Never Ending Game... Campaign Log 43 East Manstein diff complete

[faos333]

As I have mentioned in an old post of mine, Panzer Corps is the Game! Something with a potential to replayed time after time, a never ending story.

For me at least, this has been the case. I started playing rather late although I have bought the game in CD, it took few years even to install it in my PC!. The same happens right now for me with Panzer Corps 2, I got it early, installed it this time, but so far except some videos on You Tube not played.

Anyway, this post is about my played battles a campaign log, that will try to post from time to time, so to share my personal learning and knowledge acquired from big players in You Tube like Braccada, Richard Martin, Goose, Robbie plays strategy games, Soren and many many others from the forum, I am forgetting right now.

Due to lockdown I spent much more time in playing the last few months and managed to finish all Grand Campaign DLCs from 1939 to the end in 45, in various difficulty settings, every year changing. So played General, Field Marshall, Manstein 42, Rommel 43, Guderian 44 and finally General in 45.

But as I mentioned before inspired from current active You Tube playthroughs and videos, I restart GC 1943 East on Manstein difficulty.

So far it has been real fun and excitement ,I wish to share with the forum.

[faos333]

So before starting posting, on Panzer Corps 1 DLC campaigns progress, how much spoilers are wanted in this forum?
This might take away some fun, for those who prefer blind games.

Should I only post map tactics using maps etc or should I stay just reporting progress, units upgrades and choices?
What is your opinion?

thanks for answering in any case

[PeteMitchell]

So before starting posting, on Panzer Corps 1 DLC campaigns progress, how much spoilers are wanted in this forum?
This might take away some fun, for those who prefer blind games.

Should I only post map tactics using maps etc or should I stay just reporting progress, units upgrades and choices?
What is your opinion?

thanks for answering in any case

Wow, this is great news! I look forward to seeing your posts!

Personally, I prefer to see and read the entire / full picture, i.e. including maps and tactics, learnings and suprises, suggestions and recommendations... just everything you think could be interesting!

Some people used to seperate spoilers, e.g. in a special section of an AAR but I don't think too much is top secret anymore at this stage

[faos333]

Few words about me: Played among others Panzer General, then East/West Front by Talonsoft (as of 2014 J. Tillers campaign series), Combat Mission and now Panzer Corps 1 and 2 in the future

[faos333]

Few words about me playing the Manstein difficulty (+5 AI units strength) setting:

Pros - the goodies:
- Many more surrenders
- More Prestige than Rommel
- More Turns than Guderian
- Totally different game experience, more engaging
- More fun in creating traps and exploiting map triggers

Cons - the bad ones:
- If a unit is exposed and with not enough artillery support, most likely means elimination or big losses at least
- No blind play
- Some times you buy replacements during map play, its costly, lately I started to minimize this

The requirements:
- Good map and triggers (use the editor) knowledge
- Good heroes, at least for me I try by reloading to get the hero I want
- Study your core units star experience, kills, in case of a bad hero, better sell that unit, than carrying it over to next battles
- Lots of testing especially the first 3 turns, I usually test them 2-3 times, for a good start
- Lots of saves, every turn to be saved, in case of a bad role, reload, although lately, I started to avoid them
- Needs an overall core units strategy till the end in 45 eg how many units per type eg ~10 infantry ~12 artillery, which equipment to be used etc

Overall purpose of the Campaign:
Survival till the last huge battles in Berlin.
You don't have to go Decisive every battle, although so far in 43 I have done DVs except Kursk South Armory (a bonus map)

[faos333]

Mentions:
Inspired to play Manstein by Braccada as he has advised me to try it, during his ultimate 42 play on You Tube channel, helped by the communication with Goose, seen lots of videos by R Martin and Soren Tjerry on his Manstein playthrough which is amazing.

Today, I discovered another great play though by Huckc in the forum, which I did not have any knowledge when playing mine Manstein East 43, maybe better, since I was forced to try other solutions. The most notable difference is the core composition, mine is very different in types of units. I think force composition it was improved since then, by other players.

