Splitting Units

[rhinobones]

During a test I’ve found that an original unit, plus any subunits split out of the original, all count against the 32 units allowed per formation. As an example, when a unit is split into three subunits you have 4 units, the original unit + 3 subunits, counted as part of the 32 total.

Also, when the total unit count reaches 30 no additional splitting is allowed, i.e. the option to split units no longer appears. Guess this is because there has to be a minimum of 3 slots available before a split can occur; even if the intent was to split the unit into 2 subunits.

Makes sense that the original unit is counted since it still needs to retain a home in the formation before recombination is possible. Can anyone validate this finding?

Regards, RhinoBones

[Lobster]

That is correct. Never more than 32 allowed per formation regardless of how that total was arrived at. At 30 units splitting is cut off so someone won't try and split one into 3 parts resulting in 33 units. One for the whole unit and 3 for the split off units.

This is a relic. It needs to be changed.

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: rhinobones
During a test I’ve found that an original unit, plus any subunits split out of the original, all count against the 32 units allowed per formation.

IIRC this is mentioned in the manual somewhere.

[Zovs]

I’d rather have more than 24 system slots than more than 32 formation slots.

[Lobster]

I just browsed the current Wishlist and strangely enough I could not find any mention for increasing equipment slots per unit or increasing unit slots per formation. [&:]

[sPzAbt653]

Hi Mr. Bones [and 76mm],

Indeed, this is a rule:

18.9.1. General orGanIzatIon
You have 32 unit slots in each Formation. Please
DO NOT use them all. Open slots must exist for
units to break down. If you fill up your Formation
unit list the units of the Formation will not be able
to break down. In most cases, limit the number of
line combat units (things like infantry regiments)
in a Formation to no more than 12; any more
and the programmed opponent code will not use
all of the units efficiently in some situations. You
may actually want this effect in some situations.
Overloaded Formations may tend to use Soviet-
style echelon attacks.

[76mm]

While we're at it, I'd like an option to turn off the ability to split units, either voluntarily or during combat...

[Zovs]

Well it’s on my wish list, I recommend 36.

ORIGINAL: Lobster

I just browsed the current Wishlist and strangely enough I could not find any mention for increasing equipment slots per unit or increasing unit slots per formation. [&:]

[rhinobones]

Thank you for the pointer. For some reason I’ve always had a difficult time searching the manual for specific topics.

What 18.9.1 doesn’t tell me is that under normal circumstances all 32 slots will not concurrently support active units on the map (there are exceptions). On the map there will either be the original unit, or its subunits, but never both. So, it is possible that up to 25% of the slots will not (cannot) have active units on the map. This is why 18.9.1 recommends no more than 12 units per formation. 18.9.1 should state that the 32 count is the sum of original units and maximum number of subunits.

I don’t see this as a problem, just something the designer needs to be aware of as the scenario is built.

Regards, RhinoBones

[Lobster]

Conversely the limit can be use to prevent units from breaking down I guess. Too bad the limit cannot be made dynamic. Limit one formation to 4 and another to 48.

[sPzAbt653]

ORIGINAL: 76mm
While we're at it, I'd like an option to turn off the ability to split units, either voluntarily or during combat...

That would be a nice option to have. I'm about sick of units splitting up during combat.

[Zovs]

Personally I don’t mind that units split up due to combat, it happens to both sides so it’s fair. I guess I am used to that after all these years so it doesn’t bother me.

In my War in Europe scenario I purposely set every Soviet rifle army to 32 units in the formation (one is the army HQ, and 31 rifle divisions). The Germany Infantry Armies have 10 units (one HQ and 9 infantry divisions). It works out as a great game mechanic, the CW and US are similar to the German armies as far as scope. The US for example have an HQ, 9 rifle divisions and 2-3 armor divisions, it a good design effect I think.