Does NM modify combat results or just unit Readiness?

[Ktonos]

Attacking with a corp a de-entrenched enemy corp I get a 4-0 projection (4 casualties for me, no for the enemy)

My corp is full strength with 85% readiness, enemy one is at 7 strength, no entrenchment, same level of inf weapons and 55% readiness (was bombarded by artillery barrages). Projection is 4-0.

Now my understanding was that each unit has a list of modifiers (attack v hard, defend v hard, terrain defense bonus, entrenchment etc) and the final total is each multiplied with the unit's readiness. In my case it was something like 5 vs 6.

Now my national morale is collapsing and the opponent's is impetuous. But I thought this affected the readiness of a unit, not the combat modifiers directly.

[The Land]

Out of interest - Is the projection accurate? Are you able to observe HQ levels on both sides?

I was also wondering a bit about this, as I notice the combat bonuses for facing low-NM enemies seem quite large even compared to the apparent readiness values. Maybe the NM-based modifier is a modifier OF readiness not ON readiness - like the prepared attack bonus, it adds +25% to effective readiness, but doesn't appear in either side's readiness score...

[Ktonos]

Most of the time projection is accurate and most of the time I do not see the HQ.

You might be right on the of/on thing. I've played all 3 latest titles, and when I am losing/winning by a big margin (thus huge NM disparities) combat results seem one sided. Units belonging to the winning faction can be menacing even if left in low supply for several turns - units of the losing faction will disintegrate after a couple of attacks even if preserved in ideal conditions.

PS. Regarding combat projections, in hindsight I notice that they get less accurate as NM disparity becomes greater, in all Fury games I've played that is. If I am behind actual results are usually constantly and annoyingly worse than the projection, better when I am ahead.

[BillRunacre]

NM influences unit morale and therefore readiness, so its effects should be visible. I suspect something else must be in play here too for the combat odds to be 4-0. Are you attacking across a river, after moving, or is the defending unit in good defensive terrain?

Do you have a save file to help show more details, or even just a screenshot of the situation?

[Ktonos]

No, it is in an already played turn. Unit was on good terrain (forest I think) but I remember examining the combat breakdown and the modifiers had parity with some minor advantage for the defender.
Mostly this is an observation of dozens of instances across all 3 SC games I've played (WiE, WaW, WWI); that combat odds become more one sided as NM parity gets out of hand, no matter the local tactical situation. I do not judge it if it is so, I actually think it has logic behind it. Just want to know if this is so.

[BillRunacre]

It does have an impact, but only up to a point, see the WWI Manual at the top of page 178 for the actual effect it has on combat calculations.