The Obligatory First Impressions Thread

[gwgardner]

Are you by any chance playing on 'easy' level for the Soviets? I never saw such strength in Soviet units so early in the war, when I played on 'normal.' Perfectly viable way to play, if so, just wondering.

[Greyshaft]

I didn't adjust the difficulty level when I started but from the start of the game I have built only infantry (Level 2 INF corps) plus reinforced/upgraded existing corps. I plan to surround his units and cut them off from supply rather than fight them fairly

[doomtrader]

This is a very good strategy, especially against Panzers, however upgrading your units into corps means that you are immobilize them for couple of turns. So it can turn into victory or total fail.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: Greyshaft

I didn't adjust the difficulty level when I started but from the start of the game I have built only infantry (Level 2 INF corps) plus reinforced/upgraded existing corps. I plan to surround his units and cut them off from supply rather than fight them fairly

If the AI armor does rush too far forward without infantry support, your strategy could work well indeed. Not just AI, if you look at my AAR on Slitherine, I did the same, and lost several Panzer corps.

The AI may need some tweaking to get it to wait for infantry backup before advancing too far.

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Greyshaft

I'm not complaining here ... more like sighing with relief.
Late October 1941 playing as the USSR. Leningrad is holding well and we've cut off two Finnish XX and destroyed them - I did load the Leningrad Front heavily in my favor so I expected to win there. The Axis has lunged for Moscow (which is well defended) with three Armor units - a Corp and two Divisions. As you can see from the screen capture their move had little chance of success. It does raise a question about the quality of AI planning. For the sake of game balance I hope their move is part of a larger plan that I cannot yet see. I will tell you what happens.

What map are you using? I have looked and can't seem to find one that I like any better than the one you are using....

[doomtrader]

It is stylized map mode

[Greyshaft]

The date is 24th November 1941. The 47th Panzer Corp and it's supposed rescuer are now both cut off. Two more Panzer Corps are racing in from the south. My reinforcements for Moscow this turn are six more Level two INF Corps. If I can cut them off the southern Panzers also then I doubt the Germans can free any of them before winter hits. That will be four Panzer Corps and three Panzer Divisions lost because they did not wait for infantry support. Perhaps you might have a quiet word with the AI and tell it not to be so ambitious.

But I do like the game

[JudgeDredd]

I can't help but think, after all these years, that there MUST be a competent AI out there somewhere - waiting to be discovered. These kind of games always highlight major flaws in AI.

Attacking AI is notoriously bad. Really? It's THAT much harder to program an attacking AI than a defending one? I have no idea - hence the question - it's not a leading question...but there must be certain things the attacking AI can check in order to make sure it isn't kamakazi...4 Panzer Corps and 3 Divisions?? [:-]

I admit it's easy for me to sit here in my chair and program my nice little Windows user interface to my database...but attacking AI has been bad for over ever...surely someone has some idea how to make one?

Just sayin'

By the way, I love the graphics sets you have for the game. I almost bought the game just for those alone!

[gwgardner]

It IS that hard, or it would have been done. The variables and quantity of data, and interactions between the data, and terrain, and weather, and ... all are staggering in a game like this.

[doomtrader]

Greyshaft, would you care to share with your losses dealt and taken report?

[sveint]

Looks like it can be an interesting game for PBEM play. But house rules for minor activation is definitively needed - for example activating Sweden as Germany is extremely easy, something that would never have happened historically.

[Greyshaft]

Judge Dredd ... I haven't killed the two northern Panzer Corps yet and I don't know if I will succeed in surrounding the southern pair. They might retreat before I get there.

[JJKettunen]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I can't help but think, after all these years, that there MUST be a competent AI out there somewhere - waiting to be discovered. These kind of games always highlight major flaws in AI.

You should check the modded AI of Revolution Under Siege (Fatal Years Mod). Best I ever seen and played against.

[doomtrader]

Looks like Soviets are loosing 10 times more soldiers.

You should also remember that Soviet infantry is extremely cheap.

[Greyshaft]

ORIGINAL: doomtrader
Looks like Soviets are loosing 10 times more soldiers.

So I'm using the Stalin strategy ... as long as it keeps the Germans out of Moscow and Leningrad then who cares? Note that my air losses are quite small. I have made strenuous efforts to save my air force and to build lots of infantry. I plan to surround his ARM to cut them off from supply and then weaken them with my air units. After that I send in the INF to finish the job.

Here is the Leningrad front to complete the picture.

[doomtrader]

Looks like the Germans are going to have hard time with you

[Greyshaft]

For the record I don't consider this as a bug in the game. I am using a strategy with plenty of historical precedent (eg Stalin in 1941, Napoleon in the 1814 Campaign) and my success here is built on the work of those who learned the hard way that when you are facing a superior force then mobility is your best asset. Having said that, I'm sure you will look at making the AI aware of how to combat this strategy.

(OK... Stalin also had General Winter to help him ... but my point here is that standing and fighting against a Juggernaut just doesn't work.)

[Greyshaft]

To lose one pair of Panzer Corps, Mr. Hitler, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness...

[Greyshaft]

Minor peeve... I had the "Fortify Moscow" event and I took the 500PP but since I still had 2PP left over from the previous turns expenditure I then had the Corruption Penalty for having more than 500PP in the bank and I immediately lost 60PP before I had the chance to spend it. I suggest ensuring that both events can't occur on the same turn.

[rodney727]

I just want to say that this is a great game, I enjoy it. My only problem is you have this game and Panzer corps, I don't have much spare time.