Artillery fire/movement restrictions

[moose1999]

Just a quick comment on the new rule saying, that artillery units cannot fire if they have already used more than 4 movement points in the same turn.
This rule makes it impossible to change from column to line formation (costs 6 movement points) if you want to be able to fire in that turn, which (for me, anyway) pretty much removes the line formation as an effective combat ingredient.

Perhaps formation changing could be excluded from the 4-points rule? Or it could be a 6-points rule instead?

Great patch, by the way!
Love the new debriefings, unit history and of course the battle AI.
Good work!

[Erik Rutins]

The goal was to cut down on the "shoot and scoot" with artillery that was being a bit too mobile in the context of a 20 minute daytime turn. You need to plan ahead and have enough movement the turn before you want to fire to have moved into position and deployed to line for maximum firepower. Line is still a good idea as Column cuts down on firepower by about 50%. You can still fire from Column if you're really in a rush, but provided you have time to set up a line I see no reason to deploy to line as it will only cost you one extra 20 minute turn and give you much more firepower thereafter.

Regards,

- Erik

[moose1999]

Yeah, you're right.
I've played quite a few battles now, and it is as it should be.
Lends a new dynamic to the detailed battles - I like it.
I had noticed the "scoot and shoot" tendency before the patch too, and you're right in saying that we'll only get rid of it by also making line formation and shooting impossible in the same turn.
Good decision.

[christof139]

Does Horse Arty. still scoot and shoot as perhaps it should be able too??
 
If you ever make a Mexican-American War game the USA 'Flying Batteries' better be able to scoot and shoot!!!
 
Chris
 

[ericbabe]

Horse artillery (and bde artillery for that matter) are not subject to the movement restriction of regular artillery.

[christof139]

Horse artillery (and bde artillery for that matter) are not subject to the movement restriction of regular artillery.

Thanx for the info. I sometimes like to use Art. aggressivley and up close as in the MAW (Mexican-American War), as it makes the game interesting, and in either HW or QB. Plus, if I get my Arty. wiped out I just go and replay from a save game. [:)]

Funny thing, reading Canoneers in Gray, a book dealing with Arty. in the AoT, it is ironic that Bragg the good gunner in the MAW, neblected the Arty. in the AoT and relied on fronatl Infantry attacks with the bayonet as in the MAW more so than using Arty. as in the MAW. He did not do to much for or with the Arty. in the AoT. He did reorganize it and had a plan to replace all the 6pdr's. but the replacment plan was befuddled by inadequate dispersion of new CSA made nap. 12pdrs. by the CSA ordnance works and higher military comand. Still, Bragg didn't properly mass his Arty. in battles, and relied on Infantry attacks with or without attached Brigade and Divisional Arty.

Thanx again, Chris