Defend-Advance-Assault which is prefered

[robot]

I myself like the Assault. I love the thrill of trying to get thru the enemys mine field in time. I love the thrill of the loud bang when you think you are clear but one goes up under you all of a sudden. It has always made me jump out of my chair when this happens and my heart pounds for fare thee well.

Like the assault I am into in the long campaign right now. I am having the damdest time getting thru the field with the Grenadiers. I know that time is running out on me but I still must take my time or lose too many men and equipment getting thru. I also have begun to realize I will not get to the rear flags just is not enough time left. I will get the front ones of that I am sure. I must now try and destroy as much of them as I can on the way to capturing the front groups.

My second choice is defend only because they are short with next to no movement from my side. This gives me a break from moving 200 units for 37 turns or how long it takes. As I am fighting a lot of battles as I play all the major powers thru the war. This is an awful lot of time spent moving units around for every battle.

In case some of you dont understand what I am doing with the long campaign, I will try and explain again. I set up battles from the begining with Germany 1939.

Germany 9/39 East and West thats two seperate long campaigns
Japan East Asia 9/39
Russia 12/39
British 5/40 Europe
US Army 12/41 Europe
US Marines 1942 Pacific
Japan 1942 Pacific
Anzac not sure on date or area maybe asia or pacific for got on this one.

Thats eight long campaigns going by the time all these countrys are in the war. This makes for a lot of moving of units. Thats why a defend now and then is very welcome. All countrys have 3 companys of men plus there support and usually two companys of tanks.

Love this game or ive just gone plain bannanas.[:D][:D][:D][:D][8D]

[Wild Bill]

I think it would depend on the scenario for me, Robot. I do enjoy fast moving ones. If the assault-defend scenario is done properly, it can be very challenging and a lot of excitement.

Meeting engagements can be the same, similar to two knights on the jousting field, lances at the ready, charging at one another.

WB

[robot]

I know your fast moving ones Bill. I keep going back to the Los Banos one I think its called. Have played it at least 6 times so far. Each time it goes a different way for me. Very fast paced and very deceptive. Your the man Bill in making short and exciting scernerios. I am as you know a long campaign player. Primarily for the career side of it I guess. I dont mind putting days into a long battle. Im a slower paced guy kind of laid back and easy going. I dont mind the 37 turn based battle, dont think even a 47 turn would bother me. Moving one hex at a time is fast enough for me.

Got to go my wife is jumping me about being to slow getting dressed to go out. Always in a hurry. [:D][:D][:D][;)]

[Wild Bill]

Hey Robot! Yes, Los Banos is one of my own personal favorites. There is so much going on at the same time that as a commander, you have your hands doubly full, taking out the enemy guards before they kill the prisoners, getting the amtracs ashore, fighting your way to the prison, and keeping your men alive.

But I understand about the campaign and becoming attached to certain units. I have that same feeling and it is one of the big things that keeps me in campaigns.

Give your sweet wife and smooch on the cheek (with your permission) and my warmest regards. I enjoyed meeting her at Aberdeen (and you too, of course. Its just that I'm partial to beautiful ladies! [:-] ).

I hope the two of you are well.

WB

[Alby]

The scenario is called

The Bathrooms??[X(]

Banos=bathroom/restroom doesnt it??[&:]

[Wild Bill]

It also means "the baths." The Filipinos used a lot of Spanish names due to Spanish control until the Spanish-American war.
Even now many of the names of Filipinos are Spanish in nature. It should have a tilde over the n, prounounced, los banyos.

Wild Bill

[Alby]

hehehe I figured it was something like that...I just could'nt resist [;)]

[KNomad]

Personally, I am a much better defensive general, so naturally I prefer Defends. I'll spend hours setting up a formidable defense, not that it means much versus the AI, but my PBEM opponents are in for rather nasty surprises! Not that I'd like every battle to be Defends, variety is nice and forces me to become a better offensive general.

Probably stems from the fact that, at heart, I am an infantry fan.

