Matrix Games Forums

Hi guys
Despite years of playing this game I am still puzzled at the combat mechanism. I get the example of the T34 and Panther in the manual but I have some other questions:

1. For what and how is the defense strength of a unit used where there is also an armour rating-example above the Panther's armour strength (13) is used but it also has a defense strength of 39-how and when is this used?

2. Still not sure how individual AP fire is resolved-specifically how does the calculation go for AP fire. Is there something similar to Anti-armour fire?

3. How the hell does AA combat work-does it work? Are the AA values for ground units effective?

Apologies if these questions have been answered elsewhere but I haven't been able to find anything. The forum is my last stop so hopeful of some answers or pointers to good explanatory sources.

Thanks

ORIGINAL: d1d2d3d4

1. For what and how is the defense strength of a unit used where there is also an armour rating-example above the Panther's armour strength (13) is used but it also has a defense strength of 39-how and when is this used?

The "defense" strength shown when editing equipment actually seems to control the weight of the vehicle.

The value shown in the game is a function of the armour value and I believe is used in calculating an RBC.

2. Still not sure how individual AP fire is resolved-specifically how does the calculation go for AP fire. Is there something similar to Anti-armour fire?

More or less (except for artillery which is applied in a lump to the opposing units). The survivability of equipment against AP fire is a function of the defence strength as modified by terrain and deployment status.

3. How the hell does AA combat work-does it work? Are the AA values for ground units effective?

In the current version it is bugged and only works for AA-iconed units.

Hi GD
Thanks for the reply.
Just to confirm then for non-arty AP fire the system basically compares the attackers AP strength with the defense strength of the defender-then what? In the manual it says that any AP fire that hits is always lethal, so I assume there is some sort of check first based on supply, readiness and proficiency but that would make a comparison between AP rating and defense pointless.

Sorry for being a pest but I have just started using the bioed and cant get my head around some of the settings.

Cheers

ORIGINAL: d1d2d3d4

Hi GD
Thanks for the reply.
Just to confirm then for non-arty AP fire the system basically compares the attackers AP strength with the defense strength of the defender-then what? In the manual it says that any AP fire that hits is always lethal, so I assume there is some sort of check first based on supply, readiness and proficiency but that would make a comparison between AP rating and defense pointless.

Sorry for being a pest but I have just started using the bioed and cant get my head around some of the settings.

Cheers

Kamerad,

BioEd is fine, though I'd recommend Andy's Equipment editor: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.edmiston/toaweqpedit.htm

Regards,

Klink, Oberst

@d1d2d3d4,

Have you tried running toawlog on a sample combat ? I think if you run the log - especially if you use uberdude - you'll see some of the in-process calculations (but not everything) the engine uses in combat.
I recommend just trying and logging 1 attack for 1 round (ok, maybe 2 separate attacks); else you'll be overwhelmed with detail.

Thanks for the responses guys..

Oberst-thanks just realised I am using the TOAWIII editor I wondered why it was running so smoothly-last time I used the BIOED had all sorts of compatibility problems completely put me off using it.

Ogar-Exactly what is a toawlog and how would I run it?

Thanks

Toawlog is a feature that describes a combat in detail.

To enable it you must open opart3.ini file and search the entry toawlog=N and change the N by Y, then save the file and run the game.

A new toaw_log.txt archive will be generated in the main folder of the game, you can read it with a text editor and it stores many things including detailed combat resolution; example, AT-4 attacks a T-72; it result (success or failure), and the zone of the impact (front or side).

This file grows rapidly and is not uncommon for the log files to exceed 10 MB in size. But when you close the game and load it again the file reset himself.

Hi Josant
Yeah, just sussed it out but the resulting output is a bit complex. I did 1 round of attacks using exact same squads with level playing field (terrain, 100% P,S & R) checked the readout and couldn't understand it. Pity there isn't a simple example of AP combat in the manual like the ant-armor one!!
Anyway thanks for the help all.