[Axis Campaign] Legacy of Versailles-vanilla v0.3 (11/08/14)

[nikivdd]

The host for the LoV file seems to be down, for whatever reason.

You can get it from here: https://www.sendspace.com/file/iuc09e

I also added the DL URL in the first post of this thread on page one.
This version is the not yet announced v1.0 as i was waiting for some more feedback on the final scenarios. But it doesn't really matter for now.
The biggest difference between the v0.3 and this download is the AI unit spawning. This is as good as history. Changes kick in when you restart or when you begin the next scenario of the campaign that comes after your last savegame.

[brdrumz]

You know...for some dumb reason, I was thinking in my head about the Dunkirk scenario from (GTPG Mod) when I was talking about the "lone airport" to the north. Either way, the scenarios are similar and I found capturing the airfields on each end of the coast to be the priority. Once you get the airfields, it becomes easier to maneuver. The British planes start to get squashed. (and bombardment of the ships becomes easier.) I typically only have around 3 or 4 Level bombers, and 3 or 4 TAC bombers....but load up with about 8 or 9 fighters as I build my core units. I'm going to try and finally finish a darned campaign and the GTPG version is where I'm currently at (invading Moscow 1941). I will embark on LoV again once I play through this one to the finish. (between work and kids and "family stuff") my time is limited to just weekend nights. I have a bad habit of playing for months, taking a break....then starting over as opposed to getting through a full campaign. **Thanks Nikivdd for the update on the LoV file and the .03 vs. 1.0 version of the game.

[hugh2711]

I have got to say I really like the UK44 map but I am finding it very difficult to capture london before turn 17 (without destroying my core units). Does anyone have a replay of the first 16 turns I could have a look at?, is there a trick to it?. thanks.

[timek28]

This version is the not yet announced v1.0 as i was waiting for some more feedback on the final scenarios. But it doesn't really matter for now.

Hey Niki,

If you are referring to me on feedback on final scenarios you are in a big wait unfortunately Sorry but I just cannot play that fast. Right now I'm at Fall Rot in my 4th or 5th replay of LoV, and my pace is finishing about 4 scenarios per week (at most). I have lots of obligations and things to work on. So basically with that tempo I will finish the campaign in 3 months at best Unless I develop kick ass core quickly, which I won't since there is experience cap to give AI a chance.

I'm much more cautious with core development this time as well as with my moves. I use combined combat groups and I mix SP artillery with stationary artillery which I never did before. I hope this way I will have much more effectiveness then by just using SP artillery. Also I'm trying to improve my reconnaissance skills. I lost lots of units before because of poor scouting.

Anyways when i have something new to say about LoV I will say it here

Thanks for everything!

[naughtybalrog]

Niki & Churchy,
Greetings brothers,
I am guessing you probably addressed this question before, but rather than search volumes of posts... will there be an ultimate edition with those wonderful units Churchy has created:?:
Guy

[timek28]

Does anyone have a suggestion of how to painlessly conquer Paris in Fall Rot? I've been contaplating various approaches but none seem to be able to avoid medium losses. Here is the picture of what I'm talking about:



Bear in mind that all the units inside Paris have 8 or 9 entrenchment, and that I have destroyed French pillboxes in the northwest. It seems to me that Paris has no weak spot to exploit and that losses are inevitable.

Come to think of it only concentrated artillery fire both on north and south AA (with at least 5-6 artillery units) will do the deal and allow my bombers to try to soften out Paris defenders without major losses. I shall try that.

[timek28]

Just finished Fall Rot. It was a lot of fun!

Couple of remarks though:

1) Getting a DV as usual was very hard. I got only victory. However I did much better then before by using new strategy explained before. Combining forces much better etc... I was able to seriously jeopardize Maginot Line for the first time in several playthroughs. However I believe destroying the whole line and getting a DV is too far fetched. All French units in the line have 9 entrenchment, there is 5-6 forts with lots of artillery to back them up. Even Gustav and Karl Gertat where only able to destroy forts (pillboxes excluded) and most of the AA and artillery. However pillboxes and all the infantry was left intact. All in all probably around 15 units if not more. There was not enough moves to destroy them all. Even with the rear attack by core forces it is almost impossible. This is of course unless player redirects all of his artillery and planes to the line, and move most of his core eastward. Anyways I'm just ranting here. It is probably possible with very careful and determined play.

