Started thinking of ideas while volunteering today since I was so bored.
I recently was playing Ostheer and ranked up to position 37 (level 17). I honestly felt that Ostheer is quite strong and they are fairly easy to play, since they have access to the sniper, MG, mortar, and 222 in the early game. That, and Grenadiers, at least I feel, scale better than volks when Grens are upgraded to LMG42 and gain veterency.
I decided to switch to OKW because I felt it will be more challenging and in my opinion they are. I played around 10 games in the last two days and didn't lose any of them and ranked them to level 17 too, so I hope I have some idea what I'm about to discuss.
These are my thoughts about how OKW should be played:
Sturmpioneers: This unit is unique in that it probably the strongest starting unit in the game, and thus compared to the OKW, SU, and USF starting engineer squads, needs to be used differently. I feel like the moment the game starts, the player needs to decide one of two things to do with the squad, depending on the map:
- rush the squad to a critical point on the map, such as the building next to the high fuel point on semois winter.
- if the map is split and symmetrical, consider sending the squad to one side of the map where you believe your opponent will send his first squad and force it off
I either then build: Kubel, Volk, Volk, Volk OR Volk, Volk, Volk
I usually only get a kubel if I rush the sturmpioneer to a specific high fuel and want to quickly capture the connecting strategic points. On smaller maps like Kholodny Ferma, Langres, or Angoville, I prefer to just get 3 volksgrenadiers.
The Big Decision
After 3 volks it's time to decide to go for the medic truck or the mechanized truck.
My personal preference: always go MEDIC TRUCK.
Reasoning: going medic truck is the safest option. It comes sooner than the mechanized truck (costs 25 fuel versus 50 fuel, so often a whole 1-2 minutes sooner), and the healing obviously heals your troops and helps to save manpower early game. I think saving manpower is important since you need more units to fight ASAP. Here are some perks of going for fast medic truck:
- gives access to quick medics to help heal squads and conserve manpower.
- since it comes 1-2 minutes sooner than the mechanized truck, it gives quicker access to MG34s, which are very good at suppressing, and what I believe to be strong and important to use against SU T1 openings and conscript spam.
- gives access to the leIG gun, one of OKWs only cheap answers to Maxim/Vickers/Dushkeh? spam.
- gives the option to be greedy and place an forward truck
- allows you to rush T4, which of course helps you lock down a portion of the map (lock down a VP or a fuel), access to obers (which are SO good), and OKWs best vehicle. I feel like going medic truck to access the units from the T4 flak truck ASAP is what makes going medic truck the strongest, since when OKW has T4 units fielded, that's when they can go to work
Reasons I do not go mechanized truck
- does not give access to healing
- costs more than medic truck, delaying more expensive tech
- you're often forced to back tech to medic truck anyway, making going T4 more or less impossible unless the game lasts more than 30 or 40 minutes
- only gives access to expensive light vehicles, which, even so they're good, are specialized to one role (unlike, say, AEC which is decent AI and good AT)
- if a light vehicle you rush hits a mine, gets AT snared, or you otherwise lose it to infantry held AT, vehicles, or AT guns, you are SO far behind (you're left with just T1 units and no more light vehicle presence for another 3-4 minutes probably)
- forces you to either build a 4th volksgrenadier, or float manpower and be behind on map presence until you get CPs for Jaeger, or PFusiliers.
When going for medic truck, the doctrines I like to go are:
- sturmtiger doctrine - I love to rush a P4 and then follow it up with a sturmtiger to wipe any AT or even tanks who get too bold
- Scavenge doctrine - I often skip going MG34s in the USF and UKF match ups and instead go Jaeger light infantry since they are so effective and allow you to maintain aggression without the chance of an MG34 getting wiped by USF mortar or AEC and then stolen
- I don't go this, but Pfusiliers are also very strong and could be used in place of Jaegers
- I sometimes go for command panther doctrine if my T4 gets wiped.
The only doctrine I pick if I go mechanized is the scavange doctrine. When I go mechanized truck, this is how I play:
- (kubel) volk, volk, volk, volk, mechanized truck, (raketen), Puma, medic truck, medic healing, get Jaeger infantry when you can (since no obers any time soon), and get ostwind instead of T4
- this is the best way I've thought of playing mechanized truck. Puma allows you to dominate mid game allied vehicles, but you need better infantry than volks (Jaegers) to help fight. I go medic truck since I think healing is so important, and then get an Ostwind to have mobile AT.
When I play medic truck:
- (kubel), volk, volk, volk, medic truck, medic upgrade, (forward base?), (mg34?), raketen (2x/3x?), T4, obers, P4
- I think this is the most standard way to play. I build 3 volks since the medic truck comes immediately afterwards. I like to rush out an MG34 against infantry heavy soviets, or even against USF (if you can dodge the mortar), if not, I get Jaegers. Only one squad (either MG34/Jaeger) I find is doable before you need a raketenwerfer, and likely also to upgrade your sturms with schrek. Schrek + raketen + faust should allow you to survive mid game. If the game is going poor I often get 2-3 raketens in total and hold out until P4. Raketens + leIG + obers really help you to stay in the game.
Hope more people contribute!
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Nosliw
Sotjador
Nosliw
Relic Entertainment
