Fire in the East September 24th, 2003 Changes from v2.0 to v2.01: -Changed Wiking SS Division's profiency from 80 to 90. -Put correct entry dates on a number of StuG and PzJg Bn's that were set on map from start. -Minor corrections to map. -RR gun was placed on a hex without rail. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- November 9th, 2003 Changes from v2.01 to v3.0: -Map changes: -Yugoslavian coastline redrawn. -Eastern Alps redrawn. -Part of Finland redrawn/added. -Bessarabia redrawn. -Various changes to roads/rails in Russia. -More major escarpments in mountains. Mountains now make for much better defensive positions. -Unit changes: -Russians had two 202nd RD in OOB. Removed one of them. -Russian 26th RD started on map. It now enters in turn 22 (Sep 3rd, 1941) in Gorki. -Entry point corrected for 28th army, 375 RD and 367 RD -Entire Russian starting deployment changed to something that should be more historical. -German 26th Korps under 9th Armee changed to 42nd Korps. -German 299th Inf Div changed to 129th Inf Div. -Event added which gives the German player the option to form 10 Panzer Brigades on turn 317. If he doesn't the tanks (+50% more) will be added to the replacement pool. -Readjusted Slovak army (Downsized) -Added Soviet build fleet option. Historical the Soviet Union had built a lot of ships (Worth around 1000 tanks in steel) which wasn’t completed on the 22nd June. Needless to say when the war came they did not have priority anymore. If option is taken it gives the Soviets 3 more fleet units (after one year) and extra ships in the replacement pool (after one year). In addition he gets a +4 supply bonus (after one year), but a 5% replacement reduction. (immediately). -Removed all Germans Stug battalions, and added them to the Infantry. As most had stug41, they would not have reconstructed after the production is halted. -Major change to Soviet air force. There is now no yak-9, all is yak-3. (Almost same stats in TOAW) -The air force is downsized, but now have a more homogenic range. In TOAW this is a major concern as ALL planes fly to the range of the one with max in the unit, however they do this at 1% and is therefore all shot down. -Another problem that concerns all units that reconstruct, is that 66% of the first equipment has to be available, otherwise it doesn’t reconstruct! This means that there is no I-15 anymore. They are now all I-16 and will be produced throughout the war. -The above is also the true for the German Luftwaffe, so all formations have been changed to the late model e.g Me-109 e/f to Me-109 late. The Luftwaffe is now stronger. -Found and corrected some bugs in equipment (155mm guns in some german units, 120mm in soviet etc.) -More slots now available for equipment on both sides. -Lend lease armor now appear in historical units, + a few extra. -Changed spelling of "Leibstandarte" (was Liebstandarte) -Following PZ REG are withdrawn, and replaced by new units: 1st Pz Reg 41 turn 152 2nd Pz Reg 41 Turn 163 3rd Pz Reg 41 Turn 167 4th Pz Reg 41 Turn 165 6th Pz Reg 41 Turn 159 10th Pz Reg 41 Turn 154 11th Pz reg 41 Turn 153 15th Pz Reg 41 Turn 166 21st Pz Reg 41 Turn 156 24th Pz Reg 41 Turn 169 25th Pz Reg 41 turn 155 27th Pz Reg 41 Turn 158 29th Pz Reg 41 Turn 157 31st Pz Reg 41 Turn 168 33rd Pz Reg 41 Turn 162 35th Pz Reg 41 Turn 160 36th Pz Reg 41 Turn 164 39th Pz Reg 41 Turn 161 -Gameplay changes: -Russian force proficiency set to 60. (Was left at 100) -Pooled tons of equipment to make the replacements list more playable. -The units in Mech Corps have been set to Local Reserve to simulate their attempt the first days to follow the general order to counter-attack. -GE rail damage changed to 25 until turn 44 where it goes to 100. -The event chain that makes Turkey join the war if the Germans take both Sevastopol and Cherkessy have been corrected. -The british units will now activate if any Axis unit comes within 10 hexes of 184,294. -Soviet war options for Turkey, Persia, Warsaw uprising and Bagration have been changed so they actually work! -18th and 2nd Panzer Divisions will be withdrawn on turns 238 and 325 respectively. -Soviet forces goes to shock 100 at turn 7 (instead of turn 9). -The “Invade Turkey” option will now disappear if the Turks join in other ways. One of the problems game testing showed, was the low number of soviet formations. There simply wasn’t enough to stop the German war machine. The following have been done to increase the number: -Most Militia now reconstruct in their respective cities. -I read trough all the unit histories for the Cav divs, to see if any where reconstructed. Not many where. But some do. -More NKVD now reconstruct -Renamed Soviet garrisons, and they all now reconstruct. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- November 10th, 2003 Changes from v3.0 to v3.1: -There was a corruption in the I/JG52. Somehow a double had appeared so there was a I/JG52-unit on both (66,96) and (76,94). This caused the game to crash when one was moved. This has been corrected. