What's a Greenhorn General to do?

[Ricky B]

I understand your pain! What you bring up, in a more general way, is one thing that is missing and hard to replicate in the PzC series - beginning of the battle intel. Just realize, what is a problem for you is even worse for the AI as it retains absolutely nothing from turn to turn, while you at least do learn after the first few turns what is what, up to a point.

I do believe you are analyzing it a bit too much on a tactical basis - at your level, there would be reports of approximate enemy forces/formations around the area, but you wouldn't be looking so much at the actual defensive positions, that would be much lower level.

As to your question, I know some players will open the scenario and look around at the enemy forces, which can then overstate the knowledge historically present, although a more brief overview can give you a feel for things without knowing the position of every gun that study would give you. Personally, I might open the scenario and just look at the jump map to get a feel for things, and frequenly open the strength dialogue to see what totals the 2 sides have, but overall I like playing the scenarios blind. Then if I play again, I might have a historical feel for the dispositions of the other side, and even my side, if I don't play it again for a couple of years.

In my case, as I was trained to do in the Marines, I analyze the map at the start with FOW on, trying to determine what I can currently see, how the terrain is laid out, where the objectives are, probably enemy reserve areas, etc. Then I use this to plan my attack, or defense, and then adjust from there. There usually isn't too much unplanned bumping about, I don't believe in ever attacking all along the front, I like to do more probing and finding where to concentrate forces, and doing lots of probes until I find the areas to hit hard.

Rick