What's Important?

[Rundstedt]

Hi guys, I've recently downloaded "WIR" and read through the attached manual, but I wonder if you people could give me some valuable tips on how to manage my forces and conduct offensive/defensive actions, gaining the best results?

I've noticed that it is costly (I lose readiness) to transfer divisions between different corps during the game. This limits my possiblities to move units from one sector of the front to another, within reasonable time. Is it possible to shift forces in different directions if I want to?

How should I manage my divisions? How often should I replace my tank units with better tanks? I guess I can't do this all the time, since they lose readiness quickly?

Is it really healthy to have the replacement of my HQ'a set to only 50%?

What is the best way to rebuild and refit weakened divisions during the game? Should I do as Germans did during the war? To transfer damaged units to France before 1944?

All useful tips and information is much appreciated, regards Rundstedt

[Josans]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
Hi guys, I've recently downloaded "WIR" and read through the attached manual, but I wonder if you people could give me some valuable tips on how to manage my forces and conduct offensive/defensive actions, gaining the best results?

I've noticed that it is costly (I lose readiness) to transfer divisions between different corps during the game. This limits my possiblities to move units from one sector of the front to another, within reasonable time. Is it possible to shift forces in different directions if I want to?

How should I manage my divisions? How often should I replace my tank units with better tanks? I guess I can't do this all the time, since they lose readiness quickly?

Is it really healthy to have the replacement of my HQ'a set to only 50%?

What is the best way to rebuild and refit weakened divisions during the game? Should I do as Germans did during the war? To transfer damaged units to France before 1944?

All useful tips and information is much appreciated, regards Rundstedt

I would suggest you that read carefully the topics in this forum. You will find many things and strategies that sure help you.

Josan

[Mist]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
Hi guys, I've recently downloaded "WIR" and read through the attached manual, but I wonder if you people could give me some valuable tips on how to manage my forces and conduct offensive/defensive actions, gaining the best results?

I've noticed that it is costly (I lose readiness) to transfer divisions between different corps during the game.

so, don't do that during offensive phase

This limits my possiblities to move units from one sector of the front to another, within reasonable time. Is it possible to shift forces in different directions if I want to?

rail movement can help, but you are limited in rail points

How should I manage my divisions?

keep them supplied(on hexes with high SL. it will make them to have high readiness. do not move during muddy weather. Be carefull during snow also.
Beware of blizzard which usualy begins in first week of december and lasts untill march with small breaks.

How often should I replace my tank units with better tanks?

usualy never. prefer computer controlled upgrade until you will have answer on your question yourself.


I guess I can't do this all the time, since they lose readiness quickly?

they lose experience which is worse.


Is it really healthy to have the replacement of my HQ'a set to only 50%?

usualy set replacement level of your HQs to supply level multiplied by 10 until you will get better idea. try to have as many operations points as possible but they never can be higher than recomended by me.

What is the best way to rebuild and refit weakened divisions during the game?

place them in safe area and attach to HQ with high replacement level(for example 100). They will get 30 strength points per week and lose experience. But ground units train themselves until exp. 80(Germans in 1941) and 50(Soviets in 1941) 5 exp.points per turn.


Should I do as Germans did during the war?

do whatever you want to. But usualy your primary goals in 1941 are Moscow and Leningrad. You should't repeat history and this game is the way to look how good can you perform as German or Soviet.

To transfer damaged units to France before 1944?

you should't but keep strength of those fronts 1000 points higher than allied strength.

All useful tips and information is much appreciated, regards Rundstedt
yes. read topics in this forum. this is the most valuable source of info about current version of WiR.

[ July 24, 2001: Message edited by: Mist ]

[Rundstedt]

I really appreciate your help, but I do have a few more questions.

1. But if it's almost impossible (I mean costly in terms of readiness and rail points) to redirect f ex my Panzer Korps to other sectors of the front, how will I then be able to use armored forces as mobile reserves when I'm defending?

2. For how long should I continue to conduct airfield attacks against Soviet HQ's? I've done it for two weeks now and I'm considering ceasing, in favor of ground support and/or interdiction.

3. If a Panzer Korps is capable of plotting five "commands" at a time, is it possible to attack more than one enemy corps with the same unit during one combat phase?

