Evacuate wounded

[kutaycosar]

Being able to evacuate wounded soldiers (by helicopter, apc etc) would look good in theme, if their wounded not evacuated platoon losing morale might be the reason to bother with it and/or victory points

[Jason Petho]

Indeed, but I think the scale of the battles are a little bit too big for that.

BUT.

Something could be scripted to represent that. After X amount of SP losses, a slick needs to land in a nearby Landing Zone for x turns and then fly back to a main airfield. Event Points could be awarding for doing so while a morale hit could be done for not doing so. Keep in mind, the morale hit will affect ALL that sides units, not just the ones in battle.

[Ronzy]

I have thought in the past to post about this very topic, but declined because of the scale issues and what I imagine to be highly complex programming effort.

My thoughts from the get go (after playing a few scenarios) about this game is this game is awesome, it has so much of the flavor and feel and detail of the Vietnam situation... BUT ... what would make it the absolute pinnacle of Vietnam game achievement would be to model the medivac of wounded (even KIA) soldiers. A lot of resources on the ground were spent dragging wounded/KIA buddies to the medivac choppers/APCs/jeeps/trucks etc. during any particular battle.

Also, this game simplifies casualties in that, historical statistically speaking, not all of those US SPs lost in a battle in this game were actually KIA. More likely 20 - 25% or so are KIA, and the rest are WIA but incapacitated to perform further in the battle.

But the dream pinnacle of this game would be to have game mechanisms where the wounded/body bags are carted out of the battle area during play of the scenario with a potential "recovery of casualty/event points" based on success of doing so. It would require that dedicated medivac helicopter units/ambulance units be introduced to the game. And it would definitely affect ebb and flow of current scenarios in play balance/scenario length terms in adding much additional complexity for perhaps minimal returns ... but the ultimate return would be the realism gained in the simulation.

[Jason Petho]

Doing as I mentioned via scripting would be the solution.

Having physical body bags on the map isn't appealing.

[Ronzy]

Doing as I mentioned via scripting would be the solution.

Having physical body bags on the map isn't appealing.

I agree. You have to balance playable enjoyable game versus gnats toe nail simulation.

I think a truly realistic model of casualties eligible for evacuation (and the means and mechanics to do so) could turn this game into an emphasis of ambulance actions.

For example: What I would envision for the ultimate simulation would mean that when a unit took X SPs in casualties from enemy fire, a certain percentage (15% - 25% depending on situation) would be outright eliminated while the remaining SPs eliminated in the attack would transform into some sort of Wounded Bodies counter with X SPs of wounded bodies that could be evacuated given game ambulance/medivac procedures ... and I think it would just overwhelm the game system to where all players were focused on is evacuation of wounded to recoup some losses.

Not worth it in my opinion (as realistic as it could be, I think it would bog the game down and make it too intricate for a player).

Also, as I stated above, the programming effort would be huge.

I much rather you and your team spent your calories and sanity getting the DLC done for this game that covers 1968 and beyond!

[Sunbather]

I much rather you and your team spent your calories and sanity getting the DLC done for this game that covers 1968 and beyond!

And let's not forget scripted missions for Middle East + a DLC for Middle East, then CS Cold War and CS Eastern Front 1939-41 --- all of them among my most anticipated wargames and insta buys on day 1. Also looking forward to the Tet-DLC of course but honestly I am more interested in what happens in South East Asia after 1972.

On topic: Jason's idea about having a 'simple' script that forces you to land a helicopter in area X sounds really good, and would already go a long way for immersion and also for emergent gameplay. I am one of those players in Combat Mission who painstakingly tries to get a medic to all their downed units although it doesn't have a single effect on the end result.

[Jason Petho]

That certainly adds a new spin on missions, for sure.

I will have to see what I can do with the scripts.

It's an interesting idea for sure.

[kutaycosar]

That certainly adds a new spin on missions, for sure.

I will have to see what I can do with the scripts.

It's an interesting idea for sure.

this is really nice to hear