Resting times and defensive mode.

[Brindlebane]

I'm still at the noob stage with the game but nearly there with timing assaults,combined arms and arty usage.Just some tips needed regarding resting periods,and defensive moves whilst in cover.

Now rest periods after assaults are required on some scenarios,if not most of them.So tired or not sometimes,you've just got to push your guys.Any tips for this.Four hours rest,six,eight-none.Know what i mean.

A question for defensive mode.Now sometimes i will have a BN maybe hold a town or village.Most of the time the footprint won't fit,so a bit of micro is needed thus leaving a few units without their HQ.If the HQ is on defensive with in-situ.Will the units i have solo stay put if i re-attach them or is it best to leave them solo.Will they perform okay if left and still be supplied.

[dazkaz15]

Hi Brindlebane

I think the rest time after an assault depends very much on the tactical situation at the time.
The longer you rest them the more the red fatigue bar will come down, which means you will be able to move them for longer before they need to rest again.
So if you expect their next objective to be an easy fight then you can move them onto it sooner than if you expect it to be a long slog.
Once they get into the 80% fatigue zone they tend to rest on their own even if you tick no rest option on their orders.
They move a lot slower, it effects their aiming, and morale meaning they will break sooner, and their ability to defend as well, as they will try to rest once stopped, and resting troops are not as effective in defence as alert ones, so its best not to push them too hard if you can help it.
Of course there are times when you just have to take the risk.
I'm not absolutely sure on this point but, something to bare in mind is that units that are being attacked don't get any rest even if their icon says they are resting, so to rest properly they need to be taken of the front line into cover away from enemy fire.
Can anyone confirm this?

I'll try to answer the next part when I have more time.

[Phoenix100]

They will stay put (where you have placed them) if you re-attach them with the HQ set to in-situ. The only penalty for this that I know of is that they will not then try to retake their positions if they are knocked off the perch, which they will (if you tick the box) if you leave the HQ to place them. But I, like you, Brindlebane, have found the AI very poor at placing a defensive screen wide enough to ensure the enemy can't penetrate into the vic loc circle, so I always place them very wide, manually, if I'm trying to keep a vic loc defended, then either re-attach with HQ in situ or just let them get on with it as isolated, fragmented units. To be honest, I haven't noticed a performance difference between the 2 methods. Just my experience though.

[Brindlebane]

Thanks for the replies guys.Yeah it's been a lot of trial an error to see what works especially regarding the footprints and positioning.I wasn't sure wether with the HQ slap bang in the middle of a town/village that everyone was in cover or not.Then i noticed one unit taking casualties that was slightly out of the town and so not in cover.So a wee bit of micro was required.

Additionally units not forming up properly to what i had set.Intially it was frustrating until i realised if one unit has been spotted,they will all stop and hold their position until the threat is neutralised.Only then would they continue.

Hell of a learning curve with this game,which is great and the AI is supurb.
I've even restarted scenarios time and time again to try stuff out and the AI has had a different approach everytime.Quality stuff.

[dazkaz15]

ORIGINAL: Brindlebane

Additionally units not forming up properly to what i had set.Intially it was frustrating until i realised if one unit has been spotted,they will all stop and hold their position until the threat is neutralised.Only then would they continue.

If they are moving in a Bn formation then yes they will stop as that is exactly what a formation is.

If you need individual Coy to move on then detach them from the Bn HQ, and move them separately.

You especially need to do this if you are trying to infiltrate the enemy front line.
Its no good trying to infiltrate between enemy strong points if your in a big rigid Bn formation.

Best way to Roll Play this order is the Bn commander saying to his Coy commanders to "make your own way to the RV at position X behind the enemy lines, by infiltrating between the thin enemy positions. You have till X time to make it or we move on without you."

This order is very important in the Elsenborn Ridge Scenario opening stage, where the Scenario Briefing even gives you the clue on what needs to be done to win.

You cant infiltrate in a Bn formation!

[rfrizz]

This is a little bit off of your main question, but it may help. This is based on the manual and what I remember from some posts by Arjuna discussing resting.

Note to all... If I am wrong an anything, correct my error quickly!

You rest units to make their red fatigue lines shrink to the left, but there are things that affect how quickly it moves.

- Fit units recover MORE quickly.
- Units that have nearby enemy units recover LESS quickly. If shooting starts, fatigue starts increasing.
- Units in urban areas recover MORE quickly. This matters the most when it is cold.
- Units recover LESS quickly in the daytime.

Questions I have are:

- How does enemy bombardment affect recovery? Particularly, if the area being hammered is close to the unit, it seems that it would slow recovery.
- What if your unit is close to friendly artillery? Will fire missions interrupt their rest? If so, how close is too close? Also if so, Arty units should be far from each other so that one can fire while the other can fully rest.

[dazkaz15]

Thanks for this info rfrizz.

From my observations while playing I would say that your spot on.

Being bombarded would definitely ruin your sleep, and probably your day too [:D]

I don't think Dave has implemented anything to do with friendly artillery being close, and ruining your sleep. That sounds a bit to much detail in this kind of game.

I can tell you from personal experience though that it is perfectly possible to sleep through a fire mission on your own gun position, if your tired enough [;)]

[Brindlebane]

Some good info guys,thanks.Really starting to get the hang of the game now.I can see why keeping reserves is so heavily emphasised.Even after a hard days slog and all you want to do is rest your frontline guys.The enemy at times just won't let up and it's diet pills all round.I really can't praise the AI in this game enough.