Noob question regarding first mission of South Korea campaign.

[Dron]

The North Koreans just attack immediately and I can't seem to hold the central point and just get overrun by North Korea every time. I place a mix of various infantry in the buildings, but they just get rushed all the time. I also have those MLRS launchers at the back to provide some artillery support but it does not seem to help much as they mostly just stun the North Koreans.

[SevenNiner]

Don't bother with artillery. Get some tanks, a spotter and nuke the rest with your helos / airplanes. You also don't have to hold every point.
The enemy always rushes you. There is barely any AI. So basically the main objective is to set up choke points.
Before the fight you can hover over enemy units and see their composition. Might make choosing suitable planes a bit easier.

[Dron]

Originally posted by SevenNiner:

Don't bother with artillery. Get some tanks, a spotter and nuke the rest with your helos / airplanes. You also don't have to hold every point.
The enemy always rushes you. There is barely any AI. So basically the main objective is to set up choke points.
Before the fight you can hover over enemy units and see their composition. Might make choosing suitable planes a bit easier.

You don't get any planes or tanks in that battle. Just various South Korean infantry and some rocket launcher artillery.

[Brandon_Lee]

Sure thing you don't if you didn't assign any to the sector.
1. Place infantry in buildings that are inside blocks
2. Feel free to spam arty on the roads leading from NK spawn, it will stun tbem but that's just what you need.
3. Deploy CAS and spam them all the time. CAS is very important, especially in this campaign. This is the only field where you have any advantage.

Also, a word of advice: learn to micro your units. Example (one that is effective in this scenario): your infantry unit is in a town or forest, there are enemies approaching, your unit's icon is flashing, then turn weapons off - thus it will stay hidden instead of firing at everything within range. You don't want it to aggro every single enemy on the map. So, unless your unit is exposed, only turn weapons back on when you're sure it'll score a kill. This is called 'ambush' and there are many more of those special military tricks waiting for you to learn.

[Dron]

Originally posted by Brandon_Lee:

Sure thing you don't if you didn't assign any to the sector.
1. Place infantry in buildings that are inside blocks
2. Feel free to spam arty on the roads leading from NK spawn, it will stun tbem but that's just what you need.
3. Deploy CAS and spam them all the time. CAS is very important, especially in this campaign. This is the only field where you have any advantage.

Also, a word of advice: learn to micro your units. Example (one that is effective in this scenario): your infantry unit is in a town or forest, there are enemies approaching, your unit's icon is flashing, then turn weapons off - thus it will stay hidden instead of firing at everything within range. You don't want it to aggro every single enemy on the map. So, unless your unit is exposed, only turn weapons back on when you're sure it'll score a kill. This is called 'ambush' and there are many more of those special military tricks waiting for you to learn.

1) I did place infantry in the buildings, there is no other cover for them anyway.
2) I think I deployed arty a bit late.
3) The only jets available are some F-86 and its no better than what the North Koreans have, would not I just risk a bunch of them getting shot down for nothing at this stage?

For micromanaging, what else can I do apart from what you said about ambush? The game does not seem like its about micro management, its just telling units where to go and what to shoot at it seems.

[Brandon_Lee]

Poor boy... this game is all about micro. I see you expected another 'select and right click' c&c style game here. I'm sorry. Really.

On topic: here's link to one decent guide to get you started: https://honhonhonhon.wordpress.com/how-to-get-started-with-wargame. Also, yes, deploy arty in the very beginning and start firing right away. And yes, sabre is just what you need.

[Dron]

Originally posted by Brandon_Lee:

Poor boy... this game is all about micro. I see you expected another 'select and right click' c&c style game here. I'm sorry. Really.

On topic: here's link to one decent guide to get you started: https://honhonhonhon.wordpress.com/how-to-get-started-with-wargame. Also, yes, deploy arty in the very beginning and start firing right away. And yes, sabre is just what you need.

No I actually quite like some micromanagement in RTS games, but this game is not well suited for that for obvious reasons. Besides there is not much micromanagement features aside from turning weapons on or off and organising units in grouped formations.
I tried the mission again and used some F-5 jets, as I thought Sabres would not have much advantage against North Korean Mig-15 and might get shot down. I held out a bit longer in the central point but it still got overrun without doing much damage. Artillery rockets did fine in stunning and killing some, but my infantry in the buildings just don't seem to hold line for very long before they all die.

[Brandon_Lee]

Multistack them and move constantly. Get some tanks covering the open.

[Dron]

Originally posted by Brandon_Lee:

Multistack them and move constantly. Get some tanks covering the open.

What benefit is there to multistacking the infantry in this situation? Move infantry out of the buildings? Would not they get killed much faster when out of cover? I did not get any tanks on this battle, I saw on youtube people beating that battle with just infantry and artillery.

