New player, looking for advice

[spec290]

Hey all. I've already finished the tutorial and kinda half-played a couple scenarios to get a feel for the game, and also been reading a few forum threads for tips and strategies. However, I've got a question:

What's a good, balanced force for a meeting engagement vs. the AI look like? For simplicity's sake, let's assume I'm playing as USA in 1985.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by spec290

Hey all. I've already finished the tutorial and kinda half-played a couple scenarios to get a feel for the game, and also been reading a few forum threads for tips and strategies. However, I've got a question:

What's a good, balanced force for a meeting engagement vs. the AI look like? For simplicity's sake, let's assume I'm playing as USA in 1985.

Who are you playing?. It does make a difference if the opponent is the USSR or Somalia, say.

What size of game are you looking for. Company combat team or battalion task force?.

What force type do you want to play with?.Light infantry, mech based or tank heavy?.

If it is a learning experience, then play vs USSR with a company team based on a mech infantry company with a tank platoon traded for one of the mech platoons. Add 1-3 sections of support (SP mortars, FO team, SPAA, SPAT).

Cheers
Andy

[Imp]

Generaly anything between approx 3-1 infantry to tank ratio works well, the reverse or anything in between.
Or put another way one platoon of tanks per inf co or the reverse.
Add to that one section of arty per company plus a couple extra on top.
Support as see fit AA ATGMs though USA 85 comes witha bundle already.

Infantry heavy tends to be easier than tank heavy as scouting with tanks is not the best way to go & you get more units for the points hence coverage.

This is a general setup
Adjust for terrain & opponent if he has no tanks to write home about you dont need many/any.
Towns woods etc get even more infantry.

Tailoring for force you mentioned doubt any opponents will have TI so if terrain allows useful but infantry for ease of play I would only take about 1/3rd transport as Bradleys if vs Russia as other vehicles are easier to scout with as no ATGM. Handy in overwatch on your tanks though as if I remember correctly Abrams gun is not that good this time period.
If you go for 3-1 ratio suggested infantry can find out whats coming & let you figure out how to deal with it in theory

[spec290]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

If it is a learning experience, then play vs USSR with a company team based on a mech infantry company with a tank platoon traded for one of the mech platoons. Add 1-3 sections of support (SP mortars, FO team, SPAA, SPAT).

That's about what I was looking for when I asked. I'll try something along those lines.

Also, thanks for the tips, Imp, especially the 3:1 ratio. I'd been wondering about that myself.

Another question, kinda related to all this: Does the AI pay attention to your purchases when you're putting together a force and tailor its own to suit? (i.e. if I were to forego heavy artillery, does it do the same?) Or does it just buy according to its own preferences?

Thanks in advance.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by spec290

Another question, kinda related to all this: Does the AI pay attention to your purchases when you're putting together a force and tailor its own to suit? (i.e. if I were to forego heavy artillery, does it do the same?) Or does it just buy according to its own preferences?

Thanks in advance.

The AI is not influenced by what you pick

Don