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Reducing a unit "vanishes" part of your troops?

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:08 pm
by zoikkis
If you currently reduce a unit, it seems to simply lose half a squad worth of troops that disappears into thin air. Wouldn't it make more sense if this group would detach from the main unit as a separate unit and could then be used for recon etc. when needed. Then it could be merged again with its parent unit later on. Would seem much more realistic.

Besides, reducing units like this causes you penalty on victory points which seems a bit strange. Like they would've been lost in a battle.

RE: Reducing a unit "vanishes" part of your troops?

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:10 pm
by Jason Petho
ORIGINAL: zoikkis

If you currently reduce a unit, it seems to simply lose half a squad worth of troops that disappears into thin air. Wouldn't it make more sense if this group would detach from the main unit as a separate unit and could then be used for recon etc. when needed. Then it could be merged again with its parent unit later on. Would seem much more realistic.

Besides, reducing units like this causes you penalty on victory points which seems a bit strange. Like they would've been lost in a battle.

There's a penalty to prevent gamey tactics where someone just reduces all their troops to avoid combat.

It should be used sparingly, only when required.

RE: Reducing a unit "vanishes" part of your troops?

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:13 pm
by berto

Since the game deals in half-squad SPs and not individual men, there is a fair bit of abstracting and averaging casualties.

Detachments from a platoon, where platoons are the elemental unit in the game? That is verging on low-level, man by man tactical. This is not a squad level game.

RE: Reducing a unit "vanishes" part of your troops?

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:17 pm
by berto
ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

It should be used sparingly, only when required.
Voluntary unit reduction is appropriate, for example, when a unit is too large for the available transport. Reduce the unit, and now it can load.

Another case is when you want to merge with another unit, but the subordinate unit is too large. Reduce the sub unit, and then it can merge.

It's a bit complicated. Reference the Manual for more details.

RE: Reducing a unit "vanishes" part of your troops?

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:27 pm
by zoikkis
ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

There's a penalty to prevent gamey tactics where someone just reduces all their troops to avoid combat.

It should be used sparingly, only when required.

Yeah, it makes sense not to have the feature if it breaks the underlying game mechanics. Thanks for the explanation.