Battlefield Europe v1.9 – month by month

[PeteMitchell]

In the mod AT StuGs are initially relatively expensive and not so good, a bit under-armoured. They become better and cheaper but only from early 1943 which may be a bit late for the winter battles. So you can have a few, but maybe more cost-efficient to rely on 75mm towed ATs, especially since these have the camo trait. It is because in reality there were not too many AT StuGs during winter 42/43, their production only skyrocketed from 1943. Some 600 were produced in 1942 and then 3,000 and nearly 4,000 in '43 and '44, respectively

My above AAR shows how to avoid some of these winter battles and how to turn the page once these mobile ATs are available...

[guille1434]

Excellent AAR! I spent an entire afternoon and part of the evening reading it. It was like reading a map illustrated (alternate) history book. Thanks Pete for sharing!!

[PeteMitchell]

Excellent AAR! I spent an entire afternoon and part of the evening reading it. It was like reading a map illustrated (alternate) history book. Thanks Pete for sharing!!

guille1434, thanks a lot for your feedback!

This is great to hear, I am very glad you enjoyed it!

[guille1434]

Indeed I enjoyed it sooo much, I just could not stop reading (just like when I start a good book), so, I am the one that have to thank you because of the time you took to make such a detailed and informative posting. Now, I feel an urgent impulse to build my new desktop computer, install PzCorps Gold and try this wonderful mod...

I have a question for you, as you clearly are a veteran and a skilled player of this mod...

I was very sad to see that your Fallschirmjäger and Brandenburger units were destroyed while deployed in the Caucasus zone... My question is: Why is that you just used those two airborne units? Did you think that it wasn´t necessary to use more Fallschirmjäger type units or you were limited to purchase just those two airborne units because of "historical availability" reasons? Thanks!!

[PeteMitchell]

Indeed I enjoyed it sooo much, I just could not stop reading (just like when I start a good book), so, I am the one that have to thank you because of the time you took to make such a detailed and informative posting. Now, I feel an urgent impulse to build my new desktop computer, install PzCorps Gold and try this wonderful mod...

You are most welcome!

I have a question for you, as you clearly are a veteran and a skilled player of this mod...

Thanks, well I think there are many other good and also better veteran players of this mod, too!

I was very sad to see that your Fallschirmjäger and Brandenburger units were destroyed while deployed in the Caucasus zone... My question is: Why is that you just used those two airborne units? Did you think that it wasn´t necessary to use more Fallschirmjäger type units or you were limited to purchase just those two airborne units because of "historical availability" reasons? Thanks!!

I was very sad, too

Some of my actions back then were pretty uninformed plus I made mistakes, too. Although it wasn't my first playthrough yet, i.e. some operations didnt make much sense overall and/or could have been done better but you can always do better in life... I had read about Operation Schamil at one point in time before: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Schamil

So I didn't know what to do with the Brandenburgers (there are things to do with them) and I just thought it could make sense / could be fun to try... Same with the Fallschirmjägers, after Operation Mercury at Crete https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crete, the Germans never tried any major para operation ever again (the casualties were just too high and weren't even really replaced)...

So regarding your question: yes, McGuba tries to simulate historic force balances in this mod as much as possible, i.e. you can't buy and/or upgrade certain units, this also applies to the airbone Brandenburgers and the Fallschirmjägers (which are given to you). Therefore, you can't add more of these units. I think you can buy Fallschirmjägers 44 later on but they are not airborne, i.e. they can't jump. It also makes sense from a mod point of view as you could easily screw the AI with too many airborne units...

Along the course of the war (in this mod), there are times when you will get new units plus later on you can also buy some units but mostly you are dependant on what is given to you at the start of the mod...

Overall, I think it's a really great mod, probably one of the best out there (given my personal interest)... I highly recommend playing it... also goose_2 got excited about it recently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM6Kkky ... MJ&index=1

Happy to provide thoughts on any other questions you may have...

[goose_2]

Hey thanks for the shout out...Pete, even though I have not read through this whole thing I do very much enjoy checking in for a comparison of where we are at in comparison.

With that said. I find it interesting that Student Fallschimjaeger is ending up in the Caucuses as well. Hopefully I do not lose him there. I brought the Brandenburgers up North to help with the finns.

So far so good with both of them and I hope to continue to utilize their advantages while avoiding their limitations.

When I received the Brandenburgers I just intuitively thought using them in the North made sense. Do you think I am utilizing them well, if not what would you change

[PeteMitchell]

Hey thanks for the shout out...Pete, even though I have not read through this whole thing I do very much enjoy checking in for a comparison of where we are at in comparison.

With that said. I find it interesting that Student Fallschimjaeger is ending up in the Caucuses as well. Hopefully I do not lose him there. I brought the Brandenburgers up North to help with the finns.

So far so good with both of them and I hope to continue to utilize their advantages while avoiding their limitations.

When I received the Brandenburgers I just intuitively thought using them in the North made sense. Do you think I am utilizing them well, if not what would you change

Re Brandenburgers, yes I guess you are using them fine. Historically, they were either front line fire fighters or special operation/commando units behind enemy lines.

