An Introduction to Kharkov

[Howard7x]

I really like the AO and mystery features, i got so fed up of playing people who knew exactly how to win each scenario. Which to me is why the AI in KK must also be very good and more like BII. Not everyone wants to get wooped by players that know every hex. Im looking forward to this game.

[Duck Doc]

The re-write of the Battlefront manual was a gratifying improvement.

I would be happy with a manual written in a clear & direct manner explaining in a simple way the rules of the game. Reference cards I can print out will be welcome also.

(See here:

tm.asp?m=1699525 )

If you ever need anyone to help with a manual I offer my services.

Thanks for the change in the movement allowance. I never understood Reserve Operation Points very well although I learned enough to get around the battlefield with a reasonable degree of facility.

I look forward to the game. I am excited about it.

[bbriley]

ORIGINAL: Dale H

[snip]

If you ever need anyone to help with a manual I offer my services.

Thanks for the change in the movement allowance. I never understood Reserve Operation Points very well although I learned enough to get around the battlefield with a reasonable degree of facility.

I look forward to the game. I am excited about it.

Unless you can manage your larger Soviet forces at Velikiye Luki than you have been, there is no point to learning yet another game, Comrade General. You are about to be crushed long before you reach the rail line from northern Poland up to Leningrad.

General Hellmut von der Chevallerie
Commander, Kämpfen Sie Gruppe Chevallerie
Reichswehr

[LuckyJim1006]

With regard to Reference Cards and the such like I find a laminator and making a 9 year old daughter feel important is quite a good combination.

[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

Variable areas of operations is quite an intelligent design.  This is the first game I've seen that makes real effort to prevent exploits in the original game design rather than doing damage control with patches.

I hate to disagree with some of the gentlemen posting earlier, but I really like the icon designs in this game series.  That said, the card explaining the icons will be heaps of help.  I'm getting the box version ordered this week.  I don't have a credit card so I'm waiting on my friend to get it done.  I truly hope he gets the order off today.

[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

Okay I finally got a copy of this game.  I want to register all 3 of my Decisive Battle games but don't know how.  I looked under members and it said I have to make a new account but I want to use this one.  So what do I have to do to get my games registered without starting up multiple accounts?

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: SS Hauptsturmfuhrer
So what do I have to do to get my games registered without starting up multiple accounts?

You must log in to you're existing account.

It is different to you're log in for the forums.

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[modrow]

Hi all,

not sure whether this is the right place to ask... I hope someone will answer anyhow.

I am quite interested in this game. Actually, I own Korsun Pocket including across the Dnjepr, Battles in Normandy and Battles in Italy, so this may not come as a surprise.

My "problem" is: I never really got into Battles in Normandy and/or Battles in Italy even though I loved across the Dnjepr (and the Ardennes campaign) and will probably play these games a bit more as soon as I got more playing time available (i.e. hopefully around christmas). Right now, WitP takes every shred I got... and I got too little available time anyway...

Consequently, I am not sure whether I should buy this game. It looks terrific, and a lot of the changes mentioned at the beginning of this thread look promising. But I am a bit afraid that it will mainly collect dust, as unfortunately BiN and BiI do.

Finally my questions:

a) Can anyone out there understand/explain why I like Korsun Pocket + Add on more than the sequels ?
b) Can anyone out there give me a hint that may make me understand/like the more recent games better ? I read occasionally their forums, but did not really find the crucial bit of info...
c) Any ideas whether the changes made for this one will make the game more similar to the older titles mentioned above and thus more fun for me?

Thanks for your input

Hartwig

[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

Joe, should I just enter my email address when it asks for an account name when I register my games?


hartwig.modrow, I will try to answer your questions. I noticed in Korsun that the units are lined up on the frontlines and ready to fight with only short tactical movement necessary while reinforcements are moved up. The whole battle area was not so big so it was fairly easy to manage. Kharkov also has the bulk of units near the front and most are ready to fight which reduces the need for moving large numbers of units long distances with a significant danger of making horrible mistakes.

In Normandy and Italy, the battles are more spread out and a lot of very important strategic decisions must be made before moving units into areas where the fighting will be. Moving units long distances before the fighting starts can be risky and requires careful thought. To enjoy deep strategy, I recommend you put yourself in the boots of a general and get to know your units first. In Italy, there are the weak Italians who will surrender without a fight when opposed, as well as the elite Herman Goering division which can counterattack and cause havoc among the invaders. Think about nice places to defend and counterattack from and then put together some nice kampfgruppe fighting units while using weaker Italian units, stiffened with Germans, to hold key points like mountain passes and river crossings. As the allies, think of your troops and tanks slogging through the cold rain and mud to head up mountains bristling with German defences and then try to grind your way through. Good stuff.

Watching some documentaries like the Discovery Channel Battlefield series (Normandy and Italy/Monte Cassino ones) helps to give you a real feel for the fight that happened. To enjoy these Decisive Battle games, get to know your units is most important because you will know their capabilities and will respect and use them with care, and then enjoy thinking about strategic options and finally test them out on the battlefield. It is good fun to do all of this.

[modrow]

ORIGINAL: SS Hauptsturmfuhrer

Joe, should I just enter my email address when it asks for an account name when I register my games?


hartwig.modrow, I will try to answer your questions. I noticed in Korsun that the units are lined up on the frontlines and ready to fight with only short tactical movement necessary while reinforcements are moved up. The whole battle area was not so big so it was fairly easy to manage. Kharkov also has the bulk of units near the front and most are ready to fight which reduces the need for moving large numbers of units long distances with a significant danger of making horrible mistakes.

In Normandy and Italy, the battles are more spread out and a lot of very important strategic decisions must be made before moving units into areas where the fighting will be. Moving units long distances before the fighting starts can be risky and requires careful thought. To enjoy deep strategy, I recommend you put yourself in the boots of a general and get to know your units first. In Italy, there are the weak Italians who will surrender without a fight when opposed, as well as the elite Herman Goering division which can counterattack and cause havoc among the invaders. Think about nice places to defend and counterattack from and then put together some nice kampfgruppe fighting units while using weaker Italian units, stiffened with Germans, to hold key points like mountain passes and river crossings. As the allies, think of your troops and tanks slogging through the cold rain and mud to head up mountains bristling with German defences and then try to grind your way through. Good stuff.

Watching some documentaries like the Discovery Channel Battlefield series (Normandy and Italy/Monte Cassino ones) helps to give you a real feel for the fight that happened. To enjoy these Decisive Battle games, get to know your units is most important because you will know their capabilities and will respect and use them with care, and then enjoy thinking about strategic options and finally test them out on the battlefield. It is good fun to do all of this.

Hauptsturmfuhrer,

thanks for your views. I think you may in fact have a valid point I did not notice. Specifically in Battles in Italy now that you mention it I do recall that the shuffling of units needed at the start of the scenario was getting a bit on my nerves...

So maybe I will have a look at this myself in December or so. Till then, I think I'll start by reading the new AAR you jsut started...

Thanks

Hartwig

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: SS Hauptsturmfuhrer
I looked under members and it said I have to make a new account but I want to use this one.

What do you mean by "this one" ???

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[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

This account now. No worries, I'll fiddle with it when I get done my current Kharkov battle and AARs.

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: SS Hauptsturmfuhrer

This account now.

"This account now" does not exist. To clarify what I said above:

When you log onto the forums that is one account. But to log onto the members area is a separate account.

They are 2 separate and unrelated accounts

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[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

Okay I'll make an account for registering games. Thanks.