Ivanov's experience

[deducter]

General has the best AI with default everything. Field Marshall cuts experience by half. Only Manstein gives +5 strength to all AI units.

This scenario is very long, mostly due to the 45 core slots available. Keep in mind there have been numerous 20+ length scenarios, but there are fewer units for them (Warsaw, Arras, Amiens, Rheims), so that's why this scenario feels longer. I personally think the length is fine, the one big panzer battle for all the DLCs. Things will start to get smaller from here on out.

Edit: It is interesting to note that the AI will attack on Manstein where it won't on the other difficulties, because the +5 strength gives it much better combat odds. In my game, even though it was not on Manstein, I had numerous 0-1 star fighters, and the AI will attack my fighters in that case. The AI in general is programmed to seek out the best odds when engaging in combat, so interestingly enough its performance gets better as the player is further and further disadvantaged.

[ivanov]

The AI in general is programmed to seek out the best odds when engaging in combat, so interestingly enough its performance gets better as the player is further and further disadvantaged.

Exactly - the AI only attacked mine artillery, recon and infantry units. Few times is attacked my Panzer's IV or Stug's ( usually after "softening" the targets with tac ). It never attacked my Tigers, Panthers or Elefants. As I always had those units on the spearhead of my advance, the AI tended just to stop next to them, without attacking.

Btw - how do you get to those bonus difficulty levels like "Manstein"?

[deducter]

The bonus difficulties (Guderian -5 turn limit, Rommel -50% prestige, Manstein +5 strength to all AI units) are unlocked by winning DV on US West Coast in the main campaign on FM. You can just cheat your way through the campaign to unlock it.

I struggled more to keep my formation intact and the AI attacked me all over the place. It seems quite smart for the AI to attack your units after they've been softened up with air power. I would also argue that it would be very bad AI if it attacked into your full strength Tigers/'Panthers with their T-34s.

Anyway, I understand this scenario isn't for everyone, but I was very pleased with it.

[ivanov]

The bonus difficulties (Guderian -5 turn limit, Rommel -50% prestige, Manstein +5 strength to all AI units) are unlocked by winning DV on US West Coast in the main campaign on FM. You can just cheat your way through the campaign to unlock it.

Ok, thanks. I think I will continue this beta test on the Colonel, with a relatively weak core. It will make the gameplay experience simmilar, to the one of an average experienced player.

[ivanov]

DNIEPROPETEROV DLC 43 BETA 2

DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATION:

After the slaughterhouse of Prokhorovka, the II SE Panzer corps has fallen back to defend the Panther-Wotan on the Dnieper river. There has been some important change - the LAH division has departed to Italy, but it has been replaced by the GD division! Also, one of the supporting Jagdgeschwader's left for the Mediterranean. The divisions have maintained their structure from before ( Panther, Panzer IVG and Panzer IVH batalions, two infantry regiments, Stug anti-tank batalion, recon batalion and a motorized artillery regiment equipped with Hummels ). The GD division, is expected to face the main Soviet onslaught. It's task is to cross the river Dnieper, if the conditios will be favorable, after destroing the enemy's brighead on the Western bank. In order to acomplish this task, a brucken pioniere regiment has been assigned to support it. Also the 501,506 Shwere Panzerabteilungen ( Tiger I ) and a 653 Panzerjäger Abteilung ( Elefant ) will join the assault.

There have been no equipment upgrades this time. Due to the expected weaker Luftwaffe presence, an anti-air batalion has been assigned to support each of the divisions.

Self imposed rules: every tank, anti-tank and infantry units have been over strengthened to 12. During the actual battle however, no unit will be reinforced unless it's strength falls bellow 10. There will be no over strengthening during the scenario either.

Initial deployment. The two southernmost Kampfgruppen belong to the GD division, then in the centere deploys DR division and in the north-west the T division.

[ivanov]

DNIEPROPETEROVSK - THE OUTCOME:

Our panzer troops scored a decisive and quick victory. They crossed the Dnieper where few firm bridgeheads were established. Unfortunatelly the OKH ordered II SE Corps to withdrawal. Feelings of futility and anger prevails now amoung the ranks. Is it going to be our first truly "lost victory"?

CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

This is going to be an interesting part. I managed to score a decisive victory in the 10th turn of this scenario:



The scenario ended, however as we can see, there were clearly big soviet forces on the eastern bank of Dnieper and that didn't even managed to fire a shoot in anger. Recapturing the objectives wasn't difficult at all, even for my average core ( half of my tanks are Panzers IV, 75% of my AT are Stugs and so far there are only two heroes among the ranks ).

Maybe some victory hexes should be added on the eastern bank? I would probably manage to capture them aswell, but at least there would be some use of the remaining soviet forces. Recapturing the objectives on the western bank is not difficult, but scoring a major victory by the Germans at this stage of war shouldn't be so easy. I would propose that capturing of the present objectives should be sufficient to achieve a minor victory. The new victory hexes could be added for the major victory.

I know it's not going to be implemented because it's too late, but I was also hoping for some airborne soviet attacks ( they actually took place during the Dneper crossings ---> Kanev ). Also, I was waiting for some suprise soviet amphibious assault here:



It never materialized and instead the AI was repeatedly doing what it does best...



If there is no airborne nor amphibious assault present in the scenario and it's meant to be another armoured slugfest, I would at least add some vicory hexes o the eastern bank. Otherwise this scenario seems a little incomplete and some final touches are needed.

[deducter]

I know it's not going to be implemented because it's too late, but I was also hoping for some airborne soviet attacks ( they actually took place during the Dneper crossings ---> Kanev ). Also, I was waiting for some suprise soviet amphibious assault here:

I haven't posted my thoughts yet, but I agree! I also kept a recon car in that area since I was paranoid of an airborne assault coming from the north. This threat never materialized, however.

[Kerensky]

All the cards don't get put on the table at the same time, especially after what can be a very brutal Prokhorovka scenario. Amphibious and aerial attacks follow in the next scenarios.

[ivanov]

All the cards don't get put on the table at the same time, especially after what can be a very brutal Prokhorovka scenario. Amphibious and aerial attacks follow in the next scenarios.

You mean this scenario is easy, so the players could rebuild their forces after Prokhorovka? That's ok then, but I would still add the major victory objectives on the eastern bank of Dnieper. At this stage of the war, the Germans shoud be happy enough to achieve a tactical success and keep their forces intact...

[ivanov]

KREMENCHUG DLC 43 BETA 2

DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATION:

The II SE Panzer Corps is ready for action again. This time it is expected to repluse any Soviet attempt in order to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the mighty river Dnieper! Unfortunatelly, the HQ had to sacrifice a little the the eqipment diversity and now all our Panzers IV are upgraded to the variant H. Still, they are the backbone and workhorse of the corps and make up for no less than 55% of all our machines. All the Panthers ( 27% of all the tanks ) are now upgraded to to Ausf A. The recent reports of our tankers, suggest that the new Soviet KV-85 tanks, are superior to the Panzers IV's in almost every aspect. That is quite worring assessment, given the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy.

Both - DR and T divisions - have dispatched one Panzer IV batalion each in order to create a mobile reserve in case of an amphibious assault across the Dneper. Also one batalion of the Ramcke Brigade and a Nebelwerfer battery will join that Kampfgruppe.

The elite within the elite: DR Division and the 501 Schwer Panzer-Abteilung in all it's splendour:

[ivanov]

KREMENCHUG -THE OUTCOME:

After some fierce fighting, our elite panzertruppen managed to repulse all Soviet attempts to establish bridgeheads on the Western bank of the Dneper. Our divisions crossed the river and counterattacked. Unfortunately, the further advance had been called off due to the overall strategic situation of the Army Group South. II SE Panzer Corps has been requested to support the weak defence of our allies aroud the ancient city of Kiev!

The casualties during this operatin have been relatively heavy - a recon batalion of the GD division has been destroyed and our units equipped with Panzers IV and Stugs suffered heavy loses, due to the encounters with the new Soviet KV-85 and JS-1 tanks.