In general, if you use them behind enemy lines you always face the risk of complete annihilation in any turn. You can overstrength them but they are basically too weak for regular front line service (with 5 strength points while overstrength is expensive). Historically, given all the regular losses everywhere, they were regrouped to regular units by end of 42/early 43 or so.

You could also use them as anti partisan units, e.g. in the Balkans (as historically) or around Pripet Marshes or also in Norway/France/Greece, etc.

I haven't really done anything crazy with them yet... as said, behind enemy lines you can lose them very quickly, front line is possible but they shouldn't be exposed to counter-attacks or just deploy them as anti partisan units... IMHO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburgers

[faos333]

Hey thanks for the shout out...Pete, even though I have not read through this whole thing I do very much enjoy checking in for a comparison of where we are at in comparison.

With that said. I find it interesting that Student Fallschimjaeger is ending up in the Caucuses as well. Hopefully I do not lose him there. I brought the Brandenburgers up North to help with the finns.

So far so good with both of them and I hope to continue to utilize their advantages while avoiding their limitations.

When I received the Brandenburgers I just intuitively thought using them in the North made sense. Do you think I am utilizing them well, if not what would you change

Hi both, I did the same thing with Goose following up Pete walkthrough and some of Goose (takes time to watch the whole thing on you tube) to compare with mine progress so far, but no beyond I enjoyed this very much

The Fallshirmjagers at first I did not notice their existence in Crete , so excited with the other fronts
Then, I realised this error and send them to N. Afrika to assist.

Then moved to Caucasus and drop behind the lines south of Rostov. Then drop in Astrakhan and they are still there as reserve if things do not go well south..
Brandeburgen they dropped in the rear of Moscow, then Crimea, then Astrakhan.
Both of them acting together now as a special ops unit KG Skorjeny I think this makes better use of limited resources.

Pete as a more experienced with the mod, do you have any special tips on Brandeburgen use?

[PeteMitchell]

Pete as a more experienced with the mod, do you have any special tips on Brandeburgen use?

Actually, not really, only what I wrote above... McGuba, Uhu or Intenso may have some more ideas?

Although, I think they have the hidden trait as well, i.e. they are only visible to the AI if there is an enemy unit right next to them (in an adjacent hex).

[faos333]

Pete as a more experienced with the mod, do you have any special tips on Brandeburgen use?

Actually, not really, only what I wrote above... McGuba, Uhu or Intenso may have some more ideas?

Although, I think they have the hidden trait as well, i.e. they are only visible to the AI if there is an enemy unit right next to them (in an adjacent hex).the

How about the combination idea? what is your opinion?

[PeteMitchell]

Pete as a more experienced with the mod, do you have any special tips on Brandeburgen use?

Actually, not really, only what I wrote above... McGuba, Uhu or Intenso may have some more ideas?

Although, I think they have the hidden trait as well, i.e. they are only visible to the AI if there is an enemy unit right next to them (in an adjacent hex).the

How about the combination idea? what is your opinion?

Yes, the combination makes a lot of sense, of course!

I think I had tried this as well. Nonetheless, if you expose the Brandenburgers behind enemy lines and they get counter-attacked, they might be gone... combined with Fallschirmjägers or not... but yes, together they can do more than one by itself...

The thing is, the later in the war you use them behind the main enemy line in the east, the more enemy units will be there (given where you are right now), at least outside Caucasus

To me the other question is can you free up a 10 strength unit by using them to guard for partisans.

There might also be a case to use them as part of Operation Sealion, i.e. at different places in the UK but pretty dangerous too as there are many UK units on a relatively small island...

[faos333]

Good thoughts basically If you can afford to strengthen them to 20 both of these units can be awesome I think later on acting as a fire brigade or special miissions

[PeteMitchell]

Good thoughts basically If you can afford to strengthen them to 20 both of these units can be awesome I think later on acting as a fire brigade or special miissions

I am not sure it is worth the prestige to overstrength them, i.e. in terms of opportunity cost (as in what else you could do with the prestige).

Brandenburgers can only be raised up to 7 I think, don't remember... Not sure you can get to a combined 20.

I guess I should really replay it asap...

[goose_2]

I guess I should really replay it asap...

It is about time you start talking about your replaying, maybe even dipping into mp with me

[PeteMitchell]

Sorry but I doubt I will do BE MP any time soon again... and if yes, then only via the PBEM server but this one has issues with the BE mod due to its size and complexity... plus there you can't play dice chess... (normal chess can be very frustrating for BE MP, e.g. if you have one bad roll in Africa and you lose the Rommel tank there, all your plans may have to change asap otherwise you have a second front in Italy very quickly) so let's see but very unlikely...

You can play with Uhu for example, he is much better anyhow!

[goose_2]

UHU...the gauntlet is thrown down. Are you picking up?

[guille1434]

Indeed I enjoyed it sooo much, I just could not stop reading (just like when I start a good book), so, I am the one that have to thank you because of the time you took to make such a detailed and informative posting. Now, I feel an urgent impulse to build my new desktop computer, install PzCorps Gold and try this wonderful mod...

You are most welcome!

