Poland, my run through

[milliethedog]

Hi, I was late to this party as i wanted to finish my run through giving the enemy 3 Heroes, that done, I have now got "Poland" and have started my Run through. This is on General setting, straight out of the box.
First game. Krojanty.
I set of North West to link up with the Cav and then down the centre of the map to Krojanty and got the bonus. Feeling good about my self i thought i would have a go at Chojice. I hit the town and defenders with all my troops forcing them back and just missing taking the town and destroying the HQ. Next turn all the German re-enforcements arrived, seeing my doom i thought what the heck and took the town with my recon and killed the HQ. Game over!

Thoughts, The Finish was sudden. I should have been wiped out or have a fighting withdrawal, trying to save some forces. The German units were hard to kill but with combined arms it could be done. Not sure about the briefing or the lake of post action, but i will see how it goes. Does fell strange the other way around. Anyway on to the next battle or puzzle
Martin

[milliethedog]

Game 2.
First thing, the game crashes, no idea why, but after a reload on to Mlawa. I thought this game was just going to be about holding the river crossings, so i set up for that. I thought i would hold the line for a few moves and then struck North for the Bonuses at the airfield and the fortification. After three turns i re-read the basic instuctions and realised that there was no way i would take out the enemy and fight North. I also just noticed that i was about to be flanked in the west and therefore i continued to hold as i planned how to get out in one piece. at turn 9 I started south and under cover of my 2 fighters and my AA i fought a fighting retreat. at Turn 17 my recon took the exit hex and i was done. My 2 fighters took out 1 ME109 and 6 bombers but i was worried about running out of airfields for them. again a sudden finish when i felt i should have had to fight all the way.

I must admit i am finding it a little frustrating discovering the strengths and weaknesses of my units on the hoof. several times i have forgotten that SOME of my mounted units can switch. i also find that German recon are very dangerous, it many cases more than the panzers. I really miss the full briefings and a story. Just my thoughts.
Martin

[milliethedog]

Game 3,
Rescue the Nurse and beat the nasty SS. Well the nurse rescued herself, i just moved he to the docks and sailed her all the way west. at the end of the sea, she disembarked and drove down the main road to the safe hexes. i do not know if my attempt to fight my way North drew off any defence of her route, but it was that easy.
The SS on the other hand were really hard, until the rest of my forces joined the post office defenders and eventually surrounded them, causing their demise. Again my recon stole on to the Bonus hex and got away. 2 parts very easy , 1 part very hard. A big map for so little action. i left a small blocking force on the island as it had the only supply hex, thinking if it was taken i would be out of supply, but No they and it was left untouched for the whole game despite having a German force sitting on the other side. Again just my thoughts.
Martin

[milliethedog]

Game 4 Bydgoszcz.
This was a really easy game, as before it is a rescue and again they need no help, I just moved the civilians out past the stationary panzers and drove along the southern end of the map to safety? My forces after the Surprise of finding the enemy in their mist just concentrated on destroying them. Took the bonus hex (thanks) game over turn10
Martin

[milliethedog]

Game 5 Early Warsaw.
A big city map where everything happens in the south west corner. Its Very easy, the panzers advance to wards the city, all you have to do is let them fall on your infantry and AT in the built up hexes. Easy meat, take the bonus hex when clearing up the German flags and then kill the last surrounded panzer.
Martin

[milliethedog]

Game 6 Kutno Camp.
No action in this game. another confused briefing. All that is required is to move any unit next to an officer, nurse or civilian and a message and bonus are triggered. i assume that you have to have saved each of them in the previous games for them to be here. If you talk to all 5 you get a lot of equipment and prestige. That takes 1 turn, so why do you have 3? nothing else happens, there is no enemy to fight and the German flags are protected by minefields.
Martin

[Tassadar]

That takes 1 turn, so why do you have 3?

It is useful to have for Ironman I imagine, if you accidentally mess up movements or for other fringe uses. I don't think it's a major issue really.

[milliethedog]

Hi Tassadar,
you are correct it is not a major issue, but it is the sort of thing that had the game been Beta tested that we would have picked up and corrected along with the other issues found.
Martin

[milliethedog]

Hi, game 7 STRYKOW.
I split my forces east and west, destroying all the German units North of the river. After leaving blocking forces on the North East bank, i took the bulk of my forces over the west bank and headed east and south, took Piatek after heavy fighting and then set about clearing the map looking for Bonus dumps. Once clear i moved the Nurse and Civilians to their targets. the map was cleared and game finished turn 17. a good game.
Martin

[milliethedog]

Hi game 8 Lowicw.
I loved this game, more fighting, lots of Air attacks, lots of enemy units. Only issue was again it was no problem to get the civilians to safety without any interaction with the Germans. The German air force was a real threat here but i had 4 AA and 3 Fighters to thin them down. The last 4 fell with the loss of the last airfield. The holding force North of the river was very badly pushed and came very close to folding. Next time i will have to add at least 1 more unit to it.
Map cleared and game won by turn 15.
Martin

[milliethedog]

Hi, Game 9 The Forrest.
BEST game yet. The Germans are everywhere on this map, lots of fun hunting them down and finding Bonus Dumps. I had such fun with this one.
Martin