Edge of Darkness

[LukeFF]

I really like this scenario, but it seems that I start to lose my way once more friendly reinforcements show up on the map (I play in real time). Trying to coordinate the movement of three different platoons, making sure supporting MGs have enough ammo, calling in arty and mortar strikes...it seems like I end up pausing the game more than letting it play out, or I end up moving a unit into a bad situation. Any particular advice for getting the most out of this scenario?

[Eagle2]

Haha, thats why I'm not a big fan of RT. In my opinion there's too much to do and unless you pause every 10 seconds, not enough time to do it. But on to the subject at hand Having never played that scenario before, or atleast not that I remember I'm not familiar with the troop strength or size of the map. In my limited experience of RT play I tend to issue orders one platoon at a time then zoom out to see if any of my units are in trouble. Perhaps if you slowed the pace of your play down aswell you'd get alittle more enjoyment out of this particular scenario. Sorry if that didn't really answer any of your questions but perhaps it might have helped a little bit.

[Chainsaw]

its a great scenario, but I play it Wego so I never have the problems you have. try it in Wego and see what you think about it.

[Paper Tiger]

As the author of this particular scenario, I can tell you that I designed it and intended it to be a slow burner. I play only in Real Time and I wanted to have a mission for the Brits that allowed me to take my time getting my units into position, performing recce and preparing the Syrian positions before the real fireworks began at around the 1 hour mark.

I suggest that you take your time for the first 30 minutes or so, and don't attempt anything too ambitious. The first half of the mission is just prep. I take it you're going over 'Margaret', right? The game plays out very differently if you go via 'Malcolm'.

[MeatEtr]

So did anybody see the movie with Mad Max Mel Gibson? I hear he's pretty popular nowadays.

[Paper Tiger]

Nope, never seen it. The title actually comes from the UK eco thriller that was made in the early 80s.

[JonS]

Ronald Craven: How was the golf?

Darius Jedburgh: Well, bodies kept turning up in the bunkers, and you needed air support to play out of the rough. Kinda puts you off your game.

[MeatEtr]

Oh and about the scenario, dismount your crews from their vehicles. They will take their MGs or grenade launchers with them. Put them up on the hill for overwatch. May have to run back to refill ammo at some point, but much better survivability.

I play exclusively in RT, just too great of a tactical advantage to go back to Wego. It can feel pretty slow sometimes, especially in this scenario, SO TAKE IT SLOW.

Back to being off topic about the title, PT I couldn't find anything about the 'UK eco thriller', post a linkie. I did find this movie from 1943 about the Nazi's invasion of Norway.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034694/

[Paper Tiger]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/edge/

There you go. Just doing that wee search makes me want to watch it all over again.

And yes, take it S-L-O-W when playing the mission

[LukeFF]

I suggest that you take your time for the first 30 minutes or so, and don't attempt anything too ambitious. The first half of the mission is just prep. I take it you're going over 'Margaret', right? The game plays out very differently if you go via 'Malcolm'.

Typically what I do is move the first platoon across 'Margaret' to take the St. Giles objective and clear out any infantry on hills overlooking the objective. So long as I don't do anything stupid this objective isn't too hard to achieve.

After that, I'll move the second platoon across 'Margaret' as well and have them take up a position to the east (?) of the town. Once the third platoon shows up I move them across the left edge of the map, to set up a sort of pincer maneuver with the second platoon. Of course, this is where things usually go bad for me, as it's a chore coordinating the movement of so many units.

Should I possibly be moving other infantry platoons across Malcolm?

[LukeFF]

Oh and about the scenario, dismount your crews from their vehicles. They will take their MGs or grenade launchers with them. Put them up on the hill for overwatch. May have to run back to refill ammo at some point, but much better survivability.

Yep, I already do that. Works pretty well, aside from the ammo resupply issues.

[Paper Tiger]

Should I possibly be moving other infantry platoons across Malcolm?

The 'pincer' is my favoured approach to this mission but you certainly can go via Malcolm. As I said, it will give you a very different playing experience indeed, usually because you will have to fight very hard in the town as there will be quite a substantial number of Syrian forces stationed outside the town to prevent a surrender. However, you do benefit from having your units all on the same 'front'.

[LukeFF]

The 'pincer' is my favoured approach to this mission but you certainly can go via Malcolm. As I said, it will give you a very different playing experience indeed, usually because you will have to fight very hard in the town as there will be quite a substantial number of Syrian forces stationed outside the town to prevent a surrender. However, you do benefit from having your units all on the same 'front'.

Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind. What I could possibly do is use the first platoon as sort of a 'cordon' on the far side of town, to catch any units attempting to flee and to provide supporting fire where the opportunity arises. In turn, I could use, as you say, the other two platoons in a combined thrust at the other end of town, opposite the Malcolm crossing. It would certainly make for more firepower, that's for sure.

[LukeFF]

Alright, much better. Got a surrender from the AI with 29 minutes left on the clock. Glad to finally have some success with this mission.

--SPOILERS--

One thing I did better this time was to sight my GPMG and GMGs better, so they were able to interdict BMPs attempting to reinforce the village. That, and I learned Apaches are very good at taking out troops inside buildings with their 30mm cannon. Pushing with two platoons from one side of the village, with one on the other providing cover, worked fairly well, though that #$#^$%%! PKM in the building near the 'Margaret' river crossing caused me no little grief. I don't know how much indirect fire it took to finally silence him.