Battleplans Fix

[GuyFromTheSky]

multiple stages are rarely worth the effort. you will run out of most of the planning bonus (you can pause of course to regain) but the thing is that with active defenders stuff is bound to change that makes you want to change the plan anyway at that point. I do it sometimes for fun, but its usually not better

This saddens me a bit. I was looking forward to drawing up intricate plans with multiple arrows all over the place and different stages of advance. I really don't like the Daniel-approach of drawing one huge arrow across all the enemys territory and then manually microing your units.

 

[Rommel 459]

multiple stages are rarely worth the effort. you will run out of most of the planning bonus (you can pause of course to regain) but the thing is that with active defenders stuff is bound to change that makes you want to change the plan anyway at that point. I do it sometimes for fun, but its usually not better

How long does the planning bonus last?

 

[Bridger15]

I really enjoy his videos, find him one of the better ones. Just he seems to use the standard one general arrow for this advance and one for this and then a little micro in between.

Well, I planned to make more intricate encirclements when i was going to fight the USSR (lots more room to manuver) but they put 100 divisions inside a big area so encircling them just seemed like a much better move. They lost a million men and all their equipment in the first month of the war. I imagine it's really hard to teach the AI what being "overextended" looks like.

But in general, I too am saddened that "one big arrow" works the best in many situations. I really wish they'd adjust the game somehow to make better planning be more rewarded. I still think having your mechanized/armored forces encircling units is a really good use of battleplans. I have also started using more multi-stage battle plans myself. Complex ones can be useful.

 

[Magistr1x]

So what I've come up with watching some YouTube Videos last few days is a concept that was actually used in WW2 and it's a mix of micro and automated battleplans.

While watching a Germany player helping out the spanish in their civil war I recognized Spain using divisions to secure provinces Germany took with their tanks and that made me think about something:

<-worst image ever!!

This concept includes a front line (black) which is mostly there for defensive duty at first and will be needed later. This front line basically covers a large front. Infantry only!
Second line (orange) is AI automated and has no offensive plans either. They will be used to move into the province our Spearhead takes over to secure the flanks. Their front line will be the province you spearhead is going to attack first and probably one more on each side. Infantry only!
Spearhead (red) consisting of fast units like tanks and motorised will be needed to crush resistance and advance into enemy lands. They will be controlled manually so player can decide where to send them.

Manually controlling your tanks will counteract AI stupidity of placing units anywhere so you would probably end up with tanks in mountain terrain. Once you advance with them the securing line (orange) will shift and include the provinces you took with your tanks. AI will now move in to guard them while your tanks move forward and take the next one, securing line will automatically follow and so on. Only units you need to micro are the tanks you will be using to encircle the enemy or take important areas like beachheads or whatever. If you don't want to miss out on planning bonus just draw a plan for them and never execute.
Note that I've put in the securing line although it wouldn't be necessary but that'll fix the problem of AI just randomly redeploying units depleting their organisation. Sure they will probably redeploy to fill the gaps anyway but by giving them a concentrated front line I'll hope to minimize this issue.
Once the pocket is closed you can use your black line or any free troops to reduce it by yourself or let the AI handle that.

In my opinion, many people struggle with new battleplans because they expect to much of them. They aren't designed to get rid of all micro managing but to assist the player on large fronts.

Hope that'll be helpful. Of course that's a more advanced tactic but i justed wanted to share with you guys