Luck or stupid AI?

[NotOneStepBack]

In the center it is slow going and I might be able to get Smolensk, but Moscow is looking improbable. It probably doesn't matter I may just hold Lgrad.

Center:

[NotOneStepBack]

Still fluid a little bit in the south and the Romanians are pushing. I'm about to stage a breakthrough to Kursk hopefully.

South:

[NotOneStepBack]

I posted the current save file in the AAR thread if you wanna see

[zakblood]

i see some yellow in supply, how you going for PP's?




with looking at you're relationships with some of the commanders of certain part of the game, you have managed to get further and do more, with a worst relationship, which would have given you a negative score with less help as well so is even more of a achievhement imo[&o][&o][&o]

i'm so very impressed and also embarrassed to say it, you win me hands down and i shouldn't be offering you advice, it should be the other way around [X(][&o][&o][&o]

[zakblood]

ORIGINAL: NotOneStepBack

I posted the current save file in the AAR thread if you wanna see

ok ty, will have a look now[&o]




when the game is done, you get a pdf to print out, it lists everything, this is a basic one for now updated each turn, the full one at end of play will show you where and what you did in the whole campaign, with it you can learn where you went right, and also where you went or if you did wrong, then improve the way you play if needed, please keep the copy and if you like share it[&o][&o][&o]

as it will be a great way for others to see how well someone else is doing and how they did it also, then for you, for added replay ability you can alter the game slightly and have another go with a different challenge, and see how that impacts you're distances and relationships and also the ability to get the missions and objectives done[&o]

from this document, to get a better civil and ethics score higher will help in the overall promotion prospects box, which doesn't matter, as score is just for personal gains / means etc, and matters litter if you get the objectives and win...

[NotOneStepBack]

ORIGINAL: zakblood

i see some yellow in supply, how you going for PP's?




with looking at you're relationships with some of the commanders of certain part of the game, you have managed to get further and do more, with a worst relationship, which would have given you a negative score with less help as well so is even more of a achievhement imo[&o][&o][&o]

i'm so very impressed and also embarrassed to say it, you win me hands down and i shouldn't be offering you advice, it should be the other way around [X(][&o][&o][&o]

Pretty good on PP's. If you support the fuhrer you get a much easier life in general. Now that AGN is basically on defensive mode and it is still September I'm trying to redirect all resources I can south. I don't care what von leeb thinks now, I will improve relations with von rundstedt.

[zakblood]

last one as you know more than me with your play style anyway but will help others understand the game more




having the 3 negative scores with 3 commanders gives a - on some scores in the game, but it doesn't seem to have impacted you that much so far[&o]

but with a better management helped you even more, not that you need it, just saying, as i couldn't have done what you have either so will just sit back and watch and learn for the master[&o][&o][&o]

[NotOneStepBack]

Like I said though, I'm quite inexperienced with this game, I just know the east front from prior games. I'm pushing it as much as I can. My panzers are starting to sputter out, but it is what it is. I haven't read the manual yet, but hopefully I can get a better understanding of logstics from it later.

[zakblood]

looks like you don't need it, you seem to be doing better than most if not all the testers so far, with much better results, so keep going and maybe you will be writing your own manual on how to play the game for the rest of us to read, as you are doing very well, hope it continues for you, but also glad you are enjoying it as well which is always good to hear[;)]

my only piece of advice is watch the centre, if that front falls, it brings down everything as the flanks of both AGN and south will be wide open, and i'm sure the depth of the Russian bear is waiting in the centre for you, protection Moscow as it seems to have chosen that over Leningrad, when the bear turns east, game turns a lot harder quicker, if it's in mud or snow for that matter, they can move a lot faster and further than you can, so the table gets turned[&o]

[Franciscus]

...
Not very impressed, I am afraid...

It seems that:
- as far as RPG goes, it seems that all you have to do is keep Hitler happy, following his directives. What your generals in the field think of you does not seem that relevant (just chrome ?)
- as to the real wargame, you play a grinding game with AGC, and can be reckless in the North and South. The AI seems not that good - was it not possible to cut off the germans in Leningrad ?

Replayability does not seem that great either, unless you're interested in the RPG "game" (note: I do like good RPG games!)

Still waiting on the fence, following with interest "real-life" experiences like this one. Let's see what the Russians are still able to do...

Thanks for posting

[zakblood]

...
Not very impressed, I am afraid...

It seems that:
- as far as RPG goes, it seems that all you have to do is keep Hitler happy, following his directives. What your generals in the field think of you does not seem that relevant (just chrome ?)
- as to the real wargame, you play a grinding game with AGC, and can be reckless in the North and South. The AI seems not that good - was it not possible to cut off the germans in Leningrad ?

Replayability does not seem that great either, unless you're interested in the RPG "game" (note: I do like good RPG games!)

Still waiting on the fence, following with interest "real-life" experiences like this one. Let's see what the Russians are still able to do...

i can answer some of these points if you like, or wait for Vic to reply even...

as far as RPG goes, it seems that all you have to do is keep Hitler happy, following his directives.

in some ways you can't keep a madman happy, you try, but as we will or can find out, he tends to change his mind and goals alot of the time, depending on the settings you have chosen at the start.

