Regarding Star Shells

[GaryChildress]

I have yet to see star shells have much effect on visibility in the game. I've dropped them over open fields where I knew there were enemy soldiers lurking and still don't seem to be able to see them. Has anyone done any decisive experiments to determine if star shells really help visibility? If they do it doesn't seem to be a very noticable effect. I mean if there are soldiers in an open field a couple hundred meters away from your men then a star shell should make them visible shouldn't it? [&:]

[oldspec4]

I've noticed the same...I get a nice little circle of light but don't see any enemy. Maybe you need a good los from one of your units for it to work?

[Senior Drill]

LOS is the key. Hinderance to visibility accumulates across each element tile (map coding area) that LOS traces through. Get enough "Grass Field" elements twix thee and he and no see 'um. Night accentuates that. You can have a bright pool of light, shining bright into the night, but if there is a visibility hinderance accumulation of element tiles between the observing unit and the target, you will not have LOS. And, there actually could be no one there to see....

To apperciate the difference star shells can make, play a one of the night battles with "Always See Enemy" enabled. You will see the enemy placements, but your troops will not. Place illum at the appropriate time and you will notice the difference in the volume of fire.

[samarobriva]

It may gives your units a very good opportunity to shoot at or to suppress fire the ennemy.
Try to do traps with units crossfire, then launch your star shell, you'll see a rate of fire increase

[mooxe]

Have not noticed a difference either. The conditions have to be absolutely perfect for illumination to work I guess. For example, the enemy would have to be in a situation where in daytime you would be able to spot them.