What's a Greenhorn General to do?

[Ricky B]

It is whatever works for you Skryabin, I don't worry if my opponent studies the starting positions in detail - I do have issues if using that he attacks on turn one and uses air recon to spot and bomb vulnerable arty that he wouldn't have had a clue about without, but that is limited to arty (or other units too actually) in travel mode out of enemy sight.

Anyway, looking through the games, I believe most of the PzC campaigns relied on very weak intel on the forces being faced or where they were - Moscow-the Germans had no clue what they were in for, France 40 - where are the German Panzers?, Kharkov, the Soviets surpised the Germans with their attack, and were surprised in turn by the German Panzers when they were committed, Stalingrad, enough said, Bulge the same, Minsk I have no idea how well the Soviets knew the German force deployments, but the Germans had no clue about the Soviet masses. Korsun, the Soviets thought they trapped a much weaker force than in reality.

So I agree there is quite a bit of overall informaton, in some cases fairly detailed, but rarely complete or beyond the point of "there is an enemy mass with at least 2 divisions around Krasnograd, we will drive north through Bobruisk and then south to meet a drive from Uman to encircle them".

I do like to read the historical play to help form my own plan, what worked and what didn't, but beyond that knowing that the enemy has 5 divisions in XXX location isn't my cup of tea, I like the surprise of "what did I run into?" And the game let's you adjust your plan instantaneously as opposed to historically, so a detailed plan isn't even necessary, although it is nice to form one.

Rick