Thoughts on Set-up Zones

[z1812]

Hi All,

What do you all think about the current system for set-up zones?

From my point of view, concerning scenario design, I feel it more flexible if I can select area(s) where troops may be placed. This gives more flexibility to the scenario designer in my view.

Now I am not suggesting the current system be done away with, only that it may be modified to accommodate set areas for placement.

I see this as area set up zones that can be painted or selected on the map as we see with some other games. The Platoons, as now, would still be constrained in placement, with-in the set-up area, by relationship proximity to their parent.

Regards John

[Mad Russian]

As a game designer I much prefer setup zones.  Even as a player I prefer them. It's so  much easier to be able to set the units up anywhere in the zones without having to do LOS checks or just trying to move them.
 
Maybe, if an area was highlighted when you selected it to show you were it could be setup would be an alternative to absolute setup zones. Let me see, what the computer knows, where that unit can be placed.
 
Then do away with the F4 key.....not going to let you see where the enemy is and then allow free setups for you...nope...we're not....[:-]
 
Good Hunting.,
 
MR

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: z1812

Hi All,

What do you all think about the current system for set-up zones?

From my point of view, concerning scenario design, I feel it more flexible if I can select area(s) where troops may be placed. This gives more flexibility to the scenario designer in my view.

Now I am not suggesting the current system be done away with, only that it may be modified to accommodate set areas for placement.

I see this as area set up zones that can be painted or selected on the map as we see with some other games. The Platoons, as now, would still be constrained in placement, with-in the set-up area, by relationship proximity to their parent.

Regards John

I'm not sure I understand. When designing scenario we can set up forces where ever we want I think, or do you mean you'd prefer a system where designer just designates a setup area and then let players place the units whereever they want within that area.

If it's the later, then, as a player, I prefer the designer to put my troops where he wants them. (maybe because I'm lazy).

For designing scenario's, I guess it doesnt matter either way to me. But I would hope scearnio designers place the units in "reasonable" places - since when I play, I seldom adjust location at set-up, or when I do it's usually just small changes (which actually fits in well with PC:K design) - (did I say I was lazy?)

Rick

[z1812]

Hi Rick,

I like to make finding proper places to set up part of the players task. So as a scenario designer I could just lump all the forces in one place or perhaps not where they are best located to complete the scenario. Part of the players job then is to find the proper set-up that best helps you to complete the battle.

Also you may want set up to be severely constrained so the player has no choice at all. For instance along a road.

Regards John

[himmelstoss]

set-up zones would be a great thing for this game. something in the line of cmbb where one could deploy quit freely within a certain mostly larger area. also, when reinforcements arrive it should not be that a pak for example is "spawning" right in front of enemy units just to be taken out by them without firing a shot, lol.

so yes, to set up zones plz!

weiter so,

himmel

[Romeo13]

Problem too is that the F4 key does not work in randomly generated Campaign battles... at least not for me.
 
Works OK in prebuilts... but not the randoms for some reason.

[JudgeDredd]

tbh, I'm not bothered about setup zones. One of the things that turned me away from Combat Mission everytime I fired it up was moving units manually all over the place. In the end I never bothered.

But, I can understand why people would want them.

[Grell]

ORIGINAL: Romeo13

Problem too is that the F4 key does not work in randomly generated Campaign battles... at least not for me.

Works OK in prebuilts... but not the randoms for some reason.

Hi Romeo,

What does the F4 key do pray tell?

Regards,

Greg

[JudgeDredd]

It's meant to release the constraints forced the player regarding troop placement.

[Romeo13]

ORIGINAL: Grell

ORIGINAL: Romeo13

Problem too is that the F4 key does not work in randomly generated Campaign battles... at least not for me.

Works OK in prebuilts... but not the randoms for some reason.

Hi Romeo,

What does the F4 key do pray tell?

Regards,

Greg

F4 will allow you unlimited placement of troops... past the 250 yard limit. It works in prebuilt scenarios and battles, and even in the ones you build, but for some reason I can't get it to work in any battle generated by the Random Campaign Generator...

I like to run Panzer Gren units... and it allows me to get my Halftracks near my infantry...

[Mad Russian]

F4 doesn't work in PBEM either.

Good Hunting.

MR

[RocketMan]

F4 doesn't work in the campaigns either.

[British tommy]

Are Rick and JudgeDredd related?? [:D]

Must admit I do like set up zones I can see when the scenario opens up. The designer might have placed the units on the map but I like to set them up to suit my style of play

[von Staudt]

I think it depends on the scenario designer.  If it is a historical scenario, and you trust the designer, (big IF!), the setup should be up to him.  Minor tweaks are OK, as allowed now, but zones work too.  The current maps are so small that there has to be limits to the setup and 250 meters is plenty.  In the future, with bigger maps, zones would be the best, if for no other reason than to not have to try to move something and watch the rubberband line change colors.  I may be ambivalent, but am sure I don't like that.  [:(]

[Erik Rutins]

We'd like to make setup zones an option in the next release for the designer. The reason for the current system was to both allow the designer to set the battle and to allow the player some adjustment, so it's just a different way of doing setup zones from our point of view but not an exact replacement.

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

We'd like to make setup zones an option in the next release for the designer. The reason for the current system was to both allow the designer to set the battle and to allow the player some adjustment, so it's just a different way of doing setup zones from our point of view but not an exact replacement.

IMO, what we are asking for is not necessarily more than what you have now. Just show me the player what the computer sees for my selected unit. Show me where it can go. You have already a 200m setup zone around each of them. The small maps made it imperative that you didn't move them closer to the enemy or lose them on the first turn. Even with the way the game is now I've had that happen.

I would just like to click on a unit and the game show me what the setup rubber band does if I drag it all around. It would save me lots of time during setup.

Good Hunting.

MR