Basic player's guide

[CJM]

Awesome this is! Danke!

[thedoctorking]

This means that you are trying to make attackers use up their MP in slogging through your lines versus trying to have positions strong enough to defeat them outright. So you throw some troops out there who are strong enough to force the enemy's infantry to make a deliberate attack, which will use up most or all of their MP. Then, the next line can soak up many of the armor's MP, if possible at the deliberate attack level as well. Finally, you have a third and even a fourth line that will slow them down enough that their offensive will just create a "bulge".

Then, units that have attacked and moved are limited in their ability to dig in and thus their defense will be low, so they can be counter-attacked in the next turn if you have strong reserves. If you don't, at a minimum they will be low on fuel and supplies and thus on movement points next turn, so you can run away from them or construct another multi-level line in front of them. The attacker ends up wading at an ever-decreasing pace through a swamp of your units.

Until you are finally strong enough to counterattack, and maybe even to pocket him.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

This means that you are trying to make attackers use up their MP in slogging through your lines versus trying to have positions strong enough to defeat them outright. So you throw some troops out there who are strong enough to force the enemy's infantry to make a deliberate attack, which will use up most or all of their MP. Then, the next line can soak up many of the armor's MP, if possible at the deliberate attack level as well. Finally, you have a third and even a fourth line that will slow them down enough that their offensive will just create a "bulge".

Then, units that have attacked and moved are limited in their ability to dig in and thus their defense will be low, so they can be counter-attacked in the next turn if you have strong reserves. If you don't, at a minimum they will be low on fuel and supplies and thus on movement points next turn, so you can run away from them or construct another multi-level line in front of them. The attacker ends up wading at an ever-decreasing pace through a swamp of your units.

Until you are finally strong enough to counterattack, and maybe even to pocket him.

What turns would this encompass that you are doing what you wrote above on?

[thedoctorking]

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

This means that you are trying to make attackers use up their MP in slogging through your lines versus trying to have positions strong enough to defeat them outright. So you throw some troops out there who are strong enough to force the enemy's infantry to make a deliberate attack, which will use up most or all of their MP. Then, the next line can soak up many of the armor's MP, if possible at the deliberate attack level as well. Finally, you have a third and even a fourth line that will slow them down enough that their offensive will just create a "bulge".

Then, units that have attacked and moved are limited in their ability to dig in and thus their defense will be low, so they can be counter-attacked in the next turn if you have strong reserves. If you don't, at a minimum they will be low on fuel and supplies and thus on movement points next turn, so you can run away from them or construct another multi-level line in front of them. The attacker ends up wading at an ever-decreasing pace through a swamp of your units.

Until you are finally strong enough to counterattack, and maybe even to pocket him.

What turns would this encompass that you are doing what you wrote above on?

This mostly applies to Russian defenders in the first year, but could also apply in 1942 once the line is broken. Could also apply to German defenders in 1944/45 though I haven't played that long to try it out. It is not as expensive an approach in terms of manpower as you might think. The weak units that get brushed out of the way often take only a few dozen losses.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

ORIGINAL: thedoctorking

This means that you are trying to make attackers use up their MP in slogging through your lines versus trying to have positions strong enough to defeat them outright. So you throw some troops out there who are strong enough to force the enemy's infantry to make a deliberate attack, which will use up most or all of their MP. Then, the next line can soak up many of the armor's MP, if possible at the deliberate attack level as well. Finally, you have a third and even a fourth line that will slow them down enough that their offensive will just create a "bulge".

Then, units that have attacked and moved are limited in their ability to dig in and thus their defense will be low, so they can be counter-attacked in the next turn if you have strong reserves. If you don't, at a minimum they will be low on fuel and supplies and thus on movement points next turn, so you can run away from them or construct another multi-level line in front of them. The attacker ends up wading at an ever-decreasing pace through a swamp of your units.

Until you are finally strong enough to counterattack, and maybe even to pocket him.

What turns would this encompass that you are doing what you wrote above on?

This mostly applies to Russian defenders in the first year, but could also apply in 1942 once the line is broken. Could also apply to German defenders in 1944/45 though I haven't played that long to try it out. It is not as expensive an approach in terms of manpower as you might think. The weak units that get brushed out of the way often take only a few dozen losses.

Defense in depth is always nice(I have written about it in my AAR's many times) but in 41 the Russian defense in depth is nothing to write home to Mom about. She would probably just end up disappointed about it.

[thedoctorking]

Updated version in the first post to reflect many helpful comments received from experienced players. Hope this helps.

[thedoctorking]

Updated the version in the first post again to include some screen captures that illustrate points I'm making. Hopefully, a more useful resource now.

[Aufklaerungs]

Great Job!

Just one observation. Think about renaming the thread to "Basic Soviet Player's Guide."