Patch?

[Dog Soldier]

This is a great analysis in this thread, but one huge consideration, IMHO, is that in actual game play as in historical reality, the Quality and Morale functions of the game should (and do) trump pure ballistics.

Tigers & 88mm Flak guns, when handled historically in the number of games I have experienced PBEM here since the game was released, can do a lot of damage to even a full brigade of Soviet tanks. PzIVs & PzIIIs used in cooperation with the Tigers, 88mm, 75mm, 50mm ATG make a formidable force for Soviet players to overcome.

The concept I am illustrating is, that over time, say two to three turns, the 'C' & 'D' quality of a Soviet tank brigade degrades considerably in heavy action against the 'A' quality Axis armor and ATG assets to 'D', 'E' & 'F'. Axis units degrade to 'B' and only over extended time to 'C'. This results in the Soviets having a a steeper grade to climb to victory. Using quantity to replace the quickly fatigued and damaged (through destroyed tanks) units is a more difficult task in actual game play under the current system than one would think form the posts in this and other threads. Suggesting that the powerful Axis AT tank & assets be even more deadly seems to tip the scales too much in the Axis favor to my thinking.

A lot of analysis I am seeing is quite good and valid, but confined to only the first turn of contact. It has been my experience of trying to keep a Soviet tank force viable over the length of four to five intense combat turns is already a very difficult task already.

Anyone who wants to try out their ideas or just plain show me the 'light' can take the Soviet side in any scenario where there is significant tank fighting. I will demonstrate what I am seeing as a German commander.

These scenarios on July 6, 1943 in the II SS Panzer Korps sector will demonstrate my point of the power of the German panzers in the game.
#0706_01 II SS PzK - July 6: Breakthrough!
#0706_04 Nechaevka - Das Reich's Full Force
#0706_07 Nepkhaevo - The Meeting Engagement
#0706_06 Ozerovskii - Hurrah!! Counterattack Comrades!!

Of these Ozerovskii is a really intense experience with both sides having opportunities to attack and defend in the scenario. It appears quite balanced, IMHO under the current game mechanics.

#0705_08 Cemetery - Where the Panthers come to die
This scenario is a good example of how the Panthers with their lower 'C' quality perform compared to the 'A' quality SS panzers. The 'C' quality rating is for not just the 'teething pains' of the new Panther design, but also for the inexperience of the crews with the new machine.

#0708_01 Voronezh Front - July 8: While the Cats Away...
#0712_02 Hill 252_2 - Avalanche
These two scenarios will show the difficulties Soviets players have even on the attack with overwhelming numbers of tanks versus the current German ATG and panzers.

Pick any of these scenarios. We will play with default optional rules. I will play the Germans to demonstrate my POV on the current game. The German armor is very deadly.
Prove me wrong and pick up a ladder victory! At the very least, such actual HTH PBEM game results are very informative to Strela as he works on the first patch.

Dog Soldier