Helping The Soviets

[Matt W]

I actually think that the best simulation would be provided by using the Komissars more often. The willingness of the Soviet soldier to die for Mother Russia typically had more to do with the fact that, if they decided to run, they would die even more surely at the hands of the NKVD. It wasn't until the initiative had changed hands that the Soviets stopped shooting their own soldiers with machine guns placed 400-600 yards behind the jumping off point. At that point the likelihood of surviving the combat had risen substantially and the idea of being on the winning side helped out.

As re: the Americans I believe that the usual morale is 8/6 (at least when I'm not playing with PARA or the Nisei). I think this works well as American troops became especially shaky when losses were taken as the American soldier did not take kindly to being shot at. The propaganda they had to swallow suggested that their firepower made them invicible. It was only when their personal experience taught them otherwise that they were happy to go to ground. Just try to recover from a demoralization with a reduced INF on an 8/6 morale (a 1 in 6 chance).

I don't mind national characteristics if they are not able to be modelled by the game system itself. More Kommissars in 1941/1942 for the Soviets are probably the best answer. The surrender rule is still an odd duck in my mind but I can work with it as a game mechanic. Otherwise the morale ratings seem to cover most of the situations that I would expect to see and cover them well.