Help with F '14 Liege

[Volcano Man]

The defense value of Ft Barchon is correct in both scenarios. In the getting started scenario, that fort is destroyed and vacated, hence the half defense.

As for tactics, yes you can sneak between the forts, and yes you can move through at night, you just end up getting disrupted. Obviously you cannot do this unless there is an empty gap between the forts though, since you would run into the Belgians and would be forced to push them out. However, if you can managed to find a gap through when (or if) the Belgians pull into the forts to defend, then you can get into Liege.

The best tactic in the scenario however is to push around Liege from both sides with the cavalry and cut off the Belgian escape route. Then attack between the forts and take the city itself. Doing this should be enough to win the scenario, as long as the Belgians do not historically escape their 3rd Division to the exit hex in the west. But this is where the cavalry comes into play -- they need to cut off the supply routes to the west AND block the Belgians from withdrawing. If you can do that and take Liege, then you should win. You shouldn't even be trying to take the forts over in the Liege scenario, the only reason the points exist for them is if you get lucky, or if the Belgians do something stupid like leave them completely empty except for the fortress guns and MG unit, then you *might* be able to take a fort with repeated assaults after isolating them for a time and having them go low on ammo (their fort provided supplies are at a minimal level).

Of course "taking Liege" is not an easy task, especially if the Belgians fight back, but doing so is a risk for them because it seals the fate of the Belgian infantry and allows them to be destroyed for more puts. It is a gamble for them. Historically Liege was taken because the Belgian 3rd Division did decide to withdraw, but that all depends on the AI or your human opponent. Expect a tough battle regardless. ;)