4. When should I begin to worry about the West Front respectively Italian Front? Will allied units appear in southern Italy in mid-1943, or what?

5. I've read of people conducting grand-scale encirclements of Red Army forces in the summer of 1941. How do I encircle enemy forces using my Panzer and Infantry Korps? Is there a special technique to it, or can I simply surround the enemy and then wait for him to surrender the next turn?

6. When will the computer replace older equipment with new equipment? Let's say the computer decides to replace all my armor during my offensive against Moscow, then my tankers will lose experience!! Could this really happen, or does the computer know when the right time has come to replace airplanes, tanks etc.?

Sorry for bothering you, Rundstedt

[RickyB]

Rundstedt,

Moving entire corps around can be necessary, although do it by rail whenever possible. Moving individual divisions keeps the destination corps from then plotting, which is what you want to watch.

All units can attack as many times as they plot through the other side, so a panzer corps/tank army could attack 5 times and infantry can attack twice. One exception is in certain bad terrain like swamps where the attacker does not win and doesn't lose then the attack can continue until it decides the attack failed or the defender loses. This can go on for something like 9 combats over the same location. Any actual failed attack results in no more plots being carried out.

Front events are setup so that you will suffer them outside of Italy in 1943 and in Normandy in 1944, almost no matter what strength you use. Don't strip the front like used to be done, though, because the next event check is based on the current strength. Keep it weak and you can have another event before you reinfoce the HQ; keep it strong and the next event can be delayed for at least a couple of months.

For surrenders, the enemy cannot retreat through your controlled hexes, so surround them with controlled hexes, even if emtpy, and attack and they will shatter or surrender. They will not surrender without an attack.

Unit upgrades occur as newer equipment becomes available in the pools, if set to computer controlled upgrades. Thus, it is random. I have never worried about it, but as generally only 1-2 tank sub-units can upgrade in a turn, depending on the overall output of the newer equipment. If you are worried, change the factory/upgrades to human control for the period that concerns you, then switch back to computer control unless you want to control it totally.

[Mist]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
I really appreciate your help, but I do have a few more questions.

1. But if it's almost impossible (I mean costly in terms of readiness and rail points) to redirect f ex my Panzer Korps to other sectors of the front, how will I then be able to use armored forces as mobile reserves when I'm defending?

they are not that mobile to defend whole front with one panzer korps. Have one or two panzer korpses for each section of front if you are defending. I for example create three
SS panzer korpses when playing campaign'44 as German and assign them for 2-3 critical sections of front where breakthourh is most possible. Then, I am ready to welcome any Soviet tank army there. But if breakthough happens and I have no strong panzer reserves on breaked section, then it takes at least one week to react, so I pray for my defenders to hold their positions.

2. For how long should I continue to conduct airfield attacks against Soviet HQ's? I've done it for two weeks now and I'm considering ceasing, in favor of ground support and/or interdiction.

as soon as you see that number destroyed aircraft is negligible, you may cease airfield attacks and concentrate on interdictions. By the way, your planes perform gound support missions anyway if they are not set for training.

3. If a Panzer Korps is capable of plotting five "commands" at a time, is it possible to attack more than one enemy corps with the same unit during one combat phase?

sure. but be warned that your panzer korps loses readiness(due to combat and movement) and may have less than 30% of its strength when performing its fifth plot. Avoid swamps and mountains to lessen readiness loss. Use interdictions to soften the defenders on the way of your forces. try to surround enemy by your mobile forces. etc.


4. When should I begin to worry about the West Front respectively Italian Front? Will allied units appear in southern Italy in mid-1943, or what?

they wont appear at all. Look at allied strength when checking these fronts. If you have front strength less than allied strength+1000 then you have chances of those fronts shattering which will result in catastrofic strength loss of units inside of front HQs(or even surrendering if fighting in Afrika)

5. I've read of people conducting grand-scale encirclements of Red Army forces in the summer of 1941. How do I encircle enemy forces using my Panzer and Infantry Korps? Is there a special technique to it, or can I simply surround the enemy and then wait for him to surrender the next turn?

Cut their supplies and they will lose readiness very fast. No. No. You must make them surrender by attacking them. Now you should read the manual about supplies, readiness gain and loss and combat. Then ask again.

