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Despite an explanation in the manual I'm not sure I got it right because the icon coloring is sometimes differently named.
- Internal support speaks of "icon color scheme".
- Army support speaks of "icon color scheme (icon and symbol color)", "icon background color" and "basic icon color".
- Force support speaks of "basic icon color".
Maybe someone is able to phrase or explain the support scope in an unmistakable way.

Yeah that always got me thinking. An explanation with pictures supporting it would leave no doubts.

Through trial and error the people who have played the game for awhile found out what all of that means. But you are correct. There is no place that explains what all of those terms mean. What do they mean by an icon. What is basic? Background color is kind of obvious. Kind of. There should be something in the manual explaining what it all means since it's important to understand what's going on. Obviously this one has slipped by since forever.

If you hadn't seen it, watch this [starting at 3:30]:
TOAW Tutorial - Formations & Support/Cooperation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SN5KL0moec

It is basic, as the explanation is more complicated than the knowledge needed, I think.

If you really want to get into it, the chart below is what we see in the Editor when we click on the Red Highlighted button.

Cooperation is arranged simply by Column [up and down]. That can clearly be seen by the colors in the chart.

So if you assign a formation the first color scheme in column 1 [blue background], and assign it Internal Support, units in that formation will only support well with other units in that same specific formation.

Assign the same formation Army Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any of the blue icons in column 1.

Assign the same formation Force Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any of the blue icons in any of the blue columns.

Assign the same formation Free Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any color icon in in any column.

What is an icon? What is basic? What is background color? These things still are not explained anyplace, not even in the manual. They are very important terms that have no explanation provided where it needs to be provided. You and I have a very clear understanding of how it works. Some new players are potentially left scratching their heads. BTW, your post with an explanation of the terms should be stickied in the War Room.

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

If you really want to get into it, the chart below is what we see in the Editor when we click on the Red Highlighted button.

Cooperation is arranged simply by Column [up and down]. That can clearly be seen by the colors in the chart.

So if you assign a formation the first color scheme in column 1 [blue background], and assign it Internal Support, units in that formation will only support well with other units in that same specific formation.

Assign the same formation Army Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any of the blue icons in column 1.

Assign the same formation Force Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any of the blue icons in any of the blue columns.

Assign the same formation Free Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any color icon in in any column.

What is an icon? What is basic? What is background color?

This is what I demonstrate in the above explanation and in the video, that these terms are unimportant to the player. There is no need to get bogged down in the details when we can all clearly see the color differences. This isn't something that requires one to be an experienced player. If you look at that color chart once, it is obvious. Then when you look at the units in any scenario that you are playing, it is also obvious.

explanation of the terms should be stickied in the War Room.

Good idea, I'll wait a couple of days to see if anyone refutes my claims [;)]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

If you really want to get into it, the chart below is what we see in the Editor when we click on the Red Highlighted button.

Cooperation is arranged simply by Column [up and down]. That can clearly be seen by the colors in the chart.

So if you assign a formation the first color scheme in column 1 [blue background], and assign it Internal Support, units in that formation will only support well with other units in that same specific formation.

Assign the same formation Army Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any of the blue icons in column 1.

Assign the same formation Force Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any of the blue icons in any of the blue columns.

Assign the same formation Free Support, and it will cooperate well with units that have any color icon in in any column.

I'm afraid that still doesn't make sense to me, "any of the blue columns"? I only see one.

The problem is really that the terms used in the manual are not used to explain the support, page 32 speaks of "Icon Color" and "Unit Type Symbol".

Lets try it differently.
The icon has a color, and the symbol on the icon has a color & the symbol has a background color with which it is filled. The colors of other things(formation type, entrenchment level, etc.) do not matter.
Now taking what the manual states on page47/48 there are questionable things I commented in italics:

Internal Support
Free cooperation
- Units assigned to the Formation may only freely cooperate with others in the same Formation.

Limited cooperation
- Limited cooperation is possible with units using the same icon color scheme.
By scheme I guess it is meant that all colors have to match.

No cooperation
No cooperation is possible with units using a different icon color scheme.
By scheme I guess it is meant that any mismatch of a color will lead to no cooperation.


Army Support
Free cooperation
- Units assigned to the Formation may only freely cooperate with others in the same Formation, or those using the same icon color scheme (icon and symbol color).
By scheme I guess it is meant that all colors have to match.

Limited cooperation
- Limited cooperation is possible with units using the same icon background color.
So here it starts, the icon has a color and the symbol has a background color, what has to match now?

No cooperation
No cooperation is possible with units using a different basic icon color.
Another unclear definition, what is the basic icon color?


Force Support
Free cooperation
- Units assigned to the Formation may only freely cooperate with others in the same Formation or others using the same basic icon color.
Like above, what is the basic icon color?

Limited cooperation
- Limited cooperation is capable with all other units.

No cooperation
- None


Free Support
Free cooperation
- Units assigned to the Formation may freely cooperate with any other units.

Limited cooperation
- None

No cooperation
- None