I believe as usual DV wouldn't give much more.

2) After a victory player is given 3 choices - some 2 scenarios which are expected in future and Isabella Felix. Which 2 scenarios are these, and will they ever be included in mod?

[Horst]

Fall Rot is nice. I remember the safest approach to Paris was from south-west. You see on your pic that the empty airport invites attacking the two artillery units there directly with tanks. All you need is to clean the entrenched line there and place your long-range artillery out of sight from the guns. It takes a while with artillery bombing your way through but that’s the fun part of a siege. Focusing with artillery only from one side is important to bring down the entrenchments.

You have to be quickly with the Maginot line. Units that took the southern objectives should immediately head for the southern part of the line, so you meet about in the middle with your forces. Pioniere are you best friends there, because there is hardly artillery protecting these strongholds.

[timek28]

@Horst

Thanks for the advice. I finished Fall Rot already so I won't be replaying it. Anyways I do realize that there is need for great speed to Maginot Line. I just didn't pay too much attention to attacking it properly.

As far as my strategy on Paris went, I placed all artillery I had so they can hit the northern AA first. When it was gone I gradually took out two northern artillery pieces and then proceeded down. Of course with great help of bombers. It took a while to root them all out. I also had some losses in process which are inevitable, but all in all it was successful strategy.

[nikivdd]

Hello guys, i was off-line for a couple of days. I had to recharge my batteries a bit. With the official beta approaching and the involvement that is required of a dev, i first took a few days off.

Answers to the latest posts:
@brdrumz. I made an additional tweak of the Dunkirk scenario. It is now possible to deploy 3 core ships. The speed boats are removed though.

@Hugh2711. To capture London on time, you strike hard and fast. You must take a few risks and you might lose some units, but playing it safe and easy won't get you London on time. (There is also now the possibility to ommit this scenario).

@Timek. You don't have to rush playing the campaign. It is (too) long to have it finished in a couple of weeks. But as i wrote before, i do admire your persistance and dedication. I am in your debt.
Paris is quite the nutcracker. I do remember well, how i solved that puzzle. I drained the AA of its ammo, and let stuka's do the rest. The French units on the river tiles are extra vulnerable.
About the two additional choices, one was for a scenario in Yugoslavia, the other in Greece. It is unlikely that they will be added in the future.

@Naughtybalrog. My time goes up into the official stuff. Depending on the official project, it might be the first of several, it could also be my last. Depending of the outcome, time for official and unofficial modding will not be possible anymore.I will have no other choice but to choose, but first, let's await the outcome of the the official project.

Dunkirk.rar

(7.92 KiB) Downloaded 235 times

[Horst]

In Fall Gelb, there is a Somua tank repaired which turns out to be only an auxiliary tank. This event would be more exciting if it is a core unit reward as usually.

[Mark50]

With the official beta approaching and the involvement that is required of a dev, i first took a few days off.

What official beta?

[nikivdd]

With the official beta approaching and the involvement that is required of a dev, i first took a few days off.

What official beta?

Sorry Mark, can't tell. As Iain wrote in one of the other threads, the team is caught up with Armageddon. Afterwards, there will be time again for some Panzer Corps stuff.

[timek28]

In Fall Gelb, there is a Somua tank repaired which turns out to be only an auxiliary tank. This event would be more exciting if it is a core unit reward as usually.

As well as KV1 in Finland. But to be honest you do get 1 or 2 Char tanks as well as 1 Matilda. So I think Niki gave a fare share of giveaways

[Horst]

That the aux KV-1 in Salla basically gets into the hands of the Finns makes sense, as you help out in their country and may not capture flags with your German troops.
Okay, two captured core tanks in one scenario looks indeed too spoiling that I would rather have moved the Char B1 event to Fall Rot. The Matilda is found in Dunkerque what lazy generals could miss, so it doesn't fully count.

[timek28]

Bottom line is that those tanks are not usable for a long time. At least for me. They have great armor but are slow as hell and are unusable in offensive scenarios. And to be honest most scenarios are offensive. Matilda is especailly slow. The only scenario where I would need them right now is Battleaxe where British pound me with everything they've got and they do attack with 4 or 5 Matildas. Nothing Stukas cannot regulate though. Also thankfuly I have accumulated enough prestige to repair my wounded units, as scenario is created in such way that you have to spread your forces very thin.

