Tips on defending points

[Pondera the Radio Angel]

So, I've been experimenting with various means of defending points so far, trenches and bunkers and machine gun posts and so forth, but I'm having some real trouble in getting my defensive game to the point where I can lock a point down and it'll be okay. I use the holy trinity of defense, MG, mortar and AT, but even if get to the point where tanks can't touch it and infantry evaporate rather nicely, it usually ends up getting shelled from a distance by those DAMN MORTAR HALF-TRACKS or flanked because my MGs didn't cover 3 pixels of a possible approach. So far, the only approach that has worked for me so far is to keep my entire force mobile, buy a bunch of cheap tanks with dudes dragging some AT guns around in the back, and administer harsh retribution in some manner of bizarre death parade. I think there might be something wrong with my playstyle.

So, internet, I'd like to seek some help at improving my defensive game. To that end, I have a list of questions.

1) popular defense layouts. Is there a specific way I should lay my AT guns and MGs out to ensure maximum possible coverage? And where is the best spot to hide mortars? Poor guys really can't deal with close-range threats and those german bastards always try to kill them first.

2) How do I keep my sand bags from getting blown up by tanks, or its defenders scorched by flamethrowers, or blasted into floating blood globules by grenades? Would razor wire be effective? If so, where should it be placed?

3) How best should I integrate tank traps into my defensive layout? And how do I keep these from getting blown apart? It's somewhat disheartening to spend a good bit of time making a tank barrier only for it to get blasted to pieces by an enemy tank shooting at something behind it.

Beyond that, feel free to give any tips or advice that you desire. Methods that work for you, funny stories about how the AI deals with your layouts, advising me to ditch this non-sense and Blitzkrieg to victory, so on.

Thanks in advance, internet. Stay awesome :)

[A Table]

Well. Offense is the best defense, right?

[Miiiiiiiiiiiiike]

Originally posted by A table:

Well. Offense is the best defense, right?

Indeed.

Offence is best defence. Use some defence to help suplement your army, such as cover a flank or to create a strong point a little back from the front line for you to retreat to if needed.

Otherwise, keep pushing forward for more territory.

Sandsbags are easily destroyed. Nothing much you can do there. They are only really for the early game I think.

Keep your AT guns relativley static while your army moves around the map. Of course if it's a difficult game your army may need to be in 3 places at once.

[Felinewolfie]

If there was a perfect defense everyone would use it and there would be no game :)

[daelin4]

Don't "defend" points, just make sure the enemy can't keep theirs, and be prepared to keep units on hand that are mobile enough to rush the defence of threatened sectors. Sometimes losing one of yours sectors is necessary to win the game.

The best way to defend points is to simply ensure the enemy can't send units to take it in the first place. Static defense is only to help your units, this isn't Company of Maginot Line.

[ShodaN]

You want to defend something then make sure:

a) to in the long run hold more than enough of the map to ensure at least an even match
b) the cover is good enough to hold out
c) the enemy cannot just ignore you

Always make sure your positioning involves recon. A defense against an enemy push has to be set up correctly. Without information on enemy movement that wont work. Cover the approach with MGs, put AT guns and mortars in the back. Mine the flanks and have mobile units ready to counterattack.

Always switch between offense and defense as the situation requires. Never just sit on your ass and hope for the best.

Tank traps and barbed wire are a delaying action at best. Use them to cut off movement on the flanks, but keep an eye on them. If the enemy destroys them, then you know where to reposition. But never get carried away with that kind of stuff. You want to build something pretty get a different kind of game.

Never think of a defensive position as final. There's always something you can improve. And that means moving up and closer to the enemy base. The more ground you control the better. You wont wear and enemy out on defense, but you can ensure to take more and more ground from them with every successful push.

[Grandpa!]

Also, you cannot deal with mortar half tracks without sending someone out there to exact your vengeance. Destroying enemy defensive positions is exactly what they are destined to do.

[Pondera the Radio Angel]

oh, I see...so maintaining multiple groups of strike forces IS the correct way to play. I guess it should make sense. A large part of WW2 was rendering the tactics that were used in WW1 obsolete and useless. So, what you all are saying is Capping lots of points > strong defense of a few points.

[Cast]

Originally posted by Pondera:

oh, I see...so maintaining multiple groups of strike forces IS the correct way to play. I guess it should make sense. A large part of WW2 was rendering the tactics that were used in WW1 obsolete and useless. So, what you all are saying is Capping lots of points > strong defense of a few points.

Usually just try to prevent key locations from getting captured, (Point that connects all your other territories, so your supply isn't cutoff), other than that, just go on the offensive and cause as much confusion as you can.

[Pondera the Radio Angel]

Thank you all so much. I feel like I've really improved my game. I'm able to afford more and better tanks and I'm not boxed in by the AI nearly as much anymore. And even if I am, I just attack where they aren't and let them bash their heads against my base defenses for a bit while I get reoriented. You all are the best :)