Command & Control: Cherry Targeting

[Yoozername]

One of the issues I have with these games is the player as omni-targeter. The player gives individual targetting instructions to each unit, no matter what its present situation or state. This is almost accepted as normal for these games.

The player has the devine over-view and ability to amass intel and maximizes all his firepower in a most god-like manner.

What I would like is for the player to just have the command 'Fire' and have the Computer-AI decide what target the firer attacks. The firer will decide what to attack depending on SOP, threats, spotting/LOS, etc.

This is probably a 'iron-man' type request but would go a long way towards realism.

[Mobius]

I would like someway to prioritize targets for a unit. I generally Defend>Hold>All Fire for my hiding AT rifles. That way they don't reveal themselves by firing at infantry targets. But once they have a shot at a AFVs side I target it and if when it is KO’d they can start firing at enemy infantry on their own. Most often losing a firefight to the infantry. But if they stopped firing after the AFV they then are hard to spot when not firing.
 
Target priority is best set at the platoon level. 

[pzgndr]

One of the issues I have with these games is the player as omni-targeter... The player has the devine over-view

Thing is, many players actually do want to play their games and not just watch an AI play their game for them. I realize some players absolutely love the Highway to the Reich game system (as an example) which in many ways is very realistic, but that is not what many game players want. If you recall Masters of Orion 3, that game was heavily criticized because the AI was designed to do virtually everything and players had very limited control over their forces. What fun is that??

[Yoozername]

Something like having the player cherry-target for the platoon/section/company leader of a unit might be still fun.  The rest of the unit using the TACAI and SOPs, covered arc, etc. to pick their own targets.

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Yoozername
Something like having the player cherry-target for the platoon/section/company leader of a unit might be still fun.  The rest of the unit using the TACAI and SOPs, covered arc, etc. to pick their own targets.

Actually this happens. If you set the platoon orders to 'Defend' the individual units will choose their own targets. If you set the orders to 'Engage' and pick a target when the target is eliminated the individual unit will choose another target for the remainder of the phase on its own. You must remember this when it comes to orders phase again and you want to choose another target.

In fact the 88mm is so effective I've chosen the first target and it wacked that target with one shot and killed two other T-34s in the phase on its own.

[Yoozername]

I am speaking from a design standpoint, not a 'house-rule'. 
 
The gaminess comes from the player cherry picking targets and over-coordinating those fires.  He distributes the firepower with gamey coordination.  I am not sure how the TACAI does it for the game for that matter.  Hopefully as greatest percieved threat.
 
As a note, German SOP was for platoon and section fire at longer ranges.  The platoon/section commander would ascertain the range and call out a target.  Sort of a bombardment with direct LOS.  The goal was to take out a target at a greater range than they could return fire.  Especially when they had gun superiority (of course).