Soren Tjerry Manstein
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqdfAF ... a2d3WWM72Q

Goose channel Ultimate difficulty
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRHQSh ... Q/featured

Richard Martin lots of great videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEalp ... akd4khIcXw

Braccada – missing updates the last few months
https://www.youtube.com/user/braccada

[faos333]

As a bonus before I start posting on 43 I can share GC 42 Tatsinskaya on Manstein,
with a rather different tactics approach based on R Martin idea, that gave me a DV
resulting in a Surrenders Party during play

If you want the replay, please send me a PM with your email.

[PeteMitchell]

Screenshots of key moments would be cool, too! ))

[faos333]

Screenshots of key moments would be cool, too! ))

Folllow shortly

[faos333]

43 East Manstein core units composition

Images below show the units status after finishing Kharkov 43.

Infantry units: 14
The plan is getting ride off Pioneers (only one map use in Yakovlevo).
All infantry with movement heroes switches to Pz Grenadiers 43, which is the best type of infantry from now on.
Special units like Ole Dir, Pein and other with movement plus 2, no transports to reduce soft cap.
The rest of infantry to upgraded to Wehr 43 offers 3 movement.
Also some Paratroopers 43, which I usually blend in for special air dropping tasks.

During the course of the campaign in 43 I have to re-organize the infantry, because of free special units offered in Orel like Bruno Sutkus and Allenberger.
The overall purpose is to reduce and develop finally 10 infantry units for 45. The rest would remain as auxiliaries or in any case of lagging behind in heroes to be disbanded.

Tanks and anti tank units: 13
In the tanks department, as you can see the plan is no more Pz IV, PZ III, not using Panthers, we go straight forward with Tiger 1 more enduring the tough AI over strength, more fun, although not historical. But the whole campaign is not, since we win only to lose the war in Berlin.

The overall purpose is to develop 10 tank units and 3 anti tanks for 45.

Artillery units: 14
You notice the high number of units, it’s due to the agony to develop the right heroes, and since we do not play Rommel Difficulty prestige is not our problem. So we can experiment with units and try our luck for best suited heroes.
Actually, artillery can be quite a mess, because of too many choices and the over strengths (OT) we add to these units. When it comes to change the type we tend to delay not to lose the OTs. Has happened to me a lot, for example with 14 OS Sturmpanzer with movement hero and could not do the planned switch to Nebelwerfer.

The plan here is to develop for 45: 12 artillery units.
That includes:
3x 17cm heavy artillery longer range than three; four or five would be perfect, coupled with attack heroes.
3x Nebelwerfer 42 with movement heroes, they are devastating to infantry.
2x Hummels with attack heroes
For close support:
2 Stug Artillery with +1 range = range 2
2 ISU 122 although less attack they are very well armor protected and by luck I got them with defense heroes.

Also, 2 Wurfrahmen as aux units when needed.

The rest of the core will be much easier to plan and manage.

Anti Air: two 88 Flaks and two Mobile SdKfz 7/2

Airforce:
7 Fighters only Fw 190.
5 Bombers mix of Stukas G (anti tank), Stukas D (Lent) and Henschel 129. No more Me 110.
Level Bombers 4: three He 177 A and one Dornier 217 E, with 14 OT, in two shots they evaporate the ammo!

Recons: two 233/8 Rad are ok

Now we are ready to discuss first battle …

core-43.JPG (211.33 KiB) Viewed 8262 times

[faos333]

1] Kharkov 43

One of my favourite maps from 43 East, with high replay ability value is Kharkov 43.
Actually turns to be an easy map, if you find out what should do.
AI units are not experienced they are only 1 star, so you can afford with lower quality units to defeat them.

The questions are as usual how much of this and that.
For me it was like lots of air with 3 tactical bombers and 4 Level Bombers, escorted by three fighters.
In total 9 infantry two of them SE. 7 tanks, two of them aux units all the rest being Tiger 1.
One Recon, one newly bought PAK for trapping the south bridge – easy exp.
Three Stug. Ten artillery. Three anti air.

