Shotgun Pattern for VH

[void1984]

Hi

I have recently played a few meeting engagement generated battles with one and a half infantry company plus some armour.
I have no problem commanding that force to seize and secure traditional three groups of VHs. When it came to shotgun pattern I became confused what to do. Should I leave there a security or not? If so how string?
Is someone playing with that shotgun pattern? Do you keep security after getting them or do you not?
For me scattering lonely infantry squads to guard those VHs was a bad idea - they could be killed one by one separately. When I was leaving them alone there was always some scout or RPG team that sneaked to the VH and took it.

[Wdll]

Depends on the location and the value of the VH. How is the geography near the? What types of units does the enemy have? What's the weather like.

[void1984]

Battle locations are Europe, big part of the terrain is covered with forest, many VHs are deep inside that forest.
There were low-points battles, I had 1 infantry company and 1 additional platoon, the enemy was also almost exclusively using infantry.
I am not thinking about desert, where few scouts with TI can overwatch many VHs the same time.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by void1984

Hi

I have recently played a few meeting engagement generated battles with one and a half infantry company plus some armour.
I have no problem commanding that force to seize and secure traditional three groups of VHs. When it came to shotgun pattern I became confused what to do. Should I leave there a security or not? If so how string?
Is someone playing with that shotgun pattern? Do you keep security after getting them or do you not?
For me scattering lonely infantry squads to guard those VHs was a bad idea - they could be killed one by one separately. When I was leaving them alone there was always some scout or RPG team that sneaked to the VH and took it.

If you think the shotgun is wrong for a particular battle situation then simply turn it off.

GameOptions -> Misc tab -> Shotgun V-Hex % to 0.

Or, if you like a map but it could do without the shotgun - then simply re-spin the V-hexes in the "View map" screen. Assuming you do not have the shotgun at 100%, then some of the offerings will be 7-packs.

Cheers
Andy

[void1984]

Thank you Andy for your advice, I know how to turn it off.
I was interested how do other players recept it and deal with it. Maybe I am missing some better fun.

[Marcello]

Personally I prefer to manually emplace VHs over actual objectives such as bridges, villages, hills, roads etc.
It takes a bit more time but it feels better than fighting over something of of obvious zero value.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by void1984

Thank you Andy for your advice, I know how to turn it off.
I was interested how do other players recept it and deal with it. Maybe I am missing some better fun.

If you think your forces will be too small to leave zillions of pickets all over, then you should most likely go for the 3x7 V-hex pattern.

The Shotgun is probably best for human v Human PBEM play in any case.

Cheers
Any

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I don't mind the shotgun pattern it presents it's own set of challenges. What I've generally seen playing the AI is as you advance in the campaign (I will normally play a 17 or 21 battle campaign.) it'll start with the shotgun victory flags (vf) on and off around the fifth battle or so. By this time I'll have some anti-air which will be important against possible helo insertions onto the vf's especially towards the end of the game when you might have the upper hand (Or the AI has.) to change your victory status or increase it's own. Damaged or immobilized units can help as well in key vf's security. The AI likes to use terrain as well and cover fire with smoke. This is important to note as the AI is normally armor heavy, and sometimes an APC or two or worse a couple of tanks will break through my lines or I've seen where the AI will let my forces by and I won't see those units and they're off to the races behind my lines not to encounter my troops from the rear but, go after the vf's. To counter this I'll pull back or lag with at least a couple of IFV types with anti-tank capability. Key hex point values will normally increase the deeper you go behind your lines or on major terrain features such as key hills and fords etc. these should be your focus for rearguards as you hopefully advance. So in a nutshell:
1. Buy some decent SPAA or other AA.
2. Use immobilized and current battle damaged units for security.
3. Pull back or lag with mobile anti-tank capable units with good vision and speed to retake the vf's and or engage the units in your rear area.
4. Have fun, get blown up, be humbled and learn. I have learned the AI CERTAINLY has more then one way to snatch complete victory from your hands as I've found out. There are other ways I've seen this happen to me then I've described above as you increase the difficulty level you play against the AI. Hope this helps!?! Sorry so as not to confuse the issue substitute victory hexs (vh's) for my victory flags (vf's).

Regards,
Pat

[kolc]

You can simply edit the location of VHs and the point value if you like. Instead of having 20 VHs you could have only 3. This way you don't have to spread your forces ridiculously thin to cover far-flung VHs. It also helps to focus the AI as well.