A couple of Questions

Panzer Command: Ostfront is the latest in a new series of 3D turn-based tactical wargames which include single battles, multi-battle operations and full war campaigns with realistic units, tactics and terrain and an informative and practical interface. Including a full Map Editor, 60+ Scenarios, 10 Campaigns and a very long list of improvements, this is the ultimate Panzer Command release for the Eastern Front!

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Novaliz
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A couple of Questions

Post by Novaliz »

First thanks for getting the demo :) The game looks very promising:

Though I have a couple of questions/notations:

1)The Icon seize is getting smaler in the distance. I find it very small when the unit is far away. Is there a function to log the size of it?

2) When I want to give my units the hold fire order using the leader the attached unit dont adopt the orders (like using any move order).

3)I cant use the facing order for my infantry men.

4)Can the enemy spotted by sound.

5)longer news about the units are not very good to read because of the scroll up and scroll down buttons

6)I have to click every unit to see which unit can see the enemy.

7)Is there a way to see all the attacking, moving lines?
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by rickier65 »

ORIGINAL: Novaliz

First thanks for getting the demo :) The game looks very promising:

Though I have a qouple of questions/notations:

1)The Icon seize is getting smaler in the distance. I find it very small when the unit is far away. Is there a function to log the size of it?

For a listing of hotkeys press the 'k'. The key for increasing unit size i the ' key. You reduce them back to normal using the / key.
2) When I want to give my units the hold fire order using the leader the attached unit dont adopt the orders (like using any move order).

If you want to be sure that the squads in a platoon all adopt a sub-order, then hold down the SHIFT key when issuing the order to the CO unit. The reason the sub units didn't switch to 'Hold Fire' was because they already had the Defend (probably Defend --> Stay) base order before you gave the CO unit the Defend --> Hold Fire order. Sub units only follow the CO order when it's a DIFFERENT BASE order from what they had. The key is the Different Base order not just different order.

3)I cant use the facing order for my infantry men.

Were they mounted on vehicles or buildings? you can not issue facing orders from mounted units.

4)Can the enemy spotted by sound.

You may be able to hear enemy tanks coming, but your units cant spot or target based on sound they hear.

5)longer news about the units are not very good to read because of the scroll up and scroll down buttons

You can also use the scroll key to scroll through the message log. Also you can enlarge the message log using the F6 key, and the F5 decreases it (only down to original size), F7 toggles it off and on.

6)I have to click every unit to see which unit can see the enemy.

Yes, though with the correct base order, units will sight and target enemy units without you selecting designating their targets. But only if they have the appropriate Base order, such as Defend, or Engage --> Hold.

I hope that makes it a little easier to play!

thanks
rick
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Novaliz »

Ok thx for fast reply [:)]

Some Options listed with "K" dont work for me. For example the Keys for "Select next/previous commander" [ and ] dont work. To use the brackets I have to hold the ALT Key. But holding the ALT Key enables "Cinematic Mode". Alo I cant use the the Keys for increasing the size of the icons. I am using a german keyboard but I was looking at an US keyboard and I didnt get some keys to work!

Can you please give me some hints what I can do? Especialy the Icon size bothers me really :(


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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by junk2drive »

7) the U key turns on movement lines and target lines. One press gives you unit movement, press again for platoon movement, again for target lines, again turns all off.
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Novaliz »

Ok thx but I still can not make the Icons bigger :( If that will work I will be a very happy PCO Player :)
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Mobius »

ORIGINAL: Novaliz

Ok thx but I still can not make the Icons bigger :( If that will work I will be a very happy PCO Player :)
Wouldn't the Shift # make them bigger on a German keyboard? It should produce ANSI 39.
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Novaliz »

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: Novaliz

Ok thx but I still can not make the Icons bigger :( If that will work I will be a very happy PCO Player :)
Wouldn't the Shift # make them bigger on a German keyboard? It should produce ANSI 39.

No, it doesnt work for me :(
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by HintJ »

ORIGINAL: Novaliz

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: Novaliz

Ok thx but I still can not make the Icons bigger :( If that will work I will be a very happy PCO Player :)
Wouldn't the Shift # make them bigger on a German keyboard? It should produce ANSI 39.

No, it doesnt work for me :(

I don't know if you are familiar w/Autohotkey, but I think you could use it to reprogram any key (or macro) in the game.

http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm

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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by diablo1 »

What constitutes a HIDE order in this game? If no hide command how can I get my units to goto ground in the battle setup or placement operation?
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by thewood1 »

I think you can use the defend hold fire command.  There are several options within that for if they ever fire or just stay hidden.  I think SOP can also have an impact on how defensive they would be.
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Mobius »

ORIGINAL: diablo1

What constitutes a HIDE order in this game? If no hide command how can I get my units to goto ground in the battle setup or placement operation?
To reduce your unit's detection do not move and do not fire. So a Defend>Hold>All fire would be best.


[Edit]And find some terrain to (hide)Defend in. Do not try to hide on a road (worst) and clear (not so good).
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by rickier65 »

ORIGINAL: diablo1

What constitutes a HIDE order in this game? If no hide command how can I get my units to goto ground in the battle setup or placement operation?

Units assume the stance best suited for their order. If they are stationary units are usually in a kneeling position, when they suppress, the assume a prone position. I think all movement is done in an upright position. The main afftect of the diffrent positions is the height of the target they present to enemy units, but it also impacts on what they can see as well. I have to admit, there are times when I wish I could tell them to get down! But then I remind myself, I'm not their squad leader.