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- November 13th, 2003 Changes from v3.1 to v3.2: -A similar problem existed for a hungarian Flak unit located both at 66,154 and 77,161. If a game with v.3.1 is already started an ad hoc solution is to disband the one at 77,161. -corrected some hexes in Finland, that were marked as Soviet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- January 9th, 2004 Changes from v3.2 to v3.6: -German general shock in 1941 is reduced to 115. -Soviet general shock in 1945 is reduced to 115. -Major changes in House Rules – please read the scenario briefing!! -Minor soviet coast batteries have been changed to mobile MG-regiments (they will reconstruct) -Added city of Oranienburg with Soviet supply source. -Added Mannerheim Line, and Soviet Leningrad defence line. -Added various forts at historical places. -Added 10.000 rifle squads, 1.000 heavy rifle squads and 2.000 trucks to the Soviet replacement pool. This is due to the historic ongoing Soviet mobilization (which started before 22-6-1941, and the conversion of civilian infrastructure to military infrastructure) . -Tweaked Soviet engineer/RR-crew/Heavy rifle squads. -Raised the proficiency of Soviet PVO air units at Moscow to 50%. -Reduced Soviet rifle replacements by 250 (due to the increase of their start pool). -Added more rail in the Ural/Sibiria to allow immediate rail movement of reconstructed units. -Added engineer BN to Shock Army and Guards Army HQ. -Added AT BN to Shock Army Rifle and GD Army Rifle Divisions. -Shock Army Rifle Bde have been changed to Ski Bde. -Removed Soviet garrisons and destruction Bde. Have been replaced by 15 Scorched Earth Rgt which arrive on turn 2, and 10 railroad construction Bde which start on map. -Changes Soviet fortifications to Mobile Fort Region MG Brigades. They will reconstruct. -Added German supply in Ventspils (79,58). -Removed German JG Divisions (97th and 100th) they now appear historically in 1942. -Redeployed some of the Brandenburger Special Forces to airfields, to allow them to paradrop on the first turn. -You can now move the Rumanian River Flotilla to the Dnestr river via the Black sea coats line. (An invisible river). -The German Typhoon theater option have been reduced to 130 shock from 140. And the following 80 shock penalty have been reduced from 12 turns to 10. -Added 6 Ceases fires which comes into effect on the following turns (both included) due to Russian Rain Season and Spring Thaw which turned the primitive Russian Roads into mud: 32-39 - Fall 41 82-89 - Spring 42 136-143 - Fall 42 186-193 - Spring 43 240-247 - Fall 43 290-297 - Spring 44 There are no cease fires in the fall of 44 and spring of 45, as the frontline had reached areas with better roads. -Redeployed German reinforcements to historical entry points (Divisions that were used in the Balkan operations) -Redeployed Russian reinforcements. Major forward reinforcements cities are now: Leningrad (140,37) Tikhvin (159,42) Kalinnin (174,72) Moscow (185,86) Tula (186,100) Orel (175,115) Kharkov (175,146) Sevastopol (152,204) Stalingrad (245,156) The German may note these cities as primary objectives, as their capture will severely handicap the Soviet player. -Reduced German air transport to 1100 in 1941, 1000 in 1943, 750 in 1944 and 500 in 1945. There is now only enough capacity to lift one full strength FJ division (with HQ). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- January 15th, 2004 Changes from v3.6 to v3.7 After 3.6 there where need for some changes. This is done in preparations for the Nordic version of FitE, with Murmansk and Archangelsk instead of part of the southern map (Turkey, Greece ect.) OOB changes: -There where some forts that we missed the first way around. They are now all replaced with Fort regions. -Most Coast units are now moveable and will reconstruct making up for the loss in Naval Rifle Brigades. -Some Naval Rifle Brigades have been added. Look at the bottom of the OOB Soviet for further information -Forts are now deployed Fortified, this goes for the Leningrad, Sevastopol, and Brest-litovsk Forts among others. -13th SE Regiment, is now placed in Odessa. -Soviet replacements: Rifle squads have been increased to 16.000, and there is another drop in the amount of replacements they will receive each turn by 200. This is to reflect the historic aspect of the major drafts in 1941, bought just before the war, and during the last 6 months of 1941 -The Soviet 7th, 23rd, 14th Armies along with the Leningrad Front, Leningrad PVO, and the Northern Front are now veterans, from the winter war. This includes a slight increase in proficiency. And only one house rule change!!!!!: -Axis: No invasions are allowed in the Black sea, except over the Krech Strait, AFTER the fall of Sevastopol, and only from the 2 ports on the one side to the 2 ports opposite. Unless Turkey joins the war. Then these restrictions are lifted. Soviets are under the restrictions mentioned elsewhere. