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Just what are our military objectives in a campaign against Otto?
Actually, they are hard to state military terms, but relatively easy to describe as overall econo-warfare strategic objectives.
What we really want to do is make certain that Germany ceases to be a tech leader. We really don't care if we capture any cities, but we probably will get one or two no matter how we carve this turkey.
Ok, so how do we do this while suffering minimal pain unto ourselves? We pillage! Remember General Sherman, from the Civil war and his imfamous march across Georgia! Such brilliance should be emulated.
We will soon have Khufu's grand Cavalry Army. Past experience with AI's indicate that they are intimidated by stacks, intimidated by Armies, and are absolutely stymied by a stack covered by an Army.
The combination of an Army cover, a few independent Cavalry to take out any snipers, a handfull of explorers, and some defenders for rear guard can do some serious pillaging.
Assuming level ground, such a stack can safely cut a 3 tile wide swath of destruction across the landscape.
From the stack starting place, (assumed to be on our border) each turn
Cavalry as required evict hostiles from the pillaging targets and movement paths below and retreat to future stack location.
2 explorers move to n,nw and pillage 1 for rail 1 for road etc then retreat se (future stack location)
2 explorers move n,n and pillage 1 for rail and 1 for road etc then retreat s (future stack location)
2 explorers move n,ne and pillage 1 for rail and 1 for road etc then retreat sw (future stack location)
remaining stack less any defenders to be left for rear gard advance n
so after each turn there is:
1 tile deep by 3 wide baren kill zone in front of and surrounding the stack.
All stack re-formed and under the watchful protection of Khufu's grand army.
rinse, repeat.
In our actual case we will want for the first turn only, the stack to advance 3 but not pillage. A second larger stack that contains a few backup explorers, our main bombard force, (that's why it's larger) some Cavalry for sniper control, and a suitable number of defenders actually does the first 2 rows of pillaging while the bombard force advances under cover.
It will not be many turns until Berlin has been forcibly segregated from all resources and the bombard force is in range. We may actually have to sacrifice 3 explorers when enveloping Berlin as the hypothetical next stack location will be the city itself which we do not want to attack until the bombard force as worked its will.
Berlin is on level ground and assuming 4 riflemen, 20 to 25 Cannon or 15 to 20 Artillery is indicated. Nothing wrong with overstacking here, the target just downsizes faster. If infantry is anticipated, double the bombard estimate above. This bombard level should strip the hit points and get one or two buildings or pop points each turn. Keep bombarding (but not attacking) until as a minimum the barracks, library, university, and a half dozen pop points or so are destroyed. Then advance the bombard force to the next prepared city.
Once the Grand Army has isolated Berlin it continues to Pillage it's way towards Leipzig (next bombard target)and eventually all over the Reich. One last thing, somewhere along the way Khufu's Grand Army needs to kill something to obtain the requisite victory condition for the Heroic Epic.
Populate the stack with a mixture of regular (if we have any), Vets and Elites. Use them in reverse order. That is the regulars get the toughies. They either upgrade or die. The Vets get fair shots, and our precious Elites get maximum chance for Victory and GL formation.
I know it is harsh, but in RL you either come home from your first major campaign a Vet, or in a body bag.
Ok. You now have my thoughts on a reasonably efficient way to achieve our true strategic economic warfare objectives in Germany. Yes, this method is cruel, but Otto deserves it.
We remember Paris.
Actually, they are hard to state military terms, but relatively easy to describe as overall econo-warfare strategic objectives.
What we really want to do is make certain that Germany ceases to be a tech leader. We really don't care if we capture any cities, but we probably will get one or two no matter how we carve this turkey.
Ok, so how do we do this while suffering minimal pain unto ourselves? We pillage! Remember General Sherman, from the Civil war and his imfamous march across Georgia! Such brilliance should be emulated.
We will soon have Khufu's grand Cavalry Army. Past experience with AI's indicate that they are intimidated by stacks, intimidated by Armies, and are absolutely stymied by a stack covered by an Army.
The combination of an Army cover, a few independent Cavalry to take out any snipers, a handfull of explorers, and some defenders for rear guard can do some serious pillaging.
Assuming level ground, such a stack can safely cut a 3 tile wide swath of destruction across the landscape.
From the stack starting place, (assumed to be on our border) each turn
Cavalry as required evict hostiles from the pillaging targets and movement paths below and retreat to future stack location.
2 explorers move to n,nw and pillage 1 for rail 1 for road etc then retreat se (future stack location)
2 explorers move n,n and pillage 1 for rail and 1 for road etc then retreat s (future stack location)
2 explorers move n,ne and pillage 1 for rail and 1 for road etc then retreat sw (future stack location)
remaining stack less any defenders to be left for rear gard advance n
so after each turn there is:
1 tile deep by 3 wide baren kill zone in front of and surrounding the stack.
All stack re-formed and under the watchful protection of Khufu's grand army.
rinse, repeat.
In our actual case we will want for the first turn only, the stack to advance 3 but not pillage. A second larger stack that contains a few backup explorers, our main bombard force, (that's why it's larger) some Cavalry for sniper control, and a suitable number of defenders actually does the first 2 rows of pillaging while the bombard force advances under cover.
It will not be many turns until Berlin has been forcibly segregated from all resources and the bombard force is in range. We may actually have to sacrifice 3 explorers when enveloping Berlin as the hypothetical next stack location will be the city itself which we do not want to attack until the bombard force as worked its will.
Berlin is on level ground and assuming 4 riflemen, 20 to 25 Cannon or 15 to 20 Artillery is indicated. Nothing wrong with overstacking here, the target just downsizes faster. If infantry is anticipated, double the bombard estimate above. This bombard level should strip the hit points and get one or two buildings or pop points each turn. Keep bombarding (but not attacking) until as a minimum the barracks, library, university, and a half dozen pop points or so are destroyed. Then advance the bombard force to the next prepared city.
Once the Grand Army has isolated Berlin it continues to Pillage it's way towards Leipzig (next bombard target)and eventually all over the Reich. One last thing, somewhere along the way Khufu's Grand Army needs to kill something to obtain the requisite victory condition for the Heroic Epic.
Populate the stack with a mixture of regular (if we have any), Vets and Elites. Use them in reverse order. That is the regulars get the toughies. They either upgrade or die. The Vets get fair shots, and our precious Elites get maximum chance for Victory and GL formation.
I know it is harsh, but in RL you either come home from your first major campaign a Vet, or in a body bag.
Ok. You now have my thoughts on a reasonably efficient way to achieve our true strategic economic warfare objectives in Germany. Yes, this method is cruel, but Otto deserves it.
We remember Paris.
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