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#4352758 - 04/22/17 09:09 AM Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR  
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice Offline
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- Ice  Offline
Veteran

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
Copying over from my other thread.

Game setup
[Linked Image]


Initial setup
[Linked Image]


I debated whether to guard the left flank or just let the AI have it. Ended up being one of the best fights of the scenario
[Linked Image]


Central front
[Linked Image]


Guarding the road
[Linked Image]


Right flank. Again, the AI really pushed on this side. Come to think of it, the AI sent tanks down the flanks and only infantry down the middle
[Linked Image]


It's all about range. Being able to reach out further than the enemy is the key. After that is firepower. Overwhelming firepower. Here, a group of enemy infantry got within range of my MG unit
[Linked Image]


Initially, I did not know that the anti-tank could hide in the bushes/hedgerows. I've noticed my unit's AI would hide themselves if there was a bush nearby. Here, my AT was supposed to be on the road, but it relocated to the hedgerow, which was very lucky as an enemy tank is just about to come out from the opposite hedgerow
[Linked Image]


And it didn't take long for the AT to show them who's boss
[Linked Image]


Another example of winning the range fight. My scouts further down the track spots an enemy unit and this tracked unit opens fire. It didn't have to worry about return fire at all
[Linked Image]


The left flank is nicely protected against infantry by this MG unit
[Linked Image]


However, I wanted that clump of trees just north of our position, so I moved the MG unit closer to get the location in range and "coax" the enemy unit out of it. Turns out to be a great location later on
[Linked Image]


After successfully occupying the new position, the enemy sends two tanks and several infantry units. Uh oh!! My Peat units were nowhere in range! I quickly move them up to the clump of trees as well
[Linked Image]


And they make short work of the tanks
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


Moving some of my tracked units closer, I effectively set up a killzone for infantry. I guess the enemy AI could not see my troops effectively due to tree cover and he didn't have any scouts and that's why he had to send his tanks close. Well, with my own scouts in the trees and being protected by MGs and tracked vehicles, he couldn't re-take this area.... luckily, he didn't have much arty set up and what he had was too busy in the center trying to get my units out of cover
[Linked Image]


The AI tries to compensate by sending airborne scouts over my position... I don't know how effective that is. Sure, he may spot my units but I wonder how long the "intel" will last before my units disappear from his view again? Anyway, I soon took some AAA assets to cover the airspace
[Linked Image]


One thing that surprised me was that the AAA gun would shoot at ground units as well. Sure, I read about this, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this in the game. Here, my AAA unit was firing on the enemy units holed up in the building to the north. Didn't take long for them to start falling back. I need to keep this in mind in the future.... if I had moved my AAA unit just a few more meters down the track, he'd get better LOS to a lot more contested areas and could've been A LOT more useful
[Linked Image]


Starting to push back along the middle. Also got bigger arty. Before this, I really couldn't see the point of arty. Sure, it was scary but I thought unless you get a direct hit, all you are really doing is keeping the enemy's head down. Well, in this situation, I learned that arty is a great way to coax enemy infantry out of buildings... by simply destroying said building biggrin
[Linked Image]


And here's the star of the scenario... the humble Humber Mk.3... this guy was the one that initially transported my left flank scout and he just stayed around and got the most number of kills for the scenario. You can plainly see here that he's out of ammo... I sent an ammo truck soon after but it was too late in the scenario for him to get back into the action.
[Linked Image]


Just before the win
[Linked Image]


Victory screens
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[Linked Image]


Here's the kill list of the humbe Humber
[Linked Image]



A very fun scenario and very interesting. I learned a lot about unit placement and some unit abilities surprised me, such as AAA and arty. I wonder if I can get the same results using more tanks... I want to use more tanks, but I can see some issues. For one, I don't think they can hide or see through the hedgerows unlike AT units. Another issue is that penetration and armor values seem to be quite... interesting. In one fight, I had three tanks taken out by an enemy StuG. They couldn't penetrate the StuG's front armor and the StuG would just take each tank out after 1 or 2 shots. Really cool if I were the German player, but I'll have to re-think my strategy if I stick to the Allies.

Another potential issue is that if I used tanks on my left flank, I'm guessing the enemy will just sit at range and we'll have a shootout between tanks at extreme range. As I have to sit the tank out in the open, there's no ambush possible and since they'll be firing at each other from range, the enemy tanks will probably be out of range for my anti-tank infantry to help. I don't want to sit my tank behind cover then just roll out since all the enemy has to do is stop and aim... my tank would still be moving, then have to stop, then rotate itself... by this time, the other guy would've taken his shot. So unless it's a total mismatch, I don't really like this idea.

Hope you guys enjoyed my small AAR!


- Ice
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#4352817 - 04/22/17 06:16 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  
Joined: Jun 2001
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rwatson Offline
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Very Good Ice..I always like to see a gamers views before I consider buying something Para_Bellums excellent AAR on Civil War convinced me and When the final version is released I believe I'll do this one


Russ
Semper Fi
#4353088 - 04/24/17 12:05 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: rwatson]  
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Nixer Offline
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Living with the Trees
Second that for this game so far.


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#4366623 - 06/28/17 08:42 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 159
Behemoth Offline
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Behemoth  Offline
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Posts: 159
Boston, MA
Hey Ice, how is this game holding up? I really am tempted to give it a whirl but the lack of single player I had heard about had me concerned, is that still the case? I try to make time for multiplayer but just never seems to materialize. is this single player possible, are there campaigns?

-B

#4366631 - 06/28/17 09:46 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice Offline
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- Ice  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
There are three campaigns with 4 missions each. I'm still on Mission 3 of the first campaign but this is due to me being sidetracked by VR and all the recent sales. The missions are... well, challenging! That, or I'm crap. Maybe the second one.... smile

Aside from the campaign, there is skirmish mode against the AI. Each side (allies, axis) has 9 divisions to select from. Obviously, each division has it's own strengths and weaknesses... then theres 15 maps to choose from and obviously each map has two deployment zones to chose from... and the actual usable/playable area of the map varies depending on number of "players" (1v1, 2-3v2-3, 4v4, and IIRC there was a 10v10 option for MP). I think that's pretty good value for money biggrin


- Ice
#4366817 - 06/29/17 08:16 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  
Joined: Jun 2008
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Behemoth Offline
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Boston, MA
It looks great. how does it differ from Wargame? Do the units move at a normal speed or is really fast like Red Dragon was. Is there a pause to give commands, and speed selection? I'd love to get this but I'm also afraid my rig would have trouble running it, how hardware heavy is it?

#4366959 - 06/30/17 04:54 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice Offline
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- Ice  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
Well, I don't really know what "normal speed" is like but you have the option to slow down the game or speed it up... I don't think there is a pause option but you can slow it down to "bullet time"... As for hardware requirements, here is what is listed:

MINIMUM:

OS: 64-bit Windows 10 / 8.1 / 7
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 (3.1 GHz) or equivalent
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Graphics: 1 GB AMD 5570 or nVidia 450
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 32 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

RECOMMENDED:

OS: 64-bit Windows 10 / 8.1 / 7
Processor: Intel i5-2300 or equivalent
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: 2GB AMD 7970 or nVidia 770 or greater
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 32 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card


- Ice
#4385088 - 10/15/17 06:10 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 26,557
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PB has disabled the images Ice. frown


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#4389700 - 11/14/17 09:07 PM Re: Steel Division Normandy 44 AAR [Re: - Ice]  

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Thanks for the report.

FYI, just purchased the deluxe edition on steam, which is currently on sale.


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