PzC Tournament - Smolensk '41 - invitation

[Dog Soldier]

Green and Mr. Grumpy are spot on in their comments.

This tournament's optional rules setup seems to HIGHLY favor the Axis player. Even switching sides will only prove who is the better pinata. The Russian player will have to avoid the blows coming from the Axis turns while never taking advantage of Axis over extending his units. To launch a well timed local counter strike as the Soviet player is really the only reason to play that side in S41.

S41 is a game where the Soviet defensive player will never be able to retake a lost objective. However, the Soviets can win scenarios by exploiting Axis mistakes and causing boatloads of Axis casualties.
The optional rules Green mentions will not allow the Soviets to mass to defend key positions or counter attack.
Artillery Set Up while considered realistic, severely hampers the Russian defense. Soviet set up in the pdt is only 20%.
Alternative assault resolution allows Panzer battalions to move into dense terrain (forest, village, city) without infantry stacking with the tanks to support them and engage Red infantry with near impunity.
Optional Surrender is just horrible for S41. The difference in base morale will be exaggerated by this optional rule. Coupling it with the Quality Fatigue Modifier is near criminal. In tandem this will make uber Axis units while Soviet units melt in the July sun.

Otherwise, the Soviet play is a punching bag conducting a Fabian defense. The Soviet player's only hope under these optional rules is that the Axis player is not very efficient in destroying Soviet units and runs out of time to take necessary objectives.

Dog Soldier