PBEM AAR, Belphegor vs. Oleg - Belphegor thread

[Belphegor]

Oleg and I have agreed to post the play by play of our next game, which will start tonight. I have promised not to read his thread and vice versa. Feel free to comment, but do not give me any indication by those comment about what Oleg is doing. We have already played a game to completion, and secrecy was one major factor in my 'almost' winning. [:D]

This time, it will be different.

[Belphegor]

This particular scenario can be many things. Although it does generally move down to a meeting engagement. You will notice that my forces start mainly in sectors 12 and 7, and I need to be in sectors 6 and 1. Oleg will need sector 12. The red numbers, in particular the left number indicate absolute numbers of my troops in each sector.

As you will see later, there are two ways to get there fast. Along the ridge in sector 7, or over the bridges in sector 8.

I have a few units out to scout, 1 battalion will move forward west to sector 6. 1 battalion to guard the river crossings in 12, and the last to conduct a mobile defence and delaying action depending on which way he comes.

[Belphegor]

Okay, note to self. Don't expect Oleg to wait for you to deploy. I got shot up moving along the road to my chosen position. I didn't think he was that far down the road already. In the screenshot you can see my lead element (before it gets annihilated) circled. Arrow shows general line of movement along the road.

I need to watch my waypoint timings and command delays more closely. This road move didn't go well at all. Everyone started out backwards, my AD led the way, followed by my mortars who ran into something I never saw, got their butts kicked before they were able to withdraw and finally then the mech troops moved, but didn't encounter the same problems along the road. I would have been fine if I hadn't moved so far north this turn but had the patience to wait for everyone to be in position before proceeding to the watch points.

End result? I lost a lot of good troops to no benefit and gave away one of my locations. I am not going to move the troops on the ridge forward, I am going to wait for Oleg's response to this turn. I haven't played this scenario before, and I don't look at the other side, so I have no idea what I am up against.
Just a quick note, the graphics do look much nicer, I had to shrink and scale this image to fit and thus did not help the appearance.

[Belphegor]

I am quite happy to show anyone what they want to see. If nobody comments you will have to make do with what I come up with. This turn was much better for me. I didn't lose anything. I called in arty on the last positions of the American troops, and missed. The first barrage landed 1 minute into the turn resolution, so I am pretty sure he hadn't had a chance to move, so I just missed.

This particular image is sector 12, in the lower right of the map. My HQ got a lot of radio traffic this turn, so it is definitely time to move. When I move my HQ I really prefer to time the moves. I don't want it to start and finish the move in a few minutes, then be stationary for over 20. Not good with his air power available, so I have edited the waypoints to make at least a 5 minute stop at each. I have chosen route march to get moving fast as I expect he will shell me given an opportunity thus I want my HQ on the move and away before it lands.

Must go eat, I will edit this with more info later...

[Belphegor]

Oleg is deploying FASCAM in the yellow circled area. I have a sneaking suspicion that he believes my attack was moving in that direction. It is too bad I am not in a position to exploit that by coming round the other way. It will be nice if he is deploying to defend in that area.

He is mining the roads, and the good cover areas. If he continues, I won't worry too much about him coming through that way.

My units in the woods/ridge will move along for a short ways, I don't want to be caught out by him, but at this point I don't even know if he is expecting me to attack or is preparing one of his own...

[Belphegor]

Now some of his mines are visible to my mech forces. I am going to do something stupid. The hilltop (with the very full white colour) has LOS over most of the valley (what a surprise.) I am going to take a peek from up there and look out over the area hilighted... it will either be empty of Oleg's units, or I am gonna get crushed again for sticking my forces out unsupported. I also don't really have the time to waste if he has decided on a defensive game. I was expecting him to attack; so if I shift to the attack I have a long way to travel, and I will have to do it properly so I don't lose too many runners in the battle. Next few turns I will have to decide.

[Custer1961]

It is fascinating. Could you label your posts with a turn number. It would be easier to follow.

[Belphegor]

Turn numbers coming up...

This is my turn 6, 18 turns left. I am going to advance to contact. Based on the radio traffic levels on the Nato side, I think Oleg is dug in and waiting. I'll oblige him. I haven't reached the hilltop yet, so I won't decide on an approach route until I can see more.

This screenshot shows the ridge, and the small road to the north of it. Unfortunately I can't show you all the map at once without shrinking it too far; I'll try next turn. I am going to run that scout platoon along the road (SLOWLY!) and see what is out there. My mech forces in the trees/ridge cannot be seen by the road. I will only get noticed if Oleg is also in the woods, or on one of the few locations that can see the ridgeline. The large red circle is visible to various units of mine, although not all locations I think I have enough to be comfortable that he is not there. I wish I had more time to do this.

I am not going to commit the force at Norderfurt (city/bridges in sector 12) until Oleg shows his hand. I am hoping that this central sector will be key, and considering I beleive I hold the ridge I will have less problem ejecting Oleg.

