Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21)

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21)

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> The Operational Art of War IV >> After Action Reports >> Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21)

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:31:09 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

I heard through the grapevine that there are players that don't know D21 yet. So I thought I'd introduce the
new guys to it. First of all, I'll go through the steps to create a new game just so you know how *I* do it.
Choose "new game" and we're on our way.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 10:33:20 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:39:36 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

Navigate your way, using the far left button, to the WWII - East Front directory and you should see
D21 near the middle. Toggle the play mode button until it's showing computer player is Soviets and
in the Options I reccommend to turn OFF the "no borders" option. You'll be able to see more supply dots.
And then hit play.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 2

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:42:04 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And next you should see one of these. Just click the okie dokie button
to dismiss the message. Alternately you can hit the escape key to do
the same thing.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 3

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:46:08 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

I have no way to see what you're seeing but I'm seeing that
I have reinforcements awaiting assignment. They are sitting
in a depot somewhere among a thousand just like him with no
job, no place to be, no home, no semi-permanent friends.
Waiting. Then somebody comes by to get the attention of
the group and announces some names, they leave and you're
waiting again. Then, finally, it's going to be your turn.
All you need is a player to move you.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 4

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:55:18 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And the next screen you should see is the what's going on report. It's got the info about the
scenario and the values of some of the settings the scenario designer used when this thing was
compiled last and please notice the "Event Variable" low down in the verbage. It's value always
starts out zero. What it is is the variable the game engine keeps track of so that scenario
designers can track that variable and use it as a trigger for one or more events for that turn.
It's handy for a lot of things. You can use it for the changing weather. You can use it for
the chance you'll pull the troops out of South Vietnam ( CSV ). You can use it to effect
the morale of your troops...."the higher the value goes the closer to being done we are."

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 5

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 11:03:39 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And if you click on the bottom far right button, the next page button, you'll see this dialog. And I want to say
something about this thing: Supply enhancement. When you dig in your unit, and they aren't going to move anymore
that turn, the organic trucks, lorry's, donkey carts, horse pulled wagons, what can carry supplies, is loaned to
the next higher up HQ to use and they ordinarily carry supplies.* And the supply line for the entire formation is
improved. The more units you dig in the more trucks ( etc. ) are loaned the better the enhancement. So the bottom
line at the end of the day after all is said and done it's usually a good idea to dig your units in when possible.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 6

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 11:13:51 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

The lower right button, ( next page ) gives you this page with more scenario info and some values for various things
important things. I've annotated the several things you want to know about to guide your strategic policy and maybe
your tactical considerations. The Air Shock difference means it's a good idea to do a lot of airfield strikes just
now. You almost can't lose those attacks. And the land shock difference is advantageous because it means the chance
of an RBC is higher when you attack a hex. The game starts out as a draw and that's cool, but I'm not really going
to concentrate on getting objectives as much as I'd like to destroy as many Soviet units as I can. It might pay off
in the long run.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 7

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 11:20:44 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

Dismissing the situation briefing allows the news to present. I'm glad to see that the percent chance to damage an
enemy rail is zero so converting the enemy hex, if it has a rail in it, that rail won't be damaged and won't need a
repair. That's cool. So that is encouragement to convert all the rail you can as you go just because it's guarenteed
to be okie dokie and the supply lines will extend all that much further which is a very good thing, believe me.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 8

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 11:33:07 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

Dismissing the news summary you're presented with the keys to the game. The currently selected unit, however, is the
SECOND one in the OOB list and you need to go to the previous unit to move it first if you're using OOB order, which
I am. I don't want to miss anybody. So what I do is click on the button for the OKH unit and then right click on the
mini-map to center the map on the OKH. And then I move it first.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 11:34:19 AM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 9

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 11:40:41 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

This is me moving the OKH over adjacent to the two airfields near Berlin. I want to be adjacent to extend the effects
of the HQ unit to the units that WILL be sitting on the airfield hexes. I'm going to use those two airfields to fix
broken planes you see, and the boost from an HQ unit might be substantial. I'm planning ahead because I've been through
this scenario before and by now it's getting to be easier to figure these things out. I've been trying things and finding
what works and what doesn't and I'm getting a better game because of it.

