Unit recon

[squatter]

I've noticed that regiments and brigades will not raise DL of adjacent enemy units as high as moving a division next to a unit.

This makes sense when comparing an infantry reg to an infantry division, and the reduced patrolling strength.

However it also means that cavalry regiments and brigades - even the largest Rumanian formations - are not as good as even the puniest and morale-lacking infantry division.

A cavalry unit, one would have thought, would have far superior reconnaisance and intel gathering capabilities than most infantry formations, even much bigger ones.

It seems to be something missing from the game - an abstraction of reconnaisance abilities. Things like adding bicycle battalions to divisions should increase their reconnaisance capabilities. And cavalry units should have their recon abilities increased.

[SgtKachalin]

Hear hear. I've just gotten into (yes, it's probably well known to most!) the effects of DL on combat, thinking I notice some patterns. More depth, got to love it. Your idea would also give some use to certain su - motorcycle units come to mind - that end up liquidated by good players, aka min/maxers.

[Joel Billings]

My understanding is that evey unit has a calculated recon ability based on the elements in the unit. I don't know the details, but assume that certain types of elements have a higher recon ability. AFAIK the recon abilities of the two sides are compared and that determines how much change there is in DL. I'll try to get some details from Gary or Pavel on this.

[squatter]

Thanks Joel.
 

[Redmarkus5]

I think that DL levels should be computed based on:

- Unit composition (e.g. if they have 'recon-capable' elements).
- Unit quality (most recon in WW2 = patrolling and lower quality troops do that poorly).
- National or unit morale (probably the latter)
- The enemy's composition and quality (high calibre troops hide their positions more effectively and conduct better fighting patrols to deny no mans land to the enemy.
- Weather
- Terrain
- Hex original 'nationality' (to reflect the potential for civilians to supply accurate intel - VERY important to reflect this, IMO. So, a Ukrainian hex is easier to recon than a Russian hex for a German unit...)
- Year (to reflect advances in Sig-int and artillery triangulation over the period '41-'45, as well as changing attitudes amongst the civilian population.)