CC76 @ 100% *

[kreuzfeld]

Tried my first campaign challenge, and figured I'd go for the latest one (#76, Korean War) at 100% prestige. What a bloodbath!
I lost the first scenario (Defense of Seoul) and had to restart before achieving a Normal Victory on the second try. then...
I somehow squeaked by in scenario 2 (Kum River Line) with a Tactical Victory, but then I ...
Lost horribly in scenario 3 (Pusan Perimeter).

In the last one, it was all I could do to retain a small core of territory. I was truly horrified when I realized that I wasn't just supposed to survive, but actually was supposed to capture extra territory!

It was bad news for me, but at least Kim Il Sung is happy.

[kreuzfeld]

Tried a second time, starting from scratch. Results: a tad better, but still far from ideal. My BV in Scenario #6 came at a high cost, with most of my best units broken and battered (or worse):

Play# Scenario Result
1 DEFENSE OF SEOUL (#0) Victory
2 KUM RIVER LINE (#1) Tactical Victory
3 PUSAN PERIMETER (#2) Victory
4 INCH'ON LANDING (#3) Brilliant Victory * Proto: National Guard 1951
5 ADVANCE TO PYONGYANG (#4) Brilliant Victory
6 BATTLE OF THE CHONGCHON (#5) Brilliant Victory
7 CHOSIN RESERVOIR (#6) Loss

[Parabellum]

I can't understand what the problem of their lack of success is, but would like to help you.

Please post the full AAR of each scenario.

Have you read the reports of the other players? What units are you buying? Do you understand the victory conditions of each scenario and do you base your tactics on them?

[kreuzfeld]

Thank you for your kind response. I have tried to peruse other posts in this sub-forum but haven't had much success in parsing them -- they just seem like big, automated data dumps. Is that what you're asking about? If so, I can try to post that.

I think I generally understand the victory conditions from one scenario to the next, but not always. For example, sometimes I will unexpectedly Win a scenario with turns still remaining and some of the opponent's major Flag Hexes still uncaptured.

Edit: As for what units I am buying: I have avoided any airplane purchases because they are inferior to the opponent's fighters, and they are so expensive (especially with no 'free,' end-of-scenario reinforcements in this campaign). A few armor units, 1-2 artillery, and the rest mostly infantry.

[Parabellum]

For a newcomer, there is a special challenge in this campaign - No Autorefit! This means that your units are not automatically restored to the default strength of 10/10 after a scenario, but you as a player have to repair your units with the achieved prestige. So avoid the heavy damage of your units. There is no shame in saving your score as a newbie before each turn and eventually repeating the turn if you made mistakes or the opponent was too strong or surprised you.

Therefore my first recommendation is: Use only units that can hardly be damaged by the opponent. Infantry is not suitable in my opinion. Buy strong tanks (M26 or M46) and self-propelled artillery with long range and lots of ammunition (M41 HMC 155mm). If there is enough prestige, then also a Recon (but not for fighting, only for reconnaissance!).

Read the briefing and realize the number of VHs to be held or captured. Look at the map at the beginning. Analyze the golden framed Victoryhex. It will show if it is a VH for friends, enemies or for both sides.

Example 1. scenario: There are 3 VHs to be held. They are all located in the south and are marked Friend or Both sides. The VHs in the north are not relevant for a brilliant victory.
Pull all aux units with vehicles (INF and ATY) back to Seoul. Have them entrench in Seoul. The INF in front of the ATY. The HQ in the center so it can give combat support to as many units as possible. All other aux units are cannon fodder and can only briefly delay the enemy's advance.
If you are smart, give the T34s the opportunity to drive into the city. Only here the INF has the chance to destroy the tanks. In the open or on the outskirts you will be killed by them.

[kreuzfeld]

Very interesting -- thank you for the detailed advice.

I re-tried the last few scenarios again and managed a Normal Victory in campaign 7. I pasted the full printout below... as you'll see, it's quite infantry-heavy! I'll consider your unit-type recommendations, although the tougher units are so expensive I'm not sure I'll soon be able to afford them.

