New COI Player Needs help

[bernadotte]

Hi everyone,
As a new COI player I tried to play the full campaign as the Russians defending the motherland. IO only have 45 points to select my forces from but I always seem to get whupped. If I pick all infantry and maybe a machine gun as support ,the Germans come with a tank + mortars and hammer me. If I try for armor, I think I only have an Armored car to choose from?

Either way, I soon get overrun, or end up with virtually notrhing alive. I have used a small AT squad as well to counter any German armor but they dont last long.

Any suggestions?

Bernadotte

[vonB]

It's donkey's years since I played the Classic CCIII Grand Campaign as Russians, but to start with you are going to have a very hard time. Although you cannot say that the game is totally realistic, in many respects it is. When the Germans laucnhed the Blitzkrieg in 1941, the Russians were overwhelmed by German tactics. Even if the Russians did outnumber the Germans in simple man/tank ratios, the Germans ensured that they had local superiority in numbers or firepower. Combined with the poor quality of the Russian troops in terms of training, command, and experience, (remember, the Germans were already battle hardened after Poland and France), the Russians quickly crumbled in huge numbers.

When you start the GC as RUssians, you are really up against it. Remember you are in this for the long haul (you have got until 1945 to see through!). So adjust your expectation and tactics accordingly. If a battle is unwinnable, don't just stand around and get massacred, but fall back. There's a couple of approaches you can take. Think of it as a rearguard action. Delay the enemy, inflict as much damage as you can without trashing your own battle group, and fall back ('Flee'). You can then pick up the action on the next Battle.

If you find that you are able to bring the German attack to a standstill, then you can try for a 'Truce'. You will then pick up the Battle where you left off, but with the benefit of some extra requisition points (but then so will the Germans!...).

German tanks and your morale are going to be some of your biggest problems to start with. Your infantry have poor tank killing capabilities, so don't even try. Just the sniff of Panzer Diesel can get your troops running away. Although your Tanks will be better on the whole (T34/KV1 when you can get them) and can certainly take on the German tanks Head to head, you are going to have to use Anti Tank guns in the beginning. How you site them and use them I will leave to you for now (all part of the learning experience!), but they are effective.

Don't dissipate your forces. Have Command Team(s) always in touch. Let the German tanks come on to your AT Guns and keep your infantry away from their tanks as best you can. As you go along, you will start to pick up what works and what doesn't, but in any event, in the beginning, it will be a bit grim anyway.

Also keep in mind that this is a simulator, and models real life combat quite well. There are no 'magic bullets' or 'get out of jail free' cars to play. Sometimes you will get hammered, so cut your losses and make the best of it. As you progress, you are going to get some very tasty piece of equipment as they become available (historically) if you have enough points, and you will find there will be at times. Have patience, persevere, and your time will come. Trying to 'fight to the death' will likely only see your units fleeing in rout (and some of your units will at times).

In the latter stages of the Campagin, your equipemtn will be every bit as good as the Germans, and you will be able to give them a good pasting! Make up for the misery in the early stages... [:)]

[Dundradal]

I recommend also fleeing the battlefield. Sometimes giving ground will pay you handsomely in req points.

And like Von said...let the Germans come to you. Try to set traps at choke points to cause some damage then flee the battlefield (either by hitting the button or actually withdrawing your forces by telling them to exit map)

[bernadotte]

Von B + Dundradal,

Thanks for the quick replies, appreciated. I will now keep in mind that the Russian forces are pretty poor at the GC start, and that fleeing isnt a bad thing. I will persevere.


Thanks for the advice guys.....appreciated.

bernadotte

[CSO_Talorgan]

ORIGINAL: bernadotte

fleeing isnt a bad thing

He who fights and runs away ... and all that! [:)]