6. When will the computer replace older equipment with new equipment? Let's say the computer decides to replace all my armor during my offensive against Moscow, then my tankers will lose experience!! Could this really happen, or does the computer know when the right time has come to replace airplanes, tanks etc.?

dont worry about it yet.

Sorry for bothering you, Rundstedt
glad to help

thanx Ricky


[ July 24, 2001: Message edited by: Mist ]

[Rundstedt]

I really must say that the gamer's support on this forum is outstanding, hell, I'm getting answers from you while still playing. FANTASTIC!

I'll read the manual one more time, but if I don't understand everything I may ask again.

It's a great war game!

Happy regards, Rundstedt

[Mist]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
I really must say that the gamer's support on this forum is outstanding, hell, I'm getting answers from you while still playing. FANTASTIC!

I'll read the manual one more time, but if I don't understand everything I may ask again.

It's a great war game!

Happy regards, Rundstedt

hehe
have a good gaming!

[Rundstedt]

By the way, let's say I decide to halt my offensive somewhere along the front in order to refit, reorganize and replace my units. Will the computer counter-attack as soon as I stop advancing, or will there be a brief period of stand-still during the hostilities? This should depend upon how badly damaged the enemy's corps are following my offensive, or? Surely, there must be somekind of "lull" between each side's offensives?

Secondly, it seems I'm not able to "create new HQ's", using the F6 button as stated in the manual. Why? And why would I want to create new HQ's? If necessary, then please tell me how to create them. I'm able to create new corps, and add divisions to them, but I can't create new HQ's for my newly created corps.

Regards, Rundstedt

[RickyB]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
By the way, let's say I decide to halt my offensive somewhere along the front in order to refit, reorganize and replace my units. Will the computer counter-attack as soon as I stop advancing, or will there be a brief period of stand-still during the hostilities? This should depend upon how badly damaged the enemy's corps are following my offensive, or? Surely, there must be somekind of "lull" between each side's offensives?

Secondly, it seems I'm not able to "create new HQ's", using the F6 button as stated in the manual. Why? And why would I want to create new HQ's? If necessary, then please tell me how to create them. I'm able to create new corps, and add divisions to them, but I can't create new HQ's for my newly created corps.

Regards, Rundstedt

Regarding pauses, playing the AI may result in attacks, may not. Depends on the length of the pause and as you say how beat up the opposing units are.

You probably can't create new HQs because there most likely aren't any available. There is a limited number of them, and all Axis ones are in play in the 1941 campaign game, if I remember right. The Soviets can and must create new HQs, but the Axis can't without losing one first.

[Rundstedt]

So, there's no possiblity for me to eventually split an army group into two HQ's, like Hitler did with Army Group South in 1942?

Is unit morale modelled into the game engine? Or does "readiness" include everything from lack of food to morale and lack of winter clothing?

You're probably bored with my numerous questions, but these two are my last ones for a while. Thanks for taking time to answer them.

Grateful regards, Rundstedt

[Svar]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
So, there's no possiblity for me to eventually split an army group into two HQ's, like Hitler did with Army Group South in 1942?

Is unit morale modelled into the game engine? Or does "readiness" include everything from lack of food to morale and lack of winter clothing?

You're probably bored with my numerous questions, but these two are my last ones for a while. Thanks for taking time to answer them.

Grateful regards, Rundstedt

Rundstedt,

Readiness includes everything except experience. There are 25 HQs on both sides and it is not possible to create more. Now for the best advice I can give.

When I first started playing this game almost 20 years ago (WIR is third generation), I would start playing without knowing how anything worked. After a couple of hours, I would realize that I started all wrong, now that I thought I knew what I was doing and start over again. This time I would make it until about 2:00 AM before I realized that I didn't know as much as I thought I did. So, I would start a third time and play until I had to go to work. When I got off work, I would start for the fourth time.