And I think I just found a way to put more than one picture in a post, so more screenies next turn (if there is something to tell you)

[Custer1961]

Hi Belphegor,
How do the level of radio communications lead you to believe your opponent is dug in?
Have you decided the size of the force you are up against?
Do you have air assets? Can air assets aid you in spotting enemy units?
Did the early casualties affect the morale of your other units?
Could you, if possible, explain a little more how spotting works in the game? This seems to be very, very important considering the lethality of the weapons being used.

[Catphish]

This game looks great I can not wait fot it
been waiting for a WWIII game for a long time
has for thee scenarios how many and what is the largest amount of forces you can pit against each other ( is there a limt to the amount of units on the map

will I be able to edit the scenarios

thank you

[Belphegor]

I spent over an hour answering this, then it didn't post... stay tuned I'll do it again

ORIGINAL: Custer

Hi Belphegor,
How do the level of radio communications lead you to believe your opponent is dug in?
Have you decided the size of the force you are up against?
Do you have air assets? Can air assets aid you in spotting enemy units?
Did the early casualties affect the morale of your other units?
Could you, if possible, explain a little more how spotting works in the game? This seems to be very, very important considering the lethality of the weapons being used.

[Belphegor]

How do the level of radio communications lead you to believe your opponent is dug in?

Oleg's radio activity levels are much lower than mine and have been consistantly lower throughout the game. You can adjust unit reporting on a number of events such as delayed movement, sighting, engaging, and reaching a destination as well as the frequency of such reports.

Either Oleg has turned these down (and is thus not getting up to date info of the battlefield) or he isn't generating much radio traffic. Since we haven't spotted each other or fired for some time it should be low, but it is so low compared to mine I must make the assumption that he isn't moving either. Or at least not much is moving.

[Belphegor]

Have you decided the size of the force you are up against?

I have no idea at present time. This is one of the few scenarios I hadn't played partially or completely in the testing to date. That is why I chose it. I have no idea what I am up against (feels more true to life that way, I know the opposite can also be argued.) I also haven't peeked at the NATO startup forces for the scenario although Oleg's deployment could radically differ from the default deployment.

It will be key for me deciding how hard I press the attack.

[Belphegor]

Do you have air assets? Can air assets aid you in spotting enemy units?

Funny you should ask... I just got some helicopters as reinforcements. They will definitely be moving forward to see what's going on. And hopefully live to tell about it.

[Belphegor]

Did the early casualties affect the morale of your other units?

It didn't do much for my morale [;)], but other units on the battlefield seem to be made of sterner stuff.

Actually, I don't think the effects of morale loss affect other units on the battlefield. I could be wrong; the designer may correct me on that.

[Belphegor]

Could you, if possible, explain a little more how spotting works in the game? This seems to be very, very important considering the lethality of the weapons being used.

spotting and sighting...

they are spotted if they are the enemy and on the map. They are sighted if they are the enemy and my troops can see them (and thus fire at them)

There are two ranges; how far away a unit can spot enemy units, and how far away it can be seen by others. These ranges are affected by weather, and of course max vis range (daylight, night...)

Other factors are what the unit is doing. Much easier to spot a unit conducting an attack than one dug in and sitting quietly (posture)

terrain (cover) also plays an obvious role. There are hotkeys for examining cover and elevation of each location on the map as well as LOS from that location.

If you need me to elaborate please ask again.

[Belphegor]

ORIGINAL: Catphish

This game looks great I can not wait fot it
been waiting for a WWIII game for a long time
has for thee scenarios how many and what is the largest amount of forces you can pit against each other ( is there a limt to the amount of units on the map

will I be able to edit the scenarios

thank you

There are two scenario editors in the game. One is basically an instant battle generator, the other let's you design in more detail. The stock scenarios are password protected (and you can password protect the scenarios you make)
There are I believe about 20 scenarios including 2 tutorial scenarios in the game. I'll have to get back to you on largest number of units in a single battle.

[Belphegor]

Turn 7, 17 turns left.

Not much new this turn. Some Hinds as reinfocements have just arrived and will be very handy indeed in determining Oleg's locations. I don't have a screenshot for you this turn, nothing moved, and nothing new happened. Waiting for orders to filter down to the units that need them.

[wodin]

Ive posted over at Warfare HQ for them to come and look at this AAR.

I wasnt really into Nato vs Warsaw however this AAR has sold the game to me.

[Belphegor]

I think it is quite the fun game with enough detail to keep me starry eyed. I don't pay enough attention to the detail sometimes (and pay for it against players like Oleg) My first inclination is not this era either; I don't consider myself a hardcore fan of the times but this game is accessible to me.

Please excuse the break in play, Oleg and I both thought the other had the file (as happens in pbem games) and we are back on track now.

ORIGINAL: wodin

Ive posted over at Warfare HQ for them to come and look at this AAR.

I wasnt really into Nato vs Warsaw however this AAR has sold the game to me.