Coming back after long absence, did turn 1 Riga change?

[actrade]

I used to easily take it on turn 1 by using 18A to bust and hole and move as far north as possible along the rail line to RIga, then have 4PG move up and use the motorized infantry to take it. Now, I'm having trouble taking it as my motorized infantry won't cross the river and attack from the east (out of MP) and I really don't want to use my armor. Just wondering if something changed from the earlier days or maybe I'm just slipping lol.

[Wiedrock]

Nothing rly changed.

[...] by using 18A to bust and hole and move as far north as possible along the rail line to RIga [...]

You need to make sure to avoid combat delay (there are special T1 rules for Hasty attack's combat delay).

[...] then have 4PG move up and use the motorized infantry to take it. Now, I'm having trouble taking it as my motorized infantry won't cross the river and attack from the east (out of MP) [...]

Also make sure you do not waste MP by losing Admin movement bonuses, see the white marked hexes here which may be some of the ones of concern depending on which path you take.
If you move into an enemy ZOC, there is no admin movement anymore, so you pay mroe MP (when the Hex cost mroe than 1 MP to begin with - like River crossings cost more, Heavy Woods, bad ground weather and so on...). You can compare the 3 pic's MP per Hex.

long path.PNG (139.84 KiB) Viewed 238 times

direct path.PNG (142.4 KiB) Viewed 238 times

[actrade]

Ok, I get the turn 1 special rules regarding no ZOC basically north and west of Minsk. However, I'm not sure I understand the 3 circled white hexes signficance that you referenced?

[Wiedrock]

Ok, I get the turn 1 special rules regarding no ZOC basically north and west of Minsk. However, I'm not sure I understand the 3 circled white hexes signficance that you referenced?

Your issue are missing MP wiht your MOT Divisions. I just wanted to show you how you can easily lose MP without even knowing.
I have shown you some example before.
Incidentially I have marked exaclty the 2 MOT Divisions of relevance (being in 4th Pz. Group) in my Map.
You have to see the left path and the left 2 white circles, they go together.
And the right line with the right 2 circles.
If you want to take the two paths shown (which are some of the shortest routes), you have to empty/kick back the enemy units in those Hexes bfore moving your MOT units along those routes so you save MP by allowing your MOT Divisions to benefit from Adminitstrative Movement/Admin Movement (search the manual for the term).


EDIT: You obv. also need to beat the first enemy Units the lines cross through...and due to T1 special rules, those combats then need to be Hasty attacks ending with 10:1 and better final Odds to avoid combat delay.