Strategy tips

[SpaceOddity]

I've only played a few hours into this game and, whilst really enjoying it, know that I am strategically stupid.
I'm really just after some tips and pointers.

The mission I'm currently on is about the fifth or sixth, wherein the axis are charging to take some objectives at the top of the screen (farmhouse on the left and middle).

The thing that's stumping me is that I've only been given one antitank, one tank, and some infantry with one or two rockets. I'm not sure what's the best setup/placement for everyone. The enemy will suddenly have about five or six armoured cars and just overwhelm me. My antitank will miss and becomes a focal point for their attack. My infantry is too far away to lob grenades etc.

I guess I just don't understand placement, pairings, when to attack and who with - so everything strategy... Maybe I should stick to my day job..

Any advice on how to setup, where to focus etc, would be greatly appreciated. As I said, I really like this game and want to understand it more.

Many thanks.

[CellNav]

Are you playing the STORY scenarios? If so, the name might help. I'm afraid I'm not to schooled on the story missions at the moment, but I'll bet the other guys can chime in at some point.

:)

[SpaceOddity]

Yeah, sorry - I'm at work at the moment so couldnt give a mission name. Will have a look tonight and update the message :)

[Cona1l]

From the sound of it the story is Unwelcome Guests where 21st Pz Div recce units attack 6 Airborne Division. It's actually quite a hard scenario for one of the early stories. The Brits only really have a 6 pdr, one or two PIATs and a Tetrach (a light tank with a 37mm).

It's a good story for teaching you about holding your fire. Put your infantry in buildings, including the PIATs (the advantage of no backblast) which will conceal them from the halftracks and given them more protection against the MGs. Don't fire the 6pdr until you've got a decent hit percentage (>75% or, ideally, accurate aim) and move if you get targetted (I don't think the Germans have a mortar which is a blessing but the 6pdr is pretty vulnerable once it is spotted; the advantage is that it is quite mobile - you use the setup button which allows the crew to push it and then you have to setup again to be able to fire). With your infantry only engage the enemy infantry once they are close and preferably moving in the open. Do you play with overwatch on? It might help in this story.

Hope that is of some help and good luck!

[PoorOldSpike]

UNWELCOME GUESTS is a nice little Story scen, (not available in Skirmish), here's an AAR
as Brit player which I won-

PIC 1: The Brits simply have to have at least one unit in each of these two flag zones at the end to win (unless either sides morale has dropped to zero before then)-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/TtdQDXy/unw1.jpg[/img]

PIC 2: So I deploy my infantry in the two building 'fortresses', and my 6-pdr (green circle) on the left behind bocage, and my Tetrarch tank in reserve (the other green circle)-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/GvwY7MB/Unw2.jpg[/img]

PIC 3: First blood to my 6-pdr as it trashes this halftrack with a lucky low-odds shot.
My Tetrarch is moved to peer through a gap in the bocage to cover the other road-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/8N98BF0/Unw3.jpg[/img]

PIC 4: my 6-pdr hurts another light AFV.
At top right an AI halftrack probes down the yellow arrow towards my 'fortress' and one of my infantry moves into position to grenade him (red arrow)-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/TkBHcpq/Unw4.jpg[/img]

PIC 5: the enemy halftrack sees the danger and dives into an orchard. Bad call, because my Tetrarch sweeps around the end of the bocage and duffs him up-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/W2TDDxs/Unw5.jpg[/img]

PIC 6: Meanwhile on the other side of the map an AI AFV hoses down my 6-pdr with cannon fire, grrrr-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/TmY7sFM/Unw6.jpg[/img]

PIC 7: back to the top right fortress and this AI halftrack unwisely probes down the yellow arrow and is showered with grenades-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/QJw3cjD/Unw7.jpg[/img]

PIC 8: my Tetrarch squeezes of a shot against a halftrack on the road-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/pPT4DHn/Unw8.jpg[/img]

PIC 9: A lone AI infantry unit runs down the yellow arrow to peer through the fortress windows and pays dearly for his cheek, and AI morale is now near rock bottom, people are on the pitch, they think it's all over-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/Gk4J3Hr/Unw9.jpg[/img]

PIC 10: It is now..:)
[img]https://i.ibb.co/48sMbkX/Unw010.jpg[/img]

PIC 11: the review screen shows the AI was bled white, I only lost the 6-pdr and a couple of infantry-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/nDwtSKR/Unw0111.jpg[/img]

SUMMARY- Playing as the defender like this in most scenarios is easier because you can just sit tight and pick off the enemy as he advances..:)
Remember, the enemy can't see infantry in buildings (or Woodland) unless he moves an INFANTRY unit (not a tank or veh) adjacent to look through the windows, or if the infantry in there gives away its position by firing.

[PoorOldSpike]

For the record, here's an Unwelcome Guests AAR which I won when I was the attacking Germans-

I know from past playings that the AI has got 4x teeth in this scen, namely a Tetrarch, a 6-pdr and 2x PIATS, so my strategy is to deal with them first and then turn my attention to the naked unprotected AI infantry.

PIC 1: So I just hurl two groups down the roads at top speed fast and deep with the purpose of spotting his teeth as quickly as possible.
Sure I might lose a couple of halftracks but that's a cost I can easily absorb.
And that's a bingo as my boys spot the red-circled Tetrarch (top left), the 6-pdr (top right) and a PIAT (right)
My 250/9 halftrack in the right column quickly kills the 6-pdr with its 20mm cannon, and my dismounted infantry blows away the PIAT-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/WpJzG0k/Unwelc-1.jpg[/img]

PIC 2: Next turn the Tetrarch gets the same treatment from my other 250/9, dropping AI morale to 1-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/KXR9G4L/Unwelc-2.jpg[/img]

Pic 3: I do a feeding frenzy on this infantry unit and trigger an instant victory..:)
My losses were a halftrack and a few infantry-
[img]https://i.ibb.co/ZJ5mfGs/Unwelc-3.jpg[/img]

Summary-In all the Troop scens I usually always operate my attacking force in one or two concentrated "fists" like that, rather than spread them all over the map.

[PoorOldSpike]

Originally posted by SpaceOddity:

I've only played a few hours into this game and, whilst really enjoying it, know that I am strategically stupid...

Nah, there are no good or bad players in any wargame, just experienced and inexperienced.
Play Troop like a chess game, using simple commonsense to do what a man's gotta do..:)
And remember, when you lay your sights on the enemy and pull the trigger, the bullet or shell WON'T KNOW you're a newcomer and will still fly at a zillion feet per second, which makes you just as dangerous as anybody else..:)

[img]https://i.ibb.co/1bwyXdN/Danger-Man.jpg[/img]

[SpaceOddity]

Wow. Some really great advice there, many thanks.

I can see now where my approach was going wrong, mostly not using the element of surprise when the enemy is close and making good use of the protection that the buildings offer.

Much to think about and try when I next get a chance to play.

Again, thank you.