Any way to start with blank roster and purchase different units?

[vils]

Hi,

I quickly realize that infantry is about as useless as always when it comes to games, so i would wanna know if theres possible to edit so that when you start a campaign you have a clear roster and would be able to purchase units and thus skip the infantry.

As of now you cant sell or remove your first units given to you, this would be nice if it was possible to change..

[Erik Rutins]

Sure, that's quite easy actually. Editing the core group in the XML for the first mission in each campaign allows you to set it to whatever you want. My suggestion would be to move the infantry and halftracks to the auxiliary section and move another tank platoon into your core group.

FYI, I disagree that infantry are useless, but the game certainly allows you to remove them from your core group if you wish. Check the data editing section in the manual for more info on how to edit the XML files.

Regards,

- Erik

[vils]

I am sorry, it wasnt meant for a rant at all, the game is really nice indeed, i have played alot of cmbb earlier so this is a big thumbs up!

Im also useless when it comes to coding, but ill look into it hrkl..

thanks anyways

[chucknra]

Edited the core group in scen 1 of the campaign but when the second scen opened up, it gave me the original core units (i.e. I added an additional tank plt and removed the inf in the core group but the second scen gave me the inf back and not the tank plt). Do I have to edit every scen in the campaign? Thanks.

[Laryngoscope]

yes, you need to edit every scenario.

But wait a minute ...

Infantry are like pawns in chess.

When you start playing chess as a novice, you rarely give them a second thought.

As you become more experienced you start to grasp their potential.

As a master (not that I am but so I am told) you realise they are probably the pivotal pieces in the game.

Infantry are like that in PCOWS. Whereas tanks are easy queen like pieces to understand, the beauty of infantry is that they are more subtle. You certainly need to know how to use them, to play them well.

One example ... just one hidden squad in a church bell tower (and good arty support) is worth 3 tigers at about 1/30th of the cost [:D]

Some quick and dirty infantry rules, I am sure there are many many more:

1. If moving in the open always rush to minimise exposure time
2. As a corollary always try to move in cover
3. Don't engage outside you effective FP range (check stats or in my editor). All that does is give away your position without doing any real damage and you can be sure a HE shell will be coming your way to ruin your day
4. Check the stats of your enemy to see if you can't arrange an engagement range which is beneficial to you but a disadvantage to your enemy, this is especially helpfull for inf vs inf as Germans often have long FP ranges and should engage soviet inf to their advantage. Soviets should likewise close.
5. Remember that if you have several inf squads and a tank is coming your way you can close assault at 30m. This is frequently overlooked by novices and is a very powerful tactic.
6. Hold fire! - read the tactical situation. If you hold fire in cover a vehicle is likely to blunder right up next to you where you can then Close Assault it.
7. Let the enemy come to you, let them expose themselves and reduce their FP and tohit chances. Obviously this is more helpfully if you are playing a defensive mission.
8. Infantry make great arty spotters [;)]
9. Keep your inf. platoons together and pour their combined FP on a target. Inf are tough in inf vs inf battles, going it alone only makes for a crap shoot. Going it together makes for a turkey shoot. A caveat here is that bunched inf. is easy pickens for HE and arty HE, so use wisely.
10. Combined Arms will keep your inf. alive longer - enough said
11. By all means mount vehicles to get into the action sooner, but also know when to get off!
12. Inf are great spotters of the enemy on the battlefield.
13. They make short work of dangerous ATGs provided you can sneak up on them.


I am writing a special tutorial campaign for the next PC expansion which will teach you how to use infantry effectively and show you things they can do that you never thought possible [:D]

[chucknra]

Thanks for the info. The problem I have with this game when using IN in the offense is the lack of smoke. That would make it a lot easier and realistic when attacking with dismounted IN. The problem I'm running into is dismounting in woods and then bounding the IN to the objective (normally a house with IN in it) and getting decimated even though I've got a full PLT moving to the obj. I guess I should (and will) look more at the enemy weapons and engage them from a distance if possible instead of moving closer to them. Looking forward to your strat guide.

[Nick R]

ORIGINAL: chucknra

Thanks for the info. The problem I have with this game when using IN in the offense is the lack of smoke. That would make it a lot easier and realistic when attacking with dismounted IN. The problem I'm running into is dismounting in woods and then bounding the IN to the objective (normally a house with IN in it) and getting decimated even though I've got a full PLT moving to the obj. I guess I should (and will) look more at the enemy weapons and engage them from a distance if possible instead of moving closer to them. Looking forward to your strat guide.

Interesting that you posted about this. I have been thinking the same thing. I will try out Laryngoscope's suggestions and look forward to the guide but still think we need smoke or something to make infantry more effective. Maybe I'm not understanding how to effectively use them.

[Laryngoscope]

Oh the things I would like to tell you ...

I'm afraid Erik will need to do the talking however ...

[Mobius]

One thing I do differently if on the defense is #9.  I spread out my fire to pin as many of the enemy as I can.   For two reasons. 
1. To keep any of them from getting any closer and
2. To keep them in that position long enough to hit them with artillery.

[Laryngoscope]

One thing I do differently if on the defense is #9. I spread out my fire to pin as many of the enemy as I can. For two reasons.
1. To keep any of them from getting any closer and
2. To keep them in that position long enough to hit them with artillery.

Yes there is a bell-tower arty scenario in boot camp that needs that exact tactic I seem to recall [;)]