Getting a "Decisive Victory"

DanTepX · Post by **DanTepX** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 8:29 am

I played a battle in the WW2 long campaign where I had the enemy routed and fleeing, as well as all the victory points. I'm running the enemy off the map when the game ends with about 10 turns left (I'm pretty sure of this). I think "Oh yea, I whooped their asses!", but then i get a marginal victory!? Is there something I have to do to get a decisive victory? I mean, the game ended early I'm guessing because the enemy gave up, why do I get a marginal victory?

Don · Post by **Don** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 9:07 am

There have been volumes written about this - the AI will give up when it thinks it can not win - therefore you didn't get the points needed for a decisive victory. To keep the AI in the game, let it have a VH and take the rest. Then see if you can maneuver to crush the AI troops and get enough points witout it quitting. I can't remember what the point ratios are that are needed for the different victory levels, but it is in the manual I think. You can also search for posts on this subject.

Resisti · Post by **Resisti** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 4:32 pm

WB stated this in a recent post:

> 6:1 for Decisive victory
> 3:1 for Marginal

this against computer,considering AI is far less clever than any "mean brained" person.

ruxius · Post by **ruxius** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 5:11 pm

(Ciao Fede)
I always thought the end of a battle before the fixed turns should be only a prompt to the player..
"I surrender..do you agree ?" from AI
"No, I will fight you till the end..I want a DECISIVE victory " returns the player ..
"Gasp ! Everybody back to the retreat hex...MOVE IT!!" the AI to all its survivors..

I too leave some flags into the enemy's hands to complete the job when winning a battle
but I have to say we passed from the boring
type of SP1's end where you should destroy ALL the enemy's troops in the battlefield (very boring that desperate search for survivors) to this SPWAW's new one at the opposite...when you are stopped before you can do the encircling ..why stopping a player who wants to go on ?
I think a simple prompt could help the player who doesn't want to go on...and making happy the player who wants to continue..
Trying to pursue the retreating enemy's units could became the interesting final part of a battle...each unit the AI can save into the retreat hex would mean less points for the winner..a new exciting
episode of the battle is coming...
I vote for the prompt...also if we will not give the AI the task of saving its survivors..

Figmo · Post by **Figmo** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 5:21 pm

DanTepX,

If you have too many casualties yourself - even if you wipe out the enemy and capture all the VHs - you won't get Decisive. Every unit of yours destroyed gives the AI points.

Figmo

IKerensky · Post by **IKerensky** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 5:21 pm

Another simple way , and that works just fine with dumb SPWAW AI = follow the double pincer plan . AHve Two fast moving heavy armored forced tush along the northern and southern border then depploy vertically along the second set of victory objectives ( usually getting the lone ennemy HQ near one of them. Then have a slow frontal assault with infantery and MG, and a rolling Fire from ART? This way all the fleeing ennemys go in the amrs of teh armor that proceed to smash them and when you conquer the last of the front hex victory you already have bagged all the ennemie.
Another nice things to help Decisive victory : keep your loses low :p

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 8:32 pm

Ivan has touched upon a neglected point here in fighting the battles. High casualties will hurt you...hurt you a lot.

I think this is accurate. Commanders who suffer high losses to achieve their objectives are usually frowned upon.

This is not always possible, but it should be a priority.

Wild Bill

Resisti · Post by **Resisti** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 1:36 am

Originally posted by Wild Bill:

I think this is accurate. Commanders who suffer high losses to achieve their objectives are usually frowned upon.

Not sure, but I think that's was not exactly Stalin' point of view :rolleyes:

DanTepX · Post by **DanTepX** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 5:08 am

Wow, thanks for the info everyone! Now I know what I must do to at least get a marginal victory! And yes, I don't see how the Russians can even get a marginal victory. Well, I haven't played them yet though...

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 10:02 am

It can be done, but you are right, it isn't easy

Wild Bill