Rookie Hofen Show-Down mini AAR and a question :)

[Phoenix100]

Says 1216 allied dead, 253 axis. I didn't notice that effecting things (but remember, this battle took about fifteen minutes to run through because it was full speed all the way, on the assumption I just wanted to see what sending a regiment round the back of Muntz would do, not expecting success at all). But they're all so tired at the end that it feels very difficult to get them to do anything. They're very sluggish by day 2 even. One of the most frustrating things is, I find, where you give orders and they just sit around not moving (even though the info tab shows them as 'moving') - for hours and hours, I mean, not just the orders delay delay. I hadn't ever thought of this as a game problem, but something presumably that added realism, a function of them being exhausted.

It made a big difference to issue commands to the battallion level, I've found. Much better response, though it leaves regimental HQs sitting around wiht not much to do (though sometime they might have some arty attached). Also, I did use the fusiliers to do some probing around the northern sector and Monshau, and did try to block supply roads with a few units, as you suggested. When I ran this battle again, with the same general tactics (send a regiment round the back of Muntz), at normal speed, taking much more care, BUT, giving all the orders to the Regimental level mainly, and not bothering using the fusiliers to faint or placing units in blocking positions, then I only got a draw again. Commanding the regiment to go up north through the woods round the back of MUntz (as opposed to the battallion, as I had previously), led to it being stuck in the woods, exhausted, for over half a day!! So maybe all these fine tuning things really do make a difference, which would be another great tribute to how well this game works. Of course, next time round the AI might just have done something completely diff. Which is another great things about the game - no scripting.


It's a totally engrossing game, once you get the hang of what it's about. I think it's simply unbelievable that there is nothing else like it, that nearly all the development in the area of games has been put into graphics and the AI side - which is the heart of everything great about this game - has been left untouched, largely. You know of any other game where the AI is so developed? I have enjoyed playing Combat Mission, for example (in all its iterations), but it doesn't have the same complexity of problem solving interest that BFTB has. After a while I get really bored clicking those little sprites around, partly because they never do anything of their own accord, so it feels like it's only half the game it could be if it had a proper command structure built into the AI. Just my view.

[Lieste]

I find I much prefer to plan/execute/evaluate a simple scenario in COTA or BfTB than fiddle with thousands of counter-turns and arbritary hex boundaries in any other ops/plan wargame that I've tried.

What is great about the series, is that if you apply a real world tactical plan, then the action will run roughly as it would in RL (bugs and features not withstanding ). The finer than unit sized 'grid', reasonable representation of a 3d world, and continuous 'mutual' actions eliminate a lot of the unreal-ness of typical hex-based games. Plus not having to pick up every damned counter, each and every turn

[Phoenix100]

Lieste,

Agreed. Wholeheartedly.

This morning I got a decisive victory on Hofen!! Same plan as previous - send 1.752 round the back of Muntz, ordered as a battalion, using cover. They rested half way through day 1, in the woods north of Muntz, then attacked and took during the night (all determined by the AI, not me). Went for Hofen nth with the two regiments south of the Roer. As you suggested I used an IG unit, plus the spare Reg HQ to block the road form Monschau. This proved crucial, I think. In fact, I think this - so early on - with nothing obvious to show for it - was the turning point of the battle, the most crucial decision - block the roads from Monschau. From the other side of the Roer I fainted at Monschau with the fusiliers and the spare reg HQ for the 1.752. They managed to get in and hold it, were driven out to no avail, but meanwhile many of his units en route to Hofen were held up. When reinforcements south of Roer arrived, sent them to Hofen sth. No attack commands. All movement with attack checked. Once each KG was in its objective I changed the orders to defend and gradually widened the perimeter. Now, by 6pm day 2, he was denied all 4 major objectives. Sent the Stugs to help clear Hofen sth, plus an infantry company from the now cleared Hofen nth objective. Ignored Kalterhenburg. Finally, sent the last reinforcements nth of Roer to take Monschau. I held no objectives at the start of day 3, but he was denied all 4 major ones. All of day 3 I just watched the arty - controlled by the AI, not me - clear all opposition from all objectives. I didn't give a single order during day 3. The arty just responded to AI calls and blasted him out. Amazing show by the AI, I think.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience. I've played this scenario intensively now - perhaps 40 times, though often just trying out different strategies on full speed. It was a very rewarding process to go from being completely unable to do better than a marginal defeat, to drag it to a draw, and finally to find a plan I could work and get a decisive victory with. I didn't have to do any manual control of arty, though I'm sure that would help. Your advice to use units to block reinfoircements was crucial. I'm absolutely sure of that. So I'm also sure your advice to manually use the arty to 'shape the battlefield' is also sound. The fine tuning is certainly the difference between being unable to get past a draw to pulling off a decisive victory. Amazing game.

[CaptCarnage]

Hi,

I just did a quick Hofen Ho-down with the tactic as described above - I sent the I.752 on the Northern bypass to end up behind Mutzenich, the I.753 first North of Hofen (towards the tracks heading into Hofen) and then South - and the I.751 to attack Hofen North from the East.
As for the reinforcements, indeed, the II.751 could be put to perfect use by attacking Hofen South, and I had to use the II.753 to assist the I.752 to take Mutzenich, which happened on the morning of Day 3.

The II.326 were of little use as somehow they surrendered while travelling throuh Hofen...

During the battles for Mutzenich and Hofen, Monschau was abandoned so I sent the 326 Fusilliers to occupy it, which was enough.

Scenario ended when I just ordered the battalions in Hofen to move on Kalterherberg.

All orders were Move orders, High Aggro with Attacks - except for the swing north of Mutzenich, this was done on Low Aggro.

At the end, I held Mutzenich, Hofen North and South and Monschau, ending up with a Decisive Victory, 1376 kills vs. 438.

[Lieste]

Yup, feels good when it comes together doesn't it? ... and then your troops can sit in foxholes, plinking at him while he struggles through the snow and/or mud... feels much better that way round

[CaptCarnage]

Yeah - it goes to prove that planning (and timing) is most important of all.
I find myself printing maps, studying the OOBs, indicating the dispositions and reinforcements on the map, then drawing my plans on the maps, before even hitting the play button

Hofen, Elsenborne done - Losheimer Gap, here I come!