Why I can attack some units, and some of them no?

[voroshilov17]

Hello everyone!

After reading (almost studying) the whole manual, I am starting playing recurrently different scenarios, and I have came along with several doubts in the battlefield

Here I post 2 doubts that I still do not know the answer:


1-
I have noticed that the same thing has happened to me in the "combat planner" with support units, such as artillery. There are artillery units with which I can manually bombard a specific enemy position perfectly. However, if I decide to attack that enemy unit with the combat planner, in the "support" section, I am prevented from using those same artillery units. Again, it has even happened to me at the beginning of the turn, when the artillery and ground units have perfectly all MPs untouched. It has happened to me many times as I say (even at the beginning of the turn), but in the first image attached you can see how I plan the ground attack with 3 battalions (which have consumed 70% of their MPs), but however, in the "support" section it does not let me include that artillery regiment that however, I can use OUTSIDE the combat planner.

Why does this happen?

2-
I have encountered situations like the ones shown in the last 3 screenshots, in which at the beginning of the turn (i.e., my unit is fresh, it has not yet consumed any movement points) I have a unit of mine adjacent to two enemy units and I can attack one of the enemy units but the other one cannot.
See how I am allowed to attack the south west unit but the south east unit does not allow me the option to attack...and as you can see in the screenshots, it is not because the terrain is particularly difficult or that I do not have enough MPs.

Why does this happen?


Thank you lot in advance!

[Curtis Lemay]

Hello everyone!

After reading (almost studying) the whole manual, I am starting playing recurrently different scenarios, and I have came along with several doubts in the battlefield

Here I post 2 doubts that I still do not know the answer:


1-
I have noticed that the same thing has happened to me in the "combat planner" with support units, such as artillery. There are artillery units with which I can manually bombard a specific enemy position perfectly. However, if I decide to attack that enemy unit with the combat planner, in the "support" section, I am prevented from using those same artillery units. Again, it has even happened to me at the beginning of the turn, when the artillery and ground units have perfectly all MPs untouched. It has happened to me many times as I say (even at the beginning of the turn), but in the first image attached you can see how I plan the ground attack with 3 battalions (which have consumed 70% of their MPs), but however, in the "support" section it does not let me include that artillery regiment that however, I can use OUTSIDE the combat planner.

Why does this happen?

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

2-
I have encountered situations like the ones shown in the last 3 screenshots, in which at the beginning of the turn (i.e., my unit is fresh, it has not yet consumed any movement points) I have a unit of mine adjacent to two enemy units and I can attack one of the enemy units but the other one cannot.
See how I am allowed to attack the south west unit but the south east unit does not allow me the option to attack...and as you can see in the screenshots, it is not because the terrain is particularly difficult or that I do not have enough MPs.

Why does this happen?


Thank you lot in advance!

The selected unit doesn't have an enemy unit to its southeast. You're going to have to clarify what two units you're talking about.

[voroshilov17]

Thank you a lot for your response Curtis Lemay!

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

Mmm what does "auto-support" really means? Or where can I find it on the manual? I don't remember reading that

The selected unit doesn't have an enemy unit to its southeast. You're going to have to clarify what two units you're talking about.

That's true, my bad!
Here I attach those photos better explained. I am the brown player. More precisely, I am selecting that infantry battalion. Check how the cursor of the mouse let me attack the armored recon battalion on the south-left (with the red arrow). Also, check that when I put the cursor over the tank battalion on the south, the cursor doesn't show me any red arrow...it doesn't let me attack that unit.
Also, the last photo I attach the same photo but without the units, so you can see that it is not particularly any difficult terrain..
Also, note that the "0" on the units counter means that they have not consumed any MP

The question is, why does this happen? Why, being in the same conditions, the game lets me attack one unit, and the adjacent one no?

[Curtis Lemay]

Thank you a lot for your response Curtis Lemay!

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

Mmm what does "auto-support" really means? Or where can I find it on the manual? I don't remember reading that

See 8.3. "...automatically support cooperative friendly units". Support units not directly assigned to an attack will support at half-strength all cooperative attacks in range.

The selected unit doesn't have an enemy unit to its southeast. You're going to have to clarify what two units you're talking about.

