Grand Campaign West & East 39-45 (Manstein) [Epilogue]

[huckc]

Impressive as always! By the way, some screenshot links above don't show as photos?

Yes, as a way to mitigate spoilers and obnoxious scroll height. I really wish this forum had spoiler tags.

[goose_2]

Yeah

I was wrong I miscounted...sorry I am a moron.

Watching your playthrough I am not going to be able to pull off what you were able to pull off.

Now, I need to do some more research before I can make an attempt at this map, as I really want to get a Decisive on this one.

[huckc]

Yeah

I was wrong I miscounted...sorry I am a moron.

Watching your playthrough I am not going to be able to pull off what you were able to pull off.

Now, I need to do some more research before I can make an attempt at this map, as I really want to get a Decisive on this one.

No worries.

If I were in your shoes I probably wouldn't even bother with a DV attempt at +3 enemy strength and -75% prestige and experience. Instead going for a marginal and sniping the KV-1B capturable with paratroopers. The left flank is super pointy so even that would be difficult.

[huckc]

Oboyan

This is by far the easiest scenario in the entire grand campaign so I won't bore anyone with the details.

[huckc]

Oboyan (for real)






Joking aside, anyone who has played this scenario know how uniquely difficult it is. Arguably one of the hardest in the entire DLC collection.

The first few and the last few turns were the hardest. Every unit placement needed to be carefully thought out in the first few turns since my flanks were exposed to T-34s and assault guns. The middle turns were more relaxed except for two massive air waves with a powerful IL-2 in each.

Brought all my best units out with some over-strength.

Three Fallchies in the air. One to capture the SU-122 then hide with it in the forest and the other two to help out in the center then move wherever they were needed.



https://imgur.com/a/fnQ9RUX
Plan and turn log album





Result
Decisive Victory turn 19 of 22
Prestige:
Captured a SU-122 and M4 Sherman

[huckc]

Core Breakdown


72 units at 89729 prestige

[huckc]

Kursk Armory South






Reloaded turn 6 after a distracted blunder-fest. Despite that, I still lost a core unit in a careless blunder, making it my second loss total.

16 turns is an extremely short amount in having to take all the victory hexes. I also went for both capturable tanks. My plan worked out very well despite screwing up the execution in many places.



https://imgur.com/LCOuaLP
Plan

https://imgur.com/CyaNhRB
Opener and response. Forced five surrenders and nine other kills for a total of 14 enemy units eliminated from the battlefield on turn 1.

https://imgur.com/9nhQVB7
Turn 8 - Halfway through with a lot of work still needing done


Turn 16 - Captured the final victory hex in Kursk

Result
Decisive Victory turn 16 of 16
Prestige:
Captured both KV-85s but lost one of them by forgetting about it

[huckc]

Prohkorovka






Reloaded turn 15 after being caught woefully unprepared for the final counter-attack.

This is the third largest scenario in Panzer Corps in terms of core units with 51 at play.

A tank soup, not extremely complex in terms of tactics but strategically very difficult as there are many obvious ways of approaching things but few will garner a DV.

Enemy air is relentless and is a huge challenge. Then there's the counter-attack at the end with a great many veteran, fast moving tanks. It's important to know how the AI moves around the map when attacking, i.e. targeting your closest victory hex so if you have Prohkorovka already captured then they'll move to there otherwise they'll back-cap you. I find the latter optimal provided you garrison the victory hexes with strong infantry, while being able to shell Prohkorovka unfettered!


North: A small force with some weaker tanks and strong infantry. They will take a while to capture their victory hex which I'm ok with.
Center: The bulk of my forces, they'll be taking all the victory hexes south of the Psel in a massive wave.
Southeast: A token force to merely defend the bridgehead.

https://i.imgur.com/mDUIntX.jpg
Opener and response. Northern force in an air baiting posture, center aggressive, south defensive.

https://i.imgur.com/UcPAhoc.jpg
Turn 4 - Ready to launch on Belenikhino in a massive wave

https://i.imgur.com/s9lyZad.jpg
Turn 11 - Halfway point

https://i.imgur.com/8nTSvnd.jpg
Turn 17 - Counter-attack by the Guards Armor


Turn 22 - Captured hill 247 for the decisive victory!



