Matrix Games Forums

Spellbinder, those sudden appearing distant objectives are no more than a tool to keep the game from ending early. Their value is minimal and should not affect your overall score.

If you see that happen again, don't feel pressured to take it. It is merely a safety precaution to keep the battle from stopping before it should.

Thanks gentlemen for these great reports. We will apprise General Cota of the situation...soon. Right now he thinks that the battle has been won completely and teh Germans are on the run...NOT!

Wild Bill

Hi Bill,
I'm sure the Gerries would be on the run if my 3rd Scen Mortars didn't run out of ammo on turn 4!!!
You really created some tough Germans here - I've never seen squads really fighting to the last man
Some real tough and cool stuff you created here - Gotta love it
Ciao
Spellbinder

Thanks Spellbinder. These Germans were veterans. They had passed through Schmidt only an hour before the US advance through Kommerscheidt. US intelligence :rolleyes: did not know this.

They simply turned around along with tanks of the 116th Panzer Division and decided to send the American packing...Hard luck story from start to finish.

Thanks, Spellbinder and the rest for these good AARs...Wild Bill

Ammo was low everywhere, especially in the gorge.

The only means of receiving resupply was by way of 49 "Weasels," (amphibious jeeps). Some of those did not make it. Some were destroyed by the Gerries on the trail.

It was not a pleasant experience...Wild Bill

Not a pleasant experience indeed!
I squeezed a DV out again in Scen3 despite lacking one of the VHs - but it was a fight to the last man!
And those german assault squads were a nasty surprise
WB, again hats off for your great work - I wish I knew how you suck these things out of your brain
Ciao
Spellbinder

Another one from me
Bill, is it correct that I have no AUX units in battle 4?
I'm just wondering, cause in battle 5 (Evacuation) I have AUX units again.
Is this correct???
Anyhow, battle 4 is quite different and kinda fun too. One of my Shermans scored its 30th kill
Ended in a Draw with 8377 : 9916 points
Ciao
Spellbinder

Spellbinder, are you playing the separate scenarios or the campaign?...Wild Bill

Spellbinder caught the problem. I'm terribly sorry. You should have had aux units for battle four.

It looks like the wrong file got loaded into the campaign and series files.

A "patch" or fix is going up on Fabio's site right away. If you need them in the meantime, write me and I'll send them to you.

Spellbinder you are already past battle #4 so unless you want to go back and play battle #4 again this won't help you, but I'll send it anyway.

Thanks for catching this for me.

Wild Bill

I've sent out repair files to all those who have posted here. If anyone else needs them either write me or look on Fabio's site later today.

I'm terribly sorry for the oversight!

Wild Bill

Be sure and get those patches from Fabio's site. Sorry for the inconvenience...WB

G'day Bill,

thanks for the fast reply and the even faster help by sending the file
Nevertheless, it was definately an interesting battle to hold off half the German Wehrmacht with just four tanks (2x M4A3, 2x M4A3(76)W) three Airborne Squads (upgraded from Recon Patrols) and a M3A1 halftrack plus my HQ which I also converted into a Airborne squad
And with these forces as Draw is pretty good - I thought

Again thanks for the fast help - There is no Customer Service like Martix Customer Service
- I guess Matrix knows what CRM stands for
Ciao
Spellbinder

To tell you the truth, it is amazing! Well done, Spellbinder.

I can somehow imagine how you felt...VERY LONELY

This new one should be a walk in the park for you with some fairly decent help

Wild Bill

Please don't read this if you haven't already played battle no. 3. Don't want to spoil the party.

