Some practical suggestions to prevent unrealistic ai formation behavior!

[Redmarkus5]

At the start of the scenario, skirmishers were auto-detached by the AI. At first, these marched to the flanks and faced the wrong way.

When combat commenced, the skirmishers took up arbitrary positions between the first and second echelon. Some moved all the way to the rear.

They did not fire from these positions, but I'm assuming that their absence from their units is reflected in the fire strength of those units?

[Redmarkus5]

This is a Beta-version of the game, IMHO. It is not ready for commercial launch, but today is 18 June, so I guess there was a lot of pressure to get it out there.

[zakblood]

off top of my head no, but then again i'm sure there is many that does tbh, as most games don't do friendly fire at all, while some will use LOS rules to not enable you to do it, some don't, i'm not 100% sure how this is coded so maybe wrong on it, but have asked about friendly fire before and wa told it's not in the game atm, meaning it may be in the next patch or couple down the line etc, just not as yet

[zakblood]

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

This is a Beta-version of the game, IMHO. It is not ready for commercial launch, but today is 18 June, so I guess there was a lot of pressure to get it out there.

no, for me it's not a beta and it's far to polished to be a beta, and looks and feels a really good to great game and to suggest a deadline or rush to get it out is maybe wrong, as nobody knows so to speculate one way or another is any ones guess, but in imo on any beta i've been on, if it's not fully ready it doesn't come out, yes stuff always get added later when more are playing and giving feedback as always, as nothing is 100% patch or bug free, no matter what developer it is.

so can't agree but won't argue the fact either way[;)]

ps as you added the pictures later i also can't comment on what's seen as only the developer can say one way or another why or what's happening tbh, but i'm sure the developers will...

[thewood1]

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

ORIGINAL: zakblood

as friendly fire isn't on in the game atm, it wouldn't matter if the troops fired though another friendly unit, units to close eg not given enough space will try not to collide with routing, but if not they will cross etc i'm given to believe, depend on what is asked of them to do, and what there commander told them to do is to totally different things some times, as try and do the same move a few times and it may or may not happen, with different spacing units and commanders / etc

i maybe wrong as i'm only going by what the developer has said in other posts or seen online / twitch etc

Can you name another game covering any period in which friendly troops are depicted firing through each other's ranks?

Combat Mission...all dozen or so iterations.

[gcbisset]

I am thinking about buying the game but would like to hear a committment that this will be fixed at some point. Then I will turn up the smoke to try to hide the enemy until this is accomplished.

[thewood1]

Jutland and Distant Guns are another game series where friendly fire doesn't happen.

Panzer Command, Battle Academy, and I think Harpoon (in all versions) ignored friendly fire.

All those are off the top of my head.

[thewood1]

My guess is you are limiting yourselves in wargames you are willing to buy if friendly fire is that important.

My suggestion is to get a refund. It sounds like its a real issue for you.

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

Jutland and Distant Guns are another game series where friendly fire doesn't happen.

Panzer Command, Battle Academy, and I think Harpoon (in all versions) ignored friendly fire.

All those are off the top of my head.

Actually, I've had friendly fire incidents playing Jutland during a night action. But it's been awhile since I played.

[thewood1]

Funny, I have never had one, except for torpedoes.

In fact, I tested it once and was able to fire through lines of ships.

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

Funny, I have never had one, except for torpedoes.

In fact, I tested it once and was able to fire through lines of ships.

11" hits from the Moltke on Lutzow. But they were also dodging torpedoes at the time. I remember cursing my gunners...

When Rome Total War came out, you did not put archers behind your other units. You'd get slaughtered.

But I do agree with you. No friendly fire isn't a deal breaker.

re Jutland. I remember one battle where British destroyers under fire reversed course, then did a 90deg turn through their own line....

[JamesLxx]

What more can one say.....

[thewood1]

Usually FF is not considered because the AI is atrocious at handling it.

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: JamesL

What more can one say.....

That's just begging for cannon fire.

[thewood1]

Its the next evolution of the square...

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

Its the next evolution of the square...

Yeah, It's called the circle. [:'(]

[pjsynnott]

But everyone knows you can't square a circle...

(Sorry)

[76mm]

How often do the formations shown above occur in the game (the circle)? I'm on the fence about this game, and struggling with weird formations is one of the things that has turned me off similar games in the past.

[Kharkov]

Same as above poster, really want to buy this game but when I hear of silly conga line formations and "circle" formations it really puts me off

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: Kharkov

Same as above poster, really want to buy this game but when I hear of silly conga line formations and "circle" formations it really puts me off

If you let something like this stop you from buying the game your going to miss out on one of the best designs in the history of computer wargaming. Yes, even better than Command Ops.

I've been playing since they were Mad Minute and made the first 2nd Manassas and I never let that circle or wheeling bother me. It's a GAME not a political science class. Play it like a GAME and you'll get hours of fun. If you just use the double time march button on the command console you'll hardly even notice it.

If you can't deal because it's not perfect then I'm sorry for you as really no game is or ever will be perfect. It is one of the best games I've ever played though. Playing and watching 100's of thousands of men onscreen has never been done so well.