[Kolibri]

For the first mission i normally send 3 K1s up the left flank. I keep a couple in the centre point as the enemy transports are exposed when they try to move, and just put infantry in the buildings. Keep them in the back buildings until the North Koreans are in range. I rarely lose many units, maybe 200pts worth if i am unlucky. Also just put a recon on the right flank, incase they do try anything. As long as the enemy transports do not get too near it should be fine. The K1 is very capable for the campaign.

[Dron]

Originally posted by AKA_DeltaSierra:

For the first mission i normally send 3 K1s up the left flank. I keep a couple in the centre point as the enemy transports are exposed when they try to move, and just put infantry in the buildings. Keep them in the back buildings until the North Koreans are in range. I rarely lose many units, maybe 200pts worth if i am unlucky. Also just put a recon on the right flank, incase they do try anything. As long as the enemy transports do not get too near it should be fine. The K1 is very capable for the campaign.

Ok thanks, I will try with tanks, but I thought you can beat this mission with just infantry. And what did you mean keep infantry in back buildings until the North Koreans are in range? Do you order them out of the building when they come close enough? I thought infantry would get wiped out very soon if they are protected by being inside buildings.

[ROCKET]

Hi!

Originally posted by Dron:

Ok thanks, I will try with tanks, but I thought you can beat this mission with just infantry. And what did you mean keep infantry in back buildings until the North Koreans are in range? Do you order them out of the building when they come close enough? I thought infantry would get wiped out very soon if they are protected by being inside buildings.

The infantry will get wiped out- but they'll also get spotted and wiped out just as fast if they're kept in town sectors that are poorly covered (i.e. buildings that are completely exposed to open ground, like the ones facing the bridge in Bravo)! I believe DeltaSierra means to place them in more covered sectors, like the ones that are surrounded by forest/other buildings, so that the enemy doesn't see your units until it's too late. Once they are close enough, move the infantry to a neighbouring town sector that's closer to the enemy (not out of the building!) so that they can start hitting the enemy armour! Infantry can basically teleport between town sectors that are next to each other really quickly- take advantage of this fact!

Also, as mentioned by everyone else, tanks are absolutely essential to this mission. The enemy doesn't have any tanks of their own, and have some pretty damned horrible anti-tank weapons, so you can easily take the initiative by breaking through their lines! Push the K1s along the flanks and keep them away from towns and other covered areas where they might get encounter hostile infantry, and so long as they keep moving (so that they don't get hammered by enemy artillery and mortars) they can easily march into the enemy's spawn unopposed!

I hope I could help a little!

[Dron]

Originally posted by panzerfuchs:

Hi!

Originally posted by Dron:

Ok thanks, I will try with tanks, but I thought you can beat this mission with just infantry. And what did you mean keep infantry in back buildings until the North Koreans are in range? Do you order them out of the building when they come close enough? I thought infantry would get wiped out very soon if they are protected by being inside buildings.

The infantry will get wiped out- but they'll also get spotted and wiped out just as fast if they're kept in town sectors that are poorly covered (i.e. buildings that are completely exposed to open ground, like the ones facing the bridge in Bravo)! I believe DeltaSierra means to place them in more covered sectors, like the ones that are surrounded by forest/other buildings, so that the enemy doesn't see your units until it's too late. Once they are close enough, move the infantry to a neighbouring town sector that's closer to the enemy (not out of the building!) so that they can start hitting the enemy armour! Infantry can basically teleport between town sectors that are next to each other really quickly- take advantage of this fact!

Also, as mentioned by everyone else, tanks are absolutely essential to this mission. The enemy doesn't have any tanks of their own, and have some pretty damned horrible anti-tank weapons, so you can easily take the initiative by breaking through their lines! Push the K1s along the flanks and keep them away from towns and other covered areas where they might get encounter hostile infantry, and so long as they keep moving (so that they don't get hammered by enemy artillery and mortars) they can easily march into the enemy's spawn unopposed!

I hope I could help a little!

Ok thanks a lot. I see now, I was going to keep tanks as a reserve force as I expect later battles will be more difficult, I figured that infantry is good enough to defend that area as North Koreans have to pass through choke points and infantry can use buildings as cover.