As for the map strategy I created a map plan and try to follow it, with little deviations. The result was a DV in Manstein, which is always welcomed.

Seen the replay again, I could have done a little better in taking casualties, most notably two infantry in the open and one artillery piece attacked. I would also like to use the armor train trap in the north, as I has seen it by Soren Tjerry in his latest Manstein play of the map. Excellent performance by the way.

Overall I am satisfied, I got some very nice heroes, most notably Kersher taking a movement hero.

Below you see my map plan, key points, traps and some unfortunate hits.

For any questions, feel free to ask.

[faos333]

GC43 map plan kharkov.JPG (140.66 KiB) Viewed 8255 times

[faos333]

gc43 kharkov screen 1.JPG (151.91 KiB) Viewed 8253 times

gc43 kharkov screen 2.JPG (150.6 KiB) Viewed 8253 times

gc43 kharkov screen 3.JPG (143.57 KiB) Viewed 8253 times

[faos333]

gc43 kharkov screen 4.JPG (148.6 KiB) Viewed 8252 times

gc43 kharkov screen 5.JPG (141.77 KiB) Viewed 8252 times

gc43 kharkov screen 6.JPG (128.28 KiB) Viewed 8252 times

[faos333]

gc43 kharkov screen 7.JPG (146.31 KiB) Viewed 8250 times

gc43 kharkov screen 8.JPG (132.17 KiB) Viewed 8250 times

gc43 kharkov screen 9.JPG (150.02 KiB) Viewed 8250 times

[faos333]

gc43 kharkov screen 10.JPG (105.25 KiB) Viewed 8249 times

gc43 kharkov screen 11.JPG (81.83 KiB) Viewed 8249 times

[goose_2]

faos...this is great great stuff keep it up...

I am still preparing for Belgorod and this will be great help as watching Soren's playthrough is as well.

[goose_2]

By the by wait until you see my playthrough of this map on Ultimate difficulty. Pretty exciting stuff

[faos333]

2] Belgorod

This is a rather easy map, played in a similar fashion as Kharkov 43, attacking north and guarding bridges.
The weather is nice so lots of airforce can be deployed. AI experience continues to be low, 1 star.

Units deployed:
In total 8 infantry, two of them SE, two paratroopers.
Tanks total 7 tanks, only three Tigers the rest supporting inferior units.
Three StuGs.
Twelve artillery pieces.
One anti air 88, the map offers plenty aux mobile guns.
In the air 5 fighters, 2 Stuka, 2 Level Bombers.
One Recon.
One PAK, the newly bought in Kharkov. Don’t know about that, it’s made some progress but overall when in attack map conditions, not many chances to get exp.
Losses were normal this time, only the PAK took lots damage although supported with artillery, its still green!

Finished turn 17 with a DV.
Ending soft cap: 67%

I have already played the whole Manstein 43 campaign.
So, I can afford to look at things retrospectively.
From what I just saw, faster progress can be made with more air and heavy armor, eg one more Stuka, and at least one more Tiger, in the left flank of attack.
Bypassing Oktyabriskiy can also help.
Soren has just uploaded his play of this map, I will watch shortly, I am confident he has done an amazing job.

A bit of advice to Goose, he is about to play the map in Ultimate, with battle ending on the 12th turn:

• To get things faster do not take the city objective (Oktyabriskiy) it triggers attack from the East and West.
  Instead after eliminating the defense, refuel and bypass the city. Head North straight to Belgorod.
  Also, use the Rail line to transport more units to the North attacking force.
  Finally, you can try bringing more Paratroopers for attacking Belgorod.

Below you see my map plan, key points, traps and some alternative what if routes.

For any questions, feel free to ask.
Thanks

[faos333]

GC43 map plan belgorod.JPG (140.17 KiB) Viewed 8177 times