---------------------------------------

OpenGen 0.93.5.0 * 16 Jul 2022 * AI version: Default (0.91)
Efile folder: Z:\home\ianc\Downloads\og\EFILE_CC76\ * Efile version: CC76-U.S. KOREAN WAR CAMPAIGN for OpenGus v 7.1.6
Campaign: W92 US KOREAN WAR CAMPAIGN v.4.0, * Player prestige modifier 100% * AI prestige modifier 100%

Played Scenarios:
1 DEFENSE OF SEOUL , #0 , Victory
2 KUM RIVER LINE , #1 , Tactical Victory
3 PUSAN PERIMETER , #2 , Victory
4 INCH'ON LANDING , #3 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: National Guard 1951
5 ADVANCE TO PYONGYANG , #4 , Brilliant Victory
6 BATTLE OF THE CHONGCHON , #5 , Brilliant Victory
7 CHOSIN RESERVOIR , #6 , Victory

..
Current scenario: HUNGNAM EVACUATION, VH prestige is 320 , All map prestige is: 320
Army cost: 2443 , Current prestige is 515
AI stance is Aggressive Using map: 440
if BV: +760, OPERATION THUNDERBOLT , cap disabled, 12 turns prestige: 120
if V : +660, OPERATION THUNDERBOLT , cap disabled, 12 turns prestige: 120
if TV: +560, OPERATION THUNDERBOLT , cap disabled, 12 turns prestige: 120
Ls: Loss , turn prestige: 120

Infantry
Infantry 1948 , M5A1 [W] , , 1 bars , 136 exp , USA , 9/10 , 7 kill , 334 pp - U:003
HQ Unit , Jeep [W] , , 4 bars , 489 exp , USA , 2/4 , 0 kill , 21 pp - U:004
Rangers 1950 , Jeep [W] , , 1 bars , 159 exp , USA , 2/10 , 7 kill , 88 pp - U:007
+ National Guard 1951 , M39 [W] , , 1 bars , 151 exp , USA , 4/10 , 2 kill , 0 pp - U:008
Infantry 1948 , Dodge WC62 , , 2 bars , 247 exp , USA , 5/10 , 3 kill , 150 pp - U:010
Infantry 1948 , Dodge WC62 , , 2 bars , 221 exp , USA , 4/10 , 10 kill , 120 pp - U:011

Tank
M46 Patton , , 2 bars , 233 exp , USA , 10/10 , 10 kill , 516 pp - U:009

Anti-tank
M36 , , 3 bars , 360 exp , USA , 4/10 , Superior Maneuver , 26 kill , 120 pp - U:005
M36 B2 , , 2 bars , 205 exp , USA , 10/10 , 12 kill , 324 pp - U:006

Artillery
155mm M1 Howitzer , M5 HS Tractor , , 3 bars , 373 exp , USA , 4/10 , Aggressive Attack , 9 kill , 206 pp - U:002

Air Defense
90mm M2 , M8 HS Tractor , , 0 bars , 82 exp , USA , 10/10 , 0 kill , 564 pp - U:001

Player 1 : USA
Killed: INF:140 TNK:15 RCN:1 AT:20 FORT:7 ATY:23 AD:2 FTR:3 TB:2 SUB:1 CRs:1 Total: 215
Lost : INF:34 TNK:1 RCN:1 AT:3 FORT:11 ATY:3 AD:1 FTR:1 TB:3 Total: 58

BV 3
V 3
TV 1
L 0

Averages:
Infantry * 6 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 1403 exp, 29 kill, 713 pp Average: 234 exp, 5 kill, 119 pp
Tank * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 233 exp, 10 kill, 516 pp Average: 233 exp, 10 kill, 516 pp
Anti-tank * 2 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 565 exp, 38 kill, 444 pp Average: 283 exp, 19 kill, 222 pp
Artillery * 1 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 373 exp, 9 kill, 206 pp Average: 373 exp, 9 kill, 206 pp
Air Defense * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 82 exp, 0 kill, 564 pp Average: 82 exp, 0 kill, 564 pp
* Summary: * 11 Units * 2 Leaders Total : 2656 exp, 86 kill, 2443 pp Average: 241 exp, 8 kill, 222 pp


