Meaning of combat odds

[baronvonmunchausen]

Hi again,

I am trying to understand estimated combat results.

This turn I am looking to attack an infantry unit in Kiev from the west (no river) with and infantry and an armoured unit that have moved this turn.

The combat estimate for the infantry unit vs teh infantry unit defending Kiev is:

2 0
HA= 3-2=1 HD =4 -2= 2 (+1SDB)


The tank versus infantry unit in Kiev

3 0
HA= 5-2=3 TD=5-2=3 (+3DB)


What do these numbers symbolise? I get that the first number after the HA is the hard attack value, first number after HD is hard defence, and the first number after TD is the default value of defence against tanks for that unit, but what are the "-2s" what do they symbolise? Readiness penalty? anything else?

And what does "SBD and DB" stand for?

I gather That the final results of 2-0 in the top case is the difference between the totals on each side. Same with the second example. In other combats, both sides take losses.So how is that calculated if it is not simply the difference between the total on one side, versus the other?

Is this explained anywhere I missed?

Thanks.

[Chernobyl]

I also find it to be confusing sometimes. The fact that combat odds is shown is really nice, and after playing for many hours I do have an intuitive grasp of combat and movement that is pretty spot on, but I don't always understand everything.

Generally the integer arithmetic is separate from readiness. Readiness % is a multiplier that is factored in after the attack / defense values are calculated. So my understanding is that a defense strength of 5 at 20% readiness is roughly equal to a defense strength of 1 at 100%. The calculations shown at the bottom of the screen occasionally mention readiness boosts such as the -20% river penalty or the +25% prepared attack bonus. But those mentions are just for convenience and don't factor into the displayed arithmetic equation. The losses displayed by the combat predictor are really accurate, except for any "surprise" factor coming out of the fog of war like defensive artillery or unseen fighter interceptors. I generally look at the combat predictor (predicted losses) and take that the most seriously, and then I can glance at the attack/defense strength arithmetic equation at the bottom of the screen to try to understand how the predicted losses make sense.

There are a few terrain bonuses/penalties that don't seem to get mentioned on screen, most notably the penalty attacking FROM a swamp hex, which gets a -50% penalty.

[BillRunacre]

Hi

An explanation of the abbreviations can be found on page 36 of the Manual in the section on Combat Predictions.

[baronvonmunchausen]

@chernobl that is pretty much the way I function too. I was just trying to make sense of the arithmetic equation below, as it is not explained anywhere.

@BillRunacre, yes I had found those abbreviations, but could not make sense of a) the arithmetic b) the "DB" in parenthesis.
No worries though if it is too complicated to explain, I can function perfectly well without this information, it was more of a curiosity.

[BillRunacre]

DB = Defense Bonus.