Suggest a game setup

[adiekmann]

After my recent post in another thread, this thought occurred to me. This might be only for "good" players who have repeatedly beat the entire game in the highest difficulty setting, though taking advantage of what the game provides. That means no "cheating" to actually make it more difficult for the player like not allowing yourself certain heroes/combinations, or types of units. So no artificial, player imposed rules. Only what can be done in the game.

QUESTION: What options/setup/traits would you recommend for the "good" player?

I ask it as a challenge of sorts to force myself to play differently from how I am used to, and in turn, probably rethink my other choices too like the composition of my core and tactics. Think of it as a challenge but not anything insanely hard, but reasonable. Not for the "super" players like Edmond or Grondel and others of that level, who I believe are far superior to me, and I understand the game very well. I think.

I'd also love to hear from Kerensky too. Nobody knows the AO scenarios better than him, so what does he do to challenge himself? What settings/traits/etc. does he play under when he is doing his final test of a DLC?

[Grondel]

After my recent post in another thread, this thought occurred to me. This might be only for "good" players who have repeatedly beat the entire game in the highest difficulty setting, though taking advantage of what the game provides. That means no "cheating" to actually make it more difficult for the player like not allowing yourself certain heroes/combinations, or types of units. So no artificial, player imposed rules. Only what can be done in the game.

QUESTION: What options/setup/traits would you recommend for the "good" player?

I ask it as a challenge of sorts to force myself to play differently from how I am used to, and in turn, probably rethink my other choices too like the composition of my core and tactics. Think of it as a challenge but not anything insanely hard, but reasonable. Not for the "super" players like Edmond or Grondel and others of that level, who I believe are far superior to me, and I understand the game very well. I think.

I'd also love to hear from Kerensky too. Nobody knows the AO scenarios better than him, so what does he do to challenge himself? What settings/traits/etc. does he play under when he is doing his final test of a DLC?

asuming that u start in SCW, picking trenchslog and/or ruthless will change ur playstyle and the perspective u have on several unittypes/modells. i´d reckomend doing this on general diff. when doing so the first time. the acc. bonus to the enemy on the higher settings can be hard to counter when not used to live with the prestige provided by the scenario and flags.
Especially in SCW ruthless changed my playstyle a lot.

sers,
Thomas

[Kerensky]

I personally test as Vanilla as possible. Just max Difficulty, and spend the starting 2 commander points on double prestige/rewards from surrender. Max difficulty prestige is too tight to live without that extra source of income.

In later playthroughs I'll mix things up, no air force is a personal favorite, but primarily in testing, yea I keep it as vanilla as possible, to try and be representative of what the majority of players are experiencing.

[Bee1976]

I ask it as a challenge of sorts to force myself to play differently from how I am used to, and in turn, probably rethink my other choices too like the composition of my core and tactics.

Well two options alter AI behavior on a high level:
- David vs Goliath
- Slow reaction
And an AI acting diffrent than your used to, wil force you to alter your playstyle aswell. but careful, slow reaction is a bummer and im pretty sure not many ppl enjoy it. In SCW it might be a little suicida, because of bad support units and low experience.

that no combat predictions is quite hard in SCW, but doable. You will notice that you play way more careful with more supressing fire hehe

I use to start even my wierdest playthroughs with DvG on generallimus in SCW, its hard enough that way and i add other stuff every new year i enter.

[adiekmann]

Thanks for the responses, but some of them I already do like play at the hardest difficulty setting. (I can never remember how to spell "Generalissimo" correctly)

Trench Slog and Slow Modernization have been automatic for me since SCW was released. DvG I always check too, though not necessarily before 1940. Denied Artillery especially, and sometimes Denied Air Force (like in 1940) are regulars as well. Frequently I will also select Arrogant which I don't find a big deal at all if you understand the game well. Perhaps I'll be more challenged by NOT selecting any negative traits and thereby not gain any advantage from the Positive ones that I regularly pick?

I'm gravitating towards either The Collector or Limited Supply/Equipment. The Collector is tough early going when there are not that many different types of units available, and the limited equipment one I haven't really tried because I don't agree on all units being limited equally, like Wehr Infantry and Panzer IVG. Iron Man is interesting but...one little accidental click and I'll be screaming.

I began with Ruthless in 1939, but I don't think it is going to make a big difference because I already play for kills not surrenders. I may not generate as much prestige, but I do drive up my kill totals and earn +Soft and Hard Attack rewards more quickly.

Any additional suggestions welcome when I continue to 1940 later.

[Bee1976]

hmm if you play on that level already i suggest adding berserk rage and heroic showdown for AO40.
De Gaule will be a real Nemesis in later missions.

heroic showdown can offer real fun considering challenge. but thats not guranteed, Someties the battles become way harder and challenging but sometimes nothing changes.

Maybe some houserules might spice thing up, like 50% of the deployed coreforce has to be infantry units.
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After i finished my actual playthrough, if i can successfully finish it and reach 45, im thinking of a aux force only playthrough, means i dont deploy any core units and play the whole war only with aux force units via trait). that might need some prestige cheating at the start.
what keeps me from trying this is the fact that you cant use heros on aux units and i love playing with heros. so maybe i use aux units and all gift units like the verdeja). but im not sure if this is doable and fun

[frugivore]

QUESTION: What options/setup/traits would you recommend for the "good" player?

I have played through the first few scenarios of the Wehrmacht campaign, so I can't speak to the AOs. With a certain combination of traits, I found myself swimming in prestige with a decent corps by Dijon at Generalissimo. Although I'm a novice, I felt like it was getting too easy. Then I came across this thread and decided to do the 'vanilla' thing that Kerensky mentioned. Only without heroes and with 0 traits. I played the first scenario and it's quite a different game than the one with traits! It takes a long time to force a surrender and without the double surrender prestige trait, you don't get much. I fear that the low prestige will prove too great a challenge later. So perhaps I'll take just that one like Kerensky.

The vast number of traits, especially in combination with others, can change one's playstyle drastically.