Today's update will cover various topics, ranging from the community (including commentary from your Side Commanders) to the 2019 roadmap currently in development. There's no shortage of outstanding efforts being made, please join us for this update.
2019 Roadmap Under Development
Fortunately the 2019 Roadmap is nearly completed and is going through some final checks. It will include items not delivered (but are currently in progress) from 2018 and new items not yet announced. You should be prepared to see a variety of items from both Development and Production. We will be doing another fundraiser this year so get prepared for that as well - details to follow upon 2019 roadmap being published.
Greater transparency of Development efforts
It is our intent at Cornered Rat Software to keep you all aware of Development progress as best as we can. To further continue our tradition of being an actively engaged developer, we've decided that upon the 2019 Roadmap being outlined we will be providing a public facing Trello. The objective is to show you development progress in a public manner so you can follow along. Of course it will not include every nook and cranny of detail, but our hope is to show you at a relatively easy glance the moving parts and their current stages of development / integration.
JG51 is the first Squad back with HC
Congratulations to Squad "JG51" for completing the requirements of getting involved with the High Command program. They'll be receiving their Squad name on a Brigade within the user interface of WWII Online. To learn more about this program and how your Squad can receive the same check out our "Squads wanted for HC" article. Be sure to let your Squad know about this program and the benefits involved with become part of the collective TEAM effort of your side.
LUFTWAFFE - 3.Jg II.Gruppe Command (JG51)
- MINGUS, Kommandeur der II.Gruppe
- RWS, Stellvertr Kommandeur der II.Gruppe
- HEYULOOK, IIa IM Stab der II.Gruppe
Axis CinC Commentary (Lafleur)
Axis forces flipped the balance of power on the Map by the end of the first week Campaign 160, from 55%/45% of towns being Allied at the start to 55%/45% Axis at the beginning of Week 2. Severe supply problems hampered the Axis advance through the weekend, with Allied RDP raids reducing capacity from our factories and creating a significant time delay in restocking equipment as compared to Allied units. However, the Luftwaffe rallied through interdiction of Allied bombing raids and counterstrikes on Allied factories. By the beginning of Week 2, Axis factories were back in action to levels equal to the Allies, restoring much needed supplies to our front lines.
Week 2 also brought strong Allied counterattacks on towns just west of the center and south river lines. Fierce battles raged all week around Grandpre, with Axis High Command having to work around the clock to keep our foothold in the southwest. In the Center, the Allies recaptured Couvin and threatened to push our units back to the river. However, as of midweek our forces had recaptured Couvin and moved our lines even further westward. Battles in the north featured a tug of war for Lier and Schilde, with the Allies desperately trying to dislodge our units around Antwerp. These efforts failed in the face of stiff Axis defense.
Of particular importance in each of our victories and successful defensive battles this week was excellent coordination between the Luftwaffe and Heer to keep bridges down and provide combat air support for our boots on the ground. Luftwaffe Branch Commander Rustylk and his brave pilots have made a big difference in the past week, but we need to continue to provide timely and accurate intelligence to the Luftwaffe on Channel 20 about ground targets and bridges that need their attention and Allied air activity over our areas of operation.
Keep up the great work going into Week 3!
Allied CinC Commentary (Westy91)
Since our successful friday offensive last week, axis forces have since taken the upper hand and pushed hard towards their objectives. The key to stopping them in their tracks will be communication and teamwork.
Allied RDP raids continue to ravage German supply lines and it is something I'm eager to see continue. Taking away their supplies will hand the initiative back to us, but it is you guys on the ground that everything rests on. Be brutal in defence and clinical in the attack, and victory will be yours.
On the HC front we have seen a rise in officers applying and coming through the JTC le by Spowie/Coila and Imbrutus/Boobear. I can't stress this enough:- your High Command needs YOU.
In the days and weeks to come there will be testing times, and it is critical that our side comes together to face the "dark side" head on.
S!
Steam survey & support
Have you had the opportunity to complete our big Steam survey yet? It will help us with the future priorities so drop your thoughts now!
WWII Online continues to attract many new visitors on a daily basis. Many of them may miss important things to know about the game. So if you enjoy it don't forget to tell them why this game deserves attention with a review on the main store or on the dedicated DLC/premium/starter stores!