Player 1 USA has 45 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 17
Tank : 2
Recon : 1
Anti-tank : 2
Dual-purpose : 1
Artillery : 6
Air Defense : 1
Fighter : 3
Tactical Bomber : 2
Destroyer : 4
Battleship : 1
Carrier : 4
Cruiser : 1


Player 2 Communist China, North Korea - estimated force: 40 units
Infantry / Anti-tank : 49%
Recon / Tank : 5%
Air Defense / Dual-purpose : 0%
Air : 7%
Naval : 0%

* <- original core (don't count against cap)
+ <- BV prototype
pp <- prestige points

[randowe]

You can also always play with a higher prestige level like 150% or more, so you have some more prestige for refits. In later campaigns, once you feel more confident, you can lower the prestige level back to 100%.

[Parabellum]

Your units are all heavily damaged. The repair costs a lot of prestige. If you repair everything with green replacement, then you save prestige, but your units remain permanently at a very low experience level - that doesn't really help you in the campaign.
I think you should just try to play the campaign until the end and then start a new attempt with my purchase recommendations. If you practice a lot you will become a master later.

[Parabellum]

You can also always play with a higher prestige level like 150% or more, so you have some more prestige for refits. In later campaigns, once you feel more confident, you can lower the prestige level back to 100%.

Yes, that's a good hint, too. The higher prestige setting also works here because there is no prestige cap that cuts off the BV bonus.

[kreuzfeld]

Thanks for the tips and hints, all. I elected to keep playing through this CC at 100% until I win (or all my units are eliminated). In the meantime I finished a few more scenarios. My regimental commanders were a bit too keen on staying in the fight too long, so my core is being slowly whittled away...

-------------------------------------------------------

OpenGen 0.93.5.0 * 16 Jul 2022 * AI version: Default (0.91)
Efile folder: Z:\home\ianc\Downloads\og\EFILE_CC76\ * Efile version: CC76-U.S. KOREAN WAR CAMPAIGN for OpenGus v 7.1.6
Campaign: W92 US KOREAN WAR CAMPAIGN v.4.0, * Player prestige modifier 100% * AI prestige modifier 100%

Played Scenarios:
1 DEFENSE OF SEOUL , #0 , Victory
2 KUM RIVER LINE , #1 , Tactical Victory
3 PUSAN PERIMETER , #2 , Victory
4 INCH'ON LANDING , #3 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: National Guard 1951
5 ADVANCE TO PYONGYANG , #4 , Brilliant Victory
6 BATTLE OF THE CHONGCHON , #5 , Brilliant Victory
7 CHOSIN RESERVOIR , #6 , Victory
8 HUNGNAM EVACUATION , #7 , Brilliant Victory
9 OPERATION THUNDERBOLT , #8 , Victory
10 CHINESE SPRING OFFENSIVE , #9 , Victory

..
Current scenario: SPRING OFFENSIVE 2ND STAGE, VH prestige is 160 , All map prestige is: 320
Army cost: 1619 , Current prestige is 1316
AI stance is Aggressive Using map: 437
if BV: +500, THE FALL OFFENSIVES , cap disabled, 11 turns prestige: 110
if V : +400, THE FALL OFFENSIVES , cap disabled, 13 turns prestige: 130
if TV: +300, THE FALL OFFENSIVES , cap disabled, 15 turns prestige: 150
Ls: Loss , turn prestige: 150

Infantry
Infantry 1948 , M5A1 [W] , , 3 bars , 309 exp , USA , 4/10 , 19 kill , 148 pp - U:003
HQ Unit , Jeep [W] , , 4 bars , 421 exp , USA , 4/4 , 0 kill , 43 pp - U:004
Infantry 1948 , Dodge WC62 , , 3 bars , 331 exp , USA , 2/10 , 14 kill , 60 pp - U:007

Tank
M46 Patton , , 3 bars , 302 exp , USA , 5/10 , 27 kill , 258 pp - U:006

Anti-tank
M36 , , 5 bars , 542 exp , USA , 1/10 , Superior Maneuver , 34 kill , 30 pp - U:005

Artillery
155mm M1 Howitzer , M5 HS Tractor , , 5 bars , 543 exp , USA , 10/10 , Aggressive Attack , 19 kill , 516 pp - U:002

