c3k

More... Abrams got lased, popped and backed away. (Oh, this is when the folks complaining about BFC nerfing the Russians really need to speak up. I'd love some nerfed Russkis about now. ) But at least something took my attention away from my Abrams... Hmm, I wonder how that turned out for Red 1? Ow. I allowed a moment to pass, then I kept going. It's what I do. I honor my men by ignoring their sacrifice. Really. More...

Turn 2: 29:00 to 28:00 A Good Turn. Not. First, a tease... Enough of that. IanL may be leading a charge across the bridge sooner than he'd like. The turn was bloody. As bad as I'd feared it could go. If I feared for my men, that is. As it was, I merely poured another measure of scotch and continued with my baccarat, while eyeing that mysterious brunette. Oh, the game? and then... No use crying over spilt milk. I'll gather whatever survivors there are, give 'em some weapons, and order them into the battle! No moping in my army!

Hmmm, 1 Trillion (capitalized, because that much money SHOULD be) dollars? Ooh, that could reduced the current on-book deficit by...6%. The biggest threat to the US is not the Russian air force. It is the US monetary policy. Back to the topic... The Russians have some great tech and great weapons. However, their economy prevents them from pursuing the old "quantity has a quality all its own" meme. Even if Putin orders production without payment (which he can do), the numbers of weapons they can put up are too few. Sure, they may get an E3 or two. (BTW, what scenario do you think the E3's and their fighters practice the most? If you guess "an enemy attack on the E3", you'd be close.) But, so what? Splash an E3. Okay, US tosses another one up. What forces would the Russians have lost to get that momentary advantage? How many of those AWACS raids could they carry out? The US is used to profligate weapons purchases. Compare the number of 5th Generation fighters (F22/F35) the US is committed to buying (money allocated, not dream plans by the USAF brass). Compare that to EVERY OTHER NATION'S (combined) numbers. Do the same exercise with M1A2 SEP. The Russians are talking Armata. Great. How many? Not to be sanguine, or even arrogant, about it, but the US does not have an oppo in the same league. Some areas are near-equality. (Look at the hackers used by different nations, or some of the Russian missile tech.) But, overall, I think the nearest military threat to the US would be China. That's based on the modernization drive and the economy supporting it. (However, even that seems to be falling apart a bit.) Not to say the US can keep up the current level of military expenditure, either. True power is based on the economy.

It depends on the ROE. So, get the politicians and lawyers out of it (or, better yet, put them INTO it), and then you'd see why no one builds air superiority helicopters. A few squirters may get out, short flights, good terrain, but they'd be the lucky ones. If there is any type of counter-air orbit flying, anything coming up would die. US sensor tech is very, very good. The networking is just as good. The benefit of the new generation F22/F35 is supercruise. They define the air to air engagement criteria. When, where, how, and how often. The limiting factor would be the number of missiles carried. But that's why multiple flights are stacked and racked ready to go. Again, ROE is key. The limit is not technology, it's political will.

^^^ LOL! I -thought- I saw you in there! That's good. Thanks for it. You may have an exceptionally glooooorrrrriiiiiiooooouuuusssss role to play. Prepare yourself. Ken

The only beauty I see is my arty... I haven't spotted any of DMS' units. I don't expect to for another few turns. I don't know what I could've given up to get a UAV. They cost ~300 points, about the same as a squad. Perhaps I should've given up (blind) firepower for intel? But I really think the endgame will be determined by generated firepower and the ability to maneuver. A squad gives two maneuver units... As my units move, the Brad comes out of its defensive smoke...and gets lased. Luckily, nothing physical follows the photons. My plans remain in place: The Abrams HUNT to the top of the hill. I hope the see something. The Red Brads are on a wild death ride. That path takes advantage of a few dips and some screening from foliage, but at some parts, they are totally exposed. Here's hoping APS works and DMS doesn't toss anything 125mm my way. The lased Brad tells me that my guys are more exposed than I'd thought. They flee to the Low Ground and then disperse down the road. The Brads will go to the white circle. From there, guard the right flank, and pour their men into the town. Now that I've established an artillery pattern, DMS is probably adjusting to it. I'll stop it next turn. If my HQ Brad survives dropping the Javs off in the copse, I may toss the FO up there too. Then I'll back the Brad out, and find some low ground for it. It'll be part of the Abrams maneuver unit. Two up, two moving. The TOW missiles won't be as useful as its optics. 8 optics are better than 6. Ken

The first turn... My planned arty: Hey, as long as nothing goes long, it's all legal. Or so. No way to keep DMS penned in, but I hope to make him adjust his moves. Into the town, or around his right flank all are okay. Just not a bridge rush. Here's my at start... Tanks to the hill in front, Brads to its right, Humvees toward the green field on the right. Gotta get out of the pen. Immediately, he starts pounding the high ground. He doesn't want me there? Hah! It's like a magnet to me! Keep sending the HE, DMS, and I'll keep shoving my men at it! My Brad gets lased totally unexpectedly. I didn't think anything could have LOS to that spot so soon. Hmmm, Space Marines? more...

