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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 12:26 pm
by Stamb
In the same turn, which is turn 7, Kiev fall to direct attack.
This was my mistake of leaving only 1 division there. I thought high CV and potential hold (with big losses, as i still did not get used to new changes) will prevent Stephan from making an attack.
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 12:29 pm
by Stamb
Also there was siege of Smolensk.
I already commented this battle in this thread:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6#p4989666
No point to repeat it here.
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 12:31 pm
by Stamb
This is turn summary for the start of turn 7. Almost no problems with a trucks in a units. I disbanded all motorized engineers and many other units already during first few turns. To get more trucks ASAP and to save some much needed manpower.
And this is OOB:

Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 12:38 pm
by Stamb
After seeing MSAG's thread and reading how experience affects units performance i was trying not to deploy low exp division on a map. Each turn i was refitting 8-10 divisions with a max TOE set to 100% in reserve and then deploying it to map. I think i did not deploy a single division with an exp of lower than 42 or at least 40.
The disadvantage is that units come with 0 CPP and i had and still have (i am at t9 now) problems with support units in an armies. But i will eliminate it soon.
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 5:06 pm
by loki100
Hugely judgemental but given how morale interacts with TOE and the risk of a retreat becoming a rout, I'd keep them out the line till at least 45 experience. Much under that and you simply give up artillery etc. On the other side, try to keep TOE>60, but this is not easy as the pressure builds, but again it avoids free routs and some shatters
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 5:25 pm
by Stamb
Militia is prone to a routes because of a poor TOE which is typically only men and few machine guns. But as you wrote - I am trying to get exp as high as i can before deploying units on a map. For example on t9 it will be units with a 46 or 44 morale.
But even without a pockets it is hard to have strong defense while trying to defend whole front. I hope pressure will not increase in the next turns, and it will only go down due an Axis CPP loss + fatigue build up.
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 1:45 pm
by Stamb
I wanted to show full map but then i realized that i will need too wait too long to show it without a fear that my opponent might benefit from it.
Thus only frontline and maybe a couple of hexes will be shown.
North:
We can see his mobile forces near Pskov.
Also Totenkopf is here and not near Narva river when it was before.
I was also able to push some unit back and as as result isolate and route mot regiment or division.

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Valdai path:

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 1:50 pm
by Stamb
Smolensk VP bonus is gone thus is decided to fall back. Unfortunately no trash units to leave in a city for a last stand.

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Road to Kursk - it is defended. But can not show it

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 1:54 pm
by Stamb
And this is eastern Ukraine defense. Note that ID is isolated with a help of a cavalry. No supplies for them on the next turn.

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And OOB:

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:16 pm
by Stamb
This is Smolensk are on turn 9
Das Reich that was participating in a battles on previous turns is trying to push our brave defenders. Fortunately SS division is pretty exhausted in terms of CPP and minor river also help us to repel this attack.

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In our action phase we can see low CVs for an IDs.
Should we attack them or its a bait with reserve activation?

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Is it possible that 2 German infantry divisions have only 5 CV on a map already on turn 9 or it is just a recon mistake?
Thankfully we have cavalry division nearby to make a hasty attack and figure out approximate power of this divisions.

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32 and 31 in battle CV is not good for a Germans.
Time for real attack:

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:18 pm
by Stamb
And attack on that 5=5 regiments to the north from Smolensk

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:26 pm
by Stamb
In the south enemy leaves a gap between units which is immediately exploited by our cavalry units. I like cavalry!
Also one of the best commanders is in charge of 32nd army now.
It is time for a great battles:

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Also we make hasty attack again, with our lovely cavalry, to verify true strength of a unit.
And we attack again.

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Panzer losses

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It is quite funny for me that it is August `41 and i, as a Soviet player, is actually doing routes on units in the South that met minimal resistance on their way to a D, Z cities.
Only some cavalry and under strength divisions were on their way.
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:35 pm
by Stamb
T10.
There is almost no actions in the North. Only a couple of attacks here and there to push me back. Nothing worth showing.
In the Center there is a great hold. I find it very strange that division that was participating in a battle from a reserve activation is not actually benefiting from a terrain, as it should according to a manual and simple logic, and that is why is contributing only 34 CV to a battle.

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Also i see low CV unit again. Now only 3 CV. Should be a free win for our divisions, right?
No. Motorized division comes into play.

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:41 pm
by Stamb
In the Center with a help of airborne brigade and cavalry, Soviets best unit, we isolate RFSS brigade and force it to retreat. Now it is stacked with SS cavalry brigade. And still isolated.
So if we win this battle - both of this units route.
And we won it!

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:45 pm
by Stamb
South.
Cavalry and airborne brigades with a support of rifle divisions act in a team and allow to push back Axis allies.
This is the first time when i actually make deliberate attack with an airborne brigades.

But this is Axis allies, why not?

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:53 pm
by Stamb
Did i tell already that i like cavalry?

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But you know what i like more than a cavalry? It is Axis allies. When i was playing as an Axis - it was a pure suffering with such "allies". Both vs AI and vs human.
But now they are against me.
Or maybe they are actually Soviet allies?
Well, if you are a simple player than you might look on their CV and thing that they are pretty good. As pretty often, especially with CPP they look pretty mighty.
But it is an illusion. In my opinion, and opinion of most pvp players, they are useless. Their CV will drop drastically in most of the fights. Fortunately i am a Soviet player so i can enjoy their performance.
Crossed major river and had no MP to make deliberate attack. Had enough MP for a hasty one. But it is enough. Even lvl 1 fortification does not help them.

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 2:58 pm
by Stamb
By sneaking around with a cavalry i got a report that some German general was killed in action.

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:00 pm
by Stamb
But we have much more cavalry nearby and gaps in enemy lines.
There is no time to think what do to.
It is time to exploit this gaps!

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Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:10 pm
by Stamb
And then just attack that units with our forces near Poltava.
If we win a battle - they route 100%
Also there was panzer division stacked with a HQ 9=9 on map CV.
I decided to attack it with a hope to kill another leader. I thought that there is Model.

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Unfortunately leader of that HQ survived.
Re: Power of the Dark Side, Stephan61[A] vs Stamb[S]
Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 3:13 pm
by Stamb
After that i decided to continue this party and attacked rest of Romanian forces.

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Almost 100% TOE lost. Isn't it beautiful?

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