long campaign unplayable

[kongxinga]

I always seem to hear people telling others to acheive local superiority somehow. Is there any tips to do so with cheaper nations, like Nat Chi? When I buy the full assortment of forces, I either outrageously clump up my forces at one point for "local superiority" which makes me bomb and artillery fodder or spread my self evenly, which does not allow a lot of breakthrough opportunities. Chinese units are so cheap so there is always a lot of them. What is the preferred way of massing troops for a breakthrough without having to force some to occupy same hexes or clump together excessively for cheaper nations with no fancy hardware?

[evan]

Hijack to your hearts content; it's a fair question that relates to the main topic.

I tend to have the opposite problemin that I am running into a numerical superority on the enemys part and simply the number of shots going each way means that i am loosing.

Please don't suggest artillery support because I am having a bad run with counter battery fire being overly effective against me.

[serg3d]

That is why i love WinSPWW2 so much: it's hard and unforgiving, but it's so much satisfying to shatter huge AI forces. Shameless bragging : I'm playing with AI 150% advantage for now. Will make it 200% next probably. You can change AI settings in the \Game Data\CamoGame.ini AIAdjustPercent=150;
OK now some advices:
0. Patience. SPWW2 battles are long and require a lot of attention. Not everyone like those kind of games.
1. Artillery - God of War. Predict the enemy movement and put arty volleys into their path taking into account 2-3 turn delay.
2. Infantry - King of the Battlefield. Especially in Steel Panthers. The battles are long in the SPWW2, so don't worry about infantry being slow. Move it forward slowly and move it fast in trucks and APC behind *your* lines, outside enemy LOS. Hidden infantry can delay, suppress and destroy enemy armor very effectively. Infantry difficult to spot, and are good spotters themself.
3. While in defense fight tanks with anti-tank artillery and infantry with heavy MG.
4. Always keep substantial mobile reserves - tanks and infantry riding them or on the tucks/APC. Cavalry would do too. Keep it intact until the [censored] hit the fan.
5. Use cavalry if fighting in woods. Keep cavalry or motociclers screen before your troops if advancing fast. Use scout screen if advancing slow.
6. Don't neglect air defense. AA cannon and MG are useful against armor and infantry too.

There is alot more tricks in SPWW2/SPWAW, but I have to stop somewhere

[Imp]

1 & 2) The AI has no idea where you are either, slow down & scout effectivly to find him, have patience just because you see him doesnt mean you need to attack him.
Gaining local superiority takes time in WW2 if playing with realistic forces as most nations lacked adequate transport so your moving up on foot. MBT requires less thought due to mech infantry being able to switch positions faster. If you have some mechanised units keep them in reserve to move to the point of contact.
Smoke is VERY powerful both for protecting the original contact units if you make a mess of it & for moving up reserves under. You can then use it to screen out some of the enemy force letting you choose who to engage & gain force superiority.
Remember you can advance in the wrong direction to falling back & regrouping is a valid tactic if it all goes wrong.
3) Thats your imagination working overtime.
4) The AI gets forces based on the force points you deploy so going with 2/3rds is not an issue. Not sure with special battles where you are not allowed to repair if you choose to do them. Would make more sense if they were based on the points total for your fully ready force.
Long time since I played SPWAW but yes units are more inteligent at picking targets, took a while to get my head round but it comes, WAW units seem to fire at everything while WW2 gauge the threat.
Example a tank might not fire at an halftrack at medium range but will fire at a tank, it will however fire at the halftrack at closer range. Getting a feel for how this works means your overwatch becomes much better.
A tip with vehicles unless in safe areas never use all the move points that way you can pull back if something takes a shot at you. Not always helpful the AI may well decide not to reaction fire especially RPGs till its turn. Now it can hopefuly take multiple shots at you.