That's true, my bad!
Here I attach those photos better explained. I am the brown player. More precisely, I am selecting that infantry battalion. Check how the cursor of the mouse let me attack the armored recon battalion on the south-left (with the red arrow). Also, check that when I put the cursor over the tank battalion on the south, the cursor doesn't show me any red arrow...it doesn't let me attack that unit.
Also, the last photo I attach the same photo but without the units, so you can see that it is not particularly any difficult terrain..
Also, note that the "0" on the units counter means that they have not consumed any MP

The question is, why does this happen? Why, being in the same conditions, the game lets me attack one unit, and the adjacent one no?

That defender is in a Dunes hex. Motorized units can only enter such hexes via roads. One attack path had a road, the other didn't.

Edit: Let me add that you could have solved this issue by "dismounting" the attacking unit. Then it could have entered the Dunes hex without a road.

[voroshilov17]

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

Why in this particular case, the artillery regiment won't auto support the attack? It belongs to the same formation as the attacking land units, so according to 8.3 on the manual, it should support, right?

Support units not directly assigned to an attack will support at half-strength all cooperative attacks in range.

I didn't understand this part well. If a support unit is not directly assigned to an attack (via combat planner I guess)...how is it supposed to support the attacks in range?

That defender is in a Dunes hex. Motorized units can only enter such hexes via roads. One attack path had a road, the other didn't.
Edit: Let me add that you could have solved this issue by "dismounting" the attacking unit. Then it could have entered the Dunes hex without a road.

But that unit of mine is not a motorized unit, right? Is an infantry one. Also,, what is the option to "dismount" the unit? I didn't see it neither on the manual nor right clicking on the unit


Thank you in advance!

[Curtis Lemay]

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

Why in this particular case, the artillery regiment won't auto support the attack? It belongs to the same formation as the attacking land units, so according to 8.3 on the manual, it should support, right?

It isn't in a deployment that allows support. To auto-support, the support unit must be either dug-in or in a reserve deployment. That unit is in mobile deployment - no support in that deployment.

Support units not directly assigned to an attack will support at half-strength all cooperative attacks in range.

I didn't understand this part well. If a support unit is not directly assigned to an attack (via combat planner I guess)...how is it supposed to support the attacks in range?

Happens automatically if it is in range, in a support deployment, and can cooperate with the attack. In that case, it provides 1/2 strength (costing 1/2 the supply).

That defender is in a Dunes hex. Motorized units can only enter such hexes via roads. One attack path had a road, the other didn't.
Edit: Let me add that you could have solved this issue by "dismounting" the attacking unit. Then it could have entered the Dunes hex without a road.

But that unit of mine is not a motorized unit, right? Is an infantry one. Also,, what is the option to "dismount" the unit? I didn't see it neither on the manual nor right clicking on the unit

Most unit icons don't have any impact on what movement-type a unit uses. Rather, that is determined by the unit's equipment. Look at the unit's composition: it has trucks. That means it moves using Motorized Movement and can't enter dunes.

The designer should have used the Motorized Infantry icon, but he didn't. You still should be able to tell its movement-type from its movement allowance, though.

Dismounting is discussed in the latest What's New.docx. The option to dismount is on the Unit Report.

[voroshilov17]

It isn't in a deployment that allows support. To auto-support, the support unit must be either dug-in or in a reserve deployment. That unit is in mobile deployment - no support in that deployment.

So let me summarize if I understood well and correct me if I'm wrong or add something if I missed.
Support unit on MOBILE deployment:

• Appears on the combat planner with the red cross

• Does not auto-support the planned attack. What means that will support the attack with 1/2 strength and thus, costing 1/2 of its supplies

Support unit on DIGIN/RESERVE deployment:

• Appears on the combat planner without the cross

• Auto-supports the planned attack. What means that will support the attack with full strength

Dismounting is discussed in the latest What's New.docx. The option to dismount is on the Unit Report.

Perfect, thank you! And where can I see that document? I have checked on the forum and didn't find it

[Curtis Lemay]

It isn't in a deployment that allows support. To auto-support, the support unit must be either dug-in or in a reserve deployment. That unit is in mobile deployment - no support in that deployment.

