Decisively Beating the AI

[Harrybanana]

Turn 76: December 9, 1944

Surprisingly the Low Pressure Front dissipates and the good weather continues. Accordingly, 1st Army advances to within 40 miles of Berlin and more Germans are isolated. There is hope that the War will be over by Christmas after all. But my forward units are fatigued and a long way from the nearest supply depot.

[Harrybanana]

Turn 77: December 16, 1944

Another good turn as the German Army continues to fall apart. I am now at the gates of Berlin on 4 sides. But finishing the enemy off before the end of the year will still be difficult.
Sorry about the map screw up, but I'm sure you can fill in the missing piece.

[Harrybanana]

Turn 78: December 23, 1944

This turn I had the choice of either making a direct attack on Berlin to chance ending the game now; or trying to encircle and isolate it while the infantry moves up. I chose the latter, but failed in my effort to surround it.

[Harrybanana]

Turn 79: December 30, 1944

The only important screenshot for this turn. Berlin is surrounded, but holds out.

[Harrybanana]

Turn 80: January 6, 1945

But this time Victory is ours.

[Harrybanana]

And the final most important shot

[rickier65]

Thanks for posting this AAR. I plan to revisit it numerous times!

Thanks!
Rick

[Seminole]

Nice touch letting the Poles take Berlin!

[Subotei]

Great read, komrade. How close did the Russians get to linking up with you?

[Phleem]

This AAR is full of really good tips for new players, and so I want to get some search key words like strategy, guide, tips, into it, and also push it to the top of the AAR forum.

[Hofstadter]

Ive been using this as a guide. Problem is with his the AI does incredibly stupid thinks line the overly strong line at vienna and not contesting the invasions north it Piombilo or the hell. The AI in mine is tenacious as hell.

[Harrybanana]

The AI has been improved since I played this game. I will have to try another game against it at some point. But I doubt very much that it is anywhere near as good as even a competent human opponent.

[JonS]

Thanks for doing this Harry. I found the really clear, step-by-step instructions and descriptions - especially the ones on the first couple of pages - really useful.

One question, about this from the first (or second?) post:

m) I like to have 6 Airgroups that do all my reconnaissance. So I change the HQ of all of my high level recon Airgroups (those that include high level cameras in their load out) into either: RAF Transport Command, XII Troop Carrier Command, RAF Coastal Command or Coastal Command.

Does this still work, or has one of the patches changed something? Or I missed something? When I transfer anything into any of the Coastal or Tpt commands, I lose control of it, and cannot issue it any directives or orders. The aircraft seem to keep themselves busy - at least the ones in Coastal do - but I can't tell them what to do.

Jon

[Harrybanana]

I have never had this problem Jon. There are certain RAF Coastal and Coastal Command air groups (including one recon air group) that you can't issue orders to; but I have never had a problem setting recon or other naval interdiction air directives for either of these commands.

But if you are having problems than don't use them. Just use the Transport Command air groups for recon.

[JonS]

Weird - I can't use groups that are under Tpt HQs either.

There must be some setting I'm missing, but blowed if I know what it is

Edit: Arrgh. RAF Ftr Comd and 9th US AF are also both missing as HQs that can be given orders

Edit2: figured it out (the subtleties of the UI are taking me a while to learn ...)

[Michael Hobuss]

Thank you so much for taking the time to lay this all out.

[Zecke]

ORIGINAL: Harrybanana

Next you will want to examine the Map to see what happened during the German turn. Here is what I saw in the area around Sicily.




Not good, the invasion of Siracusa by the 5th Br Inf Div was repulsed. How did this happen? This attack had never failed in any previous games I had played. I put it down to the fact that this was my first game on the Challenging level. In fact the reason was probably because of my failure to give the GS mission to TAC AF.

Monty U GET the Glory as always BUT patton gets the HONOR;.........Trompetillaaaa

[Flicker]

Harry - this AAR is helpful to noobs like me. I like the specific instructions. Playing the AI is as good as it gets for me as playing a human is not practical. Thank you.