Mortar fire: How to avoid?

[mbar]

This could be a question for any CC game. What am I doing wrong when it comes to being hit with mortar fire? It seems like most maps I play enemy mortar fire comes raining down within the first 30 seconds of battle time. I dread that sound. <SHOOMP!> I see no enemy. Are they firing in my area because the AI is assuming I'm there somewhere?

[PKH]

I think it's because the AI has shared spotting. Once someone sees you, the mortar can drop grenades on you. You can do the same of course, so in that regard it's even. I'd like an option to play without mortars for both sides, and only have artillery support. I think the way mortars work now is too unrealistic and dominates the game.

[Pvt_Grunt]

ORIGINAL: PKH

I think it's because the AI has shared spotting. Once someone sees you, the mortar can drop grenades on you. You can do the same of course, so in that regard it's even. I'd like an option to play without mortars for both sides, and only have artillery support. I think the way mortars work now is too unrealistic and dominates the game.

You can set a rule with your opponent to not use them, or if playing solo you can edit the computers forcepool before the battle

[PKH]

You can set a rule with your opponent to not use them, or if playing solo you can edit the computers forcepool before the battle

I was not aware of that. I'll try playing without mortars from now on.

[SteveMcClaire]

Also, if you know (or suspect) what unit they're shooting at, MOVE FAST to a new position as soon as possible.  It takes mortars about 30 seconds to zero in on a target, so you can often get out of the way if you're quick.  This is where having a towing vehicle for a AT gun can be very handy.

[mbar]

ORIGINAL: Pvt_Grunt

ORIGINAL: PKH

I think it's because the AI has shared spotting. Once someone sees you, the mortar can drop grenades on you. You can do the same of course, so in that regard it's even. I'd like an option to play without mortars for both sides, and only have artillery support. I think the way mortars work now is too unrealistic and dominates the game.

You can set a rule with your opponent to not use them, or if playing solo you can edit the computers forcepool before the battle

I did realize I could edit the enemy force pool and I may do that for some games. It does feel like a cheat though. [8D] But I have to do something about the "instant artillery" feel of the prior CC games.

[mooxe]

During online games it was routine to spec fire a mortar on known approaches. Like towards a VL that was close to the deploy area, or terrain that made troops bunch up. At the vert least if you didnt get kills, it made the opponent go prone or find another (longer) way to the objective.

[Stwa]

ORIGINAL: Steve McClaire

Also, if you know (or suspect) what unit they're shooting at, MOVE FAST to a new position as soon as possible.  It takes mortars about 30 seconds to zero in on a target, so you can often get out of the way if you're quick.  This is where having a towing vehicle for a AT gun can be very handy.

Maybe not a good idea in CCMT. With my luck the incoming round will be 81mm or larger, and as my team is running away, it will hit among them and keel them all, because they are not prone.

Again with my luck, the bad guys will take out the truck AND the AT gun. [:'(]

[xe5]

Often the first spotting round indicates where the target is. That gives your teams(s) ~10 seconds to vamoose or hunker down. The AI will use mortars against tanks in an effort to immobilize them but a moving tank is hard to hit. Deploy your infantry in good cover, expose a moving tank (or fire a weak team) early in battle and attempt to siphon off as much much enemy mortar ammo as possble.

[mbar]

ORIGINAL: xe5

Often the first spotting round indicates where the target is. That gives your teams(s) ~10 seconds to vamoose or hunker down. The AI will use mortars against tanks in an effort to immobilize them but a moving tank is hard to hit. Deploy your infantry in good cover, expose a moving tank (or fire a weak team) early in battle and attempt to siphon off as much much enemy mortar ammo as possble.

Now THAT sounds like a strategy! Thanks for the tip!

[SteveMcClaire]

ORIGINAL: Stwa
Maybe not a good idea in CCMT...

Yes, in CCMT this would not work. I meant in PitF, where it takes time before on-map mortar fire starts to hit on target.

[Redmarkus5]

81mm mortar fire IS deadly and it DOES arrive quickly. A good crew can have 8-10 rounds in flight before the first one impacts, IIRC from the 1980s.

[Sapa]

It was a good choice to make it like this..i hated the ones in the latest releases..it was better to buy mortars instead of snipers..

Good work with this one![:)]

/Mats

[CSO_Talorgan]

ORIGINAL: xe5

expose a moving tank (or fire a weak team) early in battle and attempt to siphon off as much much enemy mortar ammo as possble.

In the earlier games you could run (for maximum exposure) a small team across the map to a building and then sneak them out the back. The AI would sometimes expend three quarters of its mortar ammunition on that building achieving absolutely nothing.

:]