Achievement/stars questions

[mjemirzian]

Is it possible to earn each achievement separately on individual mission attempts? Or do you have to earn them all in the same run?

Has anyone earned all the achievements in each mission in a single run? For example on the Frontal Assault mission on the 1st campaign, capture the ridgeline, capture all victory points, destroy all 88mm guns, and kill 8 enemy units in 5 turns all on the same run.

[pipfromslitherine]

They do not need to all be earned in a single mission. As you say, it would be pretty tough for some missions!

Cheers

Pip

[mjemirzian]

I played the first campaign on 2.1.0 with "full tactical rules" difficulty and enhanced AI. I would assume this is more difficult than earlier versions.

Some feedback/suggestions:

The game doesn't make note on which difficulty/AI mode you cleared missions or earned stars. That would help.

Would like more toggleable overhead map info on my units, such as remaining AP.

A turn counter somewhere would be useful.

Saving/loading a game doesn't recall your camera position.

Scroll wheel zoom is too slow.

If you're worried about "gaminess", quicksaves/loads are pretty "gamey" for getting around the RNG, scouting for hidden infantry than reloading, etc. In fact to get some achievements you pretty much have to know enemy positions in advance, or rely on sub-30% chances to destroy heavily armored tanks.

In any case, I managed to earn all achievements in a single mission for all missions in the first campaign (Western Desert Campaign) so far. Apparently this is supposed to be an easy campaign but earning all the achievements didn't allow much room for mistake and veered into heavy RNG territory a few times.

So how much more difficult are the later campaigns? Is it even possible to "earn all achievements in a single mission" per mission later on?

[pipfromslitherine]

Thanks for the feedback. Later campaigns are most definitely a lot tougher than the Desert campaign, but hopefully it has taught you most of the tactics you will need to use.

wrt the mouse wheel, the values we get from Windows are generally calibrated from the control panel, so if you could try increasing your mousewheel sensitivity.

Cheers

Pip

[mjemirzian]

How about an ironman setting that prevents quick save/load during a mission? Not the entire campaign, but a per-mission setting.

I've got plenty of experience with tactics games so I didn't find it difficult, just annoying when the RNG prevented me from getting an achievement even when my strats were optimal. Had to save/load to get around that at times. Just clearing a mission with no achievements would be quite easy.

I would link to some screenshots but it won't let me put any links in my message.

tinypic (dot) com/useralbum.php?ua=BmkApHbFFtZQ24zE%2BuJVqQ%3D%3D

[mjemirzian]

Made it through the first 4 missions of campaign 2 (battle for normandy) w/ all achievements per single mission run. It is getting a bit more difficult but nothing crazy yet imo. Pretty fun game so far.

Campaign 2: Battle for Normandy

C2M1: D-Day Link Up

Defend then counterattack. Naval Bombardment is extremely powerful and will easily hinder any incoming assault. You'll get hit hardest to the south.


C2M2: Panzer Counter-Attack

Push aggressively east. You need to reinforce the Church VP before enemy reinforcements arrive. Move your Church defenders west to be replaced with your reinforcements. Naval Bombardment is extremely powerful and will easily hinder any incoming assault.


C2M3: Holding the Line

The first couple turns are rough as both fronts are assaulted by 5+ heavy tanks. Take a strong defensive position. Order your infantry in the frontmost buildings to hold fire. To the south, pick your turret up with the truck and place it farther back. Split your tanks up 3/3 and hide them behind buildings.

You want each enemy tank moving in close enough that 3-4 units hit it with reaction fire. Clear out destroyed enemy tanks and keep turtling until the assault is broken. Even with an optimal strat you can get overwhelmed here.


C2M4: Tiger Ambush

First step is to minimize eastern casualties while retreating. The truck and south infantry can flee safely, the Cromwell has a chance of fleeing, and the north infantry is pretty much a loss.

Best strat is to hole up in the eastmost VC while using your reinforcements and tanks to clear out/reclaim anything that moves past to try to capture the western VCs. Your turrets + Naval bombardments should kill the Tigers in the first few turns. After that it's just a matter of weathering the remaining tanks and minimizing casualties. Naval bombardment makes things much easier as usual.

[jcb989]

good. almost time for some MP games then!

[Old_Warrior]

Yes, try and work your way through the entire Market-Garden campaign sometime earning all of the stars as you go along!

[mjemirzian]

It's usually easier to earn the achievements on separate attempts rather than all on the same attempt. I'm wondering who has done that before, or if it's possible. I haven't attempted the later campaigns yet.

I'd also like to try Panzer Corps on Ultimate difficulty.

[jcb989]

I can get all the achievements on some the maps in a single play. Sometimes I have to replay to try to do get them all but it can be done in almost all of the scenarios.
The last Normandy scenario is in particular very hard to get all the achievements.

[mjemirzian]

Thanks for your reply jcb. Which scenarios were you unable to do all achievements in a single run?