EDIt: oH, And I wanted to say that the railroad icon on the unit display is where you click if you would like to
embark the unit. Also, hovering over it with your mouse will give you how much rail cap. is required to haul the
unit via rail AND the amount of rail cap. you still have remaining in the status bar at the bottom of the window.
Mine says 177/9400 which means nobody else is embarked yet, but we knew that.

EDIT2: Oh, and I wanted to say, that you may be seeing something besides a swastika on your unit display and I've
got Swastika's because I'm using a mod that somebody came up with, I forget now who, thank you very much, and I'll
zip up the file and attach it to the post on the next post below so you can have it too.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 11:45:12 AM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 10

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 11:47:21 AM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

Just unzip it and drop it in your GraphicsOverRide folder replacing any FlagRoundels.png there is in there.

EDIT: I suppose I should tell you what it is first. It's the Swastika flag used by the Nazi's in WWII.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 11:49:33 AM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 11

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:02:14 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

The next unit after the OKH is the 1st of 5 Brandenburg's. These are highly skilled
paratroops ready to go on a minutes notice and they have their own organic transports
which is abstracted in this game, and how many of them you can transport on any given
turn depends on your air capability remaining. The situation briefing said you had
1100 metric tons of capability remaining and the 1st Brandenburg takes 10 to get
airborne so there's enough and more for getting all five of them to a destination,
the question is where. It's though gamey to decide where to put your paratroops after
everybody else has moved. It's thought that a lot of planning and recon needs to go
into an airdrop. It's thought that perhaps the paratroops might ought to be dropped
before anybody else moves. I'm not sure I agree. I'm thinking that like the 1st CAV
in Vietnam, that there were teams of people ready at a moment's notice to saddle up
and be moved to a location where they were to get on the ground and secure the area
until releaved ( most of the time ). So it's probably a home rule thing that you might
want to settle with your opponent. LOL.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 12

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:22:59 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

The next formation to move is some supporting arty. And this is the first unit. I'm the kind of guy who likes to
get the arty right in close to the action even tho it might have plenty of range so I can spread the support over
a wider area, more troops supported is a good thing.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 13

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:34:12 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

So I'm moving the units one at a time following OOB order and I run into a really long range arty piece and I'm
thinking that since he can cover a lot of targets he's probably going to fire a lot in the combat phase so to
conserve ammo I'm putting him on a single-dot stance so that when he fires it'll be at the reduced rate. The
standard rate, two dots, fires twice during a combat but a single-dot setting fires only a single time. The
three dot standing shoots three times and expends supply at triple the rate of a one-dot setting. Makes sense.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 14

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:38:13 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

A couple of units later I run into a shorter-range arty piece that covers only a couple of enemy troop stacks and one
of them is one that's getting attacked this combat round so I dedicate the arty piece to the attack by assigning it
to attack. I'll do the combat planner to show what that looks like.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 15

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:44:01 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

So I select an LCU close to the target hex ( adjacent ) and hover the mouse cursor over the target hex, the Soviet
stuff, and hit the letter "p" and the combat planner comes up and shows the arty unit with a tee niny little copper
colored diagonagonal thing on the corner of the arty unit. It's hard to see. I wish there were a different way
to designate it part of the attack.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 16

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:50:30 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And next I run into a badly placed arty piece and move it to a much better place. The range arc now rests
over a lot of enemy troops and now supports the attacks to clear the road headed NE.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 12:51:07 PM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 17

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 12:59:44 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And the next unit to move is the first of many RR engineers. They can't move unless and until they are embarked on
a train. That way they are forced to follow the rail when they go repair something. Just move them up adjacent
to the broken rail and it get's fixed by next turn usually. It costs 100 rail cap. to embark one of them and you
have a lot to embark so I suggest you embark them all now so there won't be a shortage of rail cap. for your RR
engineers ( who you want to be able to move to the next place to repair at will ). You can combine RR engineer
units in the hex to increase the repair effect on the target hexes.

