Ivanov's experience

[ivanov]

All working properly.

So are they supposed to sit there until players discover them and shot down?

[Kerensky]

Yup that is their purpose.

[ivanov]

Yup that is their purpose.

Interesting however difficult to comprehend ( at least for me )

[Kerensky]

There are there to further advertise the abundant presence of the paratroopers in that part of the map. I can't think of a better or more visible unit to accomplish that.

[ivanov]

You see the Russian paras during the AI turn as they capture the objectives plus the brefing is pretty clear about "the major Soviet paratroop operation in the south". Seeing those units made me seriously think that I discovered a bug, instead of serving as a warning against the paras operating in the other areas.

[Kerensky]

Major enemy paratrooper operation includes presence of enemy air transport units. That really is all there is to it. I dunno how else to put it.

[ivanov]

If you think that it works that's fine, but for me the presence of those units was confusing. Just wanted to point this out.

[ivanov]

PONYRI - CONCLUSIONS FOR THE DLC43 BETA TESTING:

After having tested the last four scenarios of the 43 DLC, I could finally return with a clear conscience to where I ended the Beta 1, that is the choice between the Northern and Southern patch I love the employ the combined arms tactics and prefer the maps with a variety of terrain, so the "Northern Patch" was the obvious choice for me It turned out that next on the roster would be the battle of Ponyri!

I have to say, I've enjoyed the scenario immensely - it is definitelly my favorite so far Finally my prayers had been aswered and I got exactly what I was expecting from the campaign featuring the Battle Of Kursk. I wasn't bored even for a second during the full 20 turns, that took me to capture all the objectives. I seriously doubted, if it would be possible to capture all the VH's. The last two ojectives - Molotychi ( 20,28 ) and Zabolotskoye ( 33,28 ) are located on the bottom of the map and in order to get there, the Germans have to cross the river and break through the three successive, heavily defended trench lines, where the town of Ponyri itself, is turned into a formidable fortress.



I think that the main problem for the Germans in this scenario originates from the fact, that it is not possible to bypass any of the successive Soviet defence lines, because they paractiacally spread across the wole map. Where the trenches end, the hills start and they are usually occupied by a mixture of infantry, anti-tank guns and artillery. Due to that, a Blitzkrieg-type charge towards the distant, final objectives in not an option ( at least initially ). Practically all the Soviet positions need to be cleared first, because the advance with unsecured flanks, could end in an early disaster. For example after capturing of Maloarkhangelsk, I missed all the Soviet armoured corps, which was postioned east of that town.

The AI was trying to countercounterattack there:



Only few turns before the end of the scenario, I risked a reckless dash of the main elements of the LAH and DR divisions, towards the final objectives in the South. Both raiding divisions had to repel at least two strong Soviet armoured conterattacks. Note that at this stage, Ponyri is still firmly held by the Red Army:



This charge into the unknown, was the most enjoyable part of the scenario for me. The AI counterattacks did follow, but they missed weak spots of the advancing formations and were repelled with heavy loses. The gamble paid off, but it could be otherwise - I literally risked the total annihilation of my two elite divisions. Apparently the Soviets were thrown off balance and the objectives captured during the last turn.

Once again, this scenario is a prefect mixture of a combined arms fighting in close terrain and the mechanized/Blitzkrieg type of warfare. I found somewhat more challenging, defeating the AI passively sitting in the pre planned positions, than fighting AI blindly charging it's tanks into the subsequent ambushes. But this scenario is perfectly balanced in this aspect. Ultimately the victory has been won, but I think that against an average human player, a marginal German victory would be a big achievement.

Great job. Thanks!