(AW2) What Could Sturm Have Done Differently?

[FormicHiveQueen]

Up against four nations, is there really any way that Sturm could have won? The answer, I think, is a resounding "yes".

The mistake Sturm made was in trying to divide his forces and conquer all four nations at once. He relied too heavily on powerful factories that made his COs overconfident, thinking they were unstoppable with unlimited numbers. And even though Hawke nearly conquered Green Earth due to being more realistic with his forces, the ineptitude of the other COs cost him the war when the other nations intervened. When the other nations finally got to the island Black Hole had commandeered, the combined weight of their forces was too much even for Sturm's improved (since AW1) command skills.

So what could be done differently? Well, quite simply, Sturm should have only focused on one nation. He should have built all four factories in the same nation so that his forces really would be overwhelming. Then, he should have gone himself and left Lash back at the home island. (The terrain on that island is more suited toward her defensive skills.) Between the factories, Hawke, Adder, Flak, and himself, that nation wouldn't stand a chance. If he subsequently cloned the COs like he cloned Andy in AW1, this would bolster his army and make future strikes easier.

Ideally, the nation they conquer should either be Orange Star or Yellow Comet. OS is the one that organized the coalition to stop Sturm the last time, so eliminating them could, hopefully, stop another one from forming. The danger is that some of the COs could escape, and thus that coalition would happen anyway. If he conquers Yellow Comet, though, he would eliminate the most powerful nation as well as have a pair of powerful COs to clone. (Kanbei is the reason Yellow Comet's military is fear, and Sensei was called the greatest CO of all time before he retired.) Thus entrenched, Adder and Flak could return home to assist Lash while Sturm, Hawke, and the clones held the fort in Yellow Comet. The two territories would be able to hold out against assaults from the other three nations. Once they'd built back up, Hawke and Sturm could assault Green Earth and build additional factories there. Once they clone those COs, Black Hole could only lose if they somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[MelancholyMastermind]

I think you're right, but Sonja might be the one to clone. Her SCOP has one hell of a nasty trick. Also, Hawke was doing fairly well by himself in Green Earth. If Sturm had lent him a hand there, GE probably would have fallen. Or he could have focused on one, maybe two countries at a time, instead of spreading himself out so much, and done much better.

[FormicHiveQueen]

I think you're right, but Sonja might be the one to clone. Her SCOP has one hell of a nasty trick. Also, Hawke was doing fairly well by himself in Green Earth. If Sturm had lent him a hand there, GE probably would have fallen. Or he could have focused on one, maybe two countries at a time, instead of spreading himself out so much, and done much better.

He could clone Sonja for her intellect, but if we're talking in pure gameplay terms (and I wasn't, but whatever), Kanbei and Sensei are the ones to be cloning. They're the two strongest COs in the game, with Sturm coming in 3rd place to them.

As for Green Earth, Hawke was doing so well because the other nations intervened. If Sturm knocks out Yellow Comet, leaves the clones there as a home-guard, and then joins Hawke in Green Earth, he'll be able to hold off Orange Star and Blue Moon while he clones the Green Earth COs. Since those two nations shouldn't be able to invade Yellow Comet with clones of Kanbei, Sensei, and Sonja utilizing the factories (remember we built all four in one nation), and certainly can't invade Black Hole's island with their forces still at full strength (especially with Lash digging into that thick terrain there), they'll be screwed once Sturm goes after them.

With Macro Land under control, and all the COs imprisoned and cloned, Sturm could pretty much walk into Cosmo Land and practically take it without firing a shot if he wanted to.

[Havetts]

I think if he really wanted to conquer Macro Land he should've done it himself. Hawke & Lash are great CO's, but Flak and Adder just let the Black Hole Army down, Flak by his lack of brain capacity and Adder by underestimating his opponent. And yes either grab one land ( Green Earth / Yellow Comet ) and expand from throughout there creating the ability to shut down the possibility that CO's flee and form an alliance against Black Hole.

Though I think the CO's are the problem, if there would be competent Co's like Hawke & Lash in OS and YC they could've even won the war at the start. If OS would've been crushed at the first battle, it would definatly destroy morale and Blue Moon was horribly unorganized to start with. Not even recognizing one of your new CO's.

[Robosturm]

Some CO's aren't competent, but i think Sturm made another mistake. He only rely on the Omega-Missile constructed at his base!
And in a war you should never rely on one tactical thing. You have to have different oppurtinities!
And telling his enemies where they find this weapon is stupid! He actually gives them more time!
Conquering only one country may be a good idea! But i guess the biggest problem was that he send to less troops and a stupid CO to OS so they could help all other countries!
And Sturm should have fight as a CO not only sitting their and let things happen!

[MelancholyMastermind]

Actually, now that I think about it, Sturm should've taken over Orange Star first. With Clone Nell and Clone Hachi at his disposal, he could have annihilated whatever country he wished. At his leisure, no less.