LOL... More in-depth later. My initial plan is to seize the observation points I circle, upstream, with Abrams and my 2 Jav teams. I've ordered the Abrams, as a platoon, up near the red circle. The HQ track is golden, and like a golden egg, has much of value in it. It's rushing up to the green circle area to drop off the 2 Jav teams. Then, the Jav teams will work whichever way seems best. Meantime, my Doom Platoon and I are rushing out of the setup zone, roughly following the blue arrow, from above. Red and White are going in between 3rd Platoon and Doom Platoon. It's a gamey objective rush. I want to get out of the setup zone, fast. If I can get some men into the town, I can exert power on the bridge before DMS. That's why I dropped a linear fire mission along the road from his setup zone to the bridge, and have the Abrams going to the OP. I need to slow DMS down. Or, at least, make the obvious path non-viable. I expect him to flank me on my right. What am I doing about that? For now...nothing. I'll get eyes on his escarpment. If he comes down into the valley, the shadow of death be on him! ; ) My plan involves infilitrating the town, and then, at about 20 minutes in, dropping smoke on the far side of the bridge. A platoon of men will escort me onto the bridge, and then the mayhem will really begin! My turn has been sent. The die is cast. Etc.

Yep, first turn mortar barrage ordered. : ) I put a linear, light, general, 4 barrel along the road leading from his setup zone to the bridge/village. I hope I get some! Pix of it later.

More on my forces... First, let's look at me. The QB purchase TOE are different (more granular) than the in-game editor. So, I had to purchase a Task Force. That has an HQ as an Abrams. Much as I would like to ride in one onto the bridge, DMS would cry foul. Sheesh. So, I destroyed the Abrams (the editor is all powerful). That puts the XO in command. That's how Ian and I got this done. More forces... The point cap made it difficult to allocate units. So, as described, I stripped the AT teams out of one squad per platoon and tossed them in the HQ track. That's a lot of eggs in one ERA basket. Shrug. Their lives are immaterial. Another "oops": the Humvees are recce Humvees. Shouldn't be. That adds the LRAS device. Not worth much except as a bullet shield. Of course, I need to motivate my men. So, I've copied my pre-battle motivational speech. Copy it if you want. It works quite well. Ken

The very rough outline of a plan is to gain some overwatch, push a swarming force into the village, and try to control the battle from a distance. The overwatch forces will attrit him down, the swarmers will, err, swarm the bridge. I may be able to hide amongst them. I mean "stride" amongst them. Getting on the FAR side of the bridge, then working back, may be better than trying to advance across it at the end. Shrug. Here are some LOS vantages... ..and, Finally: more...

The game is afoot! Pix, because it's easier to see... This is my setup zone and my forces. I've got 3 platoons (2 mech inf, 1 tank) under a coy hq. Attached to the coy hq are 3 Humvees with snipers. Over them all is me. The bridge, boxed, is the goal... In the endgame, I foresee some close in swarming around the bridge. My setup zone gives me an advantage. These buildings overlook the bridge. (Remember, DMS had the choice of choosing setup zones or force: he chose force.) As much as they look nice, I'm anticipating CLOUDS of smoke... I don't think long range shots will be possible. Also, since DMS took Russians, the river won't be much of an obstacle. I'm sure he'll go amphib, and try to work the flanks and rear. Here's an overview... More...

Read Neal Asher... Space Lobsters are nothing to laugh at. The Prador Empire almost wiped us out.

I'll rewind and watch a turn many times. Slow it, pause it, zoom in, all the cinematic moves...There is so much going on, that often that is the only way to catch it. Will I use the rewind to track an inflight shell back to its source? Hell yeah. Reload a turn? Sometimes. But it always makes me feel a little dirty. Not in a bad way, mind you. Seriously, I'll only reload if I've really messed up or if I'm trying to figure something out. Usually, I will not. It "robs" me of a victory at the end of the game. Ken

Well, I had to chop a LOT off my force to meet the 7500 cap. One of the chopped was the 400 point Raven drone. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. But, I really wanted 2 squads per platoon, minimum. That meant 2 Brads, each platoon. (Javs, mobility, 25mm chaingun, APS, TOW.) Each Abrams was 1,000 points. That's what I get for not checking qb points before tossing down a challenge. I had to drop from 4 to 3 Abrams. That really hurt. I want PAIRS of units to support one another. One pair watches, one pair moves. 3 tanks hurts... IanL is taking our QB purchases and transferring them into the battle. Once I get that file, I'll take screenies and post more. Meantime, from the archives... http://community.battlefront.com/topic/109152-white-manor-aar-c3k-as-allies/ Presented for your enjoyment while we wait. (If you get the chance, sfhand is a pleasure to have a game with.) Ken

