To Plan or not to Plan

[jhdeerslayer]

15 minutes or less for me!

[TheJoat]

Plan? Well, I do...but just remember that no plan survives contact with the enemy!

That's the fun of playing the scenario the first time.

[wodin]

I plan for around 10 to 15 mins. Then hope for the best. SOme scenarios (especially the big ones) I really have no idea and just hope for the best;).

[RedDevil]

Very difficult to answer this question because of the large number of variables
I normally
- study the briefing and the terrain
- my forces including ETA and composition of the reinforcements
- decide the size and position of my reserve (big waste of time because I always end up commit ting every single unit I have got eventually...)
- if attacking select a route to the objectives I want to get (normally a subset) and a (very) rough time plan
- if defending decide the location of my defensive lines and again a very rough time plan for when I want to occupy them
- issue the initial orders
- press the play button

I don't know how long I spend planning really. Sometimes I open a scenario study it and then close the game only to return to it again later when I feel brave enough to start. Somewhere between 30 minutes and one hour is probably a good estimate. [:)]

This quote reported by Chelco is really spot on as far as my gameplay style is concerned.

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Cheers,

RedDevil

[MarkShot]

Interesting question although the answer depends on the scope of the scenario (assuming a first playing) and if I am already familiar with the map or not. Oddly, in some of the larger scenarios, I may actually spend less time planning up front, since much may be dictated by reinforcements and how events unfold. Often the outcome of 24-48 hour scenarios may well be determined before the battle even begins. So, I suppose pre-click GO planning can range from 15-120 minutes.

Another interesting question would also be how much time is devoted to careful and thoughtful analysis of the battle while it is in progress? In my opinion this is just as import and to some extent the harder skill to master ... What to look for? When has a juncture been reached? How broadly should a plan be revised?

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: MarkShot
Another interesting question would also be how much time is devoted to careful and thoughtful analysis of the battle while it is in progress? In my opinion this is just as import and to some extent the harder skill to master ... What to look for? When has a juncture been reached? How broadly should a plan be revised?

Excellent point Mark. Spot on.

[Crimguy]

That's what is great about the Run Until command.  Having it stop at specified intervals forces me to stop and see what's going on.  My gameplay has improved immensely.  I just wish the Run Until command gave you a choice of speeds because the fastest setting chokes my computer, making it difficult to watch.

[jhdeerslayer]

I'm paranoid to use Run Until as I will miss an Airstrike unless I am sitting right in front of the PC. I haven't found a good use for it unless it is night and I can start it and get a cup of coffee and have it stop before dawn.

Curious on how people use it though.

[Crimguy]

The secret to using Run Until, and the reason I want it to have adjustable speeds, is it's forcing you to pause so that you will take a more thorough look at your troops and what they're doing.  I have only on rare occasions left the computer while using the feature.  Rather, I stay at the computer and watch the action, manually pausing if something important happens.

With HTTR I sometimes found myself giving orders on the fly, without pausing and with occasionally disasterous results.  The feature keeps me more organized.