Ivanov's experience

[ivanov]

KHARKOV


I have just completed the Kharkov scenario. I play on the colonel with a default core, so the overal experience has to be similar to the average player.

In general, I am very pleased with the scenario - I love the defensive aspect of it. I think that there is too little infantry in the default core ( at least for this scenario ). I'd replaced the captured Sherman and KV with the two Panzergrenadier units. At this stage of the campaign, when the Germans can field some decent tanks themselves, there is no point realy in using the captured Soviet equipment. There is good bit of urban fighting in the close terrain ( cities, forests ), so more infantry would be a blessing.

I was suprised that the Soviets actually went after the captured oficers - they send two the T -34s and an infantry unit out of nowhere, so I had to withdrawal some units from the first line in order to protect them. I think it may be a good idea, to advice the players that those units need to be protected, because that messed a bit with my advance on the main axist towards Kharkow.

I don't mind that there are few SS units - the core is not historical one, plus in in reality there not only SS units taking part in this battle.

The clash was epic and I am hugely impressed by it.

[ivanov]

BELOGROD

As my work and girlfried hamper my troops much more seriously than the Soviet tanks and Russian mud, today I have mandged to reorganize my units and deploy them before the full-blown action tomorrow.

UPGRADES:

As mentioned before, I play with a default core and so I have to be already very careful with the presitige and build my core at the smallest possible cost but at the same time trying to achieve the maximum of efficiency of it.

-My first step was to disband quickly the captured KV and Sherman units.

-The changes in my armour due to the lack of cash have been cosmetic so far - I have upgraded the two Paner IIIJ/1 batalions into Panzer III M's.

-I have also upgraded all my antitank units to Stugs IIIG which are efficient, reliable and cheap.

-All my infantry units have been upgraded to Grenadiers 43.

-I wanted to upgrade at least one Bf-109 unit into Fw 190A, but it proved too costly, so I have only upgraded the remaining Bf-109F into the G version. All my Stukas are now D version

DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATION:


I have organized my units into the II SE Corps. From left to right there are LAH, DR and T divisions:



The LAH division was tasked with a deep, sweeping maneuver on the left flank. It's first objectives are Prudyanka, Zhurovievka and Oktyabrsky. The DR division is tasked with an attack in the centre in support of the LAH division. It is supposed to leave the lake on it's right and then meet with the LAH division in Oktyabrsky. After achieving this objective, both divisions will perform a concentric attack towards the Belogrod and capture the city. The T Division on the right flank, is tasked with capture of Lukyantsi and with defending of the Donets line against the expected Soviet counterattacks. The division is not supposed to cross the river, and exchaust the enemy along the favorable defensive positions. Depending on the situation, during the second phase, it may send a Kampfgruppe in order to support the main thrust of it's neighbours.

The II SE corps is expected to go into action tomorrow, around 00.00 GMT + 1. Expect the after action report from the commanding officer.

The LAH and DR divisions ready for action:

[ivanov]

THE OUTCOME:

The II SE Panzer Corps managed to capture all the objectives by the end of the last turn. No unit was lost, however some took very heavy casualties and had to be withdrawn from the line. Due to the lack of the reserves it was not possible to reinforce them by the end of the battle. As expected earlier on, the T division had to repluse heavy enemy counter attacks all along the Donet's line. The main assault of the LAH and DR divisions, attacking on the left flank and in the centre, was never seriously contested by the Soviets. Limited resources of the corps have been concentrated on the correctly choosen schwerpunkt, enabling the LAH and DR divisions to move quickly and decisively.

