Post by shoey on Nov 1, 2015 20:27:58 GMT -5
SURROUNDED
October 29, 2015 Mike 0 Comment Tactics
Surrounded is one of the few defensive missions that allows the defender to deploy his entire force on the objectives (Fighting Withdrawal is the other). In addition, the attacker must split his or her force at deployment, which makes it very challenging to take an objective. Terrain plays a larger role in Surrounded than in most of the other missions; if the center of the table is empty it can be a shooting gallery, but dense cover can create an impenetrable defensive position. Infantry forces are very strong on defense in Surrounded, defending armored forces, however, are liable to be outflanked.
Objectives and Deployment
There is no choice of deployment zone in Surrounded, but the attacker does chose where to place the objectives. The standard advice of as far apart and as vulnerable as possible applies here. This usually results in one objective being placed 4” from one edge of the defender’s deployment zone, 8” from the side of the table, with the other deployed similarly on the opposite side of the defender’s zone.
Surrounded
Surrounded
Defender’s Deployment and Strategy
If fielding a largely static force, this will be fairly simple. I’d recommend deploying in two castles around each objective. Artillery pieces can be very tricky to deploy, however. Players tend to place them along the board edges to maximize field of fire, but can leave them vulnerable. The safer option is to deploy them on the edge of area terrain. This may limit their field of fire, but it may tempt the attacker to mount his main attack from the opposite side of the table.
Deploying armor is very tricky, because preventing your side armor from being shot on turn 1 is very difficult. It may be advisable to deploy away from the objectives if this would prevent side shots (especially if you are fielding Panthers or Tiger IIs). Deploying with your back up against blocking terrain is a good idea. Overloaded vehicles are especially difficult, because if you place them in terrain they are likely to bog down.
Once the game starts, concentrate fire against individual attacking units while minimizing return fire if you can. If you an do enough damage, the attacker won’t have enough units or time to take an objective.
Attacker’s Deployment and Strategy
To compensate for the disadvantage of attacking with a divided force, the attacker starts closer to the objectives than in any other mission. The edge of your deployment zone is a mere 20” from the objectives. So, the defender will have to deploy his units close to you.
The primary aim, then, is to focus on one objective or one unit of the defender’s force. When deploying, I would recommend doing so in an unbalanced manner, with a small, mobile unit in one zone and the rest of your force in the other. This unit will be difficult to pin down, and can cross the board and join the rest of your force.
Keep everything together as much as possible and concentrate on killing linchpin units. Of course if an opportunity arises to seize an objective, do so, but a good player won’t give you the opportunity. If you press an objective strongly enough, you may be able to draw defending units off of the other objective. When they do so, pounce on them. Be decisive and forceful!
by Phillip Messier
October 29, 2015 Mike 0 Comment Tactics
Surrounded is one of the few defensive missions that allows the defender to deploy his entire force on the objectives (Fighting Withdrawal is the other). In addition, the attacker must split his or her force at deployment, which makes it very challenging to take an objective. Terrain plays a larger role in Surrounded than in most of the other missions; if the center of the table is empty it can be a shooting gallery, but dense cover can create an impenetrable defensive position. Infantry forces are very strong on defense in Surrounded, defending armored forces, however, are liable to be outflanked.
Objectives and Deployment
There is no choice of deployment zone in Surrounded, but the attacker does chose where to place the objectives. The standard advice of as far apart and as vulnerable as possible applies here. This usually results in one objective being placed 4” from one edge of the defender’s deployment zone, 8” from the side of the table, with the other deployed similarly on the opposite side of the defender’s zone.
Surrounded
Surrounded
Defender’s Deployment and Strategy
If fielding a largely static force, this will be fairly simple. I’d recommend deploying in two castles around each objective. Artillery pieces can be very tricky to deploy, however. Players tend to place them along the board edges to maximize field of fire, but can leave them vulnerable. The safer option is to deploy them on the edge of area terrain. This may limit their field of fire, but it may tempt the attacker to mount his main attack from the opposite side of the table.
Deploying armor is very tricky, because preventing your side armor from being shot on turn 1 is very difficult. It may be advisable to deploy away from the objectives if this would prevent side shots (especially if you are fielding Panthers or Tiger IIs). Deploying with your back up against blocking terrain is a good idea. Overloaded vehicles are especially difficult, because if you place them in terrain they are likely to bog down.
Once the game starts, concentrate fire against individual attacking units while minimizing return fire if you can. If you an do enough damage, the attacker won’t have enough units or time to take an objective.
Attacker’s Deployment and Strategy
To compensate for the disadvantage of attacking with a divided force, the attacker starts closer to the objectives than in any other mission. The edge of your deployment zone is a mere 20” from the objectives. So, the defender will have to deploy his units close to you.
The primary aim, then, is to focus on one objective or one unit of the defender’s force. When deploying, I would recommend doing so in an unbalanced manner, with a small, mobile unit in one zone and the rest of your force in the other. This unit will be difficult to pin down, and can cross the board and join the rest of your force.
Keep everything together as much as possible and concentrate on killing linchpin units. Of course if an opportunity arises to seize an objective, do so, but a good player won’t give you the opportunity. If you press an objective strongly enough, you may be able to draw defending units off of the other objective. When they do so, pounce on them. Be decisive and forceful!
by Phillip Messier
