LOS, I am giving up on this game

[chrispman]

This is becoming silly: two hex range down a boulevard and no LOS between Panzer and Soviet Rifle Squad???

v 1.18, Giant Boards, Demolition FF.

I'm back to the board game. I really tried to get into this, sorry.

[carnifex]

The panzer is in a light woods hex and so is the rifle squad two hexes to the north. The hex between the two is also light woods.

You assume the vehicle is positioned exactly in the middle of the road and that the Soviets are all standing around in a tight group in the center of their hex.

However, the road does not span the entire hex.

The game assumes both units are not completely suicidal and are positioned in the woods on the side of the road.

Use the "L" key to view the LOS from the hex under the cursor and examine your approach routes to determine which hex can see what.

[fentum]

Hhmmnnnn...

I haven't seen that map, but those darker hexes look like a level one hill to me rather than light woods. If so, then the tank and rifle don't have LOS due to the plateau effect.

It's nothing to do with the road. Roads don't affect LOS IIRC.

[chrispman]

I was wrong, and have been playing this wrong in the board game:

4.0 ...Whatever terrain type surrounds the dot dictates the entire hex’s terrain type. (Some roads cover the center dot of a hex, but do not change the predominant terrain type of the hex.)

Perhaps I should not give up so easily... Thanks guys.
[8D]

[fentum]

Don't give up on us, baby...

PS ARE those light woods or hills? They don't look like terrain on any map I have seen. More like a light orchard hedge down a boulevard.

[chrispman]

ORIGINAL: fentum

Don't give up on us, baby...

PS ARE those light woods or hills? They don't look like terrain on any map I have seen. More like a light orchard hedge down a boulevard.

Mouseover say light woods. I thought Orchard-Road first, too. Good old ASL days...

[fentum]

Ah ha oh ho

[e_barkmann]

Actually I think Commanderchrisp has every right to be doubtful.

In the board game it makes particular mention of the boulevard hex type that the panzer above is sitting in (5 F10) is not light woods :

[fentum]

I KNEW those weren't light woods!

Or are they?

Commanderchrisp has confused me now. I'm off to play some BOB:Screaming Eagles as a protest ... [;)]

[danlongman]

I know it is not supposed to happen in wargames but in real life maps are often wrong
and "safe" places aren't always safe. I wouldn't throw something that cost money away
just because it pissed me off once.

[e_barkmann]

Apart from the small issue above, there are plenty of differences between the computer and board game versions. This would be particularly frustrating for those who own the boardgame, expecting a reasonably similar experience when purchasing the computer game, expecting that they could for instance play their friends more often online, rather than the monthly ftf game - and be able to utilise the same ruleset and expected outcomes.

[fentum]

ORIGINAL: Chris Merchant

Apart from the small issue above, there are plenty of differences between the computer and board game versions. This would be particularly frustrating for those who own the boardgame, expecting a reasonably similar experience when purchasing the computer game, expecting that they could for instance play their friends more often online, rather than the monthly ftf game - and be able to utilise the same ruleset and expected outcomes.

The best way to achieve that goal is to use Zun Tsu. Works really well for two players, but clearly, no AI.

[tsnouffer]

I have a handful of other LOS experiences where I was expecting one thing to happen b/c of my experience with the boardgame but it plays out differently on PC. There is a disclaimer on the product page that goes along the lines of "Line of Sight calculations use a 3D technique -- ray casting on the map geometry -- instead of the rules in the book. This allows the computer game to have more complicated hills than in the board game"

The problem is how do you know? There is a nice LOS tool, but short of using it on every hex in consideration how can a player know what to expect. Here's a flat level example that impacted gameplay.

[e_barkmann]

Personally, quite happy to have simplistic hills

[fentum]

+1 to simple hills.

Do actual buildings block LOS in the PC game? The WHOLE HEX is considered to be blocking in the board game.

That would make a significant difference.

The L key is your best friend in any case.

[e_barkmann]

The WHOLE HEX is considered to be blocking in the board game

yes, it's so quaint and simple isn't it?

I still have no idea what is going on in the 'ray trace' LOS engine of the PC game, it's a voyage of discovery for me.

cheers

[Jamm]

Just curious, I don't own the boardgame.
Do you trace LOS with a string or rubber band ala ASL.
Centre of hex to centre of hex?

I'm not aware of the differences in the 2 versions of LOS, but in the PC game it works out fairly intuitive most of the time.
But there are some oddities that can pop up.

[fentum]

ORIGINAL: Jamm

Just curious, I don't own the boardgame.
Do you trace LOS with a string or rubber band ala ASL.
Centre of hex to centre of hex?

I'm not aware of the differences in the 2 versions of LOS, but in the PC game it works out fairly intuitive most of the time.
But there are some oddities that can pop up.

Boardgame is centre to centre with the terrain at centre point assumed to cover whole hex.

e.g. a 'building' represents a built up hex not a specific building.

I use a rubber band which often gives rise to sore fingertips. Also useful for thwacking at a distracted opponent...

[tsnouffer]

I use Eyeball Mark 2 or a laser level if I am feeling fancy.

[IronFist00]

I use a tape measure. Here are the totality of the board game LOS rules; can't get any simpler than this.