The LAH and DR divisions meet in Oktyabrsky:



CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

Another good scenario, but not as challenging as Kharkov. I suppose it's just a calm before the storm... The modified by me default core worked very well. However the AI will never match a human player, I have to say that's it's the best AI I have ever encountered. It employed even some particularly malicious tactics in order to get to my Stukas My JU87D were protected by one Bf-109 unit, so the AI first attacked the escorting fighters with I-16 and then the Stukas with La-5:



It's no brainer for an average player but as a tactics employed by the AI I am impressed. From the other hand, "the virtual Soviets" couldn't cope at all with my mobile defence, along the Donets line. Their attacks were chaotic, predictable, in many cases when they could potentialy threaten my flank, due to the overwhelming numerical superiority, they simply didn't move at all. I suspect, that the drunk Soviet generals were responsable for it, you see...Anyway, I think that the comrade Stalin will deal with them accordingly now

The main problem for the future scenarios is of course the lack of prestige. I won't be able to upgrade any of my units before start of the next scenario and some of the loses will need to be make good with a regular reinforcements. I mean - I like it a lot - I love playing overstretched to the limits. Thanks to that, the campaign gains also some historical flavor. I suspect that the lack of prestige may cause a headache for less unexperienced players. From the other hand, I have just checked that on the Sergeant level, the game starts with twice as much prestige as on Colonel ( or higher ) and on Lieutenant the starting prestige is 50% higher, so that should work just perfectly for the unexperienced players playing with a default core.

[ivanov]

OREL:

After some delay, the II SE Panzer Corps is ready for action. Due to the lack of prestige, no units have been upgraded and more than half have been reinforced with a raw replacements. Due to that, the strenght of the corps has declined slightly.

DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATION:

The Tiger batalions have been excluded from the LAH and T divisions and formed into independent Abteilungen no 501 and 506. Hopefully, that move will alow the corps HQ to deploy those vital units with a considerable higher flexibility.

The initial plan was to defend Orel with the T division against the expected Soviet counter attacks. The LAH division was tasked with clearing of the left bank of Oka river from the partisants and then defending the river line. Then, depending on the situation, the division could also to cross the river and attack the objectives on the eastern bank. The main task was assigned to the DR division, supported by the 501 and 506 Schwer Panzer Abteilungen. The division was suppossed to press towards south of Orel in order to capture Baranovskiy, Pozdevo and Medvezkha.

Starting prestige 578.

THE BATTLE:

After four turns, it is obvious to the HQ, that the initial offensive action of the DR division has to be posponed. Instead, both T and DR divisions, are forced to focus on the defence of Orel. The Soviets have a crusing numerical superiority in the armour plus plenty of aircraft. Due to that, our Luftwaffe has been forced to fight over the air superiority, instead of supporting of the ground troops. By now, the corps HQ needs some rest, because this battle seems to be the taughest so far. Very hard indeed even on the colonel level, given the lack of prestige and humble, default core with no heroes.

The DR and T divisions in the Orel defence:

[deducter]

Interesting you actually tried to hold Orel, not unlike the often nonsensical orders of a certain Fuhrer. I don't mean this as an offense to your playing skills, but rather a comment on role playing, intentional or not.

Me, I adopted an "elastic defense" and abandoned half of Orel, retreating behind the River. I shifted most of my troops south and crushed the Russians there, then shifted my troops east and north again.

[ivanov]

We'll see how it goes - Orel seems like a good place to bleed the Soviets out, while confronting 2/3 of my forces here. If I manage to hold there, then it could be used as a good jumping off point for my eventual counter attack. Recapturing Orel and crossing back Oka would be a nightmare, so hopefully this bridgehead shortly will prove quite usefull. My intention is to move south after repulsing the onslaught on the city. Maybe it would be better to place most of my troops in the south, but I don't have any idea where the main soviet forces are concentrated and where their reinforcements will come from.

[ivanov]

After the hardest fight so far, the II SE Panzer Corps managed to score a marginal victory. One recon of the DR division was lost, but the level of attrition was horrible. The Stuka units of Luftwaffe had to be withdrawn from action altogether. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority, corps was on it's way to capture all the objectives, yet the massive soviet counter attack, slowed down our panzer troops in the last moment.

Kampfgruppe of the LAH division secures the Oka line ( the thin feldgrau line ):



LAH and DR divisions set a trap:



Angriff!




CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

Great scenario - but extremelly hard for players with a default core and with limited prestige. At the end of the game, all my stuka units and few panzers were out of action, because I couldn't reinforce them, due to the lack of cash. I seriously thought that I wouldn't be able to continue the game, but luckily I have just seen at the beginning the next scenraio, that the HQ boosted my prestige to over 4000. Thats great news! From my point of view, this is a great, demanding campaign. But an average player will need more prestige, prestige and maybe some more of a prestige.

