Balance of preparations vs. battle

[ptje63]

Im not sure if described properly (Im Dutch - but wondering what percentage you spend on preparations beforehand, compared to the actual game/battle...

I discovered Im using the same amount of time getting statistics right, did I upgraded the correct units, how to deploy, what strategy, etc. as to the actual game...
Or so it seems... Sometimes I feel like preparations take more than the actual gameplay haha!

[Panzerpimp]

what percentage you spend on preparations

~70% "Preparations", ~30% in combat.

feel like preparations take more than the actual gameplay

But "preparations" are the important part of gameplay, so It's normal I guess...

[Farre]

Yes good question, what you guys buy first when you bilding up your army?...strong airforce with many Stuka bombers?

[goose_2]

20% preparations
80% playing the game
Partially because I write down everything I do and partially adjusting strategy based on how it is playing out.

Planning beforehand can only go so far before you have to execute and it is the execution I find that has the greatest time consumption.

[captainjack]

I've learnt quite recently (when I tried GTPG and LoV which have very big forces) that using battlegroups/divisions/corps makes it easier to plan and manage scenarios: 1st has this objective, 2nd can take this one and 3rd will do this. I also have army units - pioneers, special artillery etc - that get attached to whichever group needs something extra.

I still spend more time playing than planning, but the planning is a bit more efficient now.

And while I think of it,
"Goose_2, Lutheran Multiplayer Championship Organiser" would be a good signature when it's time for a change.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Yes good question, what you guys buy first when you bilding up your army?...strong airforce with many Stuka bombers?

In the original campaign I focus heavily on level bombers and fighters for Norway, France. Around Barbarossa I buy more tanks and stuff. I find level bombers more useful overall than stukas: they survive better against flak and can turn a monster into a pup by killing its ammo.

Soviet Corps: Tank in Poland
Artillery in Finland
Tanks in Minsk
Tanks in Smolensk
Tanks in Moscow
Tanks in Kharkov
Tanks in Stalingrad
...

KVs and T34s are bosses, so as many as possible (Seriously I have about 15 tanks in my core at the map after Stalingrad. It will probably be 25 by Manchuria)

- BNC

[simcc]

Well for my part it's like 70% preparations and 30% playing.

I do write up on unit profile to compare when I am not in game, I do that in my office sometimes too hahaha that counts towards the 70% time I guess. There is just so many units in game and I am doing the GC a lot hence I usually look into the upgrade tree to save cost on the long run rather than keep upgrading the units that is not in the same tree. Unit profile surprisingly took a lot of my time as I build my core around a task force type hence finding the correct mobility defensive stop area and placement is important, if my army stop too far away from each other usually it means death, also it's ump to note how much ammo your unit have worst thing is half is re supplying while half is running ahead. Also I spend a lot of time in deployment phase too as I have to ensure that the path I pick for my task force team have the correct gear to handle the situation down the road ie what the terrain, how many towns, hills etc so I can make sure I don't send my panzer into a forest region as that would mean certain death, or my infantry to open terrain which also is a certain death.
I also starts my every turn looking at map planning how far am I going this turn, will I make it if I dash or should I focus on resupplying and gain some grounds. I usually have a certain objective to take every turn as I learn from the past mistake going in hard and fast = huge losses.
Planning is as much fun as the game especially in GC as you get to change your hero unit to a more specific task type.

[Stephen1024]

I say depends on what I am playing for.

Sometimes I want be more real will put more thought into what was used and how and try learn from it all, therefore I put more prep time in.

Other days I looking just waste few hours and have fun these times I can put no prep in.

The interesting thing is depending on mood and frame of mind, defines my tactics and play style, therefore I noticed I don't stick to any one aspect. I believe that's good thing as I constantly am learning about the game and myself, this leads to improvements.

To answer the question 0% to 70%

[simcc]

Hahaha Stephen1024, well said and I believe that's what gaming is all about hahaha