Staying Alive

[Big-J-Q]

Hello,

I'm a total newbie in SP, and I've just been trying out a few tutorials so far.

As in real life, you (usually!) want to stay alive. How do you accomplish that in SP? I'm really unexperienced, and have been trying the flanking tutorial. I'm able to win the scenario (with rout/rally and my tank toughness turned to 150%), but always with terrible losses.

1) If I'm supposed to attack my enemies, what'd be the best way? If I want to have my men stay alive? Is there a way of attacking enemy tanks so that when I get them in sight they won't shoot me first?

2) In the flanking tutorial one of the enemy tanks were in cover. How do I attain "cover"-status? Is there a good way of using the terrain so that it doesn't hinder my sight?

Please, bare my stupid questions, which of course have simple answers I somehow failed to miss.

[CatLord]

First infantry are hard to spot if it advances carefully (1 hex a turn only).

Second, to advance APC safely, use smoke.
Lot's of smoke...

Cat

[gnoccop]

Originally posted by Big-J-Q
Hello,

I'm a total newbie in SP, and I've just been trying out a few tutorials so far.

As in real life, you (usually!) want to stay alive. How do you accomplish that in SP? I'm really unexperienced, and have been trying the flanking tutorial. I'm able to win the scenario (with rout/rally and my tank toughness turned to 150%), but always with terrible losses.

1) If I'm supposed to attack my enemies, what'd be the best way? If I want to have my men stay alive? Is there a way of attacking enemy tanks so that when I get them in sight they won't shoot me first?

2) In the flanking tutorial one of the enemy tanks were in cover. How do I attain "cover"-status? Is there a good way of using the terrain so that it doesn't hinder my sight?

Please, bare my stupid questions, which of course have simple answers I somehow failed to miss.

Download and read this document:
http://www.tankhead.ca/SPWaW/Downloads/TG4.zip

It's a wonderfull Tactics Guide wrote with SPWAW in mind!

[Orzel Bialy]

1. Recon units to scout ahead.
2. Smoke, smoke, smoke and then....more smoke
3. Use infantry to go in ahead of tanks where the terrain is non-friendly...like woods, towns and rough terrain.
4. Keep a reserve to counter-attack with...never throw in all your units at once.
5. Always have some form of Arty Spotter with you to call in strikes quicker and with better effect!

That's just some basics...probably ones you're aware of, but sometimes people forget scouts/recon and arty spotters....and they are essential to finding the enemy and hitting him first!

[Big-J-Q]

No, I'm not aware of basics... Although I'm becoming "awarer" each passing moment When I said I'm a total newbie I really meant it! I've tried playing SP 7 years ago with little success. I rarely play strategy-games (because they really are boring action-clicking games), so I'm not quite used to them. The only strategy games I've played are Civilization and Master of Orion/Magic, and the reason I have survived to win in each game is that I've been staying out of war; A tactic that is quite "difficult" to apply in SP

I haven't even played all the tutorials yet... The reason I'm whining here so soon is that I was getting beat up in the first tutorials. Marginal Victory doesn't sound so good, let alone crushing defeat.

Oh and btw, is there a real engineering-tutorial for v7.1? The tutorial in the manual doesn't feel quite right. Or am I missing something now?

Oh yes and thanks for the advice given so far. The tactics guide will most likely be quite helpful when I get things going. Oh why there has to be a real life with all its hurries...

[Irinami]

Okay Big J-Q, here's what I tell everyone--because it's what taught me.

Wild Bill's Tanks at Munda Thread

Yep, good old Wild Bill taught me combined arms. You see, Big J-Q, I can tell you:

"Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Just because your tanks can race forward 36 hexes doesn't mean you should. Just because you can bring 4 MG squads, 2 tanks, and 14 Squads to bear on a bunker doesn't mean you should. Sometimes all it takes is a single smoke barrage on the bunker and a shot-up-all-to-hell engineer squad to take it out. Sometimes your tanks should be roaring across the countryside--and sometimes they should use their mobility to get into place and then settle in, like rolling pillboxes."

Sure, I can tell you that. But unless you learn it in action, it won't be nearly as useful. Play the Munda campaign. Take the units suggested and with your left-over points buy some scouts (so you learn how they work). Most of all, relax. You'll get across that field... you can get across it in one turn and lose a tank and a squad or three, or take four turns and not lose a single man.

Hope I'm not coming across as harsh--I mean to sound more like the voice of hope. There is hope... I too once thought that a battle always meant a sizeable number of your tanks burning on the battlefield.

[Capt. Pixel]

This is probably your single best source of tactical and strategic information. There are threads in the Training sub-forum that can help just about anybody on any subject. Post your question, and you'll almost always have a slew of answers within 24 hours.

SPW@W isn't really a bang-bang-shoot-em-up game so much as really fancy chess. (With my slow reflexes and lack of ambithumbdexterity, this suites me well. )

Take your time, work out the best Combined arms strategy for the situation and apply your tactics. Experience (lots of play) is the best teacher.

And, as Irinami said - Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. (In the examples he cited, you probably shouldn't anyway. )

Good gaming and perhaps we'll meet on the battlefield.

[Code Talker]

I have also found this useful:

http://www.ibiblio.org/sinner/Steel/tactic_index.html

[Big-J-Q]

Well, thanks to everyone who has replied so far... It'll take (much) time to become a winner, but what's the hurry...

Oh, how do I install a scenario? I tried to try the munda-campaign Irinami recommended, but...how?! I unzipped it to the SCEN-directory, but it doesn't show up on (any) list?

Would you kindly recommend any other (preferably beginner-level) scenarios? or campaigns?

[Toontje]

Try the campaigns directory, maybe?

[Big-J-Q]

... or I could try the campaign-directory, how's that sound?

(d'oh )

[chief]

I have a sneaking suspicion that might work.:rolleyes: