Minsk ´44 - 5th GTA is Commited

[Gunther Sheepdog]

Kool Kat,

I think Minsk 44 was at the time of its release, a long overdue PzC game which addressed the many other PzC's, which were not really much fun to play as a Russian player. The only other similar one that comes to mind previous to this titles release was Stalingrad 42.
If you wish to play this title as the Axis then you have to accept the historical situation as it was at the time, the same as the Russian players have had to do with most of the other PzC titles.

Cheers,

Gordon

Gordon:

I do accept (or at least have played) the historical situations of several Minsk '44 scenarios:

The Long Left Flank
The Bobruysk Bypass
They Stood at Orsha
The Last Ditch Effort

In the above listed scenarios, given skilled and near perfect play by the German player, there is a chance to etch out a Draw or better in the following scenarios:

The Long Left Flank
The Last Ditch Effort

In The Bobruysk Bypass and They Stood at Orsha, the best the German player can achieve is to limit the Russians to a Minor Victory. Even in these two scenarios, given competent and skilled German play, battle field conditions do not entirely unravel and collapse until the end game turns.

However, in The 5th GTA is Committed, the scenario begins with hundreds of German units in immediate danger of being surrounded, front lines unstable, and an impossible to defend northern sector. The combat situation is chaotic,  and already unraveling even before the German commander sits down to plot out his first turn! Given these battle field conditions, between equal skilled players, a German Draw is not achievable. A German Minor or Major victory are impossibilities.

My negative reaction to playing the Germans in The 5th GTA is Committed is not that I don't accept the historical conditions, but that the scenario designers have developed a scenario that does not allow the German player any chance of even etching out a Draw.

Why play a scenario - especially a 44-turn one, in which your side is guaranteed either a Minor or Major Defeat? 

For me, I would rather invest my limited gaming time into more enjoyable and rewarding scenarios - ones in which skilled and competent play is rewarded with at least the possibility of a Draw.

Hi Kool Kat,

This historical situation was brought about by the absolute German commander, Hitler and his no retreat policies.

I do however take your all your points in regard to playing this one as valid for PBEM and should really have in the description something like,
"This is best only played as Russians v AI"  and thereby saving a lot of wasted effort.

Cheers,

Gordon