How to get better intel on a hex with hidden contact?

[VonWulfen]

Hello all.
I am playing through the tutorials and have been engaged a number of times by the hidden enemies.
Sometimes it is a village and sometimes from dense jungle.
I am very mindful of the civilian population and want to avoid civ casualties.
Is there a game mechanic that would give me more intel on civilians and combatants within these hexes, like a scout command or some such?
This is my first Campaign Series game, lots to learn but am thoroughly enjoying the game

[Jason Petho]

Some units have a recon ability, although it will only help with spotting, not with identifying the unit itself.

With enhanced fog of war, you will rarely know the unit that is being spotted, you will have to learn by the visual and audible clues. (Is it a sniper firing at you? An RPG team? Rifle platoon?)

I'm glad you're enjoying the game! It's a decent learning curve if you're new, but it is like chess - easy to learn but difficult to master as there are a lot of nuances that come with experience.

[Jason Petho]

Also, something else to be mindful of, is that in some (rare in Vietnam) scenarios you will see some civilian clad units that may attack you. Depending on what they are attacking you, it could just be an angry mob (that attacks at a 1 - so throwing rocks) but if you shoot them it will have you lose victory points!

[VonWulfen]

Some units have a recon ability, although it will only help with spotting, not with identifying the unit itself.

With enhanced fog of war, you will rarely know the unit that is being spotted, you will have to learn by the visual and audible clues. (Is it a sniper firing at you? An RPG team? Rifle platoon?)

I'm glad you're enjoying the game! It's a decent learning curve if you're new, but it is like chess - easy to learn but difficult to master as there are a lot of nuances that come with experience.

Many thanks for the clarification, sir.
I really like the civilian mechanic, I don’t think I have ever seen it modelled within a game before.
As to the civilians themselves, do they react to outgoing or incoming fire?
For instance they are in a hex where someone starts firing on a US patrol. Do they try to get clear and move to a different hex?

[Jason Petho]

Good question!

No, I haven't scripted that yet, but that is something I can look at in the future.

Oh, be wary of assaulting a hex that has civilians in it (with other opposing forces). If you assault it, the civilians will also be captured, causing a point loss on your end. In those situations it is best to direct fire at the combat unit until it is destroyed or vacates the hex.