Matrix Games Forums

With the SOP option selected your forces have three settings. Cautious, Standard and Aggressive.


Cautious has them in a frame of mind to reduce their chances of taking casualties. They will withdraw from threats. This allows you to decide when to change their SOP stance to something more aggressive.

Standard they won't retreat at the first sign of a threat but won't just sit there until they are wiped out.

Aggressive will tell your troops that you want them to stand right where they are. And they will. For the most part they will not leave where you put them until you order them somewhere else, you change their SOP orders or they are killed.

How you choose to give these orders can make all the difference in the world to how your games turn out.

You have to also keep in mind the experience levels of your troops. Green troops will leave a bad situation much quicker than either Veteran or Elite and Elite troops will stand and fight much longer on their own.

When you put Elite troops on Aggressive SOP they will be hard to deal with for your opponent.

Green troops on cautious will be easily convinced to withdraw or quick to be routed.

SOP is your friend don't forget to use it.

Good Hunting.

MR

Very good hints and tips. Thanks again for all your support and game help!

MR, Where can I change that SOP option, when the battle has begun?

In the Options menu from the main screen. Default is standard SOP. If you turn it on (yellow button) you will have the gold orders button in game to set SOP for a unit, or press shift and click to force the CO selection to the rest of the platoon.

Save the game.

Go back out to the main page and change the options.

Once you start a PBEM you can't change it but I think if you change the options while you're playing a game you can have the changes take effect immediately.

Good Hunting.

MR

Really helps when close assaulting tanks!

Green troops on cautious will be easily convinced to withdraw or quick to be routed.

Do SOP settings have an effect on morale checks? If not: how can they be more likely to rout?

Green troops are more susceptible to fire and morale than veteran or elite units.

If you give them a cautious SOP they will be even less likely to stand and fight.

Good Hunting.

MR

SOP is great from a scouting perspective.  In CM, many times I send scouts ahead and don't want them to engage.  I want them to go up, draw a little attention, then withdraw.  I find SOP a great tool for that type of action.

It's also useful if you want to approach woods or buildings with armour when you don't have infantry to do the job. A 'Cautious' SOP will get them out if enemy infantry get too close.

You can change SOP every phase if you chose to. Gold order buttons are immediate. It is individual to a unit. You can force the platoon to use the same SOP for ease of use, or select a unit and change it for that unit only.