War in the East 2, A Newbie Struggle

[ladner]

So, picked this up over the Steam summer sale. Have watched a ton of videos, finding some are okay, others seem to run to long and are more so a platform for the video maker to monetize views.

Anyhow, have been gradually figuring out manual air-mode. Can get decent first turn strikes off, this is on the Road to Leningrad scenario, but struggling with the 'proper' settings to get air units to follow HQs.

So any advice for an overwhelmed newbie?

[ShaggyHiK]

First you knock out fighters, and only then bombers. Then, in the ground phase, shoot down bombers that have lost cover in the air phase.

[jasonbroomer]

I'm not sure that Shaggy answered your question.

You can use the AI to help but as you are finding out, this creates its own difficulties.

I recommend taking the jump and do the air phase manually. Once you get the hang of it, it is quite quick.

I applaud your efforts to learn the game - they will be rewarded!

[Fraggo5]

As Jasonbroomer says, better to move them manually seeing as you have already bitten the bullet and it is easier to manage than jumping in and out of AI controlled Air .
Section 17.1.4 - 17.1.6 of the Manual details what you originally asked for and details the four stances that the AI movement of air groups entails.
Enjoy

[ladner]

I finally had to read the manual...still struggling though, with other aspects of the game.

Have watched a couple of Matteo Bosso videos, his seem to be most informative. Strategy Dojo is more of a streaming personality/entertainment, also seems to ramble.

I'm having a hard time with rail conversion. I saw in Matteo Bosso's video and have read on the forum about assigning the construction battalions, but having a hard time executing on my own. Likewise with SU management.

So much to learn.

Got cocky after pocket almost all of NW front, only to get stalled at Pskov.

[ladner]

Have figured out how to relocate air groups. But still struggling with proper air force management.

Had fighters brought forward but they failed to escort a ground attack mission, end result two KGs shot up so bad as to be combat ineffective for the rest of the scenario.

Have been learning some painful lessons. I seem to have hard time getting units to maintain their combat value (CV). What is the secret to keeping your CVs up as Axis?

On the Road to Leningrad you definitely have inadequate forces, which makes the scenario a challenge and fun as you race against the clock. I'm knocking on the door of the city and breached the Neva River. But don't think I will be able to pull off storming the city.

Getting the air groups shot up has really hurt since I read on the forum of the importance of committing your bombers during siege warfare.

[Joch1955]

welcome aboard!

just on the issue of ground unit CV. If you check your unit settings, you will probably find that the "Combat Preparation" setting is low. Combat Prep can easily double the CV. You gain CP by not moving/not being in contact with enemy units. Read the section on it in the manual for more info.

[ladner]

There is definitely a lot more to this version of War in the East compared to the first. The panzer ball, headquarters build up made things fairly easy, once you figured it out.

Going to have learn how to pace better. HLYA had a very informative post on his Axis Turn 1 GC with Rovno pocket. I really had been breaking down divisions into regiments, unless forced to cover ground. Figuring out the retreat/route mechanics was interesting, still have a lot to learn.

[therealevan]

There is definitely a lot more to this version of War in the East compared to the first. The panzer ball, headquarters build up made things fairly easy, once you figured it out.

Going to have learn how to pace better. HLYA had a very informative post on his Axis Turn 1 GC with Rovno pocket. I really had been breaking down divisions into regiments, unless forced to cover ground. Figuring out the retreat/route mechanics was interesting, still have a lot to learn.

That's the beauty about the game - the learning never really ends. The seasoned experts still do learning, just in different ways. There are only so many types of openings for the 1941GC - but it is the subsequent years that go on where the real learning begins. The air war is a bit different, its more about the different facets and mechanisms at play that people should learn as letting AI do the air war is not very efficient.

I learned by HYLA several years ago and still have a template I use (provided by him) that gets me about 3k air losses for the soviets on T1 air phase, by the time I complete my ground phase I think it usually gets pushed up to about 3500 or so. Not terrible, not great.

[ladner]

I can better manage the air-force, at least in terms of moving AOGs forward. Still struggling to dominate the air in a meaningful way. Seemed to lose bombers at a staggering rate, but have ensure that they don't fly unescorted. The Soviets seem to just have an endless supply of aircraft and material.

I've switched to the destruction of SW Front scenario. It isn't as complicated as the grand campaign, but is more involved than Road to Leningrad. The game is very unforgiving if you make a mistake. Had my own Uman pocket but a single mech division opened up the pocket, so instead of closing the pocket, had to reestablish it a second time.

Odessa is a serious pain to siege and I may have "broke" 11th Army by not having pioneers and adequate heavy support.

Each turn and move has consequence, which makes this a truly epic game.

[K62_]

DSWF is a great scenario! Get good at it and you'll be ready for the GC in no time.