Lodz (beta2 - scenario 3)

charonjr · Post by **charonjr** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:45 am

Lodz - Field Marshal - previous DV

Starting with 1430 prestige, down to 530 after elite replacemwents and upgrading the 2 PzIAs to Pz38.

I took the airfield with the aus and tried to hole up there, waiting for the cavallery.

The aux were saved without any losses at turn 5, but those PaK (AT) did some serious damage.

Lost a Pz38 to the 7TPs/TKS counterattack around Kutno, a new Pz38 is bought.

Got another 2 7TPs and 2 TKS from Kutno, but are not sure if those have just been spawned there or if they have been activated - whatever the reason, getting close to Kutno now surely means getting hurt

In the end I barely conquered Lowicz in time for a DV, turn14/14, 1040 prestige.

This one felt good, but it looks like the units around Kutno are a bit too sensitive about attacking now. In the end I think I got 6-8 units from up there despite never having gotten closer than 4 hexes to Kutno or the airfield. If the current trend continues it will be only a matter of time before I fail to reach a DV.

CharonJr

edit: This Kutno is Piatek I think...

nikivdd · Post by **nikivdd** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:12 pm

Lodz on Colonel level.

I have the impression that this scenario became more difficult than the beta1 version. The Lodz battlegroup has become much more sensitive. The moment one unit is adjacent to Piatek (via the north route), they start to attack. I had to withdraw my units from there or they would have been annihilated. Luckily most units i moved south towards the objectives.
I barely managed i must say, 13/13 turns, DV, no core units lost and i had only 3 aux units left. 215 PP remain. A tight call but those are the best scenario's. Great job!

Kerensky · Post by **Kerensky** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:42 pm

Yup, the area near Piatek is a very dangerous place to be now (this is the difference between passive and active AI).
But as you see, Piatek is also no longer an objective to capture either, that victory hex has been moved.

monkspider · Post by **monkspider** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 3:14 am

I enjoyed this scenario quite a bit on beta 1, and in fact in my write up, I described it as my "favorite yet" but I feel like it has gone significantly in the wrong direction in beta 2. I think the AI forces around Kutno are way too aggressive. I knew of this force's programming and tried to stay as far away from it as I can but still wheel a force around the north to take those objectives north of Lodz but even with this knowledge the force swamped me with a flood of tanks and crushed my northern force. It seems pretty unfair to have a death trap up there on such an early mission, especially when the map seems to point toward it being logical to send a force up there. Even more so since Lodz is such a slog, the map just screams for you to have a smaller force that takes those other objectives while you are fighting your way through those fortifications.

I managed to get a decisive on turn 14 but it took an absolutely herculean effort and a fair bit of luck. I honestly didn't' even think I would have enough time to get a marginal. I think you need to do one of three things for this scenario.

1. Go back to something like beta 1 where the AI is passive and won't attack you.
2. Give players a few more turns since they are no longer able to take the northern route to take the other objectives and have Halbermann warn players strongly against going up there.
3. Do away with the foreshadowing at Kutno altogether.

To me, 1 would be the best option for these reasons (sorry to have to many lists)
1. The foreshadowing was what made this level creative. I, mean, foreshadowing, in a Panzer Corps level? It is just awesome that you actually created a kind of narrative within such limited confines.
2. If players are to take in the creative foreshadowing, they need to do so without it killing them, otherwise there is no point.
3. The level just isn't' very fun when you have to keep all your forces in one frontal assault on Lodz. It is quite boring actually. Although, it is difficult to get there within the timeframe without being able to access the northern route, it is tactically not very interesting.

Kerensky · Post by **Kerensky** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 3:38 am

Interesting feedback. I might take one more look at the map since there's still time left.
The northern polish foreshadowing force needs to be active, but it should be possible to squeeze them further to the north edge of the map so they don't pounce on you if you approach Piatek from the North.
If a player goes go all the way out of the way of the victory hexes towards Kutno though they will find units that aren't just 100% passive.

monkspider · Post by **monkspider** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:27 am

Sounds like a good solution. I am still afraid that it will be difficult for the player to witness the foreshadowing without getting killed by it.

I trust you can figure something out though.

charonjr · Post by **charonjr** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 2:19 pm

Yes, placing those active units further to the north sounds like a good idea to me.

CharonJr