SUPER GREAT NEWS I AM ON YOUTUBE

[PeteMitchell]

I cannot download stuff off the internet for some reason.

I saw in one of your videos that you use Windows Defender. The above seems to confirm this. My guess is that the security settings of Windows Defender are set in an odd way... and it just blocks or quarantines everything (for no real reason). Worth looking into this/or have someone look into this... Maybe even consider getting a different/better (and also free) anti-virus program...

Trying to play with a historical army is killing you.

Usually, I like playing with a (more) historical army (e.g. as in Battlefield Europe) but I agree with you at these difficulty settings (including playing blind)...

[goose_2]

It would be nice for someone to give thoughts on how I could have possibly done Hills or Enfidaville better so I could garner the elusive Decisive.

I now the simple answer, more M12's, M3's and Wolverine's, but thinking about the army I have, do you think a Decisive was possible?

In case interested, here is my replay of Hills, played after I had watched yours... Not sure a DV was possible given your army and playing blind. Any thoughts welcome of course!

Watched this instead of shooting another Episode of Sealion 45...
That ploy to swing both forces around the flanks to attack the 3 hills from the back and take on the German reinforcements with the 4 Wolverine's and your Fury tank is the way to go.

Very nicely done.

Time for a nap, I will probably watch Enfidaville later.

Thanks again for sending to me

[PeteMitchell]

Thanks, just played Tunis blind. It's actually OK...

[goose_2]

Thanks, just played Tunis blind. It's actually OK...

I have gotten through the first 8 days of your Enfidaville playthrough. I hate to say this, but it pleases me to see that the mission was a struggle for you even with your beefed up core. That mission is nothing to sneeze at, and should not be taken lightly by anyone.

I finished Bizerte, not an easy nor very clean playthrough for me. I am working up to the posting of it.

I have actually been trying to do the last battle of West 45 Sealion.

Super Huge Epic Battle, as it should be.

Each day is ending up being a broadcast as it is a huge map with a whole lot of moving parts.
I believe I am at the start of Day 10 still trying to seize London itself, which I was hoping to take over by turn 10. (Not going to happen)

If I am reading the Victory Conditions, I need to seize every allied owned hex, which means every hex is essentially a primary hex.

I see this as exceedingly difficult even with 35 rounds to complete it in. As their units they throw at me seem never ending.

In all seriousness, this is the kind of epic battle I was hoping it would be, I am very pleased to see the boys at Slitherine did not disappoint.

[PeteMitchell]

Thanks, just played Tunis blind. It's actually OK...

I have gotten through the first 8 days of your Enfidaville playthrough. I hate to say this, but it pleases me to see that the mission was a struggle for you even with your beefed up core. That mission is nothing to sneeze at, and should not be taken lightly by anyone.

Yeah, this is correct, no hard feelings and no worries...

...and congrats to the successful conclusion of Dunkirk 45!

[PeteMitchell]

I am about to start Palermo, after that it is either Troina or San Fratello, any thoughts on this choice? Thanks!

[goose_2]

I am about to start Palermo, after that it is either Troina or San Fratello, any thoughts on this choice? Thanks!

Whichever one you choose, I will be trying to chose the one that was more historically was the American mission. Do you know which one that one was?

[dalfrede]

I am about to start Palermo, after that it is either Troina or San Fratello, any thoughts on this choice? Thanks!

Whichever one you choose, I will be trying to chose the one that was more historically was the American mission. Do you know which one that one was?

Troina is rougher with fewer easy kills and more risk of damage to your units.
Patton was at Troina if that makes a difference.
From Wikipedia article I would say that both look to be fairly historical.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Troina
San Fratello is included in the article,

The article may include spoilers.

[goose_2]

I am about to start Palermo, after that it is either Troina or San Fratello, any thoughts on this choice? Thanks!

Whichever one you choose, I will be trying to chose the one that was more historically was the American mission. Do you know which one that one was?

Troina is rougher with fewer easy kills and more risk of damage to your units.
Patton was at Troina if that makes a difference.
From Wikipedia article I would say that both look to be fairly historical.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Troina
San Fratello is included in the article,

The article may include spoilers.

