EP '14 mechanics/balance

[Volcano Man]

The pattern you describe for besieging Koenigsberg sounds logical, but you make it sound too easy. When you get to Koenigsberg, if you can get there, it will be after September 1st, so you will get 20 or less supply. Isolating the city/fortress either requires you to break the southeastern part of the fortified ring or crossing a major river. The Russian guns you mention are regular heavy artillery, presumably because they're so old, and not siege artillery.

I repeatedly stated that it would be difficult and challenging to get into Konigsberg; I have no illusions there, I was just outlining the steps. You wouldn't just waltz straight in, and you wouldn't try to tackle the actual forts themselves, but it shouldn't be impossible if done correctly. The description was presented simply because you stated that objectives should be present around the fortress to reward the Russians for besieging it, and I was saying that besieging it has its own reward of cutting off supplies, following by the steps you would take to try to get inside after doing that. I just don't see the Konigsberg situation written off pessimistically like your posts above were doing (you did say there was no reason for the 1st Army to even go into it). I never said this in the notes as far as I can remember.

But then again, maybe I am being too optimistic, but I have never been accused of that before.  Also, maybe Konigsberg itself should be worth a LOT more points to basically help guarantee a political termination victory even when 2nd Army may be getting thrashed. This is worth consideration.

You are correct: any siege would have to take place after September 1st, so it would directly depend on the Russian 2nd Army holding its own against the Germans or, at the very least, not getting destroyed by then. All of these are a given. But the only reason we are even discussing hypotheticals here is because, again, you were being so pessimistic in the previous posts. If I don't offer a counterpoint then you have essentially decreed that the game needs serious work (going back to your original post).

But that is not to say it is perfect either, just that I won't be making drastic changes in the game, which is why I felt an obligation to elaborate on the rationale behind it all.

Strela
If we get this right there is no reason why it can't go into other series and make the players decisions much more relevant based upon an evolving situation rather than the 'I have 24 turns to go and capture point X' - grind, grind, grind.

Yes, that would be very nice indeed. It does make it exponentially more tricky to balance when calculating VP levels though, but if kept to a minimum then it would work well.