Result
Decisive Victory turn 22 of 22
Prestige:
Reload on turn 15

[jugasa]

Core Breakdown
72 units at 89729 prestige

I have a question: there is too many core units.
That this means that the more prestige you have the more core units you can display?
Or is it that you have 72 units but can display less?
I haven't play Prokorovka, I haven't got DLC43East yet.

[huckc]

Core Breakdown
72 units at 89729 prestige

I have a question: there is too many core units.
That this means that the more prestige you have the more core units you can display?
Or is it that you have 72 units but can display less?
I haven't play Prokorovka, I haven't got DLC43East yet.

Hey jugasa, I list the total number of units in my core as a way to approximate my total 'net worth' since prestige is only half of the equation. The game never limits how many units you can have, only how many you can deploy per scenario.

[jugasa]

Core Breakdown
72 units at 89729 prestige

I have a question: there is too many core units.
That this means that the more prestige you have the more core units you can display?
Or is it that you have 72 units but can display less?
I haven't play Prokorovka, I haven't got DLC43East yet.

Hey jugasa, I list the total number of units in my core as a way to approximate my total 'net worth' since prestige is only half of the equation. The game never limits how many units you can have, only how many you can deploy per scenario.

Hey, huckc. I understand: you can have all the units you want but you can only deploy a limit fixed by the scenario.
We can disband a unit we don't want but, can we retreat a unit to the reinforcement pool to change it for another one of the pool you already have without losing it? A mean, can we substitute units in the middle of a scenario?

[huckc]

I have a question: there is too many core units.
That this means that the more prestige you have the more core units you can display?
Or is it that you have 72 units but can display less?
I haven't play Prokorovka, I haven't got DLC43East yet.

Hey jugasa, I list the total number of units in my core as a way to approximate my total 'net worth' since prestige is only half of the equation. The game never limits how many units you can have, only how many you can deploy per scenario.

Hey, huckc. I understand: you can have all the units you want but you can only deploy a limit fixed by the scenario.
We can disband a unit we don't want but can we retreat a unit to the reinforcement pool to change it for another one of the pool you already have without losing it? A mean, can we substitute units in the middle of a scenario?

Only in the rare scenario that has the special marked 'E' hexes. You can then move a unit on it and it will instantly transport to the reserve pool and another (or same) unit can be deployed in its place.

[huckc]

Dnipropetrovsk






Very easy one, provided you plug up the Stari Kodaky dual bridge on the first turn. That bridgehead is then great for forcing surrenders. The vast majority of enemy units on the map would never set foot on the western bank.

Ran up an amazing number of surrenders, mostly on the bridges. Didn't count but it was a couple dozen total for roughly 3000 prestige in payouts which far exceeded the prestige per turn bonus.



https://imgur.com/xtu9qoH
Turn 2 - With Stari Kodaky plugged it was easy to destroy what remained on the western bank

https://imgur.com/fB90sYn
Turn 9 - Halfway checkpoint and a lull at Dnipropetrovsk

https://imgur.com/8A2UUae
Turn 13 - More tanks arriving to surrender at Stari Kodaky


Turn 18 - Final turn, time to fan out to get some last flags and a couple more surrenders before finally capturing the Dniprove for last victory hex

Result
Decisive Victory turn 18 of 18

[huckc]

Kremenchug






Medium difficulty scenario. Highly optimized opening move to destroy all the enemy artillery before the first wave of attackers. Would then form a series of defensive lines culminating south of the Dnieper then pushing forward to re-take all the victory hexes before the buzzer.

Wasn't too concerned about the naval landings, just stuck some strong infantry in the two cities who would gain enough entrenchment so that they'll never be attacked. I did destroy the guards infantry and artillery before they had a chance to land, just in case. The only units that were able to then land were conscripts and the towed anti-tank, neither of which would ever attack my entrenched infantry without lots of artillery support.



https://imgur.com/pQ5TAQS
Opener and response

https://imgur.com/JizW8v8
Turn 6 - All the forward enemy artillery destroyed and hit with the first wave of attackers

https://imgur.com/74cmE55
Turn 7 - Fighting retreat

https://imgur.com/Ihrvw7n
Turn 8 - Final defensive position south of the Dnieper

https://imgur.com/hHEMMYv
Turn 13 - First attack all but cleared out and re-taking Soloshyne which spotted the tip of the final wave of attackers


Turn 18 - The line held around Soloshyne despite Lt. Prihodtzev getting in a nice final shot on one my tanks

Result
Decisive Victory turn 18 of 18
Prestige: 1
Second straight scenario without needing a mulligan

[goose_2]

Sevastopol Siege
Prestige: 53991 with 60 units
Soft Cap: 100%



Relatively easy one, provided you proceed with caution before hitting the southern coast. Bring recon and only hit Alushta in full force when all your units are ready.