[mjemirzian]

C2M5: Open Fields

Capturing all village points while also destroying all 88mm guns is a bit tricky. Locate all 4 88mm guns before making a serious attempt at the mission - they are nearby the two major VPs. There are only two panthers in the south major VP, not hard to kill.

Send infantry, your 25PDR, and air support to destroy the 88mm guns. It really helps if the air support and 25PDR RNG is in your favor. If you're lucky the 25PDR may kill an 88mm gun outright, or lucky air support strikes may quickly reduce its morale to -100. Split up north and south to cap all VPs. There are Stugs and other tanks covering the east VPs, don't expect a free lunch. Spread out and use the hedges to flank and break through. Enemy infantry entrenched in buildings won't bother recapping VPs, so feel free to ignore them.

C2M6: Operation Cobra

To get "destroy a german tank in 3 turns", drop air strikes on one of the armor park VCs and pray. You can't get it with the B17 air strike. It's luck based whether you destroy a tank or not.

There are several tigers in the south armor park and a lot of 88mm guns on the fortified hill. Use the B17 on the south armor park and try to wipe out as many tigers as possible. Use the other air strikes to hit the 88mm guns on fortified hill. The main resistance is at the armor parks and fortified hill. The VPs past the river are not much problem.

C2M7: The Lost Batallion

Use your air strikes to get kills in the first 5 turns. Drop air strikes east of the hilltop to fend off incoming forces. The villages are lightly defended with infantry and vehicles. There aren't more than 30 enemies total on the map so make sure to kill as many as possible. There are tanks hanging around by the Main Road VP that you can shoot for free. Pretty easy mission.

C2M8: The Bloody Hill

There are several 75-88mm guns on the hills around the 8 turn Village VP. Just as you arrive on the hill around 5 turns in, a bunch of enemy tanks will be rolling in west. Flamethrowers are extremely powerful against entrenched infantry. The turn after you capture and keep all VPs, the mission ends. This is unusual since usually you need to eliminate all enemies or wait the timer out. Make sure you've got the other achievements before then. There's only one tiger and it shows up around 15 turns remaining.

C2M9: Night Escape

Most enemies are weak infantry and transports. You have to play pretty aggressively to kill 50 enemies in time. Split up but watch out for enemy tanks, there's a surprising number of them coming from all directions.

C2M10: Holding the Ring

Another defense map. You only have 2 tanks and the enemy comes in heavy from the west. Your best chances are to take out the two heavy tanks (Stug and one other) using air strikes. You can't really afford to lose your tanks or 6PDR or you'll get overwhelmed. I would suggest sending your truck to rescue your 6PDR from the assault, but it will almost certainly get blown up en route. You don't have much chance killing the Panthers head on, just pelt them, drop air strikes and pray.

At 10 turns remaining, more tanks arrive from the east. Move your tanks east and camp infantry in the forests and house near the east VP. Once again lure enemy tanks in for a line of sight ambush behind cover. You'll need to kill pretty much every enemy on the map to meet 50 kills. You have to both play well and get lucky enough not to lose your 6PDR and 2 tanks.

[jcb989]

Thanks for your reply jcb. Which scenarios were you unable to do all achievements in a single run?

I don't recall, would have to go back and look. Some of them, it was out of not wanting to replay to try for that 4th star...

[oran9eone]

Jcb, been there! MJ, the missions are great and get harder. Arnhem was memorable and took me about 3 times to earn all of my stars. most of the time I am just to impatient when playing AI. I suppose I dont fear the AI ambush or defense so I rush right in and lose stars! i really have to concentrate to get all stars. It is doable but fir me it just doesn't excite me enough to focus that hard on it. The real jewel (for me at least) is playing MP. There are so many different strategies you come across that it makes the game new everytime. The missions are great for learning some tactics but nothing will prepare you ( like MP willl) for the ingenuity of human ambushes, strategic use of arty and those sneaky spying recon dudes.... Besides, beating a real person (especially when they are good) is far more satisfying imho.

[mjemirzian]

Campaign 3: Battle of the Bulge

C3M1: A Christmas Surprise

Like most defense maps, you'll want to make a strong stand at the frontline if you want to get all the achievements in one go. Place 57mm guns in front with infantry in the forest passages. Buy a tank and mortars/bazookas. Lure enemy tanks towards the forest with infantry ambushes. Your tanks will get blown up quickly if you leave them exposed. Once nice thing is the bombardments will shift to the rear VPs.

At 10 turns remaining, the 3rd wave of enemies will arrive, including 4 panthers and several panzer ivgs. You'll probably lose your tanks and 57mm guns in the process of killing them. The best way to thin them out is lure them into the forest while holding fire, and wait for them to move past your 57mm guns and infantry so they can hit them from the side or behind. At this point you should have your 20 kills achieve, so focus on staying alive while not losing 10 units. You can give up the frontline VPs as long as you still hold 3 by the end of the mission with less than 10 casualties.