EDIT: Oh, and I wanted to say you can click on the deployment status button for the unit(s) to get a dialog that
facilitates changing the deployment of the unit but I notice that embark on a train isn't one of them. Too bad
because that would save a lot of work embarking them all.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 1:04:59 PM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 18

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 1:11:09 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And after embarking all of them I see from the situation briefing that I have 8300 metric tons of rail cap. left.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 19

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 1:17:03 PM

tverse

Posts: 346
Joined: 10/10/2016
Status: offline

Are you saying rail repair units need to be embarked on trains in order to repair rail lines? I thought you could move them over the damaged rail and then from drop down menu order them to repair the damage.

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 20

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 1:18:50 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And the next unit to move is the first of many motorized AT gun units. I don't like to use them offensively but
rather to supplement a hex adjacent to enemy armor. It probably won't do too well defending by itself but
with a security team of some kind you can put AT guns just about anywhere handy. Not all of them have a useful
purpose with the offensive drive going on but I can use it for blocking purposes so I keep them close to the
front lines.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 1:19:08 PM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 21

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 1:26:51 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

This is to demonstrate that the equipment that you don't have any of at the moment is probably because you haven't
started making of them yet. As you can see from this cut and paste of the Inventory.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 22

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 1:56:26 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

As I'm going through there moving units I've come to one that actually can serve a useful purpose. I'm moving it up
adjacent to some Soviet armor to supplement another unit that will join him in the hex in the future.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 23

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 2:06:49 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And the next thing to move is the first of a lot of AA guns, which most I'll leave right where they are but a couple
of them I want to station over a river crossing just in case. The Ai's general orders toggle from one setting to the
next and I found mine on defend and I changed it to attack in case I ever ask Elmer to move my units. Which is another
workshop entirely. Or at least much later on.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 24

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 2:10:51 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

In the Unit report dialog you can click on the equipment button to open the dialog for that equipment and see more
details of the equipment. In this case it's got a really good AT value. You could use it as an AT gun.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 25

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 2:17:56 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

It's difficult to see but there's a bridge over the river that we have to cross and I thought maybe I should protect it
for a while just in case Elmer gets adventuresome and tries to drop the bridge. I cut and pasted the status line
verbage, enlarging it a bit, and I notice that it doesn't mention the bridge at all. Strange that it doesn't.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 26

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 9:20:23 PM

sanderz

Posts: 862
Joined: 1/8/2009
From: Devon, England
Status: offline

thanks again Larry - great work

i will be following along, lots learnt so far and looking forward to see how things progress

cheers

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 27

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:02:18 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And the next thing to be moved is this formation of CD guns. This is at the top of the world near Murmansk and there's
absolutely no traffic up there and there's three units I don't want to have to deal with for the rest of the game so
I'm going to disband these three units and dissolve the formation. I don't know if it'll respawn or not but even if it
does I'm getting rid of it.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to sanderz)

Post #: 28

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:19:33 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

So this is the beginning situation. I'm in a footrace in the north to get to the river that
runs through Riga extending southward and eastward. I want to get to those river crossings
before the Soviets do so I can trap them on the west side of the river and destroy them. I
outnumber the Soviets briefly and I want to take advantage of that while I can because I'll
be so badly outnumbered later in the war.

This is the largest battle that the earth has seen and it's pitting the finest army in the
world ( Germans ) against the largest army in the world ( Soviets ) and it's going to be
ruthless and cruel. These first several turns will be Axis units racing to make hay while
the sun shines and the Soviets will be falling back and forming rudimentary front lines,
strong points, and roadblocks.

I have to keep the engineers up near the front because the Soviets are famous for busting
bridges. And engineers are scarce in this game. And you can never find one when you need
one. I like to keep my units in a hex by themselves when I can so I can tell at a glance
what I have where. Plus, it makes pictures look like you have more men than you do.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 11/20/2017 10:24:36 PM >

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 29

RE: Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21) - 11/20/2017 10:32:00 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

And the next thing to move is the 206th infantry division and it's been in the reserve, it's not near the front so it'll
have to be moved and if it's going to be moved anyway, I might as well move it north where there's going to be a need
for warm bodies.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 30

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 next > >>

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> The Operational Art of War IV >> After Action Reports >> Workshop for the new guys - Directive 21 (D21)