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- January 22nd, 2004 Changes from v3.7 to v3.8 -Corrected events. They had changed themself for some reason, so Theater Options would activate the wrong soviet factories. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- July 7th, 2004 Changes from v3.8 to 4.1 -Removed approx 25 hexes from south part of map (part of Turkey and Syria) and instead added Northern Finland, Norway and Sweden as an "off-map" box. Archangelsk are now included in map as well. -Sweden is added along with it's army. It can be activated by Theater Options. Explained in the briefing. -Added German units for the Artic region along with additional finnish divisions. -Added Soviet units for this region. -Added more Soviet Naval Rifle Brigades and Militia Divisions. -Removed the Soviet factory counters. Changed the production gearing to make the probable total production as before. -Soviet Rifle Squad replacement was adjusted incorrectly when they recieved 16000 in starting pool. Rate has been lowered slightly. -Soviet units will now reconstruct in Gorkiy (230,107) instead of Sibiria, giving the units an approx 70 hexes shorter trip to the front. -Added more empty equipment slots for SU-85 Tank Destroyers, to avoid useless production. -Removed starting T-70 equipment from a number of Tank Brigades. -Changed all BA-3/6 to BA-10s. -German PzG and Pz Regs have recieved slightly more recon units, to give better movement in enemy territory. -Adjusted production slightly for various equipment for both German and Soviet player. -Changed types and numbers of tanks in Tank and Mot. Divs. -Increased Soviet Supply Stockpile level to 30. -Added optional Theater option to allow axis player to bully Sweden and Turkey into joining the axis. (Purely "what-if" option) -Corrected entry points for a few Soviet units, that started in odd locations. -Finnish divisions have been pulled back 1 hex from the border. -Made a few map changes to border, rail and rivers in border area. -Modified initial German deployment. -Changed unit color of German and Soviet Special forces. -Corrected unit color for Soviet Guard Air Divisions and Brigades. -Made Soviet Guard unit veterans. -German rail damage is changed to go to 75% on turn 15 and 100 in turn 32. -Soviet Air Transport now goes to 850 (instead of 1000) in 1944 and to 1250 (instead of 2000) in 1945. -German early Panzer Regiments (Pz Reg 41s) will not reconstruct if disbanded or destroyed. -Soviet 109th Mech Div was present twice in the OOB. Removed the one under SW Front. -Made slight corrections and more elaborate explainations in the House Rules. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- October 10th, 2005 Changes from v4.1 to v5.0: -Valdai Hills area redrawn. -Narva area redrawn. -Melitopol is no longer a harbour. -Rail NE out of Nikolaev now starts destroyed/unbuilt. -Rail between Cherson and Ishun (Crimea) now starts destroyed/unbuilt. -Crimea redrawn slightly. -Removed rail that ran from around Cherson to Melitopol. -Added fixed fortification lines in Western Poland and Germany. -Added extra fortification line around Odessa. -Added sea-zones to make invasion over very long distances impossible and increase importance of some areas. (hango naval base, baltic Islands etc.) -Added exclusion zone around Sweden. It's same type as around Persia and will thus disappear if USSR attacks Persia. That doesn't mean that it's then allowed to enter Sweden (by any side), it's just to prevent error caused by the "human" factor in the opening turns. -Corrected fortification around Moscow. (It was facing wrong way on certain hexes!) -GrossDeutchland Reg now withdraws at turn 82 (spring 1942) for it's conversion to a division. -The Luftwaffe has been redone. The different geschwaders will now be "modernized" throughout the war acording to their unit history. This means that a number of the units will be withdrawn at the end of the mud period in the spring and fall each year and maybe replaced by a similar unit unless the geschwader was withdrawn from the east front all-together. Also corrected the error where the stab-staffel of each geschwader was given the strength of a gruppe. The stab-staffel is now considered integrated in the gruppen. -Soviet Air Force, VVS, has been redone. The VVS now start in various divisions, often with a mixture of different plane types. We are aware that this will make their effectivness suffer, but that was part of the plan. These division-units will reconstruct until they have spent the stock of the obsolete aircraft types. Better units with modern equipment will arrive over time, each of these units (3 regiments combined) are using only one aircraft type, thereby making them more durable. -Redone the entire Rumanian OOB and TOE: Complete overhaul of their units