From: bruceb@mpd.tandem.com (Bruce Burden)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board
Subject: Re: Fire in the East questions
Date: 8 Jan 93 19:30:01 GMT
Organization: Tandem Computers (MPD) Austin, TX

In article <cscoging.45.726490085@unpcs1.cs.unp.ac.za> cscoging@unpcs1.cs.unp.ac.za (Chris Scogings) writes:
>I've just started a game as a Russian player and wonder if someone can 
>answer one or more questions:
>
>Q: If a German tank attacks a Russian tank in a swamp, is the modifier for
>   the dice roll -6 ?   (-2 for swamp and -4 for full anti-tank)
>
	I believe (I don't have the game handy) that a swamp cancels AEC
    so the AECD would be cancelled as well. (neither tank can use its 
    maneuverability, so neither get a bonus).
>
>Q: Force A and force B (both movement of 10) are going to link up for an
>   overrun.  Force A uses 6mp to overrun and Force B (from further away)
>   uses all 10mp to overrun.  Can Force A continue to move for 4mp ?
>   Is there no "time coordination" of the overrun ?
>
	Since the "stack" has to overrun, I would not award the phasing
    player a bonus of combining stacks and then disassembling them. If
    said player doesn't prepare for the overrun BEFORE starting the move
    phase, then that player should wait until the exploitation phase to
    split the stack. Otherwise, you can get units mixed in the stack. 
    Also, make sure you check stacking limits.
>
>Q: Russian bombers plus escorts move to a Russian occupied hex in the Russian
>   air phase.  They are attacked by German interceptors.  Will surviving 
>   bombers definitely be there for defense in the next German attack?
>   Can the German interceptors be re-used as escorts in the German air phase?
>
	I believe that unless allocated for other missions, air units that
    are not flipped are available every phase. My question is: Why are your
    bombers so close to the front lines? Non-phasing intercepts are 1/2
    range, so your bombers should never have been attacked.
>
>Q: Does the "fragile divisions" rule mean that Russian 5-6 and 6-6 infantry
>   divisions can not be built up from cadre or re-built after being 
>   eliminated ?
>
	As I recall, they can't be rebuild after elimination. In practical
    matters, this rule is meaningless, as the retreat through a ZOC will
    eliminate them anyway. Sigh. Get used to 200-300 points eliminated in
    the first few turns, and pray for early mud. Mud is your friend.
>
>Q: What is the general Russian strategy ?  Should you make a strong line and
>   take enormous casualties or should you hold reinforcements back and let 
>   the Germans take large chunks of Russia ?
>
	In the south, you have to trade time for land. Besides, after Kiev,
    there is very little except Stalingrad. In the north, you need to build
    the railroad from Archangel to the Murmansk/Moscow line, and the rail
    road north of Leningrad. Your best bet is to build a fort line in the
    Moscow/Leningrad rough, and hold out as best as you can. Also, move the
    factories ASAP. Use supply to increase the railcap as necessary. Pray for
    mud. Mud is your friend.

	Try to save your tanks. For the FitE/SE grand campaign game, it was
    suggested that AFTER 1941 a 2-1 casualty ratio would drain the Germans
    before the Soviets, and a 3-2 ratio was doing VERY well. Also, the 
    Germans can't be strong everywhere, so attack where they aren't. Try
    for those damn annoying trucks, use the river gunboats to ferry troops
    (marines, usually) to cut supply/railroads and keep a supply of marines
    in Leningrad to cross the ice and get unprotected seige artillery in
    the winter. Protect the "winterized" units as much as possible, they
    will be handy in the winter time.

	Concerning Finland - you have to protect the Murmansk railline,
    but after an initial strong push you should be able to hold this area.
    Do you drive on Finland? Personal decision. I have had offensives
    die (literally) in Finland due to a disasterous AE result. Until the
    Sovs can again re-inforce this area the Finns will bedevil you to no
    end. Keep in mind that the railroad north of Lake Lagoda is Leningrads
    only chance, so you can't endanger this link.

	Also, purchase Scorched Earth now, and play to combined game. You
    will only have to go through the "surprise" moves once. Of course, if
    you are a real masacist, then play it as many times as you want. Also,
    SE will prevent to German from exhausting himself reaching the (short
    term) obvectives of FitE. After all, there are several more years left!
    Pray for mud. Mud is your friend.




								Bruce



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  Bruce Burden            bruceb@mpd.tandem.com         Tandem Computers Inc.