A Challenge: Tactical Survival Campaign

[Zentra]

Tactical game is way too easy. So.... Came up with a new challenge for myself since I discovered it is too easy to spam certain weapons/units. In other words, I have to almost want to lose, to lose. So.

A challenge. A plan. I will call it.. "The Final Stand"

- Start with only 15 police squads. You cannot replace whole lost units. You can only resupply units you own.
- To repeat.. lol NEVER buy anything again other than replacements for existing units.
- You can pick up an enemies weapons on the battlefield/ drive their vehicles, etc.
- You can win their unit/vehicles. They can be added to your existing squad list. (THIS IS the only way to gain new units)
- You can never upgrade the tech tree. No Aircraft at all
- Set for Realistic or above.


Why? I am betting that while the tech tree and all the fancy units are great that a player can readily win without most of it. Please post feedback if you try.. even if you give up.

[Zentra]

My results per wave: (Realistic Setting)

+One. Enemy came up on me quickly with a Hilux Infantry squad. I lost one squad. I now have a Hilux w/a squad of shotguns.
(15 units remain; 14 Police and the One Hilux)

+Two. Concerned. Lost more units. Enemy has rifles against my handguns and the few shotguns I have from that Hilux Squad. (They would not let me get their buddies guns so I only ever had a shotgun or handgun)
(8 Squads remain; 6 Police, the Hilux shotgunners, and a Gaz ZU23).

+Three. Won with little casualties. It said I won a GazZU23 again but I never received it. Nothing lost/nothing gained.
(8 Squads remain; 6 Police, the Hilux shotgunners, and a Gaz ZU23)
** Already I am regretting this. LOL. I forgot I relied so heavily on better guns and RPG's in the absence of vehicles.

+Four. Nothing to report. Nothing changed.
(8 Squads; A militia unit I won, my last 4 Polices. 1 Ga ZU23, Hilux ZU23 and a my Hilux Shotgunners Squad)

+Five. I took it easy and managed to get into a position with a stolen rifle.
(10 Squads now; 4 Police, the Militia, a gaz zu23, Hilux zu23, Hilux Vulcan, Hilux 12.7, and the Hilux Shotgun squad)
** Goal now, while impossible, is to never lose anything again while I try to grab their soon to come armored vehicles.

+Six. 19% progress. It was an urban slugfest/no armor yet.
(8 Squads; 1 Police, 1 Militia, Gaz zu23, Gaz Vulcan, 2x Hilux Vulcans, Hilux 12.7, Hilux Shotgun Squad)

+Seven. 22% progress. no armor yet.
(10 Squads; 1 Police, 1 Militia, Gaz zu23, Gaz Vulcan, Gaz, 2x Hilux Vulcans, Hilux zu23, Hilux 12.7, Hilux Shotgun Squad)

+Eight 26% Preogress. No Armor Yet
(11 Squads; 1 Regular Infantry (no more original police), Gaz zu23, Gaz Vulcan, Gaz Reg Inf, 2x Hilux zu23, 2x hilux vulcan, 2 Hilux 12.7, Hilux shotgunners)
** It's at this point that I wonder where I get get free infantry/I understand gaining the vehicles but even then I should have to supply the driver/gunner.. I noted the militia earlier. ??

+Nine 30% Progress. No Armor Yet
(12 Squads; I gained one Gaz Reg Inf to end up with : 1 Regular Infantry, Gaz zu23, Gaz Vulcan, 2x Gaz Reg Inf, 2x Hilux zu23, 2x hilux vulcan, 2 Hilux 12.7, Hilux shotgunners)
** It is also notable that NONE of the recruits I have are the original purchased Police. Those are all lost now. All I have for squads were are acquired from the enemy and simply rearmed.
Currently I have: 137 Research Points / 10, 394 Command Points, 4574 Resupply

+Ten 33% Progress. First Armor they only had one shot at me and blew it.
(12 Squads; I gained a Comet Tank/Lost a Gaz Reg Inf : 1 Regular Infantry, Gaz zu23, Gaz Vulcan, Gaz Reg Inf, 2x Hilux zu23, 2x hilux vulcan, 2 Hilux 12.7, Hilux shotgunners, Comet Tank)

+Eleven 37% Progress. Armor is regular now
(15 Squads; noted. Notable changes. Lost my Regular infanty. Gained a Militia. Gained a Hilux vulcan, 2S23 Mortar/Art, and a t34-85... etc)
** At this point I have a farily rounded out, highly mobile, light fleet of varied caliber truck mounted guns and their infantry, a couple of tanks, and a supporting artillery piece
(I will continue later after a long break but at this point I think I did prove my own point to myself)

---game is ongoing---

[Zentra]

so... I think I will continue but the excitement is worn off. I may give more results along the way. I am at 44% progress and appear to be able to handle anything they throw at me if I play it semi-careful. I have a 16 squads of great variety to include a Regular and a Special Ops Squad. TBH, in many cases, they are all I need/want anyway. I lost my motorized shotgunners. I used them often even though I don't like shotguns. (they had a truck)

[Zentra]

At 56% My first defeat. Seems I will always be behind now if I press on. I feel the tide has changeds. Up til now I was fielding close to same size army overall. Now I am being dwarfed. I am now down to 10 units; Reg infantry, 2x gaz Infanrty, Gaz BM21v, ASU-85, Comet tank, Typhoon, 2S23, Hilux 12.7mm, and STRF-90. It probably would have gone much better up to this point but on two maps I was spawned in where the enemy was able to get first shots at me and rip up my rear spawn area a little bit. By time I was able to organize, they had turret killed much of what I had but a couple of artillery. In order to win, I had to go behind them with my Typhoon and kill their heavy equipment to survive, leaving me nothing to win. I just have the feeling that between here and 70% I will be totally wiped. I will press on but and report for the heck of it.

[Zentra]

End result was that I ended up getting past 60% of the whole campaign with no purchase of ANY new units other than my original purchased 15 militia units. There was no research, or use of air units. IF, I had been ultra conservative I would have done much better but I grew careless and lazy so a few times my whole back area was nearly wiped due to lack of me moving them about. My takeaway is that, IMO, the Tactical campaign will need some additional work to account prior to full release.. I was in realistic mode.