Hi Kdragon,
I really appreciate your efforts to try something new, but be aware of the fact that the encirclement doctrine is not the best doctrine. You will have to master it in order to win more than you lose.
Your biggest mistake was your inability to pick "winning" fights. For example in the early game you threw your first pioneers into Echelon-Riflemen-Riflemen combo without any additional support (hmg42) or clever unit usage (using sprint, attacking when he is off-guard, in bad position). In the late game you had the same problem - constantly sending your troops into a meat grinder, against the wall of enemy defenses. Use Pioneers sight advantage and always disengage if the fight is not favorable for you.
I suggest you to amend your build order too. Fast Tier 2 is essential with encirclement doctrine. You need 222 to snowball your early game pressure (you can see yourself how fast you´ve lost map control after m20 showed up). Later on you will need Panzergrenadiers (elite AI forces because Stromtroopers cost 100 munitions to be effective, otherwise they are just expensive grenadiers. One Stromtrooper squad with STGs is enough. Use it behind enemy lines to wipe retreating squads with focus fire ability) and Paks to counter Allied tanks.
In the late game you still could have won if you didn't do these mistakes:
a) Destroying Allied AT gun instead of re-crewing it and using it against his Jacksons
b) Planting teller mines to counter his tanks (before you lost whole map)
c)Floating munitions (not spending it all at those goddamn STGs) and then making a successful breakthrough
with tank de-capture ability and then casting the Apocalypse ability (all units in cut-off-ed territories are eradicated).
d)Leading the 25 minute Tank assault with a plan. If you launched the tank assault along with sprinting pioneers and continued destroying his tanks and killing his infantry you would have won the game.
e)Spending the huge fuel float into double panthers and then steamrolling your opponent.
Hopefully this review will help you to improve yourself so you won't make the same mistakes over and over again. If you have any questions feel free to ask them. I'll do my best to answer them.
Good Luck Comrade,
Hector
PS: Respond to my review once you read it, otherwise I will never know if you read it
Thanks! This is very helpful.
I am trying to play this doctrine because I saw VonIvan was playing this build order on the stream the other day. I decided to give it a shot.
Next time I will get a tier two just for safer opening, or do you think getting a early teller mine is not a bad idea?