[timek28]

Just a little update on my progress.

Right now I'm at Nigeria scenario. I've passed all scenarios without cheat. I had hardware issues with my graphic card so I lost about a week and didn't play in that time. I'll try to finish the campaign in the next month or so. I think that is a reasonable prediction.

After I finish I'll try to update my review on LoV with new findings and comments on several last scenarios. I do believe that after I finish LoV I will take a longer hiatus from PC. I haven't really played any other game seriously in last 2 years (last one I played was X-COM as far as I remember and maybe Max Payne 3). I'm not even trying any other game as PC has become sort of an addiction with or without a real reason. I need to mix things up a little bit. I know I said that before also, but I think I'm not getting as much amusement from PC after this many hours played. I'm going through motions right now, just moving my units mechanically trying to get to the last turn. It has nothing to do with LoV, it has to do more with me and replaying LoV for 5th time or so...

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Just a little update on my progress.

Right now I'm at Nigeria scenario. I've passed all scenarios without cheat. I had hardware issues with my graphic card so I lost about a week and didn't play in that time. I'll try to finish the campaign in the next month or so. I think that is a reasonable prediction.

After I finish I'll try to update my review on LoV with new findings and comments on several last scenarios. I do believe that after I finish LoV I will take a longer hiatus from PC. I haven't really played any other game seriously in last 2 years (last one I played was X-COM as far as I remember and maybe Max Payne 3). I'm not even trying any other game as PC has become sort of an addiction with or without a real reason. I need to mix things up a little bit. I know I said that before also, but I think I'm not getting as much amusement from PC after this many hours played. I'm going through motions right now, just moving my units mechanically trying to get to the last turn. It has nothing to do with LoV, it has to do more with me and replaying LoV for 5th time or so...

Ah, but new mods are always being produced! I forbid you to leave PzC foe even a short time!

- BNC

[timek28]

Ah, but new mods are always being produced! I forbid you to leave PzC foe even a short time!
- BNC

Yeah? Which ones? I hope some mods that are reasonable in length and difficulty. Also I'm not really interested in GME and WWI mods. I find most of GME designs to be sub-par compared to the original graphics. Also I don't find obsolete equipment interesting (WWI).

On a side note I won't quit playing PC altogether. I just need a longer break. LoV is extremely taxing mod for veteran players. For example playing Ethiopia scenario requires from user to deploy only 4 of his core units, with about a dozen Italian auxiliaries. Then you have to break through large mountains and forests and rivers and conquer all the hexes in 30 turns. While AI throws lots of planes at you, there are choke points, and while you can deploy only 4 core units. The problem is that if you make even one bad judgement or move you won't be able to get a victory in scenario and campaign is over! So you have to replay scenario enough times, trying out perfect combination of units in order to get the victory. Right now I'm thinking about deploying paratroopers to try to get far locations quickly.

Also if you don't upgrade your units in right order, you are doomed. Say you upgrade PZIV from G to H instead of buying a Tiger. Although Tiger has lot less fuel it's punch is just unmatched. That PZIV will get eaten later because AI gets more and more experience as scenarios pass no matter how big losses you inflict to him, while your prestige gain is slower and slower due the cap and mod design. You gain bursts of prestige here and there (5000 or more) and you better use them properly by buying best equipment you can. Because if you don't next 5 or more scenarios prestige gain is about 500-1000 prestige in-between scenarios and it is for replacements only. Thus any bad upgrades, or miscalculated purchases will hunt you down and you will lose scenarios and precious time.

The bottom line is small mistakes in LoV can waste you hours of play or even days and it can get really discouraging and annoying.

In the original game prestige buffers in-between scenarios (2000-5000 prestige gain was usual) as well as unrestricted core deployments gave player more maneuver space, and cushion. It wasn't easier, it was just that small mistakes were not punished as badly.

[timek28]

Sorry for the last rant. Scenarios are surely hard, but with enough repetition and care everything can be won. One thing that I noticed is that I was under-utilizing paratrooper units. There are several scenarios that basically require paratroopers as it is almost impossible to win all WHs in time just by land transports. Ethiopia is one of them.