Thoughts on SC-WW1 after first pbem game

[lettowvorbeck]

1. I still maintain that game balance is economically slanted too far toward the Central Powers. In early to mid-1916 in our game, Germany nearly had the same MMP total than France, UK, and Russia combined! And this was with at least moderate industrial tech investment for France and UK (one still has to separately pour resources into trenches and artillery).

2. Germany should never have the resources to do concurrent full-scale army, navy, and research expansion. Apparently, they are quite easily able to do so in the game.

3. I approve of the ambush ability of subs, but the sub swarms against deployed enemy warships and their escorts are too powerful, esp. when the subs can very frequently dive and avoid combat. The anti-submarine measures need to be more effective (esp. when the tech level meets and exceeds the sub tech level) both in causing damage and in preventing dive before combat. In general, in both world wars, the anti-sub measures developed during the wars tended to trump advances in sub technology, and the opposite seems to be true in the game.

4. Rumania enters the war at the end of the TE turn (no one answered my question if this was true in all games so I'll just assume here that it is), allowing the CP a free first move that catches them all spread out in an indefensible position.

5. Sea lift and maritime logistical capacity based entirely on available MMP levels makes Germany a power with a greater sea transport and amphibious reach potential than the UK. Germany can certainly effectively conduct small operations against light opposition like the one they did in the Baltic in 1917, but the Germans had no ability to land and supply entire army groups on far flung fronts accessible solely by sea.

6. I still would like some variability (instead of certainty) in the ability of HA to reduce entrenchments, esp. with their huge 10 shot capacities that can be rapidly refilled. Instead of each shot automatically reducing the target tile's trench level by a step, it would be nice if it was a probability based on strength, experience, HA level, etc.. And, like others have said, the ability for artillery to gain experience is way out of proportion to other unit types.

7. Historically, did Turkey build any new ships of the types represented in the game during the war? If they needed Britain to construct dreadnoughts before the war, I doubt they could build their own during the war.

Also, if you want to play a good and crafty player, try Isnogud.

[xwormwood]

Hi lettowvorbeck.

I've played about 10 complete pbem games.

I never experienced it that Germany outproduced the Entente, at least not this much.

So Insogud must be either a very capable opponent, or your strategies need some adjustments.

Having said that, i want to add that i don't mean that you are a weak or bad player, not at all.

But in my experience the success of my opponent has often to do with my actions. If i waste to many units (=money) or if i let my opponent dictate where, when and how long a battle is fought, than i weaken myself.

When i play the German side, i usually lose against my Entente opponent.

In my experience it is not an easy thing to win with the Germans.

I once experienced it, but one time out of 10 doesn't come close to circumstances you described.

In my last games the Entente could easily imprision the German Navy in the Baltic sea. The UK player always felt like he hit the ultimate bonanza when the German player showed up to fight it out, as the Germans usually can't afford the national morale losses of these fights, while the UK could.

With the german ports and the Kaiser-Wilhelm-cannal blocked, subs weren't even able to leave the german bight anymore.

And while the rest of the Entente navies conducted their blockade duty, Germany, having lost several naval units, broke usually down at least in early - mid 1917. Sometimes before Russia fell, sometime after Russia became a communist country.

When my opponent had tons of money for research and naval investments, than this ment usually that i didn't hurt him well enough, as he obviously didn't had to rebuy lost units. Or that i wasted to many of my units, so that he didn't felt threatened from my armies anymore.

I'm no strong player, but in general i have the feeling that the game is quite well balanced.

[Bill101]

Thanks for the feedback and I've just replied to your question about Romania in that thread. Sorry for the delay!

On point 7, I will take a look at the Ottoman navy again, but I do like there to be some potential for "what ifs" that everyone can pursue if they see fit and have the resources. Plus with their long coastline that needs protecting some ability to increase their navy seems plausible.

That said, I will look into this further to check that we aren't increasing their potential for growth too much.