[Barrelz]

Infantry is one of the most effective units in the game. Incredibly versatile and dam powerful when in cover. Always worth keeping supply trucks near by or even placing a fob near by, when you want to hold a specific point. Stack infantry with atleast 2 units/ I normally go 3 (more firepower and I believe gives other benefits to). Place that at a strategic position where they can ambush tanks/vehicles. Micro manage their rockets/missiles by turning them off and waiting for enemy armour to be in the death zone, where you can score some juicy side hits and even some rear shots if you are lucky. Then if the heat gets too much, pull them back by pushing them to a building in there rear. They will normally become concealed again as soon as you do this (unless the enemy has some recon with a good angle). Then bring up some fresh units from the rear to continue the slaughter. If you master cycling your infantry units like this, you can really start stacking kills with no unit losses. Any fallen infantry and ammo can be replenished at the rear with either your fob placements or supply vehicles.
Now, I always place long range missile troops a few houses behind as they can be great heavy support and score some pretty good hits on heavy armour. They are particularly vulnerable in close quarters so try and keep them back and when they are engaged, pull them away from the fire.
Use houses and buildings to your advantage. Do not underestimate having supplies near by as they chew up the rockets and heavy weapons really fast. Also, keep an eye out for airplanes as they can wipe whole infantry stacks in one good hit. When you see them coming pull your guys back to another building and this can either force them to evac or miss. If you have AA infantry, deploy them in the rear to knock out the the planes once they Winchester evac.

If you can deploy armour in the rear ranks and flanks, you can pull them up and around once your infantry has engaged them in a bullhorn move. Try and do this in quite a wide swoop so as not to throw them straight into the midst of the battle. They can then hit the enemy from the weaker sides before they even know they are there.

Infantry without cover is almost useless and can be destroyed in seconds by armour and heavy machine gun. Try to avoid conflict in open areas and Tavel in APCS if you can. Avoid conflicts whilst traveling by using recon to scout ahead. Reversing is always a faster option rather than just turning around, which exposes weaker armour and takes (what seems like) ages. If you are ambushed or forced to engage (can't escape), then deploy your infantry so they don't go down with the transport and can maybe help you a little with the conflict.

Also, try and save the infantries vehicles. Only use them to engage enemy if you have to or if the unit it normally carries is already dead. If you lose either the infantry or its carrier, you will lose both units (infantry + carrier) until you refit. So don't just drop off your units and then use the APCS as some kind of assualt vehicle. If you lose that vehicle, you lose those infantry. Unless ofcourse, this is a tactic you wish to take. I usually deploy my men and then keep the APCS in the rear incase they are needed for travel/escape and if I need them as a last resort.

[Dron]

Thanks a lot. So infantry is never good for offensives even if you are willing to lose some? Like say to support an attack with a group of tanks? I seen some youtube video of a multiplayer skirmish where the guy attacked with groups of special forces and marines moving through woods and supported by a couple of tanks. Are special forces like those better suited for offensive roles?

Usually I just don't find the time to do all this micromanagement in some battles, as things happen so quickly, once the fighting starts I just manage the artillery and calling in jets when needed. I played European escalation and completed the first two solo campaigns, and I hardly ever used any infantry, I did everything using mostly tanks and helicopters, plus recon and anti-air vehicles of course.

[Barrelz]

Depends on the scenario. In campaign, always look through the enemies units before battle and this should help formulate strategy.

Generally speaking, walking in infantry across open land is gonna get them demolished. They need to either be in trees (although this gives them zero defence when found) or in buildings. If you want to rally an offence with infantry, i reccomend pushing to cover and then pushing to more cover. Thats their strength.

There is nothing to say you cant rush enemy with infantry across open land but its likely going to get many killed. Their engagement range is very limited and they can get picked off very easy once seen.

Generally speaking, the campaign AI will often rush you with their strongest units and hit you with slowly diminishing waves. I often dig in for the first wave and then think about gaining ground once that subsides. Some people will try and have two attacking positions. I struggle with this as you really need eyes in the back of your head. SO if you want to go for 2 or more offense positions then make sure you hold defensive with one and then push with the other and cycle that way. This way it doesnt get too crazy. Ofcourse there are times, on big maps where you have the time to switch between offenses much easier.

Like i said. Have lines of infantry if you can, so that you cycle units and repair and rearm towards the rear and send reinforcements up when you need. Have recon on the far sides, to make sure no ambush or flank attacks come. Often wise to turn recon wepons off, otherwise they will give away their position and often get destroyed or airstriked.

As for enemy armour. If you select the enemy and then press 'i' it will give you their info. Some tanks have poor optics, which means if you disable your infantries heavy weapon and dont engage straight away. Ther tank will not see you and probably just go straight past exposing the weakest armour for you to send a rocket up the exhaust pipe and allow your lines of infantry to engage simulataneously, decimating the enemy. Be warned though, there are a few armour units with some very good optics and if they have a recon unit nearby they will spot you in a heart beat. Have fun. Dont worry about losing a few units, but try not to send too many to their deaths. You can refit at harbours and airports. Also, try and be quite reserved with the amout of Battallions you send into battle. Have unit groups hold back and use the R&R as much as possible. This will allow you more units at the start of each battle. Just filling up an enemy territory with everything you have is a waste of moral and means you only have 20 minutes to take the territory. If you think about it carefully, you can keep sending in regiments and have up to an hour+ in one turn trying to take that territory from a weakening enemy.