my campaign HARD lvl

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genBrooks
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my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby genBrooks » Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:03 pm

I've just saved the landing in Normandy (literally :) )
AI is very crafty at this level in fact, even if can't win it does everything to take at least a few points of prestige from me
Eg. Germans kicked me out of Pegasus Bridge hex during the last AI round, because I didn't protect myself from the east this time, I made a tiny mistake when was sure of victory and AI used it ruthlessly

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However, my progress at hard level is very promising IMHO ;) :lol:

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genBrooks
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby genBrooks » Mon Dec 09, 2019 6:19 pm

Battle of the Bulge is not winable for me at the moment :oops:
I think that I will focus on improving my score at the Classic level now, maybe I will fight to complete all tasks at this level
I wonder if anyone managed to finish the campaign at hard level :?: :roll:

Describe your achievements, please

EDIT. The problem is this scenario starts without deployment phase, I have 575 prestige points after previous maps but it gives me nothing because I have nothing to buy and my units need thorough reinforcement ( also gave SHEAF card instead of Lancester carpet-bombing during the last conference; I should throw away one of the "Paratroopers" cards :( )

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funky_trader
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby funky_trader » Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:02 am

Yeah, the lack of deployment phase can be nasty when you suddenly start with 2/3 steps semi-destroyed units, directly on the front line. And with classic/hard difficutly, you often have such a tight schedule that you can't afford to not attack on turn one. I can only suggest to plan ahead, know which of your units in your last scenario will start where in the next, and be ready to reinforce them prior to Battle of the Bulge.

Still, the current system sucks quite a bit. We need to be able to deploy/change starting location of units at game start. Otherwise, one bad win in the previous scenario can make the current one unwinnable

genBrooks
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby genBrooks » Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:19 am

funky_trader wrote:Yeah, the lack of deployment phase can be nasty when you suddenly start with 2/3 steps semi-destroyed units, directly on the front line. And with classic/hard difficutly, you often have such a tight schedule that you can't afford to not attack on turn one. I can only suggest to plan ahead, know which of your units in your last scenario will start where in the next, and be ready to reinforce them prior to Battle of the Bulge.

Still, the current system sucks quite a bit. We need to be able to deploy/change starting location of units at game start. Otherwise, one bad win in the previous scenario can make the current one unwinnable


Agree, but even SHEAF card would be helpful, when I also need to purchase specialists steps
The worst are these 2 entrenched German armored units near Bastogne (7 steps + Konigstiger) but I would definitely be able to do something against them with M10s, engineers and Priests combo. :lol:
Another difficulty is the smaller number of command points on hard level, because we have smaller achievements earlier, we are also not able to expand HQ, like we do at the Classic level, and therefore we have fewer special attacks to perform. :(

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Sjarlatan
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby Sjarlatan » Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:30 am

genBrooks wrote:Battle of the Bulge is not winable for me at the moment :oops:
I think that I will focus on improving my score at the Classic level now, maybe I will fight to complete all tasks at this level
I wonder if anyone managed to finish the campaign at hard level :?: :roll:

Describe your achievements, please
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I've completed a hard campaign. ;)

I'm stuck in studies till tuesday, I'll share more then! :)

sourdust
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby sourdust » Fri Dec 13, 2019 12:21 am

There is a good thread on Steam forums with some descriptions of Hard campaign wins. https://steamcommunity.com/app/809230/d ... 805547145/

I've done it with a final score of around 15000 I think, but the gold crown goes to Tigga who broke 17000!

The lower CP base is really challenging, but I found promotion of HQs did come quicker than I thought it would - possibly because I have fewer elite units, and standard units pass on much more xp gain to HQs.

The SHAEF card is critical, and knowing which scenario to use it on was always a tough choice.

Bulge is really hard. Consider SOE and/or paratroopers to put the bulge out of supply. You can also do this with a very determined tank thrust by Patton towards the Rhine. Once you break through, it will take pressure off both the Bulge and the Nordwind offensive area. Remember you don't have to hold Bastogne, you can evacuate it and just play conservative for a few turns while you attrit the enemy and work towards its supply lines. You just have to re-take Bastogne later.

Fortunately, things start to snowball your way a bit after the Bulge. I found the last half dozen scenarios not really any harder on "hard" than they were on "classic", but this probably depends on how much you have been able to build up your HQs!

genBrooks
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby genBrooks » Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:45 pm

Thanks for all comments
I restarted campaign, bought SHAEF card and finally won, paratroopers were helpful, too

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genBrooks
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby genBrooks » Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:55 pm

Another thing I noticed - it's good to continue map after completing all objectives when few turns remain
Every destroyed enemy's step (eg. during encirclement clearing) causes prestige injection, so I was able to expand some of my HQs

I'm very proud with my skills now - look at the pictures below:
1. I had to upgrade engineering skills of my HQs during last conference (big river crossing and assaulting: 3rd and 7th US Armies 2nd and 3rd level and 1st French Army 2nd level -> 250 prestige :!: ), so I had to play first scenario after conference without reinforcement :!: :!: :!:
2. I choose Po Valley, to accumulate some prestige for Northern Europe finish (very risky I suppose without major reinforcements and without advanced river crossing ability :!: :!: :!: )
3. but even without this all things I was able to finish Italian path and earned some additional funds for the rest maps - naval Commando card was helpful at the end but not decisive/critical

So I have 3 missions left, 300 prestige points and 2 cards: SHAEF and paratroopers brigade
Do You think I can handle :?: :lol: :roll:

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genBrooks
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Re: my campaign HARD lvl

Unread postby genBrooks » Sun Dec 15, 2019 1:59 pm

Finished :D

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