Matrix Games Forums

We have added a multitude of new features to Battles in Normandy, so I thought I'd explain some of them.

There are three frames to the pic below. The first frame shows a situation from the main campaign game. The US 2nd Armored division has to move, but doesn't really know what its up against.

The second frame shows what happens if we just move the units in the general direction of the enemy. More units are revealed, but we still don't know who they are.

The third frame shows what happens if we use a recon unit. The anonymous units are revealed as the Panzer Lehr. If you don't want to tangle with them, (and many don't), then the Recon unit still has enough OPs to return to the safety of the lines.

Gregor

This is really a great feature, and one I had wanted badly in some of the more tactical wargames (say, platoon/company level) in the past. It's nice to have recon units that actually take time to perform their primary mission! [8D]

You will find that in Battles in Normandy, units tend now to perform their historical missions and/or perform in more historical ways.

Flak units are needed,especially by the Germans, to protect lines of communications. While you can put 88s into the front line, its a desperate and short term measure for which you could well be made to pay later.

The new OP and Reserve rules make it almost impossible to continually move. All units benefit from a refit behind the lines, and for units intended for a breakthrough, it's almost compulsory.

Gregor

The use of Recon units to the game really does add a new dimension to the series. Recon units not only allow you to 'see' what units are ahead due to their better 'recon' abilities - but they are also very mobile units. During testing there have been many occassions where a Recon unit has dashed through a gap and taken out a high profile asset like some ART or HQ/Supply units. The choice you have to make is.. do you send the Recon unit in for the 'attack' knowing that it may not make it out again

Gregor also mentions the Flak units. This also adds a new dimension to the game.. arrhh! the choices again! Do you commit your 88's to the front line level them out and use them for anti tank duties.. which they are quite effective at! Or do you keep them behind the lines keeping the allied interidiction at bay?! I tell you what.. that ones a hard choice.. esp when the german units are thin on the ground.. I have been caught out a few times with my 88's in the line and then to find that the damn allied planes have caused me all sorts of problems by cutting my supplies!

Grrr!!

We will shortly commence an AAR in these forums so you can all get a bit of a look at what you can expect from the game.. in the mean time.. head over to the Run5 site (http://run5.wargamer.com) - there are already two AARs in the Battles in Normandy forum of the Discission board there!

Its not long now lads!

Its not long now lads!
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LADs ??? [:D]


Just kidding. Lads is what Higgins called his Dobermans in Magnum PI...

This is a terrific post.

It is the kind of post that ought to be in all development forums – showing off features of the games.

And this is an excellent feature. It s important of course that the recon unit has very little in the way of attack or defence factors – so they cannot swamp a enemy unit.
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