guide to tactics

[MrDave]

Hi. I've had AB since it came out. Just now taking the time to understand the basics of the game. I'm a long time wargamer going back to Steel Panther days.

I've still have not come close to getting a handle on tactics. I'm beginning to think that I probably should have served in the Armed Forces and gone to the war college. I'm a little too old to go now.

This game seems to demand at least a rudimentary understanding of mechanized and armor tactics that I just don't have. Other games I've played don't seem to require this.

I'm beginning to learn to use scouts. They still die though. For example, when should the infantry dismount in an advance? How do you learn where to place the troops?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

[Perturabo]

IIRC almost everything I learned about tactics was Close Combat Marines workbook XD . I bought a few Field Manuals but never got to actually read them.
Also, about Soviet tactics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z934vdTbbXw

[22sec]

AB captures the lethality of modern warfare.It does force one to try and employ tactics using terrain, covered avenues of approaches, and most importantly plan the fight before the fight begins. I will say vehicle based recon units are going to die. The recon/counter-recon fight is something that is difficult for those in military service, and takes a special skill and understanding. Dismounting infantry is also a good way to get infantry killed enmasse quickly. Much like the recon fight, you need to plan ahead of time. Advancing dismounted infantry need to use cover and terrain while they advance, then ideally you place them in a position to which assault their objective. When you assault an objective you need part of your elements to be in an overwatch position to lay down suppressing fire while the other element assaults the objective.

[$trummer]

Here are some general principles that work well in AB. The fact that they are also sound real-life principles for maneuver warfare speaks highly of the game, IMO.

- "Prepare" the battlefield by looking very carefully at all lines of sight (LOS) and elevated terrain for tactical purposes. Plan to move your units using cover where possible and avoid crossing open terrain except under well-placed overwatch with effective LOS. Look at chokepoints, kill-sacks and avenues of likely enemy approach to the objectives, placing TRPs accordingly.

- Recon can be very effective in this game and it doesn't always have to be "by death". Move scouts using cover movement orders, always place them in cover and check LOS in advance; no point putting them in good cover if they won't be able to see a thing. Don't forget to set SOP for scouts that prevents engagement with spotted units.

- Leverage your tanks' range by placing them at the limits of their effective range and in cover, defiladed with any luck and with good (pre-prepared) LOS. Ditto any ATGMs, which are real force-multipliers but are thin-skinned. Plan for good coverage via widely-dispersed overwatch.

- Always try and "fix" spotted enemies by anticipating and then maneuvering your forces for intersecting lines of fire. Frontal, attritional combat is a World War I meat-grinder and should be avoided with flanking actions wherever possible.

- Artillery and air are much more effective when they can be timed to coincide with direct fires. Calling air or indirect fire on a moving target and/or one that is not being engaged by direct fires is a waste of valuable resources.

- Always set vehicles to dismount their infantry when under fire.

- Move infantry in cover whenever possible, even if this is a longer route.

- Always keep a reserve; never commit your entire force from the outset.

- As hard as it is to write those letters to grieving families, do not reinforce failure, that's another meat-grinder.

- Once in contact with enemy units, maintain contact and maneuver on them rather than let them go to ground. Even in a lull when you have the upper hand, keep the pressure up.

Hope this helps.

[wodin]

Who'd be a Scout??!!

Actually who'd want to be a soldier with my in command. For some reason I can't get a handle on AB at all. I get wasted badly every time.

Anyone recommend a good easy starter scenario or two?

[altipueri]

Me too Wodin.

Maybe I'm stuck in WW2 where a bazooka has a hundred yard range and I have no idea that an anti-tank guided missile can kill my tanks from miles away.

And I think thermal imaging is cheating. If I'm behind a brick wall you can't see me. Can you?

[wodin]

ORIGINAL: altipueri

Me too Wodin.

Maybe I'm stuck in WW2 where a bazooka has a hundred yard range and I have no idea that an anti-tank guided missile can kill my tanks from miles away.

And I think thermal imaging is cheating. If I'm behind a brick wall you can't see me. Can you?

Shame isn't it...I just can't enjoy it. Maybe if Infantry where more hardy and useful that would help loads.

[MikeBrough]

ORIGINAL: wodin

ORIGINAL: altipueri

Me too Wodin.

Maybe I'm stuck in WW2 where a bazooka has a hundred yard range and I have no idea that an anti-tank guided missile can kill my tanks from miles away.

And I think thermal imaging is cheating. If I'm behind a brick wall you can't see me. Can you?

Shame isn't it...I just can't enjoy it. Maybe if Infantry where more hardy and useful that would help loads.

Agreed. I think it would make a much better WW2 game than it does a modern war game.

[Perturabo]

ORIGINAL: MikeBrough

ORIGINAL: wodin

ORIGINAL: altipueri

Me too Wodin.

Maybe I'm stuck in WW2 where a bazooka has a hundred yard range and I have no idea that an anti-tank guided missile can kill my tanks from miles away.

And I think thermal imaging is cheating. If I'm behind a brick wall you can't see me. Can you?

Shame isn't it...I just can't enjoy it. Maybe if Infantry where more hardy and useful that would help loads.

Agreed. I think it would make a much better WW2 game than it does a modern war game.

Have you tried playing battles in the 60s? That's when they still haven't got the ATGMs quite right.