From: "Gary J. Robinson" Subject: Re: Ring of Fire (and future games) and Fox Con One >Speaking of RoF, I finally got in my second game of it after owning it for a >year+. What an excellent game to be playing. >As the Germans, I got spanked (sigh - this has been happening to me >with far too much regularity these days, and not in an exciting way ;) ), >but was getting the hang of the system towards the end of our game. I ended >up conceding on Turn 6 (out of 14) because my opponent had just captured >enough area to garner a draw. Those dastardly Sovs. >Does anyone have any good tips for German play? I found that my biggest >mistakes occurred very early and I spent the rest of the game playing catch >up. For instance, I committed too many of my armored units to a combat in >the northeast sector on turn one and left myself wide open for an attack in >the central northen district. Should I maintain excess infantry (apart from >what is required to establish the initial line) in reserve or should I try >to create some double stacks when possible? I never double stack infantry, unless it is a pair of one-steppers including a KG. RoF is a game of attrition, albeit a mobile one, and the German must reduce infantry losses as much as possible. Double-stacked infantry just calls out for a barrage, lots of tanks, and Maximum Effort on the part of the Soviets. You still won't hold the hex and you will lose twice the steps. The Sovs greatest weakness is, after Turn 4 they only have 4 planes, and thus only four hexes they can interdict to keep out reserves. They can afford to throw everything at those four hexes. Don't double-stack till they are out of barrages. Infantry in reserve is a peculiar notion, since they only have two Movement Points. Since the Sovs typically interdict (with air) any hex they plan to attack, reserve infantry are of limited value. Better to put them in the next fort line. When possible, use rear infantry to form ZOC bonds with forward infantry such that the forward infantry can't be encircled if their neighbors get smoked. These "pyramid formations" can be very annoying for the Soviet. > Just how deep of a defense >should one develop? Two lines of ZOCs? Or should I just try to set up >several fire teams that are within reach of the trouble zones? I haven't >yet figured if it is best to spread out the units in the rear, or to keep >them massed. Given the horrendous infantry losses the German typically suffers, double lines are usually a luxury. The most important thing is, guard the roads. It is very hard to get the Sovs out of a place once they are there; a breakthrough down a road can be disastrous. If you have extra infantry, guard the roads with them, and man the next fort line. Remember to keep some spares in the south in case the Sovs spend a barrage to cross the river. You may need to suddenly form a new line! The second most important rule for defensive positions is, always, always fight in forts. Never in the open or even woods if you can avoid it. Every step counts. By Turn 7 you want the majority of the Soviet tanks to be one-steppers so the oncoming panzers can cut them up. The step-loss rules will mean that the Sovs must spread the damage around all participating units, so their tanks will get ground down. Try to put the KG in the thick of it but don't let them get encircled. Every turn you get two infantry replacements. If you can use them to bring on two 5-4 KG's instead of two 3-4 infantries, your "weak points" will be much stronger than otherwise! The Sov needs 25 factors to get 5:1 on a one-step KG, but only 15 factors to get a 5:1 on a one-step inf regiment. Try to get the KG's killed every turn so you can bring them back on again; make the Sovs attack KG's instead of infantry where possible, turn after turn. >Losses aside, this game is an absolute blast! I can't recommend it highly >enough. My friend and I are going to have a rematch two gaming sessions >from now. I love the system. I think the Sovs have an edge, you shouldn't let them factor-count all day. Play with a timer. Gary +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Gary J. Robinson Gary@Games.lover.org | | Gary's Wargaming Web Page: http://www.concentric.net/~wiggler/ | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Signore Gaspare replied: 'And what do you say about the game of chess?' | | | | 'That is certainly a refined and ingenious recreation,' said Federico, | | 'but it seems to me to possess one defect; namely, that it is possible | | for it to demand too much knowledge, so that anyone who wishes to become| | an outstanding player must, I think, give to it as much time and study | | as he would to learning some noble science or performing well something | | or other of importance; and yet for all his pains when all is said and | | done all he knows is a game. Therefore as far as chess is concerned we | | reach what is a very rare conclusion: that mediocrity is more to be | | praised than excellence.' | | | | - Baldesar Castiglione, "Etiquette for Renaissance Gentlemen," 1528 A.D.| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+