Cheap paratroop attack in london?

[SSLConf_pewp3w]

So I am playing through london right now and it worked fine so far, secured all south of the thames, when in turn 7 enemy paratroopers flew over to my one airport, landed there, immediately marched to the next airfield and captured both, which were far behind my lines. When my turn started, 4 of my aircraft immediately crashed although I still had three other airfields controlled, with far enough space for all of them.

Now apart from that it is somewhat weird that paratroops can fly to a target, land AND move in the same turn (which has been discussed in this forum before), I think this is really bad level design. In all of the levels before this, there wasn't a single paratroop attack against me ever, meaning that I would not leave units behind to defend against them - which would be impossible anyway, since you have quite few units and can't defend all victory hexes if you want to start a somewhat cohesive offensive - and there was no warning at all, like there was for example in basra in the africa corps campaign in pc1. Now I understand that there needs to be some difficulty, but this basically forces you to reload and replay the turn(s) before this turn, since there is basically nothing you can do against this if you don't know beforehand.

[Horseman]

So I am playing through london right now and it worked fine so far, secured all south of the thames, when in turn 7 enemy paratroopers flew over to my one airport, landed there, immediately marched to the next airfield and captured both, which were far behind my lines. When my turn started, 4 of my aircraft immediately crashed although I still had three other airfields controlled, with far enough space for all of them.

Now apart from that it is somewhat weird that paratroops can fly to a target, land AND move in the same turn (which has been discussed in this forum before), I think this is really bad level design. In all of the levels before this, there wasn't a single paratroop attack against me ever, meaning that I would not leave units behind to defend against them - which would be impossible anyway, since you have quite few units and can't defend all victory hexes if you want to start a somewhat cohesive offensive - and there was no warning at all, like there was for example in basra in the africa corps campaign in pc1. Now I understand that there needs to be some difficulty, but this basically forces you to reload and replay the turn(s) before this turn, since there is basically nothing you can do against this if you don't know beforehand.

Having not played this one yet - do you have enough turns to send some units back or is it too late in the mission?

[Hexaboo]

Horseman, there is enough time to deal with them — I won the mission on my first try (-5 turn limit, General), and only had to replay it, because I accidentally lost a bunch of bombers. The airborne attack is a major pain in the butt (especially if they take all of your airfields like in pewp3w's case), but if you have a bunch of tanks in the west of the map (as the briefing suggests), it doesn't take long to stop the paratroopers and stamp them out.

Wish the briefing at least hinted at this move, though ('our intelligence says the British may try to attack our airfields').

[SineMora]

Note that aircraft should normally rebase automatically if their airfield is lost. However, if the airfields are too far away or the weather doesn't permit it, e.g., rain or snow, they will crash.

[dalfrede]

Note that aircraft should normally rebase automatically if their airfield is lost. However, if the airfields are too far away or the weather doesn't permit it, e.g., rain or snow, they will crash.

Or if the remaining air fields are Dirt and your planes are Jets and/or Strats, or remaining airfields are filled.

[Horseman]

Sounds like some sort of warning is in order.

It doesn't need to be in the briefing but maybe at least a turn or two before just so you have some heads up.

I wouldn't normally think It was needed if you have enough time to send a relief force. But as they can take an airfield in a rain turn which will kill any planes based there i think one is in order. No fair losing units in a way you cant predict/avoid.

[Hexaboo]

Sounds like some sort of warning is in order.
It doesn't need to be in the briefing but maybe at least a turn or two before just so you have some heads up.

Agreed, a message during the game is also more likely to actually be introduced (because of the voice-over in the briefing).

[SSLConf_pewp3w]

So I am playing through london right now and it worked fine so far, secured all south of the thames, when in turn 7 enemy paratroopers flew over to my one airport, landed there, immediately marched to the next airfield and captured both, which were far behind my lines. When my turn started, 4 of my aircraft immediately crashed although I still had three other airfields controlled, with far enough space for all of them.

Now apart from that it is somewhat weird that paratroops can fly to a target, land AND move in the same turn (which has been discussed in this forum before), I think this is really bad level design. In all of the levels before this, there wasn't a single paratroop attack against me ever, meaning that I would not leave units behind to defend against them - which would be impossible anyway, since you have quite few units and can't defend all victory hexes if you want to start a somewhat cohesive offensive - and there was no warning at all, like there was for example in basra in the africa corps campaign in pc1. Now I understand that there needs to be some difficulty, but this basically forces you to reload and replay the turn(s) before this turn, since there is basically nothing you can do against this if you don't know beforehand.

Having not played this one yet - do you have enough turns to send some units back or is it too late in the mission?

As has been answered by others: For me it happened in turn 7 and I am more than sure I would be able to win this anyways (played on to easy a difficulty), but losing some planes with 4 and 5 stars due to this sucks, especially if paratroopers can land during rain...

As others suggested, a small warning would be nice.

[nexusno2000]

AI does the same, less successfully, in the US West Coast.