General Howitzer’s Field Guide to Memoir 44

A Memoir 44 Strategy & Tactics Community

Vassieux – Defensive Consolidation

by | Nov 17, 2024 | Memoir 44, Smackdown

What would you do as your first move?

So my very first action as Allies, was to pull back my forces. The Axis were coming in hot with six hexes of infantry against my group of three. 

So I pulled back my already half-power infantry at d5 to the hill at E4. And my three-quarter power infantry at F4 to the hill at F3; and my third infantry which was actually only two hexes away from the enemy Infantry at G6, to the forest at G3.   
The end result was that all three of my infantry were able to make 1D attacks, resulting in only a loss for the enemy of 1 figure.  

But my forces were secure for the next enemy attack. And since I was outnumbered, I thought that placement in defensive positions on the hills and forest was the best spot from which to battle. 

Agree or Disagree? Do you think I should have moved forward and attacked, in the hopes of taking out one unit? Or backup and fight more slowly and less powerfully?

~~ General Howitzer.

Armored Attack!

by | Oct 23, 2024 | Armor, Desert, Memoir 44, Smackdown, Tactical

Normandy – Vaumicel Manor

Take a look at this situation. The Armor is ready to move. But where should it move, and what should it attack. There are so many choices!

Based on the cards in hand, what should the Axis attack?

Options:

1.  Attack the Armor against the back border?

2.  Attack the Infantry against the back border?

3.  Attack the Armor in the right flank?

 

Pros vs. Cons of each:

1.  Armor is dangerous and the armor against the back border is in a no-retreat situation.

Odds increase for each die rolled from 33% hit to 50% hit per figure! Throwing three dice will result in 1.5 armored figures being destroyed.

That is good, but the problem is that an armored unit with only 1 or 2 figures is just as powerful and dangerous as one with full forces.

 

2.  Attack the infantry ?  Because it is pressed-up against the border, the odds of a hit is 66% for each roll of the dice. So for a three-dice attack from armor, you could kill of three of the four infantry.  That’s good, but again, the unit will remain, ready to attack again, and no VP is gained.

3.  Attack the Armor on the right flank?

This one has more possibilities because they armor will attack with three dice and the infantry right next to it, will also hit it for three more dice, for a total of six dice.  Even if the armor is forced back from the first roll one hex in a retreat, the infantry can attack with two dice. Total diced rolled will be 5. The odds of a good result increase dramatically.

Let’s see the results of choice #3.

The first attack wiped out two armor figures leaving just one armor left to be destroyed by the next three dice. And that is just what happened.

But what if the dice went against us (as they seem to do way too often)? We always have to ask the question “What then?”.  Look at the cards in hand. There are two right flank cards, and no middle section attacks.  So a failed attack in the middle would have left enemy forces to retaliate. But a failed attack on the right flank, would still allow the Axis to respond to the eventual Allied retaliation. 

So sometimes units pressed up against the back border are good fodder for destruction, but not always.  In this case, and with the cards in hand, an attack on the right flank was the best choice.

 

But Commander, what do you think?  What orders would you have issued if you had been in control?  Feel free to leave a comment.