Is "The Dark Valley broken?

[pnpfanatic]

Test 3:



Success!

[billyboy]

[pnpfanatic]

Ok, so what did you just do?...cause I'm looking at the map...

[rodvik]

Embedded image works.

Anyway back on topic, yeah that does seem a problem if that strategy works all the time.

[kira1y]

So is the sponge defense just laying out the Russians so they're two-three hexes deep all along the line?

[billyboy]

So is the sponge defense just laying out the Russians so they're two-three hexes deep all along the line?

Basically. Defense in depth. Only stack where you can get defensive benefits against Luftwaffe attacks (for the most part).

[sparty]

I've fiddled with the rules a bit, but this makes me concerned.  I'm surprised there's no "overrun" or breakthrough rules that allow you knock big chinks into that armor.  Incidentally, they spend A LOT of time in the rulebook talking about encirclement, but it appears that you were able to create a contiguous front.  Is that a specific scenario you're playing or is it really that hard for the Germans to encircle the Russians in this game?

[billyboy]

I've fiddled with the rules a bit, but this makes me concerned.  I'm surprised there's no "overrun" or breakthrough rules that allow you knock big chinks into that armor.  Incidentally, they spend A LOT of time in the rulebook talking about encirclement, but it appears that you were able to create a contiguous front.  Is that a specific scenario you're playing or is it really that hard for the Germans to encircle the Russians in this game?

This is the start of Barbarossa. The Russians can do this every time if played correctly. We've watched quite a few newbies play the Russians and they generally form a single line and run away when the Germans punch through it.  If the Russian defends in depth and plays smart the Germans will be in for a world of hurt.

[Sluggonics]

The Russians can't set up that way though - at the start of Barbarossa the vast majority of them have to start in the red border regions.  Some can get out and start joining the few units in the interior and the reinforcements that start coming in, but most will be destroyed and encircled by the Germans.  Usually, the German assault will start to run out of steam where it historically did - on the road to Moscow.  The Germans usually need to either skip Leningrad entirely and focus on Moscow and driving toward the Caucasus to have much of a chance to get the points they need.  If the Russians overload too many units to the north the Germans can go after points in the southern interior to keep the offensive alive.

[billyboy]

The picture is the end of turn 2 and I assure you the Russians can do it every time. Many, many plays. I was a play tester of the game.

[Schwerpunkt]

So what is it about Dark Valley that makes this defence work in contrast to other games at a similar scale?

[septimusrex]

I use this def. I consider all the Russian units in the pink areas at start to be lost what you see here are a few stragglers and the first two turns reinforcements

[billyboy]

I use this def. I consider all the Russian units in the pink areas at start to be lost what you see here are a few stragglers and the first two turns reinforcements

The picture I posted was from your game Mr septimusrex   

[usrlocal]

Ok, I think I'm going to officially steer clear of this one.

[Ashiefan]

Too late for me. Time to hit BGG market place.