C3M2: Buying Time

I put 2 tanks and some infantry at the Citadel, rest of the forces by the village. There are two king tiger tanks. Your 57mms will probably get wiped out when the king tigers arrive (you can try saving them by loading them into trucks), use the rest of your forces to lure them into the city and ambush them from the sides or behind. You'll have to be lucky to take out both king tigers. Even attacking them from the sides or behind with a 57mm gives a low % chance of success.

Around turn 10 enemy infantry will approach the citadel from the east/NE, including an enemy flamethrower. You might get heavy tanks attacking the Citadel around turn 5. Hold off the 5 turns, doesn't matter how many units you lose.

C3M3: Killing Spree

The mission automatically ends at 20 kills, so you have to kill as little as possible to make room for the trucks and 5 tanks. This is kind of strange and game-y that you can't spend the remaining turns killing everything you want, but it makes getting all the stars in one run difficult.

Move in and trash some trucks and vehicles. Avoid killing any of the entrenched infantry or unnecessary targets. Try to grab the "6 VPs" and "german trucks" achieves before enemy tanks start rolling in. At 15 turns remaining enemy tanks will start moving in towards the westmost Main Road VP. Once you've killed the trucks and vehicles hanging around you'll be at about 13 kills. Position infantry in the city and have them ambush 5 tanks while ignoring the other vehicles. You can technically go over 20 kills before the mission ends as long as it's the EP.

[mjemirzian]

C3M4: Forest Fuel Dump

Both the Village and Road Junction VPs will be attacked, so regroup your forces around those two VPs. The Road Junction will be attacked by quite a lot of tanks from the middle bridge. Place some infantry in the woods leading to the Road Junction to ambush tanks. Move your tank relief column west to the Road Junction to flank and divide the incoming tanks. Reposition the 57mm to the sand bunker NE of the Road Junction to ambush. You might lose some infantry but should be able to wipe out most of the tanks with minimal losses. At 11 turns left you get more tank reinforcements from the west.

The east bridge is free to be captured, while the middle bridge has a ton of tanks on it that need to be cleared. There are two king tigers near the middle bridge. Try to lure them across the bridge while flanking from behind.

The Village will be attacked by vehicles and infantry at first. Around turn 5 you'll get allied reinforcement tanks, and at the same time enemy tanks will be approaching. Lure them into a tank/infantry ambush. It's not a priority completely wiping out the enemy attacking the Village VP, just hold them off and you'll easily get 30 kills without trying.

Despite being a somewhat complex map, the VPs are pretty easy and you don't have to go out of your way to get them within the 20 turns.

C3M5: Battered and Besieged

The Hill VPs are in forest terrain and can be guarded by 1-2 infantry. Place your 57mms and tanks around the other VPs. It helps to purchase a bunch of infantry in addition to tanks. First wave is along the north side of the map, including a lot of tanks. Deploy a heavy force north to get 10 kills in 5 turns. 2nd wave is along the east side of the map with lighter vehicles and infantry. 3rd wave is along the west side with more tanks. The 4th wave is mostly infantry and light vehicles from the north, east, and west. The 5th and last wave is some more tanks and infantry from the south.

C3M6: The Cavalry Arrives

The enemy sends planes after your forces, so deploy the M16 AA to ward them off. Reinforcements arrive as you cap villages.

There are 75mms dug in all over the map. Use those new calliopes to bomb them. The 2nd hamlet has a Tiger tank and more infantry. There's only one Tiger for the achievement, and you pretty much have to kill it to progress. At 15 turns remaining enemy tanks start moving west from the middle of the map. You should be at the 2nd hamlet by then, so dig in and weather the attack. There are two panthers next to the Farmhouse to watch out for.

Pretty easy mission due to all your bombardment options and reinforcements.


C3M7: Sealing the Bulge

Send the Calliope north to help take out the 75-88mm guns by the German HQ VP. Around 5 turns in enemy tanks will start moving west, including a king tiger towards German HQ. Several enemy infantry will try to reclaim the forest VP 7-8 turns into the mission. There are a lot of dug in infantry, guns, and mortars on this map. Advance slowly with bombardments to clear the way.

C3M8: A Clash of Armour

The "Capture a VP within 5 turns" achieve is bugged. I captured the Main Road VP within 5 turns and didn't get it. You get a lot of tanks but can't lose more than 10. Leave most of your light tanks behind so they aren't at risk. Enemy forces are mostly tanks with a few turrets.

C3M9: Final Pursuit

The briefing says allied reinforcements are on their way, but you only get them very late in the mission. Be careful not to lose too many units. There are 3 king tigers by the truck depot. Best way to deal with the tigers is bombard them until they start retreating, then flank up close and shoot.

[mjemirzian]

Here's my review of Battle Academy 2.1.0.

http://www.tbstactics.com/2013/04/battl ... eview.html