Thanks Dalfrede.

Ok quick Update.

I about halfway through Sealion 45 Guderian, really have been enjoying this epic final battle. It is going really well, and I am pretty confident that Decisive is assured, but it is far from over.

Well since I am getting close to being up to date with my US 42 posts I decided to start recording US 43.

Gela was first and actually super easy, barely an inconvenience...but Gela Counter Offensive is a whole 'nother animal.

I played the first 2 days, and lost 3 units...I kept the video and will be posting so you can all see what getting my a** handed to me looks like.

So I tried it again, a little wiser, but again I have lost 2 units and have rethought what I need to either buy or upgrade.

I need 2 Hellcat's and 2 Wolverine's to handle their armor.

So my question is this.

I know this is not blind, and I hate that, but I also need to restart.

Do you want to see both failed attempts, or just the first one?

Thanks for giving me feedback here, it would be awesome to get some of that feed back on the vid's, as I would love to hear thoughts on what and how to improve my playthroughs.

Thanks Guys

[PeteMitchell]

Thanks a lot dalfrede!

Well, I have to say I don’t know that much about the details of Operation Husky and Sicily so I am here to learn more about it as well!

I played the Gela counter-attack scenario twice as well, the amount of enemy units was just too nice and heartwarming … haha and yeah, while Hellcats and Wolverines are helpful, the terrain of the subsequent scenarios doesn’t really make their use easier, i.e. many hills, forests, swamps and bocages!

I might have gotten too many ground units by now but let’s see how it will turn out, unfortunately I only received one SE fighter so far…

[turn4441]

I played the first 2 days, and lost 3 units...I kept the video and will be posting so you can all see what getting my a** handed to me looks like.

I'm sorry for your losses but also glad to see I'm not the only one. I was curious how you'd do there. Gela does sort of make you complacent with it's ease. I lost three in the counter-atack too, including my best tank which I thought was safe/hidden but was found and 2-shot obliterated by the Tigers I hadn't yet seen. They then hid in two turns of rain to replace losses/ammo inflicted by my air and then, although I put some fodder right next to one to try and protect my better units, it ran off to help the other 2-shot annihilate one of my better hellcats on turn 5. Maybe that's why US Corps videos are rather hard to find.

[goose_2]

I played the first 2 days, and lost 3 units...I kept the video and will be posting so you can all see what getting my a** handed to me looks like.

I'm sorry for your losses but also glad to see I'm not the only one. I was curious how you'd do there. Gela does sort of make you complacent with it's ease. I lost three in the counter-atack too, including my best tank which I thought was safe/hidden but was found and 2-shot obliterated by the Tigers I hadn't yet seen. They then hid in two turns of rain to replace losses/ammo inflicted by my air and then, although I put some fodder right next to one to try and protect my better units, it ran off to help the other 2-shot annihilate one of my better hellcats on turn 5. Maybe that's why US Corps videos are rather hard to find.

That last part really made me laugh out loud literally.

Ok, I will post both and give my hand on a 3rd iteration with different core composition, but maybe I will be unable to do it without incurring losses.

At this point it is nothing that I am not used to.

First I will finish Sealion 45. 5 days to go on that one.

[dalfrede]

FYI
Just watched end of Bizerte, you missed capturing a Pz4[G?]. Tunis has I think a Pz4H.
Gela has 20% chance of a Tiger.
Gela Defense has 25% chance of 2 Tigers, 50% of one, 25% of 0.

If you think Gela Defense is bad wait until Anzio Defense.
It is possible to clear the maps on Gela Defense and Salerino Defense, or even St Lo.
With Anzio Defense you are grateful to survive.

note: St Lo is Battle of the Bulge.

If the failures at Gela Defense are significantly different, post both.

[PeteMitchell]

Yeah, there is a German tank at Tunis as well but I sold it right away as I thought I should favor original Allied equipment (well, I needed prestige as well)... haha, maybe it was a mistake, for now I only kept the German recon as it got an attack hero...

[turn4441]

Gela Defense has 25% chance of 2 Tigers, 50% of one, 25% of 0.