Yeah. In-game, the Arena system has a higher miss chance. It's low, but higher than Arena. Remember, there are 21 (?) wedges. They should overlap. If several get used, such that a gap appears, it only takes a slight turret rotation to keep some protection pointed at the area the previous threats came from. The game, right now, does not model each Arena cartridge and pie wedge. That's a little too granular. Instead, it takes a system approach to the tank's defensive suite. How many separate ATGM gunners on the battlefield would all know to aim at the same point, and then could? "Hans, fire at wedge 17!" The game gives a slight benefit to the Russians in this regard. Ken

I have few tactical tenets I follow. However, those that I do follow, are the bedrock of victory. I shall, against my better judgement, share them. 1. My men need to attack the enemy to win. 2. If my men are shooting, they may not have the enemy nearby. It could be wasted ammo. 3. If my men are being shot, then they have found the enemy. 4. If my men are bleeding, then they are doing their job of engaging the enemy. Therefore, as long as my men are falling, I am winning. I hear the voices of the naysayers muttering their usual deprecatory insults. But I also notice that every time I look for men for my next battle, I see YOUR men inside my machine, trying to get my attention. Oh, yes, they smell victory in the offing as much as I do. Now, I must prepare for my pre-battle speech. The one which will fill my men with such fervor that nothing will make them swerve from their purpose. I may copy something from Mel Gibson in "Braveheart". Or maybe some lyrics. Perhaps Beyonce? I'm off!

Hmm. I thought I saw this with dismounted ATGM teams. I'm pretty sure of it. (I was killing off the ammo carrier and watching how many missiles were left.) Of course, I could be wrong. Off to test...

Ammo in GREEN (on the right side of the unit information panel) is ammo which is available by whatever means. Shared, etc. Ammo in WHITE is that which the unit possesses. (Also, some missiles are graphically depicted with an "x" number in the UI panel. E.g., "x2" showing 2 of that weapon.) If it's not in white, they are not carrying it. Ken

Stop thinking and go make a thread! I'm already winning!!!

Okay, first things first. 7,500 points? What was I thinking? That's not a lot. Not by a stretch. I was imagining a multi-company engagement with arty and air. All inside of 30 minutes. Sigh. I'm not a big QB player. And it shows. 7,500 points buys a single understrength company. My plan...I want to bombard DMS' setup zone, as allowed, in the second minute of the game. That's just to piss him off! Once he's off his equilibrium, it will be that much easier to topple him! Also, I need something to fight his Tunguskas. Of COURSE he's going to buy some. Wouldn't you? Also, I'll lay some smoke on his side of the bridge, so I can get my commander on it. Based on my self-imposed point austerity, all I can afford is a 4 piece 120mm mortar platoon. So, that's in. For combat power, I've got 2 Bradley (APS) mech platoons, but understrength. 2 tracks, 2 squads, each platoon. A third platoon is made up 3 elite APS Abrams. Hey! C'mon, it's MY AAR! These are the guys I'm counting on. Elite, highly motivated, +2. Even if their tank gets destroyed, I'm gonna ammo them up and send them in. They told me that's how they want it. A company HQ ties together the three platoons, adds an FO (to call in the mortars), and is mounted in an ERA Brad. Between the Abrams, the Brads' TOW missiles, and the Javelins, Ima gonna blow stuff up!!! Oh, I've added a little razzle dazzle. Since DMS will be looking for a Humvee, I added 3 more. Each stuffed with an elite .338 lapua sniper team. Yeah, these are the "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" guys. If DMS manages to get his commander near the bridge, I'm going to have 3 sniper teams in overwatch waiting to perforate the bridge of his nose. Ouch. That metaphor hurt nearly as much as .338 Lapua does. The Humvees should confuse him. The snipers should screw him. Yeah, it's my "Screwed and confused" tactic. They teach this at Sandhurst. Or they should. Oh, I tossed Mk19 grenade launchers onto the top of the Humvees. Because otherwise they look naked. Pix in a bit. Ken out.

Gents, others. As stated here > http://community.battlefront.com/topic/117124-win-a-free-copy-of-cmbs/ the winner of the Free Copy and fight an AAR is DMS. This thread is my AAR thread. NO SPOILERS!!!! NO DMS!!!! The battle parameters are: http://community.battlefront.com/topic/117124-win-a-free-copy-of-cmbs/?p=1584749 Nothing matters except the bridge, and the two opposing commanders! To win, the commander must be on the bridge, outside his Humvee, at the end of the game. The map: DMS has decided that he wanted to pick which force (he chose Russians). I got to choose the setup zone. I chose Green, and US. Before we go... Grateful thanks to IanL for agreeing to set up the battle for us. Ken

I'm going to spin my AAR from a fresh thread... I'll still read/post here, so, DMS, please don't post what you don't want me to read. Off to create a wondrous thread. Ken

Haptic feedback! That's what I want.

...and deep in my closet, a small square of cardboard just spontaneously combusted due to contempt! (I feel I must make amends to my ASL collection. I'll blame it on a typo. )