So let me summarize if I understood well and correct me if I'm wrong or add something if I missed.
Support unit on MOBILE deployment:

• Appears on the combat planner with the red cross

• Does not auto-support the planned attack. What means that will support the attack with 1/2 strength and thus, costing 1/2 of its supplies

Support unit on DIGIN/RESERVE deployment:

• Appears on the combat planner without the cross

• Auto-supports the planned attack. What means that will support the attack with full strength

Not quite. Corrected:

Support unit on MOBILE deployment:

• Appears on the combat planner with the red cross

• Does not auto-support the planned attack.

Support unit on DIGIN/RESERVE deployment:

• Appears on the combat planner without the cross

• Auto-supports the planned attack. That means that it will support the attack with 1/2 strength costing 1/2 the supply that a direct attack would cost.

Dismounting is discussed in the latest What's New.docx. The option to dismount is on the Unit Report.

Perfect, thank you! And where can I see that document? I have checked on the forum and didn't find it

It is installed with the game (or update). Check your main TOAW folder:

[voroshilov17]

Thank you a lot for your reply! Much more clear now

Support unit on MOBILE deployment:
Appears on the combat planner with the red cross
Does not auto-support the planned attack

However, even if it a support unit doesn't do auto-support, it can still be elected as a participant in the combat planner right? As you said me here :

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

So..what is the main difference between a support unit making auto-support on combat planner and that one support unit (with red cross) on combat planner?
Auto-support, as you explained, supports the attack with 1/2 strength...etc.
But the "support with the red cross", what does it imply?

[Curtis Lemay]

Thank you a lot for your reply! Much more clear now

Support unit on MOBILE deployment:
Appears on the combat planner with the red cross
Does not auto-support the planned attack

However, even if it a support unit doesn't do auto-support, it can still be elected as a participant in the combat planner right? As you said me here :

The red "X" on the artillery unit in the support pane doesn't mean the unit can't be used. It just means that it won't auto support. You can click on it and add it directly to the attack from the planner.

So..what is the main difference between a support unit making auto-support on combat planner and that one support unit (with red cross) on combat planner?

Yes, if you click on the unit with the red "X" (or one without the red "X") it will be added to the attack, just like clicking on any other unit in the attack planner would be.

But, if you DON'T click on either of them, the one with the red "X" won't participate in the attack at all. While a support unit without a red "X" will add half of its strength to the attack if cooperative.

[voroshilov17]

Yes, if you click on the unit with the red "X" (or one without the red "X") it will be added to the attack, just like clicking on any other unit in the attack planner would be.

But, if you DON'T click on either of them, the one with the red "X" won't participate in the attack at all. While a support unit without a red "X" will add half of its strength to the attack if cooperative.

Thank you a lot for your response!

So, correct me if I am wrong, the only difference between the support units with red cross and those which don't have it on the combat planner is:
If clicking on support units on the combat planner:

• support unit with red cross: will support the attack of land units

• support unit WITHOUT red cross: will support the attack of land units

If I do not click on support units on the combat planner:

• support unit with red cross: will do nothing

• support unit WITHOUT red cross: will support the attack of land units with 1/2 strength and 1/2 cost of supplies

[Curtis Lemay]

Yes, if you click on the unit with the red "X" (or one without the red "X") it will be added to the attack, just like clicking on any other unit in the attack planner would be.

But, if you DON'T click on either of them, the one with the red "X" won't participate in the attack at all. While a support unit without a red "X" will add half of its strength to the attack if cooperative.

Thank you a lot for your response!

So, correct me if I am wrong, the only difference between the support units with red cross and those which don't have it on the combat planner is:
If clicking on support units on the combat planner:

• support unit with red cross: will support the attack of land units

• support unit WITHOUT red cross: will support the attack of land units

Correct. Be aware they apply their full strength to the attack they are assigned to (at the full supply cost). They won't support any other attacks, regardless of being cooperative or in-range.

If I do not click on support units on the combat planner:

• support unit with red cross: will do nothing

• support unit WITHOUT red cross: will support the attack of land units with 1/2 strength and 1/2 cost of supplies

Last line is only if cooperative. Note that that unit can support all cooperative attacks in range.

[voroshilov17]

Perfect, much more clear now.
Thank you a lot!