Yay! Guess I lucked out on the Tiger lottery. If I'd have only run into one then my tank and hellcat would still be around and I'd have only lost the green M3 75 which was at 8 strength when hit by a tactical bomber, then Italian artillery, and then a tank.

[goose_2]

Ok 3rd time was the charm.

Holy Cow though super tough mission with all that comes at you even my experienced AT's had trouble, but upgrading my 2 M3's was the trick.

Still super tough and I will not spoil how many Tiger's I ended up facing. I did not realize it was random.

I actually finished quicker than I wanted or even expected, because I got too excited, so I am reloading my last round to bleed it out have a proper outro/intro for Mission #3 Agrigento.

Hoping to start/finish this week, and hopefully very soon finally be starting my Manstein GC East 45 Campaign.

I also have been in conversations with Braccada and Paulwalvoord about doing possible live casts of us playing through mp maps.

Super exciting times for the Gooseman

So happy to have this outlet and support.

[PeteMitchell]

I am about to start Palermo, after that it is either Troina or San Fratello, any thoughts on this choice? Thanks!

Whichever one you choose, I will be trying to chose the one that was more historically was the American mission. Do you know which one that one was?

Troina is rougher with fewer easy kills and more risk of damage to your units.
Patton was at Troina if that makes a difference.
From Wikipedia article I would say that both look to be fairly historical.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Troina
San Fratello is included in the article,

The article may include spoilers.

While I don’t want to hijack this thread… just fyi, I just finished Palermo and I also had a quick look at both maps (with fog of war on)… based on this I think I will do Troina.

Here is what I have so far:
3x Inf
1x Eng
1x Rng
2x Rng SE
2x M4A3
1x Crab
1x SdKfz 234/2
6x M18 Hellcat
6x M12
3x P-47D
1x P-47D SE
1x B-25B
1x B-24

Any thoughts welcome of course!

Ah and about Palermo, I think it's a nice map... fairly big though, not too difficult but it requires some "real" work at some places I would say... and maybe I will get to Palermo one day in real life...

[goose_2]

While I don’t want to hijack this thread… just fyi, I just finished Palermo and I also had a quick look at both maps (with fog of war on)… based on this I think I will do Troina.

Here is what I have so far:
3x Inf
1x Eng
1x Rng
2x Rng SE
2x M4A3
1x Crab
1x SdKfz 234/2
6x M18 Hellcat
6x M12
3x P-47D
1x P-47D SE
1x B-25B
1x B-24

Any thoughts welcome of course!

Ah and about Palermo, I think it's a nice map... fairly big though, not too difficult but it requires some "real" work at some places I would say... and maybe I will get to Palermo one day in real life...

Hi Pete

Go ahead and hi jack away I appreciate your posts and your play along feedback.

I am going to do a comparison of our army...
Infantry:
You have 2 more Regular Infantry than I do. What advantage do you see having those 2 extra infantry, and why do you have them as regular infantry?

I see you have 2 SE Rangers, I have just that first one. He is great as he has +3 Attack 1st hero and is at 2 stars. I am curious would you rather have an SE Fighter or SE Ranger?

Tanks:
How are your 2 M4A3's doing? My Fury 1 and only M4A3 has only 1 star but 2 heroes, and my Haunted Tank M3 has 2 stars and is getting very long in the tooth. He shall be upgraded to some kind of M4 Sherman in Italy, but maybe I should upgrade him now, I am not sure?

I really wish I had that captured German tank as my tank arm is sorely lacking, I miss that Pz3N

1 Crab...Ugh, still trying to build him up after getting him knocked out in Mateur.

AA

I do not have an AA gun at all. When did you purchase yours, and how many stars experience does it have? Have you found it useful, and worth having?

AT's

Those 6 Hellcat's must be beasts, I now have my 2 and that is going very well for me to have 2 Hellcat's and 2 Wolverine's, but I am sure I will want more very soon. I am going to try and limit it to only 2 of each however.


Artillery

6 M12's? That seems extremely light in the artillery category. M12's are so super overpowered in this game, it almost seems ludicrous to use anything else, that is why I am enjoying the forced unit diversity and learning to utilize dif artillery units. As such the M8 is earning my respect for its quickness and cheapness. I have 7 artillery right now, but will be purchasing 2 new M3's for Agrigento, so essentially 9 artillery. This should be enough for me to finish 43, I think. May need a couple of M7's but not sure, at this point.

