Unless, I'm mistaken there doesn't appear to be any engineer (aka Settler) units in the game. If so that means there would be no opportunity to build terrain improvements or upgrading roads to RR. Rebuilding the railroad network in Russia was a vital component in keeping German forces supplied in that country. Is that correct and if so why did you opt for that direction?
The conscript unit allows one to upgrade dirt roads to paved roads/railroads/better infrastructure (I just have the roads go from brown to grey, which works). It costs 500/fuel a tile though and I haven't been able to afford it for ages. I built a good infrastructure line up through Moscow which was captured early in the war, along with Leningrad. I didn't like the idea of building new roads but I wanted people to be able to upgrade some as needed, for a price.
Reading your last posts, I'm a little concerned that by mid 1943 with Italy knocked out of the war, the Allies on the southern door steps of Germany, that victory in the East still appears to be a possibility. By this time the Soviet factories beyond the Urals, which you don't seemed to have conquered, were in full operation, producing vast quantities of war materiel.
I mean, if Germany had captured Moscow and Leningrad by 1943, I'd argue they were close to knocking the Soviets out. Baku is a very, very, very long way away and while I "think" I can still pull it off, it's not guaranteed. I think any chance of invading America in this game is completely off the table at this point. There are also some events that I'm not telling you guys about that... Well, I don't know that it's a guarantee that I can win at this point, especially with most of my reinforcements stuck in the west now (I haven't been able to get "new" units to the Eastern Front really since Italy was invaded as I attempt to stabilize that).
As you haven't indicated whether Murmansk or Archangelsk are captured, I can also imagine that Allied Lend-Lease shipments would still be pouring into the country (not to mention Persia which was also a resupply route). Are you representing that in some manner or another in the scenario?.
These aren't in the scenario due to map constraints. The Soviets don't get Allied equipment/lend lease persay (there is no specific event that builds US equipment for the Soviets, for example). But, rest assured, by the Winter of 1941 they start getting some major help each winter via events, and by 1944, that help is year-round. We're talking offensives that follow the army where reinforcements arrive near where German units are defeated, in the field.
Finally, I noticed that though you have America as a separate power, that it appears as though all US units in the European theatre are operating under the British banner (I imagine all those freighters successfully transiting the Atlantic are being built as British-American units?). If I'm correct that makes a lot of sense as it avoids the two nations units getting in each others way and they can act as one cohesive force.
Yes, originally I had thought of having two separate civs but honestly it would be such a pain for the AI and pathfinding that I just have U.S. forces in Europe under one banner. It's easier for the AI and from a design standpoint.
Overall, it's hard to provide meaningful feedback to see if the game is balanced or fair until we actually get to play it but here are just a few extra observations to date.
I had intended to do another full playtest after this before releasing it but I think the better path is this:
1. Finish this game as it seems to be a good test of the Western Allied landings/strength/power.
2. I'll use cheat just to set up the situation necessary (from an earlier save probably) to try and invade the U.S. specifically and play that out through the landing.
3. I'll go back and start over but just play through Sea Lion to make sure it's possible to win the BoB (it should be since I won it in an earlier playtest but there have been a few changes and it doesn't hurt to confirm).
If these three things are done, I'll likely make some changes (the removal of Allied generals, the addition of Luftwaffe aces and other "special units" that I enjoy having in my scenarios), tidy up the readme and describe.txt etc. and then release it to all of you to have a good go.
I don't think I need to play an entirely new scenario all the way through but I do want to make sure the events I haven't triggered thus so far are in fact working. I'm pleased that bugs are few and far between but they're still possible.