Couple questions

[BlackSunshine]

So far I am really enjoying the game. The AI is handing my butt to me though [:@]

Anyhow...

How does counter-battery fire work? I take it it isnt automatic? I guess I just see where enemy artillery is and/or can target it?

What factor does elevation play in the game besides affecting line of sight? Can I park a recon unit on top of a hill and will it's spotting range increase?

[JSS]

ORIGINAL: BlackSunshine

So far I am really enjoying the game. The AI is handing my butt to me though [:@]

Anyhow...

How does counter-battery fire work? I take it it isnt automatic? I guess I just see where enemy artillery is and/or can target it?

What factor does elevation play in the game besides affecting line of sight? Can I park a recon unit on top of a hill and will it's spotting range increase?

Counter Battery is represented by exposure... so if you fire your artillery, there is a chance (usually 10-30%) that your artillery unit will become exposed and vulnerable to airstrikes & counter battery fire during your opponent's next turn.

Figuring out elevation effects on spotting is on my to do list... have two scenarios working with level 4 elevations.

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: BlackSunshine

So far I am really enjoying the game. The AI is handing my butt to me though [:@]

Anyhow...

How does counter-battery fire work? I take it it isnt automatic? I guess I just see where enemy artillery is and/or can target it?

What factor does elevation play in the game besides affecting line of sight? Can I park a recon unit on top of a hill and will it's spotting range increase?

As JSS said, firing an artillery unit has a chance of exposing it, and if its exposed you can fire at it with artillery or airstrikes. A few things to remember:

If you dig in your artillery units, they require double dice to be hit ins tead of single. Resist temptation and take a turn to dig them in.

The exposure applies only to the firing unit in the hex it fired from. Some units can fire and move in the same turn, and they should always do so to avoid retribution.

LOS does not affect spotting or indirect fire, it does affect Direct Fire.

Gregor

[cesteman]

wow! There is so much to learn with this game! I am not one to read the manual but play by trial as I am sure a few people like me do! I feel I learn more reading the forums rather than the manual unless I am unable to sleep at night<g>
Christian

[BlackSunshine]

ORIGINAL: Gregor_SSG
LOS does not affect spotting or indirect fire, it does affect Direct Fire.
Gregor

Not sure I understand this. If a unit isnt in my line of sight, I shouldnt be able to spot it, should I?

Also, how does close combat work (Banzai, Surprise and Infiltration)? How can I tell what affect it will have on the combat?

[Erik Rutins]

I would assume that spotting info is treated as shared intel and also there's an assumption that you have some scouting/recon assets. Having them spot an enemy formation is not the same as having your whole formation in LOS for direct fire though.

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: BlackSunshine

ORIGINAL: Gregor_SSG
LOS does not affect spotting or indirect fire, it does affect Direct Fire.
Gregor

Not sure I understand this. If a unit isnt in my line of sight, I shouldnt be able to spot it, should I?

Also, how does close combat work (Banzai, Surprise and Infiltration)? How can I tell what affect it will have on the combat?

Firstly, LOS might not prevent you from knowing where an enemy unit is. You might have forward observers who can see it, even if the majority of your unit is blocked by LOS. Or, as Erik says, other units may have spotted it, even though you can't fire directly at it.

You'll find that this all works well in practice. You will also find that recon units, with their longer spotting range, are now very useful units. They will reveal more enemy units than a standard combat unit, and this means more targets for your artillery. So you won't be sending them on semi-suicidal deep penetration missions, without a very good reason, but treating them very well indeed.

Gregor

[Toby42]

So, is counter-battery automatic and handled by the AI?

[BlackSunshine]

ORIGINAL: Treale

So, is counter-battery automatic and handled by the AI?

No. You now have a % chance to spot artillery and can then attack it.