Fighters:

You have 4 I have 4 and I am pleased to report that they all have 2 stars. I am hoping for another SE Fighter, but I would need to make it an P-47B to keep my no more that 2 units of the same type up. I am extremely pleased with how the airforce is holding out and functioning as a whole as they are not too overpowered, but hold their own very well against a very strong Axis air arm.

Bombers Strat Bombers

It appears we are going a similar route of 1 Tac and 1 Strat. I sometimes want 1 more Tac Bomber but do not see myself getting more of either 1, maybe, just definitely not at the present.

What are your thoughts on any additional strat or tac Bombers?

I look forward to anyone's thoughts on our unit comparison.

[PeteMitchell]

OK then, well… there are a lot of unknowns for me here (as I wasn’t part of the beta test either) and maybe there is also some form of speculation about the future… but that’s part of the fun I guess…

Infantry:
I got the additional infantry units at Agrigento as the terrain is very AT-unfriendly (low close defense). I got regular infantry as they are cheaper and I am not sure how many infantry units are needed until the end. Maybe I got too many now but I am still waiting for the additional SE fighter which I would prefer, that’s also why I got a third regular fighter…

Tanks:
One M4A3 is with me from the beginning and has D5 so he is doing OK. The second one I got at Agrigento, just to build it up a bit (and after I had disbanded the German one which was a mistake I think as the Pz3N was suddenly gone as well), not sure… Crab is not doing that well, it got a lot of damage so far.

Recon:
This seems stronger than the Sherman tanks…

AA:
Don’t have one (yet) either but I was thinking about the M15A1 or the M16… mainly for later on, again not sure whether it will be needed…

AT:
The hellcats are doing fine (in clear terrain), so five of them are at two stars, one dropped below again.

Arty:
Yeah… I was thinking of the M7 as it seems stronger than the M8… but mainly as both of them have a higher range than the M12 which can’t support the hellcats anymore. I guess I should get some more now as I could have used some more at Palermo already…

Fighters:
Mine are lacking behind, only two have two stars so far… well, I was waiting for the first SE fighter for the whole of 42… then I bought the third regular fighter at Gela (for the landing) and then I got the first SE fighter at Agrigento…

Bombers:
Depending on what happens in France later on, a second tactical bomber might be helpful but for now I can’t afford it nor protect it… I am not even sure the strategic bomber was needed so far (i.e. given its relatively high price) but some more naval scenarios (incl. landings) could be expected…

Any thoughts welcome of course...

[goose_2]

Interesting comparison...I will be embeding my reactions to your army with my thoughts and a deeper dive on my force composition and my thoughts.

Some kind of spoilers ahead of my postings

OK then, well… there are a lot of unknowns for me here (as I wasn’t part of the beta test either) and maybe there is also some form of speculation about the future… but that’s part of the fun I guess…
I was part of the beta testing but my memory of the campaign is extremely limited, as such I feel this is completely blind and as such miss some extra equipment like the captured Pz4.

Infantry:
I got the additional infantry units at Agrigento as the terrain is very AT-unfriendly (low close defense). I got regular infantry as they are cheaper and I am not sure how many infantry units are needed until the end. Maybe I got too many now but I am still waiting for the additional SE fighter which I would prefer, that’s also why I got a third regular fighter…

This is very interesting to me, my inf consists of 1 US inf w +3 Att hero that has 2 stars and is a nice unit to have.
2 Rangers, 1 SE 2 starred +3 Att Beast, but got knocked down to 2 str by a crazy good shot by their Grenadier in Gela Counter attack. The other Rangers has 2 Stars but only +1 Att hero.
2 Engineer's both struggling. +1 Spotting guy got lost in Bizerte, so he is starting over. The other finally has 1 star but only has a +1 Def hero, and he was reduced to like 2 or 3 str in Gela Counter attack.