Air Defense
90mm M2 , M8 HS Tractor , , 1 bars , 148 exp , USA , 10/10 , 2 kill , 564 pp - U:001

Player 1 : USA, South Korea
Killed: INF:231 TNK:27 RCN:4 AT:44 FORT:10 ATY:56 AD:6 FTR:8 TB:6 SUB:1 CRs:1 Total: 394
Lost : INF:64 TNK:8 RCN:2 AT:4 FLAK:2 FORT:11 ATY:11 AD:2 FTR:4 TB:5 Total: 113

BV 4
V 5
TV 1
L 0

Averages:
Infantry * 3 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 1061 exp, 33 kill, 251 pp Average: 354 exp, 11 kill, 84 pp
Tank * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 302 exp, 27 kill, 258 pp Average: 302 exp, 27 kill, 258 pp
Anti-tank * 1 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 542 exp, 34 kill, 30 pp Average: 542 exp, 34 kill, 30 pp
Artillery * 1 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 543 exp, 19 kill, 516 pp Average: 543 exp, 19 kill, 516 pp
Air Defense * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 148 exp, 2 kill, 564 pp Average: 148 exp, 2 kill, 564 pp
* Summary: * 7 Units * 2 Leaders Total : 2596 exp, 115 kill, 1619 pp Average: 371 exp, 16 kill, 231 pp


Player 1 USA, South Korea has 37 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 23
Tank : 1
Recon : 1
Anti-tank : 1
Dual-purpose : 1
Fortification : 3
Artillery : 5
Air Defense : 2


Player 2 Communist China, North Korea - estimated force: 69 units
Infantry / Anti-tank : 62%
Recon / Tank : 3%
Air Defense / Dual-purpose : 2%
Air : 7%
Naval : 0%

* <- original core (don't count against cap)
+ <- BV prototype
pp <- prestige points

[Parabellum]

If you are interested: yesterday I started the same campaign in the Polish version with the GUS efile. Prestige setting is 0%. You can read my report here: https://forum.opengeneral.pl/ranking-ge ... percent/0/

[kreuzfeld]

Thanks all. After considering your advice and getting a better feel for the units and goals in this Campaign Challenge, I successfully completed the campaign -- and with all Brilliant Victories (at 100% prestige). I didn't give you all the play-by-play, but the full after-action report is below. Probably the most useless-feeling core unit was my Air Defense. I agonized over buying the F86 fighter unit (I would have liked a fighter a few scenarios earlier), but I think it was worth it despite the cost.

-------------------------------------

OpenGen 0.93.5.0 * 16 Jul 2022 * AI version: Default (0.91)
Efile folder: Z:\home\ianc\Downloads\og\EFILE_CC76\ * Efile version: CC76-U.S. KOREAN WAR CAMPAIGN for OpenGus v 7.1.6
Campaign: W92 US KOREAN WAR CAMPAIGN v.4.0, * Player prestige modifier 100% * AI prestige modifier 100%

Played Scenarios:
1 DEFENSE OF SEOUL , #0 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: M47 Patton
2 KUM RIVER LINE , #1 , Brilliant Victory
3 PUSAN PERIMETER , #2 , Brilliant Victory
4 INCH'ON LANDING , #3 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: 4.2" M30 Mortar
5 ADVANCE TO PYONGYANG , #4 , Brilliant Victory
6 BATTLE OF THE CHONGCHON , #5 , Brilliant Victory
7 CHOSIN RESERVOIR , #6 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: M7B2
8 HUNGNAM EVACUATION , #7 , Brilliant Victory
9 OPERATION THUNDERBOLT , #8 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: Bridging 1951
10 CHINESE SPRING OFFENSIVE , #9 , Brilliant Victory +++ Proto: M44 SPH 155mm
11 SPRING OFFENSIVE 2ND STAGE , #10 , Brilliant Victory
12 THE FALL OFFENSIVES , #11 , Brilliant Victory