There's also powerful armor to the south and at this level they're strong enough to attack my veteran tanks profitably, not a big deal as you have plenty of slots (and turns) to absorb having a tank or three knocked out of the battle. Also bring strategic bombers to destroy the powerful warships along the southern coast.





Turn 2 - Dashing south


Turn 5 - Assaulting Alushta in the south and taking big hits from enemy armor. Hopefully that's the last of them!


Turn 6 - All northern victory hexes captured


Turn 9 - Moving further south to take the final three victory hexes along the coast


Turn 14 - All victory hexes captured. Siege is a go!

Result
Decisive Victory turn 14 of 18
Prestige: 57526 with 60 units

I used this and my previous post on Manstein for this scenario's preparation as there is nothing on the internet.

Thanks for posting buddy, I think you will probably finish your playthrough before I can get there in my 45 East Manstein playthrough as I am still waiting to get possible help figuring out how to record my gameplay on youtube, I am hoping one of my sins homeschool friends can help out.

Still holding out hope, but might be beyond me...for now.

[huckc]

I used this and my previous post on Manstein for this scenario's preparation as there is nothing on the internet.

Thanks for posting buddy, I think you will probably finish your playthrough before I can get there in my 45 East Manstein playthrough as I am still waiting to get possible help figuring out how to record my gameplay on youtube, I am hoping one of my sins homeschool friends can help out.

Still holding out hope, but might be beyond me...for now.

Happy to help.

I thought about recording for youtube myself but don't think I can actually live stream these later scenarios on Manstein. GC East 43+ is incredibly difficult I'm finding, although I'm already a few scenarios into 44.

[goose_2]

I used this and my previous post on Manstein for this scenario's preparation as there is nothing on the internet.

Thanks for posting buddy, I think you will probably finish your playthrough before I can get there in my 45 East Manstein playthrough as I am still waiting to get possible help figuring out how to record my gameplay on youtube, I am hoping one of my sins homeschool friends can help out.

Still holding out hope, but might be beyond me...for now.

Happy to help.

I thought about recording for youtube myself but don't think I can actually live stream these later scenarios on Manstein. GC East 43+ is incredibly difficult I'm finding, although I'm already a few scenarios into 44.

Dude you have been able to achieve a lot more success than I was able to garner, you should be fine.

[huckc]

Kiev 43






I found this one pretty easy, to the point of experiencing tedious ambiguity.

Using my highest close defense tanks to form a line in Kiev, each having two powerful artillery pieces behind except for my tank with +5 close defense who only has one. Was lucky with the weather in having no rain which would cause the enemy infantry to attack my tanks due to not seeing the artillery behind. Two straight turns of rain could blow up my line, although the odds of that happening at least once over course of the scenario is only 7% roughly.

In the south I opted to let the paratroopers come to me in favorable open terrain.



https://imgur.com/5CmMLyY
Turn 2 - Line formed in Kiev and paratroopers coming to greet me.

https://imgur.com/lYUsLRK
Turn 11 - Halfway point


Turn 22 - All objectives secured and grabbing any last flags I can reach

Result
Decisive Victory turn 22 of 22

[huckc]

Korsun Pocket






The start of '44 and an extremely difficult defensive scenario. My brain was also on vacation and needed a mulligan on round 3.


Southwest: All tanks in the mostly open terrain
Southeast: Placed strong infantry in the cities to inhibit movement with some strong tanks to do most of the killing
Northwest: Oleh Dir and a Fallschirmjäger to guard the flank
Northeast: Some strong tanks and two Fallschirmjägers to guard the flank there as well


Turn 1 - Quadruple chained air bait, a personal record

https://imgur.com/VrY00Iz
Turn 2 - Initial wave with more air bait

https://imgur.com/evt6Cd6
Turn 13 - The fourth air transport shows up needed for the DV, just need to hold out until it arrives above the air field


Turn 15 - Able to hold out with some of my lines in chaos

Result
Decisive Victory turn 15 of 20

[PeteMitchell]

Turn 1 - Quadruple chained air bait, a personal record

Very nice gif animation, how do you do this?