How do you go to battle?

[Cross]

Wow! you guys really take this seriously, no wonder I never won at this game.
In these encounter battles I think you are just supposed to be bumping into one another. I don't think all this planning ever happened you just fought with what you had at the time.

Hi Gordon,

Sometimes I don't have time for planning. I just buy a balanced force, take a brief look at the map and quickly distribute companies along the start point, and hope I have enough transport and the right support.

Those 'ad hoc' battles are fun too.

My list is a bit ideal. More of wish list of things to remember if I have enough time and purchase points.

One thing I left off my list: I may even consider what I know about my opponent. Easier if I've played them before, but I'll confess that I have, on occasion, even looked up their After Action Reports and posts to get an idea of tactics and strategy they might use.

Where SP comes into its own, is that it allows you to plot and plan similar to how a Commanding Officer would do IRL, if he had enough time, and access to intelligence and resources.

This game is hugely flexible. Plan and play, in your own style.
But rememeber the sage advice of Sun Tzu:

The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
Sun Tzu, the Art of War