[KG Erwin]

Well, a few defend/delay missions in long campaigns are good to get some combat experience for your men, plus a good way to accumulate upgrade points.

However, there's nothing like the high drama inherent in conducting a "storm landing", an amphibious assault against pepared defenses.

After months of slogging through wet, steaming, visibility-poor South Pacific jungles, the mid-1943 transition to the Central Pacific effort is an interesting change. In a Marine campaign, the islands don't have names, and while the real-life divisions usually didn't conduct more than three or four such operations during the 1943-45 period, your core force could have a dozen or more "D-days". By late 1944, the display of air & naval firepower during the opening bombardment is awe-inspiring.

[steelpanther]

I like an AI advance vs human delay. Gives you the defense mind set without the benefits of entrenching. But a good defend is always a nice easy game (which is needed everyso often). Assaults are demanding on the tactics and takes a little time to plan and exicute (and then there is always the "mouse and man" syndrome).

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: steelpanther

I like an AI advance vs human delay. Gives you the defense mind set without the benefits of entrenching. But a good defend is always a nice easy game (which is needed everyso often). Assaults are demanding on the tactics and takes a little time to plan and exicute (and then there is always the "mouse and man" syndrome).

I like AI advance/human delay, too. Against the AI, the human can elect to set up to deliver a counterattack, which can devastate the advancing enemy, but can also result in your men stumbling into a hornet's nest.

Same goes for the AI delay/human advance. For me, it keeps going back to the mines ON or OFF choice. I turn mines OFF, simply because I'd prefer my engineers to assist in assaulting bunkers/caves rather than waste time in clearing lanes through minefields.

This makes me wish I had a way to limit minefield deployment for the AI, rather than turn it off completely.

Think about this way-- a human could concentrate an overwhelming force at one point, puncture the AI's minefield, and then pour the strike force through the gap.

With mines OFF, the AI is more likely to deploy fortifications and artillery in depth, which for Pacific island assaults is more realistic, in my view.

Both points of view have valid arguments, but the choice is left to the gamer.

[robot]

With the new 8.4 I am noticing a heck of a lot more assaults. When starting in 1939 with Germany and Japan there were more defends then assaults. Now I must cut my way thru the mine fields more often then not. Each and every one has become a hard battle more then before.

I am into the third battle with Japan. So far 2 advances and this one is an assault against Russia.
Germany has fought 4 battles so far 2 for the west and 2 for the east europe. Only one was a defend , 2 were advances and 1 was an assault. Lot different from earlier versions. By the way the assault I had turned out a draw due to the heavy mine field they encountered.

The only defend was a welcome change from all the others, was over in 14 turns. All the others went for around 35 turns on average. Lot of down and dirty fighting in the trenches. Dam I love this game and all its differences that can happen. Every time I line my forces up to prepare for to move forward at the enemy, I wonder what will I see this time to amaze me. Will I beat them to a pulp or will I start to wonder how the heck do I manage a draw on this battle.

When in a really bad battle and the outcome is in doubt and all my instincts tell me Im whipped. To all of a sudden realize that I have turned the tide of a battle in my favor. Dam now that is a heck of a rush. My heart races and I get the urge to just hammer those pesky little units that have gave me a fit for the last hour or so. Wow I love this game. [:D][:D][:D][;)][8D]

[Terminus]

I like meeting engagements myself. Am playing one in a PBEM at the moment and having a blast with it. It forces you to consider both attacking as well as defending your own half of the map. It's also extremely deadly; the casualties on both sides of said PBEM are absolutely murderous.

[robot]

A little anolagy to compare this game to real life.

Your in a bar and this guy has made some reference to how you comb your hair. Or maybe he doesnt like the color of your shirt. Or maybe he doesnt like the way you pinched his girl friends butt when she passed. Could be any thing of a dozen little things hes pissed at you for real or imagined. What ever your called out side.