The moral of this story is, don't worry about making mistakes, you will but the most important thing to learn at this time is game mechanics and the only way to do that is play the game. I would play at least until the summer of 1942 before I started my next game because all you are really doing is learning game mechanics. The Soviet is very weak in 1941 until the blizzard of 41 so be very aggressive but stay in supply. During the blizzard don't move unless you are forced to and wait until spring then resume your advance. After you have made it until mid 1942 many of your questions will be answered by experience but it takes a few games of WIR to really learn it. You will also at some time need to play it through 1944 just to see how the war evolves. Every year brings new challanges, it is not a game thing it is just the way it was.

Svar

PS Keep asking questions and people will keep answering them but the fastest way to learn is to play like the wind.

[ July 24, 2001: Message edited by: Svar ]

[Mist]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
So, there's no possiblity for me to eventually split an army group into two HQ's, like Hitler did with Army Group South in 1942?

Go on and split. But you can't have more than 24 HQs for Germans and 25 HQs for Russians(1 HQ is reserved by game). You also can't rename HQs inside the game because this feature was removed by some heaven knows what reason. So you will fight with Stalingrad Front for Moscow for example, or Caucasus Front for Voronezh.

Is unit morale modelled into the game engine? Or does "readiness" include everything from lack of food to morale and lack of winter clothing?

no morale, no clothing, no food. Only supply and readiness. It would become too complicated in case of including everything in game.

You're probably bored with my numerous questions, but these two are my last ones for a while. Thanks for taking time to answer them.

No, I am amuzed because I remember myself ten months ago. It was realy hard to start to play because I had sooo many questions. So I was reading and reading manual, asking in forum, reading manual again. Staring to the monitor and clicking clicking clicking. But now I know that the best way is to play and learn during game what is important and what is not.

Grateful regards, Rundstedt

[ July 24, 2001: Message edited by: Mist ]

[Rundstedt]

Well, you say "play more and more, get experienced, yadda, yadda, yadda." Remeber that the German commanders only had one chance to accomplish their task!

OK, now I'll be off your backs for a while!

Regards, Rundstedt

[RickyB]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
So, there's no possiblity for me to eventually split an army group into two HQ's, like Hitler did with Army Group South in 1942?
...

You're probably bored with my numerous questions, but these two are my last ones for a while. Thanks for taking time to answer them.

Grateful regards, Rundstedt

The way to add in another "army group" HQ the way the Germans did would be to take an existing army HQ and assign other HQs to it, which you can do. The name for this new "Army Group" HQ will not make any sense since as Mist says you cannot rename them, but it will have the same effect. I don't know how much gameplay reason there may be for doing this, but this should give you what you want.

[Svar]

Originally posted by Rundstedt:
Well, you say "play more and more, get experienced, yadda, yadda, yadda." Remeber that the German commanders only had one chance to accomplish their task!

OK, now I'll be off your backs for a while!

Regards, Rundstedt

Rundstedt,

The German generals had 20 years experience with their game, you are just getting started with yours. Have fun.

Svar

[SoleSurvivor]

You may want to plot your panzer Korps only 2-3 hexes a time to preserve combat readiness. make sure it doesn't have any "regular" infantry but only motor inf, cav, tanks and artillery. Also don't try to advance too much with your panzer korps, keep them in supply

[Lokioftheaesir]

Rundstedt

The best way to learn is with a human opponent. Start a '41 campaign as German, play the turn and send the files after you have saved to 'A' to (Zip these 3 files.. Savea/savea.md/savea.cd into a file called 'for example'.. 22Jun41_g.zip) to me as an attachment to your E-mail to....

nemesis@northnet.com.au

I'll give you an easy time of it for the first few turns ...... hehe (not hard)

Nick

PS. Lets help out the new players.. I've many games going at this time but i'm willing to spend the time with a new guy.

PPS. If you are as old as the real Rundstedt you should be dead by now. My ledgends are Heinrici and Guderian.

[Rundstedt]

He, he! So, you're challenging me? The greatest strategist of all times! No, just kidding. But tell me, what is it with that "Heinrici"-dude? All he did was defending Berlin in 1945, as I recall.

It would certainly be a good experience for me to play against a human opponent, probably the best way to learn, but I'd like to "familiarize" a bit more to the game, but after that I'm game!

[Lokioftheaesir]

Rundstedt

HoHo...(hehe)

I'm here if you want me.

Do'nt you dare belittle Heinrici. He is the god of defence.

Nick