5 Infantry seems light to me, so you have given me something to consider, especially with your additional SE Rangers, maybe I will be rewarded with one of those when I start Agrigento


Tanks:
One M4A3 is with me from the beginning and has D5 so he is doing OK. The second one I got at Agrigento, just to build it up a bit (and after I had disbanded the German one which was a mistake I think as the Pz3N was suddenly gone as well), not sure… Crab is not doing that well, it got a lot of damage so far.

D5 would be awesome. My Defensive heroes have been extremely limited and as such they damage me very easily.
In looking at the many missions coming up and no upgrade possibilities for any of my armor for a while, I am seriously considering upgrading the Haunted Tank to an M3 Lee, just to get him out of that Start, I know the Lee has no upgrade path, but I don't want to be 2 M4A3's that seems boring.
Crab is nice to have for a soft boy killer, but my goodness the US tanks just cannot go toe to toe with German armor at all. Italian armor can be suppressed and then our tanks can do some damage.

Selling the Pz4 was not a good idea, but at least it gives us a somewhat similar core. The Pz3N was only part of US 42 and followed your force up until you finished that campaign.

Recon:
This seems stronger than the Sherman tanks…

Quick Spoiler. My SdKfz 234/2 was awarded a +1 Spotting Hero in Gela Counterattack. Super Happy about this.
Having +4 Spotting is such a benefit since you can still see 2 hexes even in rain and snow. My recon has 2 stars and I try and give them kills as much as possible because I want to keep building them up so that they can hold their own against all but the heavy German armor. I do not see myself buying additional recon unless I need cheap units to help surround, suppress, surrender.

AA:
Don’t have one (yet) either but I was thinking about the M15A1 or the M16… mainly for later on, again not sure whether it will be needed…

I mistook your recon for AA,
Yeah I do not see myself buying one either as I would much rather use Fighter's.


AT:
The hellcats are doing fine (in clear terrain), so five of them are at two stars, one dropped below again.

I had a Wolverine and Hellcat at 3 stars but the 3 starred Hellcat got severely damaged in Gela Counter attack and I could not afford Elite Replacements at the time and as such I needed replacements rather quickly based on what was coming at me.
I really enjoyed the difficulty of Gela Counter attack, but man it cost me a lot, my other 2 upgraded M3's are both super close to 2 stars, but again took damage, as they are great against hard attack, not good at all against soft attacks.

This will be my greatest weakness as it will be a while before I can get Jacksons, like deep into 44, so I will be very protective on building up my Hellcat's and Wolverine's as well as the 2 new M3's I want to purchase, based on this, I believe I will need to consider buying more crappy armor to try and bolster my forces, because I want to stick to no more than 2 units per item.

Arty:
Yeah… I was thinking of the M7 as it seems stronger than the M8… but mainly as both of them have a higher range than the M12 which can’t support the hellcats anymore. I guess I should get some more now as I could have used some more at Palermo already…

Arty is what it is at this point, best gun is the M12, and it is a long time until the M4A3(105), Calliope, and Xylophone. Those guns are great.

Fighters:
Mine are lacking behind, only two have two stars so far… well, I was waiting for the first SE fighter for the whole of 42… then I bought the third regular fighter at Gela (for the landing) and then I got the first SE fighter at Agrigento…

I am super pleased with the development of my Fighter's. The game heavily favors use of the P-47's and as such I am enjoying trying to make a P-38 Lightning group work. If I get an SE P-47 it will have to be as a B so I can stay at the 2 unit thingy I am doing. It kind of stinks that the game does not give you Mustangs until super late in the game and the unit is not even that good. I will definitely be flying with at least 2 P-51 Mustangs.

Bombers:
Depending on what happens in France later on, a second tactical bomber might be helpful but for now I can’t afford it nor protect it… I am not even sure the strategic bomber was needed so far (i.e. given its relatively high price) but some more naval scenarios (incl. landings) could be expected…

Strat's are always helpful, yes they do not get that many kills, but they are super helpful. Especially in the Grand Campaign. I am really becoming more and more convinced with this after Dunkirk 45 and Sealion 45 as they were super helpful at draining ammo and helping to suppress units for my favorite tactic of surround, suppress, surrender.

Any thoughts welcome of course...

So there are my thoughts in red above