Why so little progress?

[byzantine1990]

Bought this game when it first came out but quickly grew frustrated with some of the mechanics:

1. Not being able to set the destination of units set to auto move when shot at/taking artillery. This meant units would auto move to hexes that made them even more vulnerable than originally.

2. Artillery used at night, without direct observation destroying multiple squads and units of armor within the first volley.

3. Non existent suppression mechanics

4. Units taking 45 minutes to move and being set to a more vulnerable status in the meantime.

5. Units that are in anything but the dug in state being destroyed almost instantly.

All these mechanics made it so that every game played the same.

Defense set their units up during deployment and never moves them. You can't set it to auto move because it will just move to a worse position and if you give a move order it will be blasted by 100% accurate artillery or enemy units. Your only hope is to put it in a good position and keep it dug in.

For Soviet/Attackers your best bet is to just keep your units moving. If they ever stop then it takes them 45 minutes to move again and NATO artillery will just destroy them.

This means NATO can't conduct a mobile/fluid defense where forward units harass the forward detachment and retreat. The Soviets can't redirect an attack after finding a gap in the defenses.

I was hoping at least numbers 1 or 2 would be fixed but I only see small bugfixes and UI adjustments. Ohh well.

[CapnDarwin]

Sorry for the delay in reply. I lost what I was writing yesterday on an unexpected computer reboot. Anyhow.

We have been working hard on the new game engine and content for some time. That said, there is still a plan for one last update to SS to fix several items that players and our testers have noted. As soon as I get a final list of what the update contains, I'll post it or point to the release info.

To address your points below:
#1. This will not be something in an SS patch as it requires much work for the player and AI to integrate and use. We are looking at making the AI more competent in evaluating being under fire and where and when it should move to avoid losses.
#2. Work is being done in this area for the new game engine better to reflect the fog of war and unspotted losses. I'm not sure what elements, if any, will make it back into an SS update.
#3. There are suppression effects modeled in the game and reflected in readiness and morale losses depending on the attack type. What additional effects are you looking for here?
#4. I know work is/has been done to fix the instant state change of cover with issued move orders and delays. Again, it will be in the new game, and I need to see if it makes it back into SS.
#5. Units take losses based on the cover and concealment of the terrain and the types of units and weapons involved in the fight. I'm not sure there is much we need to address here unless you have some specific cases we can review.

We are working to improve and correct movement timing and delays and to better set SOPs so players and the AI respond better and a bit faster to situations. We are also working to slow down the artillery response loop to that of a more Cold War-era correct timing chain.

I hope this helps.

[bruce205]

Great response Capn Darwin. Appreciate your reply to OP. Hope new game gets here soon