Matrix Games Forums

Question: Infiltrating units are deployed on the map in the setup, but disappear once the game starts - does it matter where they are placed on the map, or can they just be left by the back edge? Considering their chance of infiltrating successfully, and how fast it's done?

Commandos units can be used either as line infantry (tough not advisable, as their cost is very high) or as "infiltrators".
As you're stating yr troops "disappeared" after deployment phase, I guess you infiltrated them , using the Commando menù.
In this case the place where you decided to make them pop out, it makes A WORLD of difference, cause the farther from your front line you place them, the lower are the chances to get them appear on the map, and the later they appear (IF they appear).
I think also units' morale/experience is involved in this process, but not sure about this.

Yeah, I know I infiltated them, but I was curious if it mattered where I placed them in my deploy zone after having targeted their infiltration hex.

Apparently it does - thanks Resisti!
I gambled upon placing them at the front deployment line, and that was the right thing to do then.

Originally posted by Belisarius
Yeah, I know I infiltated them, but I was curious if it mattered where I placed them in my deploy zone after having targeted their infiltration hex.

Apparently it does - thanks Resisti!
I gambled upon placing them at the front deployment line, and that was the right thing to do then.

I believe that deploying against the start line might be inadvisable as they may be more susceptible to 0 turn barrages.
I'm not sure if the barrage hits before they begin infiltrating. I tend to set them well back from the front, along or near the hex row I intend them to infiltrate to.

I've never really had too much trouble sending them deep into enemy territory (within 10 hexes of the map edge) , but I might say my successfull infiltrating is usually between 50% 75% at any distance, near or far.

I also try to avoid deploying infiltrators directly into prime enemy defensive terrain. I figure they might have less success if they have to get to an already occupied hex.

This is kind of interesting. I think I'll run some 'tests'.

Yes I've seen my infiltrators getting bombarded by turn 0 barrage. The funny thing is when turn 1 starts they disappear anyway, even the ones with casulties or get pinned.

By reading the manual I get the impression that it only matters how far their DESTINATION is from the front line, but not where their STARTING position is from the front line. If that is true then it's definitely better to put them in the backfield, but I guess the only the matrix programmer know for sure if this statement is true?

As I said I would.

Distance seems to have no bearing. I infiltrated men across enemy populated territory at 40, 50, 60 and 70 hexes, with equal amounts of success.

Populated enemy hexes appear irrelevant. Tests for infiltrators arriving in enemy occupied hexes showed no difference in arrival success.

0 Turn bombardment CAN cause casualties and suppression, but the infiltrators will continue to arrive (albeit in reduced condition, some even proceed to retreat right after arrival).

Successful arrivals occurred between 60% and 80% over the tests run.

hmm pretty interesting... I've started to set my infiltrating units closer to the start line to see if it makes any difference at all... and I'm not sure it does either. It would be good it we could get 'the word' from matrix on this one as it's kinda important, or potentially at least...