What your generals in the field think of you does not seem that relevant

on easy, which is normal mode with all setting off, except FOW, no not really, some slight bonuses are lost, but nothing major, ramp up the difficulty slider and your in for a different game tbh.

you play a grinding game with AGC, and can be reckless in the North and South

up to a point, it follow the real war, so if that's how you see it played in one campaign, that's also fine and true, but not all either.

The AI seems not that good

i hope not also, easy or normal mode is for learning the game, if it was any different, how would anyone learn? a true test is alter it, as you will or may see later on when others play on different settings, which different options chosen, each level is different regarding what the AI will and can do.

was it not possible to cut off the germans in Leningrad

yes quite easy to tbh, but not in all games, on all levels of difficulty, with the fins out, it's harder, but i'm sure if the player on display here now replayed today, he would learn from this and keep them in the war next time for extra help regarding Leningrad.

glad to see any interest and opinions either way, ask any questions you like, someone will always answer, if me sometimes i even get some answer right, but i don't always so can be corrected when wrong[;)]

edited typo again lol[:D]


tm.asp?m=3976280&mpage=1&key=&#3976298

above is a basic guide to difficulty levels in the game and reasons why each ones are different, while some offer a slight advantage to one side or the other, some are more than than others, with the main difficulty slider being set on 5 levels of ability, everyone atm is playing on normal, unless they have mastered the game or are finding it too easy, which can be easily altered to make more of a challenge to suit any ability, even one as poor as mine even[:D][;)]

[stonestriker]

Well, if Notonestepback has gone with Hitler, then he will probably change his mind soon, so September 1st he will be summonsed to a conference where Hitler will tell that Rostov is the key to winning the war. November 1st he can again change his mind regarding the final objective, and then he needs to keep it through the winter.

He seems to be playing very well, but some amount of luck might have been involved in that no garrisons might have spawned in Riga, Talinn or Leningrad (however, I do not know this).

As Zakblood writes, you do not want to piss off anyone TOO much as they all have the capacity to make your life miserable. If AGN is well-entrenched, sure you can ignore Leeb for the time, but once the counter-attacks starts, you are going to suffer command penalties which will make it harder to react.

[demyansk]

Interesting post on the game. That one SS unit in the north, one push and it's cut off. Good job playing the game and I am sure the AI will do something different next time.

[Vic]

@notonestepback

Thanks for sharing. Always looking out for new player strategies.

It might have been luck, but I am sure the AI could always be improved as well. I PM-ed you to ask for a savefile. It would help me analyze and probably improve the AI a bit.

Furthermore the Soviet AI does play differently each time. It might be more or less prone to retreat on each playthrough. Also it might have emphasised its reinf. armies on a different theatre, like center or south.

Anyway thanks for sharing. I love reading these kinds of posts.

Best wishes,
Vic

[etsadler]

On the face of it I could say that, yes, the SU could have done more aggressively against AGN. But, is that because they "should" or because we know that in the game displayed that Leningrad is the "objective"? If the SU has chosen "Defend Moscow" as their objective, then it would make a lot of sense that they wouldn't be overly concerned about Leningrad. After all, it doesn't really lead to anywhere else, the German forces there look pretty bottled up, etc.

However, I think it is fair to ask, should the SU be on the lookout for overextended German forces that can be strategically cut off? I think that should be yes, and this looks like a likely target, but the SU doesn't have endless troops (as much as it might seem like it) so where does anyone suggest they take troops from to make the cut off and assault on AGN?

[NotOneStepBack]

I e-mailed you the save Vic. I originally made this post because I was wondering if the AI was off...

[zakblood]

Vic will reply regarding his points on the save, for me it's (AI) playing well for level / difficulty selected, a few other parts ticked, and it may have been a different story, as you will (and us if you post it) when you start your next epic struggle in the east, on new settings, for me i wouldn't jump right in and alter too many, as the AI gets very keen on some, so the challenge can be high, so move a odd one and replay and see what you think, and leave feedback and comments then, look forward to a end game mind you on the one your on[;)]

would love tbh a jump to uber hard level then see how it plays, i don't have your skill level to do it justice either, as when i try it i get slaughtered too soon and don't make in anywhere near your depth into the east[&o][&o][&o]

[NotOneStepBack]

I'm a bit concerned though that the best path might be to do whatever Hitler wants in the decisions to get the PP's and then do what you want at the expense of your subordinates, and it might not matter.

[Queeg]

ORIGINAL: NotOneStepBack

I'm a bit concerned though that the best path might be to do whatever Hitler wants in the decisions to get the PP's and then do what you want at the expense of your subordinates, and it might not matter.

But Hitler often changes his mind. Let's see how his game ends.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: NotOneStepBack

I'm a bit concerned though that the best path might be to do whatever Hitler wants in the decisions to get the PP's and then do what you want at the expense of your subordinates, and it might not matter.

The effect of Hitler is primarily 1) the amount of PPs given each turn, 2) the effect of his desires on PP cost calculations for the decisions.

Maintaining a good relationship with subordinates is critical. Example, poor relations with the theater commanders disallows bonuses for combat; another example, bad relations with Gercke and Wagner leads to slower truck and rail repair and train scheduling, etc.