Clouds question

[marjur]

I've been toying with switching on and off cloud display recently, and I must say they look excellent with the new graphics, but I have this question: does cloud display have any real significance in the game, do clouds really affect anything, or is it only for fun?

[E]

Only if using the advanced rules (see section 9.1.3 of the manual)

[marjur]

I've had a look at the manual, and in case someone needs it, there's some info on it not only on sec. 9.1.3, but also e.g. 9.1.5, 9.1.7, and 13.9.8.

I've still got two questions, though.

1. The manual mentions hazy and overcast conditions, which affect various aspects of combat or supply. How do I know that it's hazy or overcast. Is this information anywhere in the game? Does the cloud pictures tell me this? If so, which clouds mean "hazy", and which mean "overcast"?

2. The manual says this:

Visibility affects Air unit Attack and Defense Strengths,
as follows:
- Fair: 100%
- Hazy: 100% for all weather equipment, 66% otherwise
- Overcast: 66% for all weather equipment, 33% otherwise

Assuming that this has something to do with the clouds display (see my question 1 above), shall I take it sort of "literally", i.e. if I want to air-attack an airfield and there is a cloud above it, does it mean my air strenght will be reduced by 33/66 %?

[ralphtricky]

You should be able to see the difference in the clouds depending on the graphics settings you're using. The new graphics set has transparent counds (my personal set is even more transparent.)

Equipment has an 'all weather' flag on it. All units which attack an airfield will have their strength reduced to 66% if they ARE all weather. If they aren't, then their strength is reduced to 33% of normal.

I haven't looked at the code recently to see if that translates into a 33% reduction in the chances or not, some of the strengths are subject to mathematical formulas, so that may translate into a 50% difference or some other difference.

Ralph

[marjur]

Is the hazy/overcast difference conveyed through cloud shape or colour?

There are two basic shapes (four if we take rain into account), and two colours - dark and grey.