Newbie question: what do the different unit types do?

[TeeWee]

Since I'm new to both this series and sort of this kind of game, I'm a bit "lost" in the different types of units that are around in HttR. I can guess at the function of certain kinds of units through common sense. For example, I know what arty does, that the para troops (from allied perspective) are your main line units doing most of the work since your own armour is usually only arriving a few days after you drop in. Even after that, your para infantry is still (in my limited experience) more than capable of pulling its weight.

But I'm a bit at a loss how to deal with the support troops I (and my opponent) am receiving. I suppose that AT guns are used best against armour, and machine gun units are good against infantry, but what do I use AA guns for? How are these support units deployed effectively, both in offensive and defensive actions? What, if anything at all, are base units used for?

More in general, I suppose you could say I'm looking for a good way to compare the effectiveness of the different units. I know that there are a few numbers I can check, like the AntiPers and AntiArm figures as well as the range circles, but do they influence each other (say, a low range lowers the AntiPers/AntiArm figure), and if so, how can I tell what kinds of equipment from the equip-tab are more effective than others?

Hmmm, so many questions in one post... Probably too many to answer in one go, but anyone giving me a few starting pointers will probably improve my game enormously. Thanks in advance!

[Arjuna]

TeeWee,

Welcome.

I would strongly recommend you buy and read the HTTR Strategy Guide. It will answer all your above questions and probably the next three or four dozen as well. It will give you a solid foundation in military units and tactics - it's like a "primer" for new wargamers.

To answer your question about the use of anti-aircraft units I first need to explain that these were designed primarily to engage enemy aircraft, but were often employed by both sides ( the German's in particular ) in the ground support role. Their high rate of fire and effective hitting power made them ideal for suppressing enemy infantry. At Arnhem the German's were desparately short of units ( having lost most of their regular units in the retreat from Normandy ). So they committed a whole Flak Bde to Arnhem, that normally was employed in rear area anit-aircraft duties.

The light flak units, armed with 20 and 37 or 40mm cannons have great long range anti-personnel firepower. They are however very vulnerable and they must be deployed to get their maximum firepower effect. So deploy these in locations where they have good long fields of fire onto likely enemy approaches. In attacks they will deploy automatically as soon as they get within effective range of the objective and they can see the objective or a nearby enemy. They will then start firing and supporting the rest of the assault.

Have fun.

[TeeWee]

Thanks for your quick reply. I'll have a look at the strategy guide. Is there by any chance anyone who could list a ToC of the guide so I can judge its contents?

As an aside and not aimed specifically at the developers/publishers of HttR, I dislike the notion of strategy guides containing a lot of information which should be in the manual. I've seen many games coming with thin and insufficient manuals and a strategy guide released shortly afterwards. I fully expect the HttR guide not to be in this category, but information on the effectiveness of the major equipment and unit types, how the different numbers interact, etc. Perhaps you could say I expect more of a manual than telling me which buttons have which function and am as such slightly disappointed by the shipped manual, especially considering the complexity of the game. Maybe this is something to look at in future releases.

[Rooster]

Hi TeeWee -

I think the following links will give you the information you need to decide what to buy. I recommend it for a lot of reasons in the "Reviews" link.

TOC

Reviews

I have to say, I think the manual for HTTR is one of the better ones out there.

[TeeWee]

Thanks for the links. I'll be looking into it asap.

And I'm not saying the manual is a bad one, but for such an obviously high quality product, I think the manual is somewhat short of the standard the rest of the package sets. This still means that the manual is very readable and probably better than most. Unfortunately, good manuals are very rare, even in the meatier computer games.

[Agema]

Tank armour will be way beyond AA size of gun, but did they stock have sufficient projectile velocity, penetration and so on to make them highly effective against armoured cars?

They seem to from the game stats. However, whilst I've noticed just a few panthers or similar rapidly smashing allied armour units, I've rarely seen AA guns making a mess of half-tracks and the like.

[TeeWee]

OK, I've paged through the strategy guide, which should be said is good. I think it's unfortunate that the information in the Weapons and Equipment chapter is not in the manual itself, but other than that, I'm pleased with the guide.

A last question on the use of the different units: what do you guys and girls use base units for? I see that they represent the service and support personnel, but is there any adverse effect when they're lost? And are they effective enough to use in a delaying manoeuvre or to occupy a VP location?

Thanks for the help so far!

[Mark Weston]

ORIGINAL: TeeWee

OK, I've paged through the strategy guide, which should be said is good. I think it's unfortunate that the information in the Weapons and Equipment chapter is not in the manual itself, but other than that, I'm pleased with the guide.

A last question on the use of the different units: what do you guys and girls use base units for? I see that they represent the service and support personnel, but is there any adverse effect when they're lost? And are they effective enough to use in a delaying manoeuvre or to occupy a VP location?

Thanks for the help so far!

One of the (very few IMO) dodgy tactics available in HTTR is precisely this. Some of the base units have pretty decent combat values, and they also cover a large area, so they can make excellent defensive units if nothing else is available. They don't seem to suffer enough of a penalty for the fact that they're made up of clerks, cooks and drivers etc, nor do their formations suffer any having their logistical support in the front-line (as far as I've seen, anyway). So if you don't mind the gameyness, you can get good use out of them in the way you've suggested.

[Arjuna]

Well historically the Allied airborne Bases ended up being heavily involved in the combat. The majority of the forces at the Arnhem Road Bridge, while commanded by John Frost were in fact from the 1st Para Bde Base. Similarly the 1st Brit Abn Div Base held quite a section of the perimeter at Oosterbeek. So that is why we decided to include them in HTTR.

For COTA they will have a vital role of dispensing supplies and so will come into their own then.

[Agema]

Base units could be pretty handy. They still had military training, even if they were not front-line troops. As Arjuna points out, they entered combat at Arnhem. Historically, there are other instances of cooks, supply troops, batmen and the like joining the fray and acquitting themselves well. It'd be highly erroneous for them not to be there.