[ivanov]

PROKHOROVKA DLC 43 BETA 2

After having successfully installed the DLC 43 BETA 2, I quickly cheated my way into the Prokhorovka scenario, as the main emphasis of the testing is on the last few scenarios.

First impressions after having a quick look into Kharkov are good. I see that a infantry unit has been added on the right German flank:) The German air force is slightly stronger, which is also a plus. Every major victory, that I "achieved" thanks to the cheat code, gave my 2000 of the prestige after each of the first three scenarios, so that's a big improvement aswell.

DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATION:

Before the start of Prokhorovka I have reorganized my core once again into the II SE Panzer Corps. I have a lot of prestige this time, but I tried to avoid equipping my troops witch the best possible hardware. Each of my three Panzer Divisions ( LAH, DR and T ) consists of one Panther, Panzer IVH and Panzer IVG batalions, one Panzergrenadire and one Sturmpionier regiments, mechanized artillery regiment ( Humel ), recon batalion and 88flak batalion. There are also 501 and 506 Schwer Panzer Abteilungen ( Tiger I ), 653 Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung ( Elefant ), two brucken pioneer batalions and corps artillery directly at the disposal of the II SE HQ. A new unit has also joined the corps - it is a Ramcke parachute brigade which has been reconstituted after the loses in Africa. It's unexperienced troops have been attached to the T division and will secure the objectives captured by the panzer troops.

The initial deployment ( from the right bottom corner clockwise divisions DR, LAH and T + the Ramcke Brigade ):



The DR division assaults across the Donets:

[ivanov]

QUICK UPDATE:

I think the new acquisition rate of the heroes works pretty well My 653 Elefant batalion got a hero after it's first attack in which a T 34 was annihilated:

[ivanov]

QUICK UPDATE:

Why the hell would AI leave the entrenched positions and attack my infantry across the Donets only with a AA and AT units??? Is there a way to fix this behaviour?

[Kerensky]

The AI is probably finding that victory hex too tempting, so it moves towards it.
It would be possible to paralyze the AI, but then those two ATG units wouldn't fire on German units on the river hexes.

I think it's okay as it is, it's good to have an AI sometime make bad mistakes and run into ambushes.

[ivanov]

The AI is probably finding that victory hex too tempting, so it moves towards it.
It would be possible to paralyze the AI, but then those two ATG units wouldn't fire on German units on the river hexes.

I think it's okay as it is, it's good to have an AI sometime make bad mistakes and run into ambushes.

If you say so - I understand the logic, but I bought the two brucken pioniere units in order to outflank the AI positions and not having to attack it through the river. Instead, I could just sit and wait for the AI move. I thought, that if the AA and AT units are entrenched, they should stay in their positions - they would be really hard to disloge especially, that I bet there is a lot of Soviet armour somewhere around on the other bank;)

It would be cool ( especially in this scenario ), if the AI could combine the use of strong defensive positions of immobile units, with the armour counter attacks, instead of just mindlessly attacking with everything that can move towards the enemy:)

[IainMcNeil]

Isn't there a way to force these units hold position in the editor Kerensky? If so they probably should?

[El_Condoro]

Isn't there a way to force these units hold position in the editor Kerensky? If so they probably should?

There are 2 options for defenders: active (will leave entrenchment to attack a target of opportunity) and passive (will sit and do nothing even when a 1-strength truck is adjacent). There are no otions to have an entrenched unit remain entrenched and attack adjacent hexes with the current efile. I got fed up with it in Red Dawn and created 'Hold' units - they are basically copies of infantry and AT units with a MV = 0 and set to be Defense (Active). That way they attack adjacent units but remain entrenched.

[ivanov]

Isn't there a way to force these units hold position in the editor Kerensky? If so they probably should?

