Sum Greater than Parts?

[ghoward]

When does it make sense to combine different type subformations into one big multitype division? Obviously the faster types will sacrifice speed, and a big single unit will have less flexibility than several small ones, but will there be a combat advantage? Do 10 Rifles and 10 ATGs in one single formation fight differently than each type in their own formation fighting together from the same hex? I am trying to decide how to think about this. I see a lot of effort put into TOE and unit composition, but what are you really buying here

[GaryChildress]

Good question. I usually create TOEs, if only to make it easier to move elements around together. That way instead of moving a group of riflemen, a group of machine guns, and a group of anti-tank guns I'm saving clicks by moving them all in one consistent pile. In a sense, I suppose that's one reason why in real-life combat units contain their own special weapons elements instead of having to radio division to send what they need each time.

But I'll be interested in hearing if anyone has an answer to your question. My guess is that 1 unit of one type plus a unit of another type probably fight the same with the same stats as combining both types in one formation.

Plus TOEs make it incredibly easier to reinforce your units. Instead of manually adding subformations (a clickfest in itself), your HQ automatically replenishes your units according to what their TOEs prescribe. MUCH MUCH easier on the fingers, mouse, and keyboard.

[ghoward]

Thanks for the response. I started playing ATG again after a 5 year hiatus, so TOEs are new to me and I thought that I might be missing something. I agree about the clickfest aspect of the game. The whole interface could a face lift (sorry, couldn't help it), but I think that that boat has likely sailed. Perhaps the TOE engine could be used to create buckets (cadres?) of rifles and SMGs and so forth to experience up and serve as local replacements. You seem to have had good luck with it. Do you know of a corner of the forum here that might give me a leg up on using them? I don't think that the online manual has been updated in a while.

[GaryChildress]

There are two buttons on the main GUI for TOEs, one button to create them and takes you into the TOE designer window and another button is used to assign what has been created to a particular unit counter on the map. I'm not a very good instructor but if you do a little experimenting with it you'll probably figure it out. It seems kind of intuitive, at least to me. I don't play the game without TOEs incorporated into the game now.