The furthest limit of Soviet advance. Death's Head Division in an urban combat:



Chasing the enemy:




CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

It was a good and relatively challenging scenario. I also like the additional task of destroying the Soviet artillery. I haven't encountered and bugs or mistakes. What I could maybe complaint about, is the amphibious assault across the Dneper. It's great to have it in the scenario, but IMO it was too easy to repel due to the fact that the initial breefing leaves no doubts that it will happen at some stage. I'd prefer it not to be mentioned in the breefing get suprised. Of course the number of units taking part in such a suprise assault would need to be reduced, so the players could cope with it. Right now, because players are adviced, the landings quickly degenerate into a mass slaughter of the helpless AI units. Dealing with a smaller, suprise attack, would be a challenge to players intelligence, intead of turning into a mechanical annihilation of the poor Soviet marines.

And one more thing. I want Russian paratroopers!



But something tells me, that my prayerers will be soon answered...

[charonjr]

Yes, the landings did bother me, too, maybe a bunch of Soviet aircraft could be assigned specially to deal with units guarding/blocking the beaches - not sure how specific you can assign aircraft attacks to certain areas and let them stay focused there.

[ivanov]

Yes, the landings did bother me, too, maybe a bunch of Soviet aircraft could be assigned specially to deal with units guarding/blocking the beaches - not sure how specific you can assign aircraft attacks to certain areas and let them stay focused there.

Or maybe some naval units could support the landings?

[deducter]

Did the Russians have female paratroopers in WWII? I knew they had women pilots, tank drivers, AT gunners, snipers, but I've never heard of paratroopers.

[ivanov]

Did the Russians have female paratroopers in WWII? I knew they had women pilots, tank drivers, AT gunners, snipers, but I've never heard of paratroopers.

I am not entirely sure if there where some Soviet female paratroopers during the WWII, but it looks like the current Russian paras are alive and well...

[ivanov]

A small detail that suprised me during the Kremenchug scenario. At the beginning of the fourth turn a window popped up:



Hmmm... Do we expect now or in any foreseeable future any sige warfare going on, Herr General?

Wouldn't it make more sense if that kind of weapon was available for the purchase during the DLC 42, when there is a lot of sige and urban fighting ( Sevastopol, Stalingrad )? I assume it could be also really helpful to have the K5 smashing the Allied bridgeheads in Italy, but on the Eastern Front 43-onwards it will have absolutelly no use.

[Kerensky]

A fighter set with extra fuel and passive AI stand could work as an escort to protect those landing craft. I'll consider it, along with the removal of those AUX German forces up there.

As for that artillery unit, nope that's just when it normally unlocks.

[ivanov]

KIEV DLC 43 BETA 2

DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATION:

We are ready for last big action during this exchausting campaign. All our divisions are in place, the loses have been replenished but our inteligence tells us that what lays ahead could be a truly epic and deadly clash. There were no significant upgrades this time. Our troops have been adviced to keep an eye on the newest Soviet tanks and report their number and performance.

From the top to the bottom: DR, T and GD divisions ready for action:

[ivanov]

KIEV 43 - CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

It was a good and intense scenario. Nice mixture of defensive and offensive combat. There is a lot of close terrain in and arround Kiev, so I actually had to purchase a Fallschirmjäger unit ( taking the advantage of a core slot freed by shoot down Ju-87 ). As it turned out, I didn't have enough infantry for that kind of warfare.
If it comes to the Russian tanks, I noticed, that as the scenario progressed, there were more and more heavier and newer Russian tanks - probably the result of spawning mentioned already in a different thread. I enjoyed most the rearguard action of the auxiliary units that slowed down the Soviet assault at least 2-3 turns!

On thing I want to point out are... the Russian paratroopers There are good few of them in the scenario, but are they actually airborne or they are already placed on the ground at the beginning of the scenario? I am asking, because I discovered two 5 strenght Russian paras loaded into the planes on the 19.24 and 22.30 airfields. They are there since the first turn and it seems like they do not have any intention of moving or parachuting Eventually they were shoot down by my planes at the beginning of the fourth turn ( the screenshot shows the third turn because I made it as a test after the actual game was over ). Is it intentional or is it a bug?

[Kerensky]

All working properly.