Britain's position in the region.

For a long time we went with unlimited, but even with relatively low sea transport that allowed several corps to be shipped over and, besides beating the British, invade the USSR from the south virtually every time.

I think what we're trying now is reasonable, but it does mean that the Axis player has to put more resources into capturing the Mediterranean islands and ports in order to 'unlock' the extra German units. If you just manage what happened historically, i.e. taking Crete, there's only the single Afrika Korps panzer corps and one motorised division, which is about right. However, taking Alexandria, Gibraltar, Malta or Cyprus against a decent Allied defence is likely to be difficult.

If you really think that the Germans could have supplied, say, six divisions, and you don't like the current system, try agreeing it with your opponent in advance.

[Raver]

Any other thoughts? My only concern, although I've played tried it only once, is that the introduction of the 'Afrika' formation as the only Germans allowed in the Middle East has swung things too far: instead of Germany unrealistically swamping the Desert Campaign with infantry corps, the small 'Afrika' formation, however many Italians are backing it up, can be beaten by an Allied player willing to ship enough units to the theatre. Or is that what happened?


I have to agree with you on this, although I'm hardly a new perspective being your opponent in the 2 games you mention. But certainly it seems too easy for the allies to hold now without trying terribly hard. And in one game that was without even falling back to Alamein.

[Mantis]

Well, I have a slightly different perspective to share with you. I'm currently in a game with Mike, and although the new rules weren't intorduced in the version we're currently playing, we decided to 'adopt' them.

The Germans have been able to make some good headway in Africa, and have made life hell for the Allies. The fighting has been incredibly fierce, and some of my more enjoyable 'campaign moments' have occurred in this game.

And before you say anything, I'm the Allies. Mike has been able to constantly harrass me, smash open any given port (excepting Alexandria), and feed any invasion he undertook with considerable resources. Yes, I stuffed NA with most of the Brit units, and he's still able to raise hell. Even with the amount of units I have in the theatre, had it not been for the new rules, I'd have been simply overwhelmed. As it was it was close!

I like the new changes.