The Combat Modifiers

[mikwarleo]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum so hello. While I (thankfully) avoided the confusion many have faced regarding sea transport and feel I grasp everything else pretty well I'm stumped on the combat modifiers. While I get the general idea I can't quite seem to grasp how the combat modifiers work even after the 1.2 patch with the new break downs.

For example:

1. Often in the post-battle combat reports I notice something like an unexplained +/- 3 for example (these are added to the totals of my enemys ie. 21+3 for a total of 24 defence).

2. Also I'm finding it hard to work out prior to battle when a particular modifier applies as a deduction from the total (i.e. 25-1=24) or a reduction in the number of dice that are rolled.

I've read and re-read the manual on this and scoured the forum for my answer and I'm still not confident or sure of things. I'd really like to get some certainty around which of the modifiers are going to apply before I commit to battle so I can make the most of my tactics. Can someone explain to me how they work with an example or two? Much appeciation in advance.

[JanSorensen]

If you could post a concrete example where you are in doubt I will be most happy to try to help.

[mikwarleo]

Ok Thanks Jan.

Examples from Campaign 1 playing as germany attacking WA on first turn

Example 1: Attacking Netherlands with 2 Arty 5 Inf:
Where does the -3 attack modifier come from?

German Infantry shoots for
Land 6 base + 0 = 6 dice
Attack 24 base -3 = 21
Defense 20 base -4 = 16 Defence for 1 hit(s)
----Evasion Mods----
fired at -1
----Attacking Mods---
Target defending -1

What I don't understand how the -3 to Attack is calculated. I understand the evasion modifiers since EvasionxDura=Defence one gets the -4 figure but I can't seem to find the equation for working out how to apply the DRM/attack modifier.


Example 2: Attacking Paris with 7 Armour.
Where does the +2 attack modifier come from? How is it calculated? It's not listed in the report.

Allied Arty Shoots first shot for

Land Attack Base 7 - 1 = 6 dice
Attack 19 + 2 = 21
Defense base 21 + 0 = 21 Defence for 1 hit(s)
-----Evasion Mods------
-----Combat Mods-------
-----Firing Dice Mods-------
Target Armour -1


And when my armour attacked there was the same -3 attack modifier that was applied to my attacking infantry from Example 1.

Finally here we also see that the base roll modifier is reduced by 1 due to Armour. Are there any other situations other than Target Armour which will reduce the number of die rolled?

Example 3a: Hvy Bombers attack WA fleet in Scottish sea.
Where does the -2 come from? No Mods are listed in the report...

Bomber Attacks Carrier Air Group
Air Attack Base 2 + 0 = 2 dice
Attack 10 base - 2 = 8 Attack
Defense base 15 + 0 = 15 Defence for 0 hit(s)
-----Evasion Mods------
-----Combat Mods-------

Example 3b: Hvy Bombers attack WA fleet in Scottish sea.
Where does the +2 come from? No Mods are listed in the report...

Carrier Air Group returns fire on bomber
Air Attack Base 4 + 0 = 4 dice
Attack 7 base + 2 = 9 Attack
Defense base 18 + 0 = 18 Defence for 0 hit(s)
-----Evasion Mods------
-----Combat Mods-------

Example 3c: Hvy Bomber attacks WA fleet in Scottish sea.
What is the mysterous 'combat help' modifier!

Second Hvy Bomber fires on Carrier Air Group
Air Attack Base 2 + 0 = 2 dice
Attack 5 base - 1 = 4 Attack
Defense base 15 - 3 = 12 Defence for 0 hit(s)
-----Evasion Mods------
fired at -1
-----Combat Mods-------
combat help -1

Q1: Why is the attack modifier now only -1 when it was -2 in example 3a?
Q2: Why did the combat help modifier apply in 3c but not in 3a? At first I thought the 'combat help modifier' was the modifier called 'interdiction' in the manual but then I double checked and moved my bombers through Skagerrak, Norwegian Sea to attack Scottish Sea to avoid any interdiction and the result was the same as 3a and 3c. No combat help in first bomber attack on CAG then combat help of -1 on second attack on CAG. Then when Bomber attacked transport this mysterious -1 combat help modifier also applied. If this is the 'interdiction' or (IP) modifer as it is called in the manual why not keep it consistent to save confusion? If not, what is it? And again what is this modifier and how/when is it applied? I can't see that it should have applied in the case where the bombers moved through Skagerrak, Norwegian Sea to Scottish Sea and if it did apply shouldn't it have applied in both cases? Or does it only apply to the first unit moving through a paritcular path?


Finally I suggest that any subsequent patch should make a priority of upgrading the post-combat reporting to be more transparent and informative. For example: The Evasion Mod report might display a 'Fired at' modifier as follows:

From example 1 above:
German Infantry shoots for
Land 6 base + 0 = 6 dice
Attack 24 base -3 = 21
Defense = 16 for 1 hit(s) [(5 - 1) 4 evasion x 4 dura]
----Evasion Mods----
Fired at -1
----Attacking Mods---
Target defending -1

In this example the underlying equations so important to your strategic decisions in the game are included in the combat reporting. This will help player build a picture of in their minds of how certain moves and strategies will impact in combat. Contrast this with the actual game report listed below. As it is with the current reporting people need to research the game equations to figure out what's going on and how a -1 fired at Evasion modifier actually becomes a -4 Defence modifier. Of course, I haven't shown how this would work for the Attack item because I don't know how the equations/modifiers work here. Further in many of the examples listed above the modifiers are simply included in the calculations with no details of how or why they apply in the combat reports (see examples 3a & 3b with the mysterious +/- 2 figures).

German Infantry shoots for
Land 6 base + 0 = 6 dice
Attack 24 base -3 = 21
Defense 20 base -4 = 16 Defence for 1 hit(s)
----Evasion Mods----
fired at -1
----Attacking Mods---
Target defending -1


Thanks in advance again... [:)]

[JanSorensen]

Hello Mikwarleo,
 
First, please check if you have set the game to give either side a "Attack Help" bonus on the Game Options screen. Your examples sound like that could be the case. Also, please check that the Game Difficulty is set to Normal (or neutrals might be getting a hidden attack help.
 
If thats not the case or it does not allow you to explain the modifiers you are seeing then please mail me a save game showing the combat you are having trouble with. Preferably with a save just before and just after the combat so I may repeat it. My email is janbs@stofanet.dk
 
I concur that the combat report could be more informative. 

[mikwarleo]

ah lol yes, that's it... [8|]

thanks for your help!

btw I think its great to have someone like urself answering people's questions on the forum... good support feature for the game and uncommon!

[JanSorensen]

You are most welcome