Hes always bigger say by four inches, heavier say by 30 pounds. Uglier then you of course like a neanderthal man maybe. Your scared trembling inside but you cant back down just isnt in you. You wonder how the hell am I ever going to stay alive after this. You line up and being quicker you get the first punch off. It hits his thik forhead and he doesnt even blink just growls.
This is when you begin to really think what have I got myself into. Then he hits you in the forhead area some where. Your legs buckle and your eyes cross and begin to run. Now fear realy sets in and its hard not to run knowing you cant win. But you slip sidways to his flank and catch him in the kidneys. He grunts with pain and you know dam I can hurt this enemy. It goes on both circling each knowing you can be hurt. Then you assault right up the middle and with a flurry of fast attacks you break his nose and close his right eye. Now he takes a few steps back and you push your advantage. Now is when the heart begins to pump like mad and you know once again you have beat a bigger and more powerful enemy.

So to all like me who plays the AI with all his troops and tanks and guns including his mine fields. It takes time and planning but they can be beat. Go slow look for openings and cracks in there defense. No matter how big they look or act they will go down.

[Terminus]

This happen to you in real life, Robot? [:D]

[steelpanther]

[quote]ORIGINAL: KG Erwin



Same goes for the AI delay/human advance. For me, it keeps going back to the mines Think about this way-- a human could concentrate an overwhelming force at one point, puncture the AI's minefield, and then pour the strike force through the gap.

I subscribe to this tactic. concentrate my engineers in one local area. Level the field behind the mines with artillery and cover with the armour. Let the engineers clear a 6 or 7 hex wide openning and bring in the infantry followed closely by the tanks. Let the engineers fan out and open the path bigger, that way they arent going to walk into a fortification killing zone (did that once).

As for the meeting engagement I like to refer to it as a MEATing engagement. LOL Lots of destruction especially in PBEM games. It is really a rush though to get a marginal or decisive victory.

[soldier]

When in a really bad battle and the outcome is in doubt and all my instincts tell me Im whipped. To all of a sudden realize that I have turned the tide of a battle in my favor. Dam now that is a heck of a rush. My heart races and I get the urge to just hammer those pesky little units that have gave me a fit for the last hour or so. Wow I love this game.

I know this feeling. All of a sudden its party time and you can't help but really go to town on the enemy. Where before it was struggle and death at every step, suddenly your troops dash forward at full pace taking all before them. Your panzers begin to round up those retreating foot sloggers like helpless sheep and herd them into arty killing zones. Its real blitzkrieg stuff... Yeehah.
I must admit, its a bit sadistic though and things can get pretty disorganized. You need to keep a cool head sometimes

[robot]

Maybe it has and maybe it hasnt happened. Dam those cute looking women with those pinchable rears. Aint life a blast some time. [:D][:D][:D][;)][8D]

[RUPD3658]

More important: After you knock him out does his girlfriend with the pinchable rear go to you or him? Spoils of war? [:)]

[Riun T]

Hey Gunny, Don't wanna sound like I'm bitch bashing you but why do u still turn mines off?? Your still saying that u enjoy an AI delay/human advance,?? ya when you've pulled the front teeth of this layered defence you talk about in the very same paragraph? There are very few places that pillboxes,bunkers or MG pits {that are fixed DEFENCE>emphisis on roles } and are PLANNED to never have to stand on their own,these fortifications need the mines to converge and funnel the enemies of the forts to their fields of fire, I can tell sometimes how your a fanner rather than a real serviceman[:'(] but we'll play a #'s game !!.
? do u think they would'nt at least flank the sides and enterances of these forts and caves that u've not only hobbled, but left out on their own. because in a moderate purchase points fight u can't ever buy enough troops to make the area surrounding these forts fully entrenched.
Do u think that with the way most pacific islands topography shoots vertically the farther u go inland from the beach that the Arrty units could really be all that spread out?? there were no roads in most of the area that can be considered and the altitude is another statement altogether?? guns don't climb well!!
In short I think your tieing their hangmans knose,and playing a pretty unrealistic game.
Fortifications were made as the infamous last line and the only things that helped cement that thinking was mines,and the steel doored enplacements surrounded by wire,obsticles,and miles of trenches both AT and entrenchment.RT