The "Local reserve" order - does anyone ever use it?

[sanderz]

From the manual........

Local Reserve – The unit will attempt to
react to enemy attacks into locations within
a movement radius defined by the unit’s
remaining Movement Allowance. Regardless
of the radius, the reaction movement is only
one hex per combat.

Curious as to how best to use this order and in what circumstances.

Thanks

[Meyer1]

Yeah that's a tough one. I don't think it gets much use.

[Theophilus]

I use it all the time to 'back up' a defensive line or precarious position. Let's say you take a hex during combat, but only have one or two weak units in said hex. I set adjacent units (with movement points available) who are stronger but out of the immediate line of fire to Local Reserve. That way if the disputed hex is attacked, I have fresh units ready to head into the line to save the day. Works a treat once you get the hang of it.

[Meyer1]

ORIGINAL: Theophilus

I use it all the time to 'back up' a defensive line or precarious position. Let's say you take a hex during combat, but only have one or two weak units in said hex. I set adjacent units (with movement points available) who are stronger but out of the immediate line of fire to Local Reserve. That way if the disputed hex is attacked, I have fresh units ready to head into the line to save the day. Works a treat once you get the hang of it.

Aren't you talking about "tactical reserve"?

[sanderz]

ORIGINAL: Meyer1

Yeah that's a tough one. I don't think it gets much use.

thought so - i would worry that it could get dragged all over the place in different directions - does it lose stuff to attrition during this type of move?

thanks

[Phoenix100]

I didn't understand the manual bit. I'm stupid, of course - but how is it different to 'tactical reserve' if the reaction space is only ever one hex? That surely means it can only react to adjacent situations, the same as tactical? When I first saw it I thought it was a way to get units further back from the action into a reserve reactive position - but the one hex only rule confuses me.

[Tamas]

ORIGINAL: Phoenix100

I didn't understand the manual bit. I'm stupid, of course - but how is it different to 'tactical reserve' if the reaction space is only ever one hex? That surely means it can only react to adjacent situations, the same as tactical? When I first saw it I thought it was a way to get units further back from the action into a reserve reactive position - but the one hex only rule confuses me.

Well the way it works out is that if the enemy is concentrating his attack in one area, your Local Reserve unit will gradually move toward that direction - one hex per attack.

I do admit I don't use it often, but when I do it is to try and make sure I am not caught with my pants entirely down if the enemy achieves a breakthrough somewhere.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: Phoenix100
...how is it different to 'tactical reserve' if the reaction space is only ever one hex? That surely means it can only react to adjacent situations, the same as tactical? When I first saw it I thought it was a way to get units further back from the action into a reserve reactive position - but the one hex only rule confuses me.

Units in tactical Reserve react only if adjacent to the combat hex.
Units in Local Reserve react to combat within the radius of their movement allowance.

I almost never use it, because multiple enemy attacks in different hexes will cause the unit in Local Reserve to move aimlessly around the map like a headless chicken.

Tactical Reserve on the other hand, could be useful in upsetting an enemy's plans for a hex and burn more rounds than he planned for.

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[Phoenix100]

That's the diff explained, anyway! Thanks, Tamas and Olorin.

[Lobster]

A nice feature might be to tie a unit in local reserve to react to combats in a specific area. Much coding I would imagine. Perhaps tie it to a specific unit instead. I don't use it because, as Orolin said, units can do very stupid things and you can be 'played' by a smart opponent.

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: larrybush

I was going to give my two cents on this but then I thought of something that needs to be tested.

Is local reserve best for units in mobile mode that are tracked/motorized? And in good weather and firm clear ground? This may give them a better chance getting into the fray? Not sure without messing around a bit. Seems like being in defensive mode should slow the movement into the disputed hex, since by rights they need to redeploy (not sure the game models this)

I normally on use local reserve to get units to start moving in the direction of the combat, occasionally they actually make it into the hex. More often they just block the advance if they were placed just right.

Somebody once posted, that Local Reserve basically is the - 'March to the sound of guns' stance; and it does work under favourable circumstances (e.g. in my Kharkov '43 scenario). So, it is indeed in some situations a very useful command to react to enemy threats.

Klink, Oberst

[Meyer1]

Always thought of these tactical stances as TOAW concessions to the WEGO system [:)]

[Strategiusz]

ORIGINAL: Theophilus

...
I set adjacent units (with movement points available)

The points are spent in this game during turns even if units don't move. So at the end of every turn every units have zero movement points.

[Fred98]

The phrase "The unit will attempt to react to enemy attacks..." Please presume it is an infantry unit.

Does that mean an infantry unit will fire on enemy that is in range? OR:

Does that mean the infantry unit will attempt to move into the hex under attack, thereby adding to the defence value of the stack?
.

[Fred98]

I tested this.

The defending unit was pushed back one hex. The adjacent unit, that was set to tactical reserve, advanced into the battle hex. The enemy attacked again and that unit too was pushed back. So yes, it advances into the hex.

Fascinating!

.

[Fred98]

A unit set to tactical reserve, will only react to an attack that is on an adjacent hex. A unit set to local reserve, will move towards a battle hex, that is with range of its current movement points. It will only move one hex but the battle could be one or more hexes away.

If a unit is set to local reserve and two battles take place, it will move toward which ever battles is resolved first. I have confirmed that it will not move twice.

So, tactical reserve is a great feature. I suspect that local reserve should be used with caution, as your units may move to hexes you did not expect!