Matrix Games Forums

Why are my units fleeing?

Even when I give assault or hold orders at their locations, they go into screen mode and run away.

Morale isn't broken, in fact, I'm playing A Time To Dance and my M1's are doing great, then they suddenly transition to 'S' and run away.

How's their ammo situation? I've had some units withdraw from combat and when I've looked, they were down to 20% of their loadout.

MikeAP, can you get a full screen shot with the unit in question up on the UDP?
Thanks.

ORIGINAL: TheWombat

How's their ammo situation? I've had some units withdraw from combat and when I've looked, they were down to 20% of their loadout.

Ammo and Morale were both fine. Those were the first things that I took a look at.

Were they French? LOL

MikeAP, I would like to take a look at a saved game if you have one saved just prior to your units converting to screen and retreating. If you you have auto save on you should have a saved game for every turn you have played. If you have it email me at crbelva@comcast.net

ORIGINAL: LRRP

Were they French? LOL

HA! No, they were red, white, and blue blooded American heroes! The M1A1 gunners were killing T80's as fast as their loaders could pump rounds down the breach.

ORIGINAL: cbelva

MikeAP, I would like to take a look at a saved game if you have one saved just prior to your units converting to screen and retreating. If you you have auto save on you should have a saved game for every turn you have played. If you have it email me at crbelva@comcast.net

I do not, but I can replicate it, as I've experienced it a few times.

Mike,

The units in A Time To Dance are ACR. They are CAV units. [&o]

They are intended by doctrine to screen. The game understands that and has them revert to screen to move back at the preferred stand off ranges of the weapons for those units. [X(]

And yes, the M1A1 gunners are good in this battle. [&o]

Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

Mike,

The units in A Time To Dance are ACR. They are CAV units. [&o]

They are intended by doctrine to screen. The game understands that and has them revert to screen to move back at the preferred stand off ranges of the weapons for those units. [X(]

And yes, the M1A1 gunners are good in this battle. [&o]

Good Hunting.

MR

A scout myself, familiar with the doctrine. Referring to my tank platoons going from assault/hold into screen/hash movement.

I understand.

In the game the doctrine for Cav is to go to screen. Depending on what the order set is to start with it will work it's way over to screen if they are Cav.

Maybe we are a little harsh with that but it does keep the Cav alive a bit longer than if a gamer can take them and turn them into heavy units. The ACR that I served with complained bitterly about that issue. So, we made sure that they are kept as Cav in the game. [:D]

Good Hunting.

MR

Did I miss that part of the manual? I was bewildered seeing my tanks fleeing like rabbits in "A time to dance". [&:]
Now, at last, I know why. [;)]
I wonder if there are other doctrine issues I could have missed.

I understand and agree with the Cav being Cav. However I'd like to see it less likely to 'flee' when it is facing enemy Recon Forces. Right now the only way to get Cav to fight it out with enemy Recon, i.e. Cav is to issue Hold order for them. Works to a degree but I'd rather they just be a little more likely to hold ground when under screen orders if the enemy is light skinned Recon. I like Cav to fight out and when the Recon-CounterRecon battle out front and THEN feel free to retreat\screen the enemy main force.

Playing the NATO campaign, again my non-scout units are going from hold to screen and retreating.

My orders were to die in place, not run like cowards.


It is INSANELY FRUSTRATING when a defending unit gives up a great position and moves one or two hexes away. It then take that unit 30 minutes, sometimes more to move back. Not fun!

But seriously, are you guys going to look into this? Am I the only one having issues?

I've not encountered that with non-Cav units. Unless they are taking a lot of fire, have low morale, etc....

In other words, are there extenuating circumstances?

Because I can tell you that NO UNITS in this game will die to the last man if their morale goes low enough.

Good Hunting.

MR

I am assuming the ai will move units because it thinks it makes good sense based on the situation. Even if it looks odd maybe still a reason. With that said, is it possible to write to the log or something the reason the unit is moving? Maybe that would help explain why the ai feels it must move such has been spotted, low morale, found a better location, etc. I think this would be helpful if possible.

We need another order that is "Hold At All Costs" and if given that order they don't move but die in place.

Good Hunting.

MR

Ok. I can live with that. Next problem; how to retreat?

Deliberate or hasty movement? With orders delay it is very difficult.

ORIGINAL: MikeAP

Ok. I can live with that. Next problem; how to retreat?

Deliberate or hasty movement? With orders delay it is very difficult.

Excellent question. Right now I find myself staying next to the enemy for to long of time. However when I retreat somehow I always time it right when the enemy Arty comes in and it catches my unit in march formation... might as well leave it in place. Having a retrograde function might be nice.

Yes, in war, as in anything else, timing is everything.

Playing the game is the key. You need to play this game to get the timing down and start to get a feel for when to move, where to set you forces for best results, etc.

The first time I played this set of code. I sat here looking at my monitor shaking my head at the SPEED of the combat!


I would move units to plug a hole the Soviets had just created in my lines only to have them cut down as they moved to engage.

Some changes to the way the game plays have taken place since those days of old, but you still have to unlearn WWII.

This is not your Grandfathers WWII history lesson. Things happen quick here.

Defend behind a river line? GREAT IDEA!!!! Only the Soviets figured out how to break those shortly after WWII.


WWIII is not a rehash of WWII with newer equipment. This is a beast of another color.

It's big, it's fast and it's deadly. To learn to live on this battlefield takes time and some patience.

Things we as gamers have. Thank God nobody ever had to learn those lessons moment by moment on the bloody fields of West Germany during this envisioned war.

Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: MikeAP

Ok. I can live with that. Next problem; how to retreat?

Deliberate or hasty movement? With orders delay it is very difficult.

Mad Russian, my question...?