Very New Player... Please help me like this game!

[Scrogz]

I picked this game up at Gencon and could not of been more excited. I love strategy game, either board or on the PC. I am one of the few people I know who has played a complete game of "The Longest Day".

I've played alot of games in my day but I am confused on a couple aspects of this game.

Since this game is so complex I have started off on the basic game but I have turned on "Strategic Battles". In these battles Ihave some questions I cannot find and answer for int he Manual...

1) When one of my units attacks (shoots) an enemy unit the first time I do significant damage. The following shots, even if neither unit move has VERY reduced damage. For instance I have gone from 400 damage to 8. Is there something causing this I am not aware of or is it just random?

2) What is charge good for?

3) Any way to rally routed troups?

4) Is there any way to see the Objectives when you are attacking? Heck, or just find the enemy =) I finally set the game to "close" start. A somewhat frustrating aspect to the game.

A couple non-combat questions....

1) How can you reinforce damaged units. I am guessing my difficulty is just too low to have that option. The same with using units to build forts.

2) why can I sometimes move units from one provence to another and other times I cannot? Do I have a total movement pool or something?

Sorry for the newbie questions. I really want to like this game I am just getting a little frustrated with the mechanics.

Thanks in advance for any help you offer.

[jkBluesman]

Welcome here. Turning on the attack report will answer most of your questions concerning detailed combat.

1) You do much higher damage when the unit is fresh. If a unit is fatigued it does less damage.
2) Disordered units will suffer high casualties from charges and you may push the enemy unit from the hex it is in.
3) Generals will rally troops but as they are not part of the basic game I am not sure about rallying chances at that level. Generally chances are better if the morale is not too low.
4) It helps to have cavalry and scouts attributes or even balloons. Also you get a better view on the enemy from higher ground levels (hills).

To non-comabt questions:
1) I think you get a fixed amount of replacements per camp each turn in the basic game.
2) Like in real life sometimes things do not happen according to plan. So sometimes movements will fail espacially if the weather is bad. If the movemtn arrow is red it is very likely that you may not move.

When you have learned the basic mechanics you will really like the game and appreciate that there is so much detail.

[Scrogz]

Without sounding like I have no clue what I am doing (which I don't) how do I turn on the "Atack Report"?
 
If a unit is fatigued can I just pull them out of combat and have them take no action to rest or is there a special action I need to select to have the unit rest? 
 
So, when attacking there is no way to view the "key objectives" on a map?
 
Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[Ironclad]

ORIGINAL: Scrogz

Without sounding like I have no clue what I am doing (which I don't) how do I turn on the "Atack Report"?

You access it through the advanced menu on the detailed battle screen. There is a shortcut key too I think; can't remember it but it should be shown on the advanced menu.

If a unit is fatigued can I just pull them out of combat and have them take no action to rest or is there a special action I need to select to have the unit rest?

Yes, no combat and no movement will help recovery - upping supply if low seems to assist too. Fatigue recovery increases significantly during the night.

So, when attacking there is no way to view the "key objectives" on a map?

If you mean Victory Point locations in detailed battles these are each marked by a large star. On the mini-map they appear as blinking points.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[Scrogz]

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I'll give it another go tonight!!!

I am sure I iwll have more questions based on what happens.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Scrogz
2) What is charge good for?

in addition to jkBluesman; to get your lads killed and disorganized for nothing [:D]

4) Is there any way to see the Objectives when you are attacking? Heck, or just find the enemy =) I finally set the game to "close" start. A somewhat frustrating aspect to the game.

The objective hexes should show on the minimap I think. The enemy will usually (if AI is on defence) stay in the lower left corner(ish) unless he holds equal or better numbers, in which case he will likely meet you somewere on the middle field.

1) How can you reinforce damaged units. I am guessing my difficulty is just too low to have that option. The same with using units to build forts.

Your camps each brings in 500 men per turn automatically divided amongst your unit. If you disband a unit in a container with other brigades in it, the disbanded brigade should distribute its men to the other brigades

2) why can I sometimes move units from one provence to another and other times I cannot? Do I have a total movement pool or something?

Make sure your are not using rail moves, those you have a pool of, one rail point allows one brigade to move one territory. If that is not the issue, there is an advanced option (do not recall its name atm [:@]) that makes your units do a check each turn to see if they are allowed to move.

Sorry for the newbie questions.

No such thing!