There are 2 options for defenders: active (will leave entrenchment to attack a target of opportunity) and passive (will sit and do nothing even when a 1-strength truck is adjacent). There are no otions to have an entrenched unit remain entrenched and attack adjacent hexes with the current efile. I got fed up with it in Red Dawn and created 'Hold' units - they are basically copies of infantry and AT units with a MV = 0 and set to be Defense (Active). That way they attack adjacent units but remain entrenched.

In this case, the two mentioned units, should be definitely set as passive defenders. The anti-air unit moved from it's entrenched position and tried to cross the river, even though it cannot attack other land units ( btw, I think that the light AA units equipped with the machine guns, should be able to attack other land units and have a relatively good soft attack paramenters ). This is not an ambush situation, because my infantry positioned in the city was visible to the AI. Up until now, the AI attacks were conducted quite correctly on the tactical level - strong units supported by the Katyushas and air units, if possible. An "assault" across the river of an AA unit ( that cannot by definition attack other land units ) does not make any sense. From the other hand, the AA units are quite good in defence, so in this case AI should just stick to it's entrenched position.

[Kerensky]

Well this is a lose lose situation, with a passive AI setting, these units will not challenge a river cross, nor attempt to reinforce themselves if damaged.
I might take another look at this map before DLC 1943 goes live, as we are still gathering feedback on this one and final 3 maps.

[ivanov]

Well this is a lose lose situation, with a passive AI setting, these units will not challenge a river cross, nor attempt to reinforce themselves if damaged.
I might take another look at this map before DLC 1943 goes live, as we are still gathering feedback on this one and final 3 maps.

That's good. Be assured that the further feedback will follow IMO those units would be much more useful for the AI if they stayed in place and simply hold their positions, instead of "attacking" across the river without even a possibility of firing a shot at the enemy ( the anti-air unit )

[ivanov]

PROKHOROVKA - THE OUTCOME:

II SE Corps managed to capture all the objectives in this battle, however it took the highest casualties so far. It was a total slaughterhouse. Here the list of loses, taken by both sides just during this one battle:



The ring of steel. II SE Panzer Corps approaches Prokhorovka:




CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

To be absolutely honest, more less from the 10th turn onwards I was bored through the rest of this scenario. I mean, there is probably nothing the developers did wrong - it's just the nature of this battle. It was just an enormous slugfes - I personally prefer battles with less units involved. Most of the fighting took place in a totally open terrain and it seemed to me like playing the same turn repeated 22 times. The most enjoable part for me, was the battle for the control of Belenikino, in the middle of the scenario. The AI counter attacked there and destroyed my Sturmpioneer unit. Each turn started with the AI air attacks and then usually few Soviet armoured units were appearing, looking to attack my weakest units. Usually my most vulnerable units ( arty, recon, infantry ) were well protected, so it just positioned it's tanks next to mine. The following turn I was trying to shot down all the Soviet planes. Then usually I managed to destroy all the Soviet armour in my sight. After that, I moved forward few hexes and the cycle started all over again, durng the upcoming turn. Destroying enemy's tanks and shooting down airplanes brings me an enormous pleasure ( I guess I am not the only one here ), but this was a little too much for me.

Prokhorovka, was supposedly the biggest armoured battle of all times and I often perceived it as a clash simmilar to the medieval battles, where the two armies charge against each other in the open. The problem is, that in the game the AI is predictable, thus fighting that kind of battle against it, becomes somewhat boring. I personally wouldn't mind if this scenario started with a big bang and was limited only to 12, instead of 22 turns.

So far my favorite scenarios are Kharkov ( interesting terrain and changing wheather ) and Orel ( combination of offensive and defensive gameplay ). Now, I'm looking forward to some defensive action along the Dnepr Line!

[deducter]

I wonder if the AI on colonel is less aggressive than on General+. When I played this scenario the AI attacked with its tanks relentlessly as opposed to just parking their tanks next to yours to get chewed up on the following turn. I could barely fend off the AI attacks, which were overwhelming, and my units didn't exactly hit back for a lot of damage.

[ivanov]

Maybe that's the case - but I thought that on the higher difficulty levels there are more overstrenghten enemy units, but the AI's gameplay is equally... poor. Still, mine main conclusion, form the user/average customer point of view, is that this scenario is too long.