Roundup '43 vs Overlord '44
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:08 pm
In most of the similar games I've played over the years from this and other companies, either the designer, or the AI in its infinite wisdom, prefer to launch the liberation of Western Europe in 1943, rather than 1944. Historians are divided on the issue.
Whichever course one thinks best, the bottom line was once they decided to do Torch, they had decided to wait until 1944. Roundup '43 meant no Torch.
My view as a historian is that the Allies did best to go in 1944, not 1943. So when I was playing Warplan as the Axis and the Allies landed in Morocco and Algeria in July 1942, I was pleased to see that the game reflected my concept of this question.
Unfortunately, the AI didn't reinforce its initial success, as I pored reinforcements into Tunisia. Instead I could see new American units popping up in England.
Eventually, I counterattacked and retook Algiers and Oran. The surviving Americans retreated into Morocco and, with one exception, withdrew! I thought that this was very strange.
When the weather cleared, just as I was finishing up my operation to wipe out Vichy and had more troops available than necessary (never having invaded Vichy before and not knowing what to expect), The AI launched Roundup!
It invaded along the entire Atlantic front from the Netherlands, to the south coast of the Brittany Peninsula. Apparently, the AI believes in the "Broad Front" strategy. Total debacle! Between the disaster in Algeria and the suicidal Roundup fiasco, the Allies did nothing in 1944. (The Soviets are also collapsing.)
Has anyone seen the AI execute a better invasion strategy, in 43 or 44? Will the AI always come in 43? Even with Torch?
Thanks.
Whichever course one thinks best, the bottom line was once they decided to do Torch, they had decided to wait until 1944. Roundup '43 meant no Torch.
My view as a historian is that the Allies did best to go in 1944, not 1943. So when I was playing Warplan as the Axis and the Allies landed in Morocco and Algeria in July 1942, I was pleased to see that the game reflected my concept of this question.
Unfortunately, the AI didn't reinforce its initial success, as I pored reinforcements into Tunisia. Instead I could see new American units popping up in England.
Eventually, I counterattacked and retook Algiers and Oran. The surviving Americans retreated into Morocco and, with one exception, withdrew! I thought that this was very strange.
When the weather cleared, just as I was finishing up my operation to wipe out Vichy and had more troops available than necessary (never having invaded Vichy before and not knowing what to expect), The AI launched Roundup!
It invaded along the entire Atlantic front from the Netherlands, to the south coast of the Brittany Peninsula. Apparently, the AI believes in the "Broad Front" strategy. Total debacle! Between the disaster in Algeria and the suicidal Roundup fiasco, the Allies did nothing in 1944. (The Soviets are also collapsing.)
Has anyone seen the AI execute a better invasion strategy, in 43 or 44? Will the AI always come in 43? Even with Torch?
Thanks.