Thanks
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by diablo1 »

Ok I did what you said and put them in defensive-cautious-best shot mode and here is what happened. A Russian tank SU comes along beside them, they are in perfect position to "assault", but of course I'm in the REACTION phase (I hate this part of the turn really) and I can't and they won't do anything and ROUT in the face of danger, they get slaughtered when they could have made an "assault" and destroyed that tank.

In another part of the battle there's a panzercrek (sp) in the rocks and I know it can see this tank coming up to the east of it but does it turn and fire at it? Neeeew it just sits there facing straight ahead and the tank (of course the ai side does ai things) goes past them, spots them and blasts them to pieces. Why are my units not using any kind of ai abilities in spotting, turning and firing on units? I mean if the computer ai side is going to do these things then my guys should do the same since I have hands off for pretty much 80 seconds of the turn.

And this ain't all those are just the two most annoying ones I've encountered. Another one is I have a machine gun in the Church Tower and it won't fire on anything just sits there looking out at the vast landscape facing straight away and not firing on a soul that is clearly in it's line of sight and path of attack. it could at least pelt the commanders with their heads outside of the tank tops!
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by JMass »

ORIGINAL: diablo1
they get slaughtered when they could have made an "assault" and destroyed that tank.

Units with Defense order can fire (assault) during the reaction phase (that personally I like). Differently from the Order phase you can assign definite targets to units with Defense order to attack what you think could be the main threat.
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by diablo1 »

ORIGINAL: JMass

ORIGINAL: diablo1
they get slaughtered when they could have made an "assault" and destroyed that tank.

Units with Defense order can fire (assault) during the reaction phase (that personally I like). Differently from the Order phase you can assign definite targets to units with Defense order to attack what you think could be the main threat.

I understand that but this was DURING the reaction phase and they "DIDn't Assault" which is my gripe. Instead they decided to ROUT IN THE FACE OF DANGER!
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Mobius »

ORIGINAL: diablo1
Ok I did what you said and put them in defensive-cautious-best shot mode and here is what happened. A Russian tank SU comes along beside them, they are in perfect position to "assault", but of course I'm in the REACTION phase (I hate this part of the turn really) and I can't and they won't do anything and ROUT in the face of danger, they get slaughtered when they could have made an "assault" and destroyed that tank.
Was it good shot or close assault? Good shot needs at least a 50:50 chance of hitting, otherwise no shot. Panzerfaust 30 has that out to about 15m. Panzerfaust 60 has that at about 30m. Panzerschreck out to 90m. If you want them to use their weapons at any range that can hit just put them at Defend. Those close assault weapons aren't very accurate.

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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by diablo1 »

Well I had it set to "good shot" but I thought you guys said these units change their orders based on the situation? (they certainly didn't mind routing in the face of danger but heck they had a perfect opportunity to change orders an assault that tank) I thought that's what "reaction" meant? My ai guys are doing nothing and the computer ai is doing everything. It's almost like I have to babysit every action, every facing, every shot and I can't do that when I have to sit on my hands 40 seconds at a time and in the reaction phase many times I can't do anything I'd like to.
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by Erik Rutins »

ORIGINAL: diablo1
Ok I did what you said and put them in defensive-cautious-best shot mode and here is what happened. A Russian tank SU comes along beside them, they are in perfect position to "assault", but of course I'm in the REACTION phase (I hate this part of the turn really) and I can't and they won't do anything and ROUT in the face of danger, they get slaughtered when they could have made an "assault" and destroyed that tank.

If you want them to close assault, it's best to have them on an Aggressive SOP. The cautious SOP is what tells the TacAI you want them to retreat when a major threat comes along. That's not too conducive to close assaults.

You can always target and attack in the Reaction phase, as long as you are not retreating. You can also turn off the reaction phase if it bothers you.
In another part of the battle there's a panzercrek (sp) in the rocks and I know it can see this tank coming up to the east of it but does it turn and fire at it? Neeeew it just sits there facing straight ahead and the tank (of course the ai side does ai things) goes past them, spots them and blasts them to pieces. Why are my units not using any kind of ai abilities in spotting, turning and firing on units? I mean if the computer ai side is going to do these things then my guys should do the same since I have hands off for pretty much 80 seconds of the turn.

If you are sure it could see the tank, then the question is what order did you have it on? Panzerschrecks are not very accurate, so setting them on Defend -> Hold Fire -> Good Shot means they will only fire when the enemy is quite close.
And this ain't all those are just the two most annoying ones I've encountered. Another one is I have a machine gun in the Church Tower and it won't fire on anything just sits there looking out at the vast landscape facing straight away and not firing on a soul that is clearly in it's line of sight and path of attack. it could at least pelt the commanders with their heads outside of the tank tops!

Are you sure it could see them? Also, what were its orders? MGs don't generally want to engage tanks.

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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by JMass »

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Well I had it set to "good shot" but I thought you guys said these units change their orders based on the situation?

No, you must change orders if situation changes, in your case the best is assign a target to the units involved, not wait that they decide if it could be a good shot. If you want be more sure that they don't witdrawn raise the SOP level, if possible.
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RE: A couple of Questions

Post by diablo1 »

Ok that explains it. See I was trying to create a HIDE function and get BEST SHOT. I didn't know "cautious" meant for them to retreat and I have EVERY unit in cautious/best shot so as to implement that HIDE socalled ability. Now I'm back to question 1: How do I HIDE and still get close assault an/or best shots?

EDIT: Or better question, how do I get the BEST defensive set with the MOST chance of getting a close assault and/or best shot?

Also will my unit AI EVER do its own close assault on its own when I don't have the ability to control it or will it just sit there with an optimum chance of doing something but won't because I didn't order it to?
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