and equipment. AG Antonescu is removed and the divisions directly under it has been put under 3rd or 4th Army. Added a 1st Reserve army, that will recieve the reinforcements through fall '41 and later. More artillery. Army HQ's have recieved more artillery, and furthermore all 8 Corps Art Regs are now in play, being placed in three "brigade" units. (There were only one before) Airforce has been fleshed a bit more out. -Redone the entire Hungarian OOB and TOE: Complete overhaul of their units and equipment. Added the 2nd Hungarian Army to arrive spring '42. Airforce has been fleshed a bit more out. -Redone the entire Slovakian OOB and TOE: In their first two-three months of the war their participating units did quite a bit of splitting up and combining. The way they are depicted now is more or less how they ended up after they stopped changing. All their motorized equipment in the "fast" div and the rest in the "Security" division, thus skipping the stage with the "pilfousek" brigade. Airforce has been fleshed a bit more out. -Redone the entire Italian OOB and TOE: Generally more firepower to their units and especially their HQ. Also added their Corps Art Regs in a individual "brigade". Added the Vicenza Security Div. Airforce has been fleshed a bit more out. Giving them the bombers SM.81/SM.84 is a bit of a stretch as they really only had recon-bombers, but TOAW didn't have the right type anyway so... -Reorganized the German OOB. Engineers, Artillery, Flak, AT-regiments, MP and rail-repairs are now put in own formations instead of under the various Korps and Army HQ's. They still start at their original HQ, so this have little affect on gameplay, but should make it easier to locate these support units later on. Also the arriving German reinforcements have been sorted according to their division type and number. -An (extra) Finnish 4th division with three incorrect regiments was removed. -Removed StuG and Hetzer equipment slots for Finnish Inf Regs. -Soviet Scorched Earth regiments that used to arrive on turn 2 have been removed. -Instead each regular army have been given a recon unit. These are partly taken from the recon units that earlier present in the mech corps, and partly from newly created units (arriving on turn 2) -T34s are now divided in the T34/76(Early) and T34/76(Late). No Tank Bdes now have T34/76(Early) as primary equipment, but start with such a low number of this equipment so either Rifle Squads or Ba-10 becomes their primary equipment. Once the stock of T34/76(early) runs out this allows the units to continue to reconsitute. The early tank bde thus requires a few turns on-map to become fully operable. -Soviet armies have been reorganized. Instead of placing the divisions in the army which they served in the most, making some of the armies huge, while others so small they had to be combined, divisions are now spread more out. They still appear in armies they were in at some point or another, but this allowed us to get rid of the combined armies. This means that some divisions start in another army than what they were in at the start of Babarossa, but since most of these units are doomed anyway, it doesn't make any difference early in the game. -Changed/corrected production of most equipment, both Axis and Soviet. -Soviet shock are now 80% during the first 2 turns, then going up to normal. -Soviet regular armies are now internal support. -All Soviet reinforcements are now "standardized" to arrive on map the turn they started forming. Earlier some were set to enter when they historical arrived at the front or were assigned to a certain army. The difference in time varies alot from unit to unit (from 0-10+ turns) but in general it means that the Soviet player will recieve more units earlier. To simulate that the units weren't combat ready from day 1, they now start with only 50% in supply and readiness. The player then have to figure out if he needs them at the front right away as a stop-gap measure, or can allow them to rest further behind until they are fully ready. For units in regular armies this will take about 4 turns if they sit still next to a HQ. If they move, doesn't sit in a fully supplied area or their parent HQ is destroyed or has lost some of it's support squads, it can take much longer. -The regular divisions at the front are now deployed as "defending" instead of "fortified". Only the Border Guards that were on alert at the start of Barbarossa and remain in "fortified" deployment. -Added Citadel Theater option for summer '43. -Soviet recon increase more later in game. -Soviet Airlift start at 0, going to 500 on turn 40. -The "cease-fire" (mud) periods now have a sligtly variable activation and end date. -Militia and Fort Regions are withdrawn Spring '42. -Naval Rifle Brigades are withdrawn Spring '43. -German Rail Damage set to 75% from start. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Probably more we forgot to put in here.