Hofen AAR in progress - A study in errors

[Major SNAFU_M]

Hi Lieste and miya.  Refueling.  I hadn't thought of that one.  I will go back and check.  I should have saved the game as soon as I noticed it so that I could provide a better record.  

[Major SNAFU_M]

So. In try number 7 I managed a decisive victory. Here are the stats:

[Major SNAFU_M]

Here is the overall picture of the critical units at the end:

[Major SNAFU_M]

And here is a picture of which I have a question:

How is it that 3 Stuarts, near total exhaustion, can prevent me from having control of Mutsenich? I am confused.









Lastly,

Thanks for all for the help and advice. I could not duplicate the problem with the Pak40, so I must have done something wrong as Lieste pointed out.

Lieste's comments about moving the Pak40 and IG around a bit more safely are noted. The moves were originally supposed to have taken place during the night. However, I tend to risk a unit here or there if I feel there is a chance to catch the OPFOR with their pants down. The potential, which turned out to pay off well, of being able to catch the armor coming up out of Mutz in a crossfire more than paid off for the risk to the IG and Pak40 (although the Pak40 never made it to the location until much later). So long as I can be certain of sufficient FPF from the ARTY to break up an attack, risking a gun and crew are worth bottling up the OPFORs armor.

The tips on moving the IGs independent for the initial attacks was great, and digging up the how to reserve arty from Markshot's old posts really paid off. I had at least 2 10cm and 1 15cm Arty on rest at all times. I often finished they day with 3 units with near there full complement of shells. I tried to limit my direction of Arty, except for the NWs, who I handled directly most of the time - when they had ammo.

Great fun and onto the next.

[Phoenix100]

Well those stats are pretty decisive!! Well done. It's funny, isn't it - because it seems, when you start it (or, at least, it did to me) that you could never scrape more than a draw, then you just keep fine tuning it and finally get there. Of course, in the end it does lead to you being a bit disapointed with the AI, even though it is the best AI money can buy, because I would guess you can always do this, always eventually beat it (I have so far, in most scenarios). On the other hand, as I've said before, you do gain a substantial advantage in intelligence when you play these scenarios over and over again. But my point is, now try to find a human opponent to play Hofen with. Then you'll really start having fun, I think. Because still, when you play a human, nothing is certain...

[altipueri]

Wow, that's pretty impressive AAR. I'm still getting about 500 kills on each side. Hence a draw is my best.

Has anybody got (or claimed) a decisive vitory at their first go?

[wodin]

Well replaying a scenario and having advanced knowledge of forces etc by doing it doesn't put an AI in bad light at all really. I think the AI is impressive, then again I don't constantly play the game to be honest. I do love the mechanics just not that into the theater and the scenarios are on the whole to large for my liking (i.e to many units, not scenario length). I'm sure though when the EF game and Blitz game come sout I will put more time in.

[altipueri]

Well I got decisive victory at first go. As the US!

As the Hun I seem to waste all that artillery and rocketry in the NE. It's getting to me like a dog with a bone, I just won't let go, but I'm too impatient to take it slowly and carefully.