..
Current scenario: THE FALL OFFENSIVES, VH prestige is 0 , All map prestige is: 0
Army cost: 5167 , Current prestige is 177
Prestige available on map yet is 0 pp ( 0 pp in VH to capture) * Turn: 6
AI stance is Defensive Using map: 437
BV: Win , turn prestige: 120
V : Win , turn prestige: 140
TV: Win , turn prestige: 160
if Ls: +0, DEFENSE OF SEOUL , cap disabled, 16 turns prestige: 160

Infantry
Airborne 1948 , , 2 bars , 208 exp , USA , 8/10 , 15 kill , 324 pp - U:004
HQ Unit , Jeep [W] , , 4 bars , 477 exp , USA , 8/4 , 0 kill , 86 pp - U:005
+ Bridging 1951 , M39 [W] , , 0 bars , 0 exp , USA , 10/10 , 0 kill , 0 pp - U:013

Tank
M46 Patton , , 5 bars , 849 exp , USA , 13/10 , Reconnaissance Movement , 82 kill , 670 pp - U:002
+ M47 Patton , , 4 bars , 491 exp , USA , 12/10 , 50 kill , 0 pp - U:006
M46 Patton , , 5 bars , 533 exp , USA , 14/10 , 48 kill , 722 pp - U:011

Recon
M8 Greyhound , , 5 bars , 675 exp , USA , 11/10 , Overwhelming Attack , 29 kill , 198 pp - U:010

Artillery
M41 HMC 155mm , , 5 bars , 556 exp , USA , 14/10 , 13 kill , 705 pp - U:001
M7 Priest , , 3 bars , 373 exp , USA , 12/10 , Combat Support , 7 kill , 374 pp - U:007
+ 4.2" M30 Mortar , M39 [W] , , 3 bars , 342 exp , USA , 11/10 , 5 kill , 0 pp - U:009
+ M7B2 , , 3 bars , 338 exp , USA , 12/10 , 5 kill , 0 pp - U:012
M41 HMC 155mm , , 0 bars , 69 exp , USA , 10/10 , 1 kill , 504 pp - U:014
+ M44 SPH 155mm , , 2 bars , 214 exp , USA , 11/10 , 1 kill , 0 pp - U:015

Air Defense
90mm M2 , M4 HS Tractor , , 0 bars , 12 exp , USA , 10/10 , 0 kill , 504 pp - U:008

Fighter
F-86 Sabre , , 4 bars , 440 exp , USA , 12/10 , 10 kill , 1080 pp - U:003

Player 1 : USA
Killed: INF:276 TNK:29 RCN:5 AT:43 FORT:18 ATY:71 AD:8 FTR:13 TB:10 CRs:1 Total: 474
Lost : INF:36 TNK:3 RCN:1 AT:4 FLAK:1 FORT:12 ATY:7 FTR:1 TB:3 Total: 68

BV 12
V 0
TV 0
L 0

Averages:
Infantry * 3 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 685 exp, 15 kill, 410 pp Average: 228 exp, 5 kill, 137 pp
Tank * 3 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 1873 exp, 180 kill, 1392 pp Average: 624 exp, 60 kill, 464 pp
Recon * 1 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 675 exp, 29 kill, 198 pp Average: 675 exp, 29 kill, 198 pp
Artillery * 6 Units * 1 Leaders Total : 1892 exp, 32 kill, 1583 pp Average: 315 exp, 5 kill, 264 pp
Air Defense * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 12 exp, 0 kill, 504 pp Average: 12 exp, 0 kill, 504 pp
Fighter * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 440 exp, 10 kill, 1080 pp Average: 440 exp, 10 kill, 1080 pp
* Summary: * 15 Units * 3 Leaders Total : 5577 exp, 266 kill, 5167 pp Average: 372 exp, 18 kill, 344 pp


Player 1 USA has 50 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 25
Tank : 3
Recon : 2
Artillery : 10
Air Defense : 2
Fighter : 2
Tactical Bomber : 2
Destroyer : 2
Battleship : 1
Carrier : 1

Player 2 Communist China, North Korea has 7 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 5
Fortification : 1
Air Defense : 1


* <- original core (don't count against cap)
+ <- BV prototype
pp <- prestige points

[Parabellum]

Congratulations. It's nice to see that you were successful with our hints.
I would be happy to welcome you at the next CC.