I have a question for you, as you clearly are a veteran and a skilled player of this mod...

Thanks, well I think there are many other good and also better veteran players of this mod, too!

I was very sad to see that your Fallschirmjäger and Brandenburger units were destroyed while deployed in the Caucasus zone... My question is: Why is that you just used those two airborne units? Did you think that it wasn´t necessary to use more Fallschirmjäger type units or you were limited to purchase just those two airborne units because of "historical availability" reasons? Thanks!!

I was very sad, too

Some of my actions back then were pretty uninformed plus I made mistakes, too. Although it wasn't my first playthrough yet, i.e. some operations didnt make much sense overall and/or could have been done better but you can always do better in life... I had read about Operation Schamil at one point in time before: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Schamil

So I didn't know what to do with the Brandenburgers (there are things to do with them) and I just thought it could make sense / could be fun to try... Same with the Fallschirmjägers, after Operation Mercury at Crete https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crete, the Germans never tried any major para operation ever again (the casualties were just too high and weren't even really replaced)...

So regarding your question: yes, McGuba tries to simulate historic force balances in this mod as much as possible, i.e. you can't buy and/or upgrade certain units, this also applies to the airbone Brandenburgers and the Fallschirmjägers (which are given to you). Therefore, you can't add more of these units. I think you can buy Fallschirmjägers 44 later on but they are not airborne, i.e. they can't jump. It also makes sense from a mod point of view as you could easily screw the AI with too many airborne units...

Along the course of the war (in this mod), there are times when you will get new units plus later on you can also buy some units but mostly you are dependant on what is given to you at the start of the mod...

Overall, I think it's a really great mod, probably one of the best out there (given my personal interest)... I highly recommend playing it... also goose_2 got excited about it recently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM6Kkky ... MJ&index=1

Happy to provide thoughts on any other questions you may have...

Thanks Pete for your comments and info, and also thanks for the link to the wikipedia entry for Operation Schamil... I knew that Brandenburger units operated in the Caucasus zone, but that article gave me some more detailed info...

Now some other comments about some ideas that can be implemented to improve (in my opinion) or just make the mod more fun...

- Add one railway gun unit (may be of limited strenght, like the Karl Gerät already present in the mod). Historically speaking, the Germans captured in 1940 an heterogenous collection of mainly French railway guns, some old models, but some other in rather satisfactory condition. Some of them were taken to the Leningrad vicinity to add they strenght in the bombardment of the sieged city. Also, the Germans had some rather modern railway guns of their own manufacture... So, I think it would be rather historical (and fun!) to add one railgun unit for the German player.

- I saw that in your game you opted to ignore the bomber raids launched by the occidental Allies against cities in west Europe. Without any intention of making any criticism against your game strategy (after all, you did not cheat or broke any mod/game rule, and you achieved a Total Victofy no less), I think this is not very historically realistic, and the player should be "penalized" somehow for not taking any measure against the bombing of "his" cities, which were no less than the production centers where many weapons factories where sited. So, unchecked bombing attacks should cause some penalty for the German player (may be prestige loss or some random unit disappearence, in any case, something that force the player to defend against the bombers or taking the risk to lose the war if not).

I am aware that you played version 1.9 of the mod and may be that issue was changed/addressed in newer versions. Also, I don´t know which difficulty level you played at (realistic, realistic+, etc...). On the other hand, and to compensate, I think that the player should be given some railway flak units to allow him to move them around to help defend against the bombers (as was historically done by the germans).

Also, some specific (historical?) night fighter units should be formed in-game and asigned to the player or at least the player should be given the posibility to "purchase" night fighter units, to complete the presence in the mod of all the protagonists that played both sides of the night bombing campaign in the western european skies. After all, I read somewhere else that in a newer version of the mod, light aircraft night harassing units were added in the mod, which I think were much less influential in the development of the war than the very specialized night fighter units that defended the night skies over West Europe.

I know that these thoughts should be presented to McGuba (which I will, now that I think about it) to know what his opinions about them are, but anyway, I think it would be interesting (and informative) to read what do you also think about these matters...

Thanks again for everything and forgive me for the very long posting...

[PeteMitchell]

Thanks, my playthrough wasn't perfect by no means but it was what I could do back then...

I think the railway guns are already considered as part of the Karl-Gerät, i.e. given the force balances that McGuba maintains across unit types.

Yes, you already face some prestige loss of up to 300 prestige points per turn when strat bombers are over Germany victory objectives. I ignored it as I needed the firghters in the east and in Africa. I also ignored most of the u-boat war in the Atlantic.

I played version 1.9 on General level. At that point in time, there was only one version of the mod. McGuba introduced the different difficulties only later.

Railway flaks I think are considered as part of the later war big flaks, i.e. the ones bigger than 8.8, not sure?

I think night fighters are available in version 2.0?

[faos333]

Night fighters are present in v20 version of the mod, enough of them
Also, night bi plane bombers in the east!

[PeteMitchell]

So I started playing Battlefield Europe version 2.0 realistic + yesterday, I played around 25 turns of the main Barbarossa map on dice chess...

My playing got a bit rusty but let's see how it goes))