Where did I go wrong?

[davbaker]

Hi,
First real game after playing some of the short Scenarios.
Soviet vs Axis AI @ 110 Morale. Having fun, AI seems pretty pushy and keeps newb me on my toes.
Thats until I mess up Crimea and the Rostov Don line, not enough units and AI just blows through me.
Not a problem I think just pull back and try consolidate. The only issue is that the AI just keeps relentlessly advancing.
It just blows through & around me, again and again. It doesnt seem affected by fatigue or supplies.

Image shows situation on T63 after I swapped sides to see what's going on. The yellow highlighted units are mine after my last turn (roughly), the rest are what the Soviet AI pulled and re-deployed by magic on the turn before it swapped so ignore.
Most the German units have 25-50ish fatigue, a lot have full supplies.

A few questions:

Is this just an 'AI Thing' that they ignore player constraints and are able to constantly advance?
I didnt seem to have that problem initially, sure there were rapid advances, but then pauses, this was relentless.

Any tips on how to handle the defense around Rostov and also the Crimea.

Does anyone break down Soviet Divisions to Regiments like German AI loves to do? I figure the Divisions are so weak that its a waste of time.
Should I have been building Soviet Divisions constantly up to the CAP? I seemed to be doing ok initially so went quite slowly building new.


Thanks in advance for any advice.

Dave

[jsqdcsq]

Stalin: That's exactly how I felt in 42 summer.

[Nix77]

Soviet divisions can't be split to regiments. You really don't need to build that many extra divisions, at least early on when they cost 8AP. Use the APs to replace bad leaders and building corps once you can. Build the corps from your best units, and try to have them as guards when possible.

Some points:

- Try to delay the Germans, use terrain to your advantage.
- Avoid direct confrontations unless necessary, make the Germans pay MPs to reach and attack your line
- Gradually concentrate on quality over quantity: draw low ToE/morale units to reserve, and limit their ToE at first while they build up morale. Avoid using weak units in the front
- Refit your units selectively on depots to get reinforcements and build CPP
- You can boost freshly arrived units supply with airdrops in critical areas. Always keep a few good divisions in reserve to be able to bolster selected areas

There's a whole lot more, but this might help you out for starters

[carlkay58]

Yes the AI is able to maintain an offensive for much longer than a human player can as it has some bonuses (110% of logistics, etc) and the ability to teleport which gives it the ability to swap unit locations every ground phase. This allows the AI to maintain offensives in areas which are supply-deficient as the low supply units get swapped with high supply units each turn. It is part of the difficulty and making the AI a strong opponent.

[ast95]

It doesnt seem affected by fatigue or supplies.

It is really easy to make enemy AI logistics nightmare by airforce. Just bomb out railway capacity in key areas out of LW fighters reach. Never use air in direct clashes, losses ratio will be far out of reason. Don't use night bombing, it is broken, you'll never get any results.

I am currently in early 43 in my first game with AI morale=100, and things are going to end already. Romania surrendered in JAN 43, my best Inf corpses are about 50 strength, I have 3 large pockets of hopeless nazies. And this was done in 1 month by counteroffence, they got two breakthroughs if first turn after mud, pushed beyond line mobile forces in numbers, and got them out of supplies next turn by airforce. With flanks completely wiped out. All AI front collapsed.

AI is dumb, even dumbier than Hitler. I know that morale=110 is a diffrent game, but I'm going to finish this game as it is. I've made some terrible errors, like 2500 AC lost in a turn (not first turn), so my current result is far from perfect.

Supllies is a key. Don't try to defeat Axis in "frontal battle", it is impossible. Well, possible, but in 44-45, not in 42-43. Find a way to cut thier supply, even for just 1 turn. Sacrifice some mobile divs if needed. Consolidate reserves. Plan ahead for 1-2 turns, more seems impossible by game mechanics. Hit where line weak, try to exploit gaps for limits. AI just can't handle such crisis proper.

[Bamilus]

You really need to play against Axis AI at 120 morale minimum. And most likely give yourself penalties too (90 or 95). AI is always much worse on offensive.

[carlkay58]

I would strongly advise against the 120 Morale level. At that level the AI gets lots of new tools to beat you up. Until you have mastered the Axis Ai at 115 I would not go higher than that.

[Bamilus]

ORIGINAL: carlkay58

I would strongly advise against the 120 Morale level. At that level the AI gets lots of new tools to beat you up. Until you have mastered the Axis Ai at 115 I would not go higher than that.

That's fair. But I think 110 Axis AI would be the starting point, not 100. They just need it because on the attack you have to be more strategic and AI will always lag in strategic thinking versus tactical/operational reactions, which are much more common on defense. For playing Soviet AI you can start with 100 morale until you get more comfortable.

[carlkay58]

Axis at 110 is agreeable. But you open up a whole new can of worms at 120 believe me. You should hear some of the horror stories from the playtesters about Axis 120 in 41.

[davbaker]

Thanks for the tips.

Started again @ 110 Morale, still surprised by how fast and agressive AI goes for Stalingrad, but I seem to have things under control a little better this game.
Whats the consensus on the City Forts and Fortified zones as speed bumps in strategic locations?

[carlkay58]

Fort units deployed behind your front lines help you get to fort level 3. Once you occupy the hex with another unit disband the fort as you have a strict limit and it can help you construct another level 3 fort elsewhere.

City Forts are worthless once they are isolated. So you have to be careful using them where they may easily be isolated. This makes them very restricted in how you deploy them. Do not expect them to create hero cities for you while your front line falls back and is trying to fortify. But they can be very noteworthy if they have good flank or naval support.