Wassigny: where do French come from?

[robman]

I just played the Wassigny scenario in the DLC '40 for the second time. The first time, I lost many units when my line of retreat from Wassigny was cut off by French reinforcements attacking from the east and south. The second time, I was very, very careful to seize all of the towns in the lower half of the map, including all of the crossings of the Oise, before pouncing on General Giraud. Yet as soon as I captured Wassigny, numerous French units appeared on my side of the Oise, even though there were no French-controlled towns nearby. I was very surprised (as were my units holding the river crossings)--I thought that the AI could only generate reinforcements next to a town. I must not fully understand the game mechanics. Where did these units come from, if not from hexes adjacent to towns?

[Kerensky]

Technically, they are brought in through triggers, but the idea was that they come from 'offboard' the massive amounts of French units actually start on the boarders of the map, but their aggressive behavior causes them to advance quite quickly, giving the illusion of appearing right behind your forces.

If you are struggling with that map, I recommend NOT taking Wassigny(you can still get a minor victory without the 'ambush' action occuring) or if you want to fight the battle out, I recommend looking at this thread for helpful tips.
viewtopic.php?f=145&t=29076

[robman]

That is what I guessed, that they were coming from "off the board." That feature radically changes the nature of the game, though, since it is no longer possible to protect one's rear and flanks by securing all of the town hexes in unguarded or lightly guarded areas, as it was in Panzer General. It's probably a good change, provided that one is aware of the danger.

Two follow-up questions: (1) Are "off the board" enemy reinforcements a common feature in Panzer Corps? (2) Is there some way to know, when playing any given scenario for the first time, which map sides/hexes are "porous" (i.e., available for enemy reinforcements) and which are not?

[Kerensky]

We found that some people REALLY like this scenario design(breath of fresh air, complete departure from steamroll all AI no problem) while some people REALLY don't like this scenario design(too difficult, too harsh, too unrealistic, et cetera)

In the future, you won't find any more scenarios like this one. There will still be plenty of AI counterattacks and other challenges, but no more spawning in from 'offboard'.

[huertgenwald]

In the future ... no more spawning in from 'offboard'.

[robman]

We found that some people REALLY like this scenario design(breath of fresh air, complete departure from steamroll all AI no problem) while some people REALLY don't like this scenario design(too difficult, too harsh, too unrealistic, et cetera)

In the future, you won't find any more scenarios like this one. There will still be plenty of AI counterattacks and other challenges, but no more spawning in from 'offboard'.

I thought the scenario was fun and challenging. I actually managed to successfully carry off the General both times, but the first time around so much of my core was destroyed that I ended up surrendering a couple of scenarios later. The second time I lost only a couple, despite not understanding where the French were coming from, and I haven't surrendered since... yet.