Final Thoughts on DLC 42 (beta v1)
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:25 pm
The masterpiece: Storming Stalingrad. By far the hardest scenario and most epic scenario in the DLC. Best scenario produced to date, period. I cannot praise it enough. Based on the comments, the challenge was a good thing.
Biggest surprise: Getting my ass kicked on Vitebsk on Manstein the first go-around. I had thought the scenarios were tuned to be much harder, since it was mentioned that the scenarios should get progressively harder, and if the first scenario was like that, I thought I had no chance in the subsequent ones. Well, it turns out Vitebsk was actually pretty hard, and I shouldn’t have been scared off.
Biggest disappointment: Sevastopol Assault. I could’ve won DV with 2/3 of the force limits, as most of my tanks sat around doing nothing for the entire scenario. This is admittedly only for beta v1, but perhaps it is now better under v2.
Most important thing to change (IMO): Stalingrad Docks. Not nearly as epic as the first scenario. This should be even more difficult/hard fought. It should be as epic as the previous scenario.
Second most important thing to change: Hard modes were promised to be hard. If they are offered, they should be really, REALY hard, since the player can always go through the easier path if they don’t want to face the difficult odds. This is Stalingrad, a complete disaster for the Germans, and the final four missions should reflect that accordingly. Thus far, I feel only Storming Stalingrad was a truly fitting representation, although Stalingrad Docks and Tatsinkaya weren't bad. The thing is, because the developers did make such an impressive scenario, I feel compelled to point out that the subsequent ones can surely be made as good!
Scenario difficulty: Storming Stalingrad > Stalingrad Docks > Tatsinskaya > Vitebsk. Ilovlya is worth a mention for the surprise counterattack using 5 T-34/43.
The briefings for the Stalingrad series of missions should be changed somewhat. It should mention how your forces are to lead the initial assault into the city and the attack on the Docks, but the 6th Army is right behind you and also involved in fighting for/securing the city. In the Escape from Stalingrad missions, the briefings should be changed to something along the lines of “the 6th Army has been ordered to stay behind and hold the city at all costs, but you have decided to ignore orders and attempt a breakout with your own core forces.” The current briefings give the impression that the entire German army broke out.
Biggest surprise: Getting my ass kicked on Vitebsk on Manstein the first go-around. I had thought the scenarios were tuned to be much harder, since it was mentioned that the scenarios should get progressively harder, and if the first scenario was like that, I thought I had no chance in the subsequent ones. Well, it turns out Vitebsk was actually pretty hard, and I shouldn’t have been scared off.
Biggest disappointment: Sevastopol Assault. I could’ve won DV with 2/3 of the force limits, as most of my tanks sat around doing nothing for the entire scenario. This is admittedly only for beta v1, but perhaps it is now better under v2.
Most important thing to change (IMO): Stalingrad Docks. Not nearly as epic as the first scenario. This should be even more difficult/hard fought. It should be as epic as the previous scenario.
Second most important thing to change: Hard modes were promised to be hard. If they are offered, they should be really, REALY hard, since the player can always go through the easier path if they don’t want to face the difficult odds. This is Stalingrad, a complete disaster for the Germans, and the final four missions should reflect that accordingly. Thus far, I feel only Storming Stalingrad was a truly fitting representation, although Stalingrad Docks and Tatsinkaya weren't bad. The thing is, because the developers did make such an impressive scenario, I feel compelled to point out that the subsequent ones can surely be made as good!
Scenario difficulty: Storming Stalingrad > Stalingrad Docks > Tatsinskaya > Vitebsk. Ilovlya is worth a mention for the surprise counterattack using 5 T-34/43.
The briefings for the Stalingrad series of missions should be changed somewhat. It should mention how your forces are to lead the initial assault into the city and the attack on the Docks, but the 6th Army is right behind you and also involved in fighting for/securing the city. In the Escape from Stalingrad missions, the briefings should be changed to something along the lines of “the 6th Army has been ordered to stay behind and hold the city at all costs, but you have decided to ignore orders and attempt a breakout with your own core forces.” The current briefings give the impression that the entire German army broke out.