Having finished battle no. 3, I wanted to make some comments on it.
So far, it seemed to be the easiest battle: what I did was infact to stay where I was, rushing forward the infantry in the woods northwest from the village, and waiting for the Germans to show up. I sent one platoon each in the woods on both sides of the open area in the north of the village, because I suspected that the Germans would try to infiltrate there (the third went to the southwest corner of the village). And they should up, indeed: but only with two tanks without any infantry support, and so they where quite easy kills for my troops there (1 close assault, 1 by bazooka). Don't knwow if it's a design problem to have the AI protect it's tanks with infantry, but I think no human player would ever have sent its armor alone in a nightfight.
However, the Krauts tried to break through in the southeastern corner of the village, massing there tanks and infantry there, but I did that too and shoot it out (I won ). They eventually grabbed the victory hex but lost it in the end, along with 7 tanks and dozens of squads. Forgot that they tried to close in also from the east, but went into crossfire from my infantry in cover.
Also German arty was not so devastating than in the first scenarios.
So, after all, I scored a decisive victory on this one.
My core force are 4 M4A3E8 HVSS, a M2 Halftrack and a Bazooka team. I deliberately did not upgrade them so far (just for the more historic feeling). I used the halftrack to bring some of the engineer squads in the west to the front line.

AC

AC,

I agree that btl 3 was a cake-walk compared to mission 1 & 2.
Your force looks good, and I kept my "historical" one with just the 4 tanks, 1 ht, and 3 Recon Patrols (thought I need the recon ability more than the BAZ) until I ended in the "wrong" battle 4 :rolleyes:
Being all by yourself against half the Wehrmacht you need some "beef"
I setup around the Mill and the Germans came from all sides - not funny
But at least I got a draw for that
Bill,
YES, the new battle 4 feels a lot different now - but not really easier. In the "solitaire" mission I was able to sit it out and let them come, now I have to move and take VHs. But here's where your beautifull map really shows it's stregth. Lots of room for sleak moves
I love it!
Spellbinder

Hello,

I've just finished the first battle of the campaign. I was quite surprised (and pleased) to get a DV. The first town was taken with little effort. Bunkers supressed by mortars, hit by very accurate MG fire from the front and assaulted. The few German troops in the town didn't last long.

I continued my advance, leaving about 1/3 of my force in town to defend it against a possible counter-attack. Took the middle objective with a few casualties to mortars and an immobilized Sherman. Meanwhile the 76mm armed Sherman had regained its mobility and was joining my forces. Just in time!

As I continued my advance I finally found the German counter-attack. Lost quite a bit of infantry while the 76mm Sherman engaged enemy armour. Continued my advance with three Shermans and three infantry squads, leaving the rast of the force to defend my gains.

Having destroyed some enemy infantry and a bunker I entered the second town and took the last objective. Just in time as I was expecting the middle objective to get hit hard in the next turn. Five or so tanks had been spotted, at least two Panthers.

Taking the last objective caused the Germans to make a 180 degrees turn and hit my small force. It did, however, take out a Panther and damaged another before German morale was broken and the US forces stood victorious.

Now to battle #2...

Regards,

Lars

Well,
it is over . . .
I think this is the first campaign (no matter how short) that left me exhausted, mentaly and physically
What a tense flow of action and what an end.
A little bitter taste, an emptiness . . . Just as if we've really been there.
Congrats Bill.
I ended with an overall Decisive Victory with a Campaign Score of 17. Actually reason the celbrate, but how bitter the victory . .
Thanks WB, thanks Matrix
Spellbinder

These are great reports coming in from the battlefield, gentlemen.

Poor battered Spellbinder leaves the field victorious, albeit he paid a price. General Cota would have been proud of you and pinned on the medals himself, my friend.

Wild Bill

Lars, aka Slayer, your initial victory mirrors history also.

They got into Schmidt against relatively light resistance. The nightmare came later as it will for you.

Taking it is one thing. Holding it is another. Good hunting, Slayer!

The Colonel

just finished battle two and result was same as from Marauder Mel. Decisive Victory at turn 21. (...glad I noticed that lone VH on the right map edge! ) Germans almost wiped out. I guess the real trouble will start in battle 3 ??!

_________
Harry

It's definitely coming Harry, like storm clouds on the horizon. Get ready for rain!


Wild Bill