Matrix Games Forums

Very nice tuto you're doing redmarkus, I'm really impressed by the quality of your screenshots, would you mind posting what are the specs of your machine and how does APOS really runs on it (FPS)?

I only own the original AP, and these tutorials you're making are leaving me so impressed because the strategic component is so much richer and deep than the original which is very basic. Not to mention the quality and quantity of unit skins.

One thing I want to ask is what are those big blue/red circles for example under platoon Krapp or at the right of landmark gully rakityanskoe?




Cheers and keep posting your tutorials!

Hi.

Firstly, I have a Dell XPS Core 2 Duo desktop with a 512MB graphics card and 4GB RAM. It's about 4 years old and APOS runs very smoothly with no jitter and excellent graphics. I also have a flat panel display which I think is about 21 inches. The only slow downs I see are when I go to map view and use time compression.

The blue/red circles are the main objectives. They change color based on who holds them. When nobody has taken them they are gray. When you go to the 3D battle view, these big circles become large objective flags - they represent the same geographic point.

ORIGINAL: lancer

G'day Redmarkus4,

Excellent. I particularly like the tactical thought processes that you are describing here.

I have also pushed a single platoon along the northern bank of the river, partly for recon and also in the vain hope that this route might have been undefended. As you can see, there is evidence of enemy activity up there.

In your map screenshot of the above unit, it showed a tag of 'weakness +1%'. What's that?

Cheers,
Lancer

Hi.

At the end of each battle phase, when you are returned to the operations map, stay focused on the map for a minute. Short messages will flash up at various locations, providing information about what has happened to platoons on both sides and also about victory points gained for capturing or holding key points. These messages fade away after a few seconds and I haven't found a way to get them back, so you need to read and remember them!

'Weakness +1' tells me that the unit in question took losses or has used up some of it's supply and/or fitness and is weaker by that value than at the start of the turn. I think that every time a unit moves it suffers some attrition or fatigue effects. You will also see messages about reduced petrol holdings after a move. It's all so well modeled that I am repeatedly surprised and impressed, even after playing for a considerable period.

Other useful messages that may appear over enemy locations include 'Platoon broken' - you may be able to push through here next turn.

This whole set of functionality really needs a redesign. There should be an option to toggle on and off an after action reporting layer on the map, showing all of these reports. You should then be able to click on each report for more details. Click through to the OOB, with the relevant platoon selected, should also be supported.

I am halfway through my allotted time for this operation but I still face tough Soviet troops dug in across the river and I must also deal with the counter attack against my right by a force of unknown strength and composition.

This attack needs to be defeated in detail and the attacking platoons broken, so that I can make a push up the road towards my main objectives (the blue circles).

I will select the westernmost flame icon (battle) as it will allow me to use the maximum number of units - remember, the flame sits at the center of a matrix of 9 map squares on which the battle will take place.

It is almost certain that the action to follow will take care of both enemy attacks and there will be no further battles to be fought this turn - both 'flames' will go out.

As I have only the vaguest idea of where the enemy will appear and what their objective will be, and as I cannot entrench this turn, I decide to use the woods as the basis for my defense.

I hold one Pioneer platoon back as a mobile reserve. This force may need to rush to Pavlovka if the enemy comes from the north rather than the northeast.

I place a second Pioneer platoon on the right to either defend against a thrust via that route or launch a flanking attack should the enemy pass by along the line of the river.

Here is my artillery plan. TRPs 01 and 02 deal with my worst case scenario. TRP 03 relates to my assessment of the enemy's likely axis of advance.

In real life I would pre-plan several other fires, but APOS limits me to just three.

A Marder II covers the river crossing, one of two. Note the friendly infantry and SPGs in the woods to the right.

An aside... Look out for old defensive works indicated on the map as these can be used again should you move troops into the same area.

These are the Soviet entrenchments on West Pavlovka, giving an indication of what my troops faced during their earlier attacks on this position.

After waiting patiently for 15 minutes (I use time compression with a setting of pause game on enemy contact) a tank contact appears on the map, crossing the river at a point that has no TRP assigned.

A Soviet light tank is crossing the frozen Mzha.

I had failed to recon the river and only now do I realize that the ice supports armor! The river is not, in fact, the obstacle I assumed it to be! I deserve to be shot at dawn...

A second tank appears. The Soviet force seems to be making for Objective Bertha 4, potentially following a route that is currently undefended.

It's time to rush my mobile reserve, including one Marder, to a blocking position on the right. See map below.

A 7.5cm Heavy APC lies in wait, hoping for a flank shot on the Soviet tanks.

Soviet infantry are now reported in the woods, confirming my suspicions.

After a fleeting contact with my rightmost platoon, the enemy veers to his left. However, my lack of armor severely limits my options.

I have called in artillery on the enemy's new axis of advance.

The reserve platoon races along the road at the southern edge of the forest.

While Soviet light tanks and infantry enter the forest from the north.

At that moment the 7.5cm Heavy APC of the rightmost Pioneer Platoon glimpses one Soviet tank through the trees...

The Soviet tank passes through the Pioneer Platoon, knocking out the lone Heavy APC as it goes, and continues in the direction of Bertha 4.

The mobile reserve has arrived just in time to go into action against the first Soviet tank as it emerges from the trees.

The developing situation.