Bridging Equipment Question...

[barbarossa2]

This is just a question for anyone who has got a second.

When reading the manual on page 95 it indicates that units with bridging equipment can be used to repair blown bridges.

QUESTION: Can they also be used to build bridges where none had existed previously? Can they be used to construct a "bridge" at ferries and fords?

Also, in some scenarios, there are units such as "Mot Bridge Column 'B' Geb Pnr Bn 91" which have a bridging symbol, but don't appear to have bridging equipment or have the bridging order enabled for them.

QUESTION: What is the function of these units?

Thanks to whoever thinks this is worth their time to answer!

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: barbarossa2
QUESTION: Can they also be used to build bridges where none had existed previously? Can they be used to construct a "bridge" at ferries and fords?

Yes.

Also, in some scenarios, there are units such as "Mot Bridge Column 'B' Geb Pnr Bn 91" which have a bridging symbol, but don't appear to have bridging equipment or have the bridging order enabled for them.

QUESTION: What is the function of these units?

A bridging column without a bridge can still assist another bridging column or engineer to build a bridge. Multiple engineer units help speed up the process, though there is a limit. The max eng points that can be expended per minute varies with the existing level of bridge as follows: crossing/Ferry = 50, Lt Bridge = 75, mdm = 100. As a rough rule of thumb divide the persQty of an engineer unit by 12 to get its eng value. So a company of pioneers with 120 men = 10 eng pts. So up to five of these could work on building a light road bridge ( ie where the existing level would be a ferry or crosing ).

[barbarossa2]

Thanks.

A little clarification...

So, bridging units CAN build bridges where fords and ferries previously existed. Understood.

Can they build bridges where there is no river crossing symbol? Just wherever they please?

For some reason, I still have not been able to pull these operations off!

Thanks!

[HansBolter]

Looks like Arjuna missed the first part of that question.

While not an expert on the code I believe the answer is no.

I have tried it before without any visible results from the unit I attempted it with.

It appears they can only repair blown existing crossing points.

[Vance]

    Barbarossa,

Bridges can only be build at a crossing point, by a unit (engineer or bridge colomn) that carries a bridge.



Here the engineer unit is ordered to construct a bridge. Place the order near the crossing point (I think within 500m). Note the E&S tab is listing 'Bridge building capacity  1", so it is carrying a bridge. Also note the bridge symbol in the lower left corner of the counter that indicates that this unit has a bridge.



Here the crossing point is selected, and you can see the progress of the construction.

By the way, these images are from the "Parachutes over Corinth" scenario, and I find it strange that the Fallschirm pioniere who arrived by parachute and are on foot took the effort to bring a bridge, whereas later on the bridging colomn that arrives in 28 trucks couln't be bothered to bring along a bridge.

[Arjuna]

Vance,
 
Good point. [:)]

[Arjuna]

Chris,
 
Just to confirm that bridges can only be constructed at crossing points - ie no crossing point, no construct.

[Deathtreader]

ORIGINAL: Vance

    <snip>

By the way, these images are from the "Parachutes over Corinth" scenario, and I find it strange that the Fallschirm pioniere who arrived by parachute and are on foot took the effort to bring a bridge, whereas later on the bridging colomn that arrives in 28 trucks couln't be bothered to bring along a bridge.

Arjuna:
Vance,

Good point.

Probably done already.....but just in case could this be fixed in the upcoming patch??
Thanks!

Rob.

[Arjuna]

The installer is getting made up by Matrix as we speak, so it's probably too late.

[nestor]

Apologies for going off at a slight tangent, but since you're talking about bridge building and the Parachutes over Corinth scenario has come up, I thought I'd ask about some AI behaviour I thought was odd when playing through it.

When playing as the Germans the Allied AI spent all its energy trying to recapture the central crossing point and victory location from me. There are 2 other potential crossing points on the map, but I assumed the allies just lacked bridging capability, although I got a few intelligence reports of a bridging unit being involved in the assault.

When I looked over the map at the end of the game, I realised that the bridging unit wasn't a figment of my imagination and when I played the scenario again as the allies, I duly bridged the crossing point at the bottom of the map and used it to get my New Zealanders over to the other side of the canal. I failed to recapture the main victory location even with troops attacking from both ends, but it at least allowed me to get the force over the canal and not smash myself against the German defence of the bridge as the allied AI had done.

So, my basic question is: will the AI build bridges?

My more complicated question is: If the AI does build bridges, why didn't it in this case?

I'm assuming that the answer to the 2nd question has something to do with what the HQ unit in charge of the bridging unit was tasked with doing (presumably it was attacking the bridge). Is it a situation that's just a bit too subtle for the AI to deal with? Would the AI have behaved differently if the lower crossing point was a victory location?

Anyway, I think this is my first post here, so I just wanted to say that COTA is a fantastic game/simulation and don't pay any attention to JasonC over on the Battlefront forums who, in this case, doesn't know his arse from his elbow.

[Arjuna]

nestor,
&nbsp;
[:D]&nbsp;<G> what's my elbow look like again? [;)]
&nbsp;
Welcome.
&nbsp;
Re bridge building and the AI. For the AI to build a bridge the scenario designer has to place a secure crossing task at the crossing in the ScenMaker and check the Will Rebuild option. If the bridge gets blown then it will change the task type to a Construct Bridge and rebuild it. In COTA it won't do this if the crossing starts blown already. In fact that is a feature I have just added to BFTB.
&nbsp;
IIRC part of the intent of limiting the focus to the central crossing was to as much to deny that to the Germans as it was to transit their own troops. In any event feel free to save a copy of the scenario under a different name, add another Secure Crossing task on one or both of the other crossings, check the Will Rebuild option and then see how it plays out. If you like it, why not make it available for others to try too. It really is easy to do and you can email it to us here and we can check it out for you if you like. Have fun.

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: Deathtreader
Probably done already.....but just in case could this be fixed in the upcoming patch??
Thanks!

Done

TT3295 - Scenarios - Parachutes over Corinth v2 - Removed bridge from Abn Pnr and added bridge to LAH Bridging Column

[nestor]

Arjuna,

Dammit man, I've barely got the time to play COTA and now you've got me reading the Scenmaker manual as well[:)]

Thanks for the info - I shall experiment over the weekend and if I get good results (or unimaginably bad and funny ones) I'll let you know.

[Deathtreader]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

ORIGINAL: Deathtreader
Probably done already.....but just in case could this be fixed in the upcoming patch??
Thanks!

Done

TT3295 - Scenarios - Parachutes over Corinth v2 - Removed bridge from Abn Pnr and added bridge to LAH Bridging Column

Thanks! You guys have the best service turnaround time in the business!!

[Arjuna]

Well we aim to please. Right now we have just released a new build ( #145 ) for the COTA Patch 3 to our&nbsp;Panther Prowlers for testing.&nbsp;This includes the new Para over Corinth v2 scenario. Hopefully we'll be able to wrap up the patch by the end of next week.&nbsp;