My most fun map yet

[QSertorius]

I like playing with a large number of core units in somewhat historically accurate ratios with a heavy emphasis on combined arms integration (I spent three years as a combat instructor teaching modern combined arms integration), but I find the maps are not designed very well for that. For one, it just isn't really necessary to use a combined arms approach to most objectives. It's the rare objective that has AAA covering artillery with entrenched AT guns and infantry working together, with mobile reserves in support. So, I have been gradually working to put such things in game.

I don't implement it the same way everywhere and I make it more complex as the war advances, but the goal is to make each objective a tougher nut to crack.

Here's an example from the Dijon campaign:

Screenshot 2023-04-29 111429.png (34.78 KiB) Viewed 788 times

At this stage in the war, the French had started to figure out the counter to German tactics. Fortify a village with infantry supported by as many anti-tank guns as possible. Unfortunately, they lacked sufficient numbers of anti-tank weapons to really pull this off.

It took the Soviets a while to figure this out as well, but once they did, their industrial base (helped mightily by Lend Lease resources) enabled them to implement it on a large scale. To that end, as the war in the East continues, defenses get increasingly complex and well-resourced.

Here's an example from Kharkov42:

Screenshot 2023-04-29 111401.png (38.05 KiB) Viewed 788 times

Unless you bring the "cheat code" of long range siege artillery, it requires some finesse to take down one of these in a timely manner. And, somewhere, someone is going to learn the hard way that no matter how much you maneuver, someone is going to have to close that last 100 meters.

To that end, whether historically accurate or not, I wanted to make the Stalingrad map into a proper grinding attrition fight in urban hell.

Screenshot 2023-04-29 111616.png (462.18 KiB) Viewed 788 times

It was more fun that I ever imagined it could be. My German infantry regiments (2 Wehr infantry, 1 10.5cm howitzer, 1 7.5cm PAK, 1 20mm FLAK, 1 recon unit) took forever to work through this mess.

I set the enemy recons and AAA trucks to random patrol routes through their sector with 60-80% aggression. I set all the 20-strength enemy infantry and the Katyushas to active defense with 50-100% aggression. Tank units were set to 100% aggression with orders to defend key hexes or active defense. Everything else was told to hold ground and fire, with default aggression. Of course, with so many units, I mis-clicked a few times here and there, with the result that sometimes a 76.2mm gun would get more active and contribute to the mess.

As an aside, I love the 76.2mm gun as an AI unit because the AI does a fairly decent job switching modes as appropriate to nearby targets. I usually built supporting elements where one 76.2mm in artillery mode supported two 76.2mm in AT mode, but the AI wasn't horrible about switching them up as appropriate.

I was very favorably impressed with the "initiative" shown by the recon and AAA trucks. Numerous times they found a flank where my AT gun or artillery could not support a FLAK or Recon and inflicted significant casualties. The AAA trucks were also fairly aggressive at attacking my planes at the dirt airfield just across the river. Eventually, however, I got a couple of regiments working together and ground them down.

Anyway, not looking to upload this map anytime soon, since it's just a side hobby for personal use right now, but I thought I would share.

Edit - finally got the picture files to show properly.

[QSertorius]

One question I have for the more experienced players and modders here, is whether there are any good maps in the AO campaigns for this style of edits. I got the AO SCW DLC last night, but with the heavy emphasis on cooperating with AI units, I am not sure I am going to be able to edit them in an enjoyable way. It seems, from reading AAR's, that the AO campaigns are all very heavy on cooperating with AI units and the goal is to set up mass encirclements.

