Barbarossa tactics and strategy Options

[ScrapyardBob]

(because I can't sleep at the moment)

So let's talk about the odd, the crafty, the nifty, and the common sense of the Barbarossa map. Focusing primarily on "base assault" mode, although the map is also well suited for CTF. (Definitely a favorite map of a lot of folks.) Apologies in advance if I get long-winded and please try to keep it civil. There's a lot of opinion when folks talk about tactics and just about any idea works at least part of the time. If you don't like a tactic, please explain how you would beat that tactic rather then deriding the poster.

First off, my impressions of the bases.

Russian #1 (N flank)
- Moderately difficult to defend. German attack is usually through the W pass, but sometimes they come up the river valley to the south. Or, if Russian #3 has already fallen, germans can swipe tanks and attack along the back road. Germans also tend to slip into the house on the SW side where the anti-tank weapons are stored. The tank parked near #1 is a prime theft target.
- This base tends to be ignored by most allied players, making it more difficult to defend, but easier to attack.

Russian #2 (S flank, forward position)
- Moderately to extremely difficult to defend. The germans can attack this base from the S riverbed, through the town that is downslope, from the hilltop pass to the NW, or from the N flank. Tanks have to be rushed forward (on a constant basis) from the rear to protect this base.
- Strategically, only worth defending if you are behind on points. Same problems as German #1. Only inexperienced players attack this base first (or plant bombs here first). Smart players leave this base alone, forcing the enemy to spawn at a base without any nearby tanks.

Russian #3 (SE flank, rear position)
- Easiest to defend, unless everyone is playing offense and nobody is minding the store. Germans can sneak in through the houses or sneak in via the right flank into the russian spawn area.
- If the germans fail to destroy this base before the other 2 bases, the round typically ends up as a stalemate (or loss).

German #1 (S flank, forward position)
- Difficult to defend. The russians have multiple approaches to the base (south riverbed, the town bridge, down the hill from the hilltop pass, or up the valley from the N bridge).
- Strategically, only worth defending if you are behind on points. Same problems as Russian #2. Only inexperienced players attack this base first (or plant bombs here first). Smart players leave this base alone, forcing the enemy to spawn at a base without any nearby tanks.

German #2 (S flank, rear position)
- Moderately easy to defend, but only if actively guarded. Russians either sneak through the tank park, attack via the N road, or sneak up the S road.
- A lot of players ignore this base until it's too late. They won't start defending it until it's open and has been planted once. An early russian offensive on this base typically results in a win for the allies. Leaving this base for last usually results in a stalemate or loss.

German #3 (N flank)
- Moderately easy to defend. Attacks are typically from the N bridge, the hilltop pass to the SE, or russians sneaking up the back road or past the bush at the german anti-tank gun.
- This is a strategically important base for the germans. Guarding #3 also allows them to guard their N flank. Losing #3 typically results in germans forgetting to watch the N flank, allowing the russians to attack the german spawn.

[Hellfighter]

A while back I read a G.I's WW2 war story and how at one time while lying down a stick grenade landed inches from his face and went off. He got off very concussed only! Apparently he was in the one fluke position to get off that lightly. Which brings me to my point about surviving inside a bunker when satchels are tossed down bunker vents. There's one spot in the very opposite corner you can survive if you lay down .... but not all the time. Maybe it has to do on which way the satched is tossed down-perhaps bouncing a bit down the shaft to make all the difference in its blast area afterwards. Satchels landing on stairs can be survived by hiding in that opposite corner. The center shelves apparently absorb some nade blast if you can move accordingly in a way to use this to help you out down there.

When clearing a bunker and no nades/satchels on hand assume there is Bob's deadman switch down there. Go in and look for the dropped satchel if bomb protector dies. When you see it, run out of the base fast until it explodes then go down to defuse-lol providing a second unnoticed 'deadman has just dropped his/hers. Only teammates barrelling downstairs and running into you will ensure you die since you only have enough time to run out of the bunker unimpeded before it detonates killing everyone inside the bunker/stairs/roof[normally- I think there's a blind spot on the first flight of stairs down for people going in that won't die].

My biggest fun in the game [besides going on a run-over spree or squishing a trapped enemy over with a tank very sadistically slowly ] is having a satchel in hand and playing catch-me-if-you-can with defusers, sometimes 3 or 4 of them rush downstairs and are armed with pistols and rifles... if you are a good dodger you can last 4 or 5 hilarious seconds while they run around trying to kill you so you drop the freaking bomb in time for them to safely defuse.

Regarding that brilliant tactic of lying on stairs to defend entry down into a bunker there are a few ways to beat it, Particularly at R2 and G1. These have a slope adjacent to the bunkers rear jump entries. From here you can actually either jump on the edge of the wall and walk along it and drop directly into the bunker and avoid stair 'liers' or at R2 jump right into the bunker almost.

Running jeeps over the back wall at R2 is a great way to block entry downstairs into the bunker either to hold off enemy trying to enter to kill defusers or plant there. If you are on your way to defuse and have enough time toss satchel down vent or over stairs then nades 1] into bunker roof corner 2] at top of stairs 3] and into bunker in case some1 miraculously survives satchel blasts.

One truly irksome bad team habit is when both sides employ the rush tactic and race to blast and plant with no defence, YOU and ANYONE on your team not at that moment attacking a base SHOULD get hold of a jeep REGARDLESS where they are on the map wnenever they see the base icon flashing indicating a plant going on. A jeep will make it to the base threatened no matter where you are on the map if you leave early enough. This rush back should be used especially for G2, G3, R2, R3.

Be a team trooper and do defence! It makes all the difference. The team that loses fast will be entirely all numbskulls that ignore the flashing plant icon and react only when there's only 30 seconds left to defuse. Everyone has to share the blame in that situation.

Satchels seem to kill tanks best blowing up on their rear tracks.


This post has been edited by Hellfighter: 01/15/06 1:35pm