Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Barthheart

Thanks for taking the time to do an in depth AAR, Judge.

I don't own this nor any of the series as the colours and such make my eyes bleed![:'(][:D]

But I'm interested to see how it plays out and what you think as you go.... maybe I can wear sunglasses or something....

My pleasure. As for "in-depth"? I think you'll see plenty of mistakes here. I'm not "into" wargames like others, so I don't have my teeth in the rules and will therefore make loads of mistakes!

But the fun factor is what I'm after.

Funnily enough, I think the game looks great. But I can understand your point [;)]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Judge,

A small bit of advice. Your artillery has a lot of Ops points. More than enough to move up in range, fire and move back out of counterbattery range. They will have more than enough OPs points to be able to move back up into range to fire again next turn. Try not to ever leave an artillery piece in the same hex it fired from, especially if that hex is within counterbattery fire range. Even outside of counterbattery range, if they stay in the hex they fire from they may be sufficiently well spotted to become a target for your enemy's airforce. You'll lose a lot less artillery pieces that way.

Unfortunately, I had moved them forwards after firing, so I don't know where they were when they fired...meaning I could be moving them to the same hex they attacked from.

I will bear it in mind for the future though (completely forgot about counter battery fire!)

Treale, oldspec4....good luck with making your decision. Money is tight nowadays making the decision to make that purchase all the more important to get right.

JD, Do you by any chance have Commander: Napoleon at War?

I have Commander Europe at War.

In CEaW, you push the trops around the map. When they come into contact they fight. Its a fun wargame! I recomend it!

To properly play Kharkov, requires much thinking. Place minefield here, check supplies and many other details. To win you need to puruse the detail and get all the details just right!

-

I've always liked the historical content of SSG's games. It sounds like C:NaW would be a "Light" diversion?

I didn't mean to hijack this thread. The AAR is great! And I'm sure that it will help some people make up their mind about this game. Keep it up....

Great AAR!!  I see from the first few screen shots you are playing with AO's on.  How do you like playing against a human with AO's on? 
 
The jury is still out for me whether I would want AO's on against another human.  Do you think they could be too restrictive to the point where gamey tactics could come into play?  Such as pinning units against the "wall" of their AO limits.  IMO in reality a unit under attack would cross those lines of operation if possible to avoid destruction. 
 
The AO's really help the AI I think.  At least in my games the AI has been very impressive.  It took me 4 games or so to get a victory but that was with my AO's off (me Axis).
 
Great game.  Great AAR.  Looking forward to more.
 
(everyone chip in a comment ... we're approaching 1000 posts ... we need to break that barrier)
 
 

Hi Hank and thx

As for the AOs, it didn't even occur to me to not play with them on. And I suppose gamey tactics could be used...except the German player can't possibly know them (I think the Mystery Variants are on...not sure). Besides, he is also knew, so even if Mystery Variants were off, he won't know my AOs

As for crossing the oine of the AO if being battered...naybe. But I like the idea that "a commander" higher than me has ordered me to defend at all costs. [:D]

I loved the idea of the AOs and it was my main reason for buying the game.

By the way...we're not approching a thousand posts....a thousand views maybe? But only 27 posts...[:D]

Oh?!! ... you're right ... excuse please
 
[&:]
 
I like the AO's too.  I was just wondering how it worked against humans.  ... those diabolical humans you know can be devious.
 
great work ... and best regards

Turn 1 Enemy
It seems the Germans are, erm, running away…preferring to fight another day! All in all I lost 8 steps and some static defenses.

I’ll make a point of replacing the ones in the South first, being as I know he’ll be coming up there like a steam train (or I think!).

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of firing my artillery and leaving them in place. He spotted some of them and counter fired. I will not be making that mistake again.

Overall I’m fairly pleased. I had left some units exposed and I was thinking they would be picked off. As it is, my opponent was so determined to defend Kharkov, he neglected to make the most of the opportunities I presented.

{North}
In the North, I noticed some movement directly from the North towards Kharkov. Also, he withdrew all his forces from the front line directly east of Kharkov. Before he did, he made some limited attacks…just to let me know he has a sting in his tail I suppose. This is where he fired his counter battery…like I said, a mistake not to be made again.

He’s blown bridges (red circles), dropped detachments AND placed air interdiction. He really wants to slow me down. That’s fine…I’ll be taking it slow and easy anyway.

Yellow lines show his movements away from the front line.

The yellow lines show the places he made some limited attacks.

{Central}
Again…a mass defection from the front line. Unfortunately, some of these headed north to the south of Kharkov. Not much in the way of attacks here.

Again, blown bridges (red) and mass defections shown in green. He’s crossed the Sev Donets in force…but the wrong way…he really wants to protect Kharkov.

He’s left detachments AND placed air interdiction in this area also. Very limited skirmishes here…nothing major at all.

{South}
Nothing much here. He probed a little…took some static defences out. At least these troops look like they’re up for a fight…no mass defection here!

Limited bombardments shown with yellow lines.

Turn 2 {North}
Ok. After the enemies mass retreat, he’s left me an easy route wet. I’ve tried real hard not to run away and leave units exposed, so I’ve made steady progress and kept “a wall” to minimise units to the exposure of potential overrun attacks. See the red areas.

In the far north, I moved my units further south to try and break through the defensive line. He has the 175th Aufklarung Battalion on it’s own…presumably spying on movements. I hope he leaves it there…I’ve moved some artillery assets north to help take it out next time…or weaken it.

In the mid north sector, he really has drawn back. I managed to destroy the 175th Infantry Battalion…but other units were pretty much out of reach. I was able to bombard.

I’m concerned about my southern flank in my drive to Kharkov (marked in blue)…what can I do. I have quite a few units locked in place just now.

{Central}
I’ve made slow progress north towards the belly of Kharkov. Not slow for any other reason other than I don’t want to alarm him. I will try and suck some units in further West of where I want to drive and then I’ll thrust through (sounds great doesn’t it!!)

Further south, I’ve drove hard west. I want him to think this is my goal…so I took some chances on maybe unsuspectingly bumping into some units…but alas the frontier was empty. He really has pulled back!

I’ve made a small move south with some Cavalry units…again just to draw his attention away from the belly of Kharkov. Remember…my main goal is Kharkov. Regardless of all other results, that is what I will base my victory or defeat on.

The blue circles indicate locked units….I really must look up what objectives I need to unlock them!

In the north of the central region there is nothing. I saw him pull his units back...the east bank of the Sev Donets is free of units.

{South}
Again, I’ve done nothing here…waiting for the onslaught. I’ve shifted a few units east where he was probing...he destroyed one or two fortifications there. Just making sure units are dug in and ready.

Now for some supply intel...

North

{Central}

{South

I have lost no units yet, although I have lost quite a few "steps"...a few were my own fault where I took a chance by removing one or two units from an attack only to find I had shortened the odds enough to bring in attacker losses into the equation...didn't learn my lesson on the first round either...I still took chances where I needn't have!

The Germans have lost 3 units in total, plus any damage I managed to inflict.

Lost Units to date
Soviet Union - 0
Germans - 3 [9th, 34th and 172nd Infantry Regiments]

Play has been passed to my opponent now.