ZOC Tips and Tricks

OK. Time for some schooling!

Would all of you experienced players out there mind sharing some of your favorite ZOC tactics?

Something to help jump start us beginners and help us be competitive?

What are common moves that everybody uses that beginners don't?
What is your favorite move to wreak havoc on the enemy?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Spencer

Originally Posted by Spencer

OK. Time for some schooling!

Would all of you experienced players out there mind sharing some of your favorite ZOC tactics?


Spencer

Spencetr,

I'm no DK expert but I like using Ps in the first bound to rush forward and take some bad going that will impede the enemy's advance. A bonus is attacking in that first bound with the Ps.

Jeff

Ay!
Same with me, Jocko. I like to exploit this nifty rule. It brings surprise and it's dynamic. Same with roads perpendicular to my board-edge leading straight to the enemy's battleline.

But timing is crucial. I'm no DBA-startegy master but I'm always worried about bringing up my main force at the right time for a frontal pin-down. If the fast-forward Psiloi get stranded alone, let's say on a flank against heavy foot or against approching mounted you have to spend precious PIPs getting them out of that tight spot. And sometimes my Ps get in the way of the main thrust : standing obliquely in the pasture, messing up my battleline.

But ZOCing with fastforward Ps, Lh, or with Troops on a road tastes so good I can hardly resist.

Greetz
Menic

Thanks guys. Those are tips I'm looking for.
I've seen people use single elements and groups at various angles to control areas as well.
Can anyone expand on that? What are the reasons and how does it help?
I can see the effect but what are the tactics?

Once you have your Ps out front, how would you arrange them to best effect?
I know each game is different .....just need some things to try out.
I hate just lining up and marching straight across the battlefield.


thanks again,
Spencer

I have blocked the ZOC of troops that were threatening m,y general, for example (usually, a LH threatening my Kn general) usinmg a second unit that places itself in harms way to negate the ZOC of the enemy unit. Used extensively so I can close the door on the enemy once the ZOC that was preventing just that disappears from the equation. You do not even need to enter combat with the ZOCing enemy unit: only lose proximity inside hus ZOC will do the trick. I have had more than one opponent surprised at such a basic move.

Also, remember not to zoom too much with your fast units. Doing so while all your foot lags behind means lendfing a hand to your opponent. True manoeuvre should start at 600 paces, not 1200. Your milleage might vary in the later, though, but I have fouind loads of people advancing his centre 200 paces and his flanks 400-1500 paces per turn. TThat usually means isolated flank units that are easily picked out.

A third thing is to ensure that your battle line overreaches over one of the flanks of the opponent, so you can move some fast units around his battle line once battle is joined. Using 2 ZOCing units in your exposed flank to prevent him overlaping you tends to be a good idea. A Ps and a LH work well in this role, since foot has problems beating them dead while they QK some enemy units.

Cheers,

Xavi