[Grondel]

One question I have for the more experienced players and modders here, is whether there are any good maps in the AO campaigns for this style of edits. I got the AO SCW DLC last night, but with the heavy emphasis on cooperating with AI units, I am not sure I am going to be able to edit them in an enjoyable way. It seems, from reading AAR's, that the AO campaigns are all very heavy on cooperating with AI units and the goal is to set up mass encirclements.

u can modd any map into anything u want it to be.

sers,
Thomas

[QSertorius]

One question I have for the more experienced players and modders here, is whether there are any good maps in the AO campaigns for this style of edits. I got the AO SCW DLC last night, but with the heavy emphasis on cooperating with AI units, I am not sure I am going to be able to edit them in an enjoyable way. It seems, from reading AAR's, that the AO campaigns are all very heavy on cooperating with AI units and the goal is to set up mass encirclements.

u can modd any map into anything u want it to be.

sers,
Thomas

Yeah, I know I can hack away at any map and bash it into the shape I want it. I guess I will have to try a playthrough once to get a feel for them. I just would prefer to make my edits before investing the time in a full playthrough, because I only have so much time.

[Grondel]

I just would prefer to make my edits before investing the time in a full playthrough, because I only have so much time.

We all suffer from the 168h limit per week.

sers,
Thomas

[QSertorius]

I'm also curious as to folks experience with the aggression settings for different unit types. It gets pretty annoying at times.

For instance, If I leave infantry at default, they tend to walk up to my regiment, but then refuse to attack. Not that I blame them, since they will take heavy losses fighting my infantry supported by artillery. This turns them into a blocking force and slows me down, but isn't a real threat. If I set them to 100%, they attack and at least make me use up my ammo, but then I feel like they are just on a conveyer belt into a woodchipper. And don't get me started on how many times artillery or planes will attack my infantry after the enemy tanks and infantry. Is there anything I can do to help that?

I don't want to write LUA scripts for these maps. I just want some advice on getting aggression settings and different actions a bit better. So, if anyone has some insight, I'd appreciate it. It seems like 60-80% gets good results with patrol. Or move to X, move to Y, move to Z, then attack with 80% aggression.

For planes, I find it even more annoying. Default usually means they fly over, encounter my FLAK coverage, then don't attack. Which leaves them sitting there for my response the following turn.

If I set the planes to 100%, then I get the conveyer belt into the woodchipper effect, unless I misplace a unit and put it outside of coverage. But even then I only get attacked by one plane.

Maybe I could give all enemy planes the Fast Rebase hero? That seems like it would at least give them the option for multiple wave attacks or returning to base after an aborted attack. Thoughts? Experiences?

[Grondel]

The settings i use very much depend on unit type and "role" i want for them.
some easy examples:
Reconplanes need to be set by hand or they will just sit prone and do nothing. i use random patrol with 3-4 target hexes to make them scout for their airforce. this should reduce the "plane comes but does not shoot issue" u described.
Recon cars usually have the harasser setting.
aggressiveness is set to 75% if u want an offensive AI and 50% if i want a defensive AI.
Sadly there is no way to adress the general AI setting, like order of movement ect, which sure could use some improvement.

If u have any specific questions feel free to ask. if ur looking for inspirations fell free to check the PC1 remake mod here in the forum or on steam. just open the scenarios in the editor and check the unit settings.

sers,
Thomas

[QSertorius]

Thanks, I will experiment with harasser for more units.

[QSertorius]

If u have any specific questions feel free to ask. if ur looking for inspirations fell free to check the PC1 remake mod here in the forum or on steam. just open the scenarios in the editor and check the unit settings.

sers,
Thomas

Is it possible to assign heroes to AI units using the editor? I don't see that option in configure units.

[Grondel]

If u have any specific questions feel free to ask. if ur looking for inspirations fell free to check the PC1 remake mod here in the forum or on steam. just open the scenarios in the editor and check the unit settings.

sers,
Thomas

Is it possible to assign heroes to AI units using the editor? I don't see that option in configure units.

hero assignement is via LUA-script. Most later AO scenarios and kinda all 39+ scenarios from the PC1 mod have that, easy to copy and adapt.

sers,
Thomas

[QSertorius]

Thanks!