Matrix Games Forums

For some of us, at least, this is quite a challenging game. It took me too many tries at 2nd Kharkov but I finally learned how to play reasonably. For those who are finding the going tough like I did and want a few tips (though it is fun to figure out too) here are some:
-- Weather -- this is key but mostly importantly it is random at start of 2nd Kharkov. So reload to get a decent weather situation for your first play.
-- Prepare for Enemy Counterattacks -- place your most resilent units (and specialist step) where the enemy is most likely to try to cut your supply.
-- Understand ZOC and advances -- this is central to an effective offensive. The key concept I didn't realize till I read the manual is that once you you extend the marked "front" there is not enemy ZOC (unlike in many games). This is how you can deep advances.

Others tips?

Protect your supply line at all costs. It is the paramount consideration.

Protect your supply lines when the AI can plunk partisans almost anywhere? Good luck with that!!

I've been commuting all my reserves on turn 1. Good idea?

From what I can tell the partisans cannot directly plop onto a supply line. However once a friendly (to partisans) square is adjacent to your supply it appears they can plop one down (or maybe it takes two partisan friendly squares adjacent). I lot my Case Blue which was going well when this happened. After that I started leaving hungarians about to wipe partisan spots as they occured.

You shouldn't need to buy reserve units to win. I typically use 3 or so specialist steps. These are key. However I am fighting stalingrad and decided to throw the kitchen sink at the situation since it looked darn hard! I may have thrown too much

Partisans are not the problem. You just leave minor allied troops to deal with them behind the lines. They are almost useless against the Russians anyway.
 
The problem is the Russians cutting your supply lines. Don't let it happen.

Another learning tip is restarting a scenario if you have to To do that go to the save folder for game and delete the most recent scenario file.
Of course this is not the intent of the designers. But you'd have to be fairly superhuman perfect to not make some campaign ending mistakes in this game across 8 or 9 scenarios! Well at least I would