Matrix Games Forums

I dont see it, artillery attacks are included with attacks Hasty and Deliberate , but is there an option to soften up the defenses prior to a ground assault???

There aren't, no. There is an artillery phase before the main combat phase begins, but it's part of the hasty/deliberate attack.

is it something that could be Moddable or worthwhile into looking too in future updates??

It is not moddable short of giving the Germans artillery divisions like the Soviets get from late 1942 onward. I doubt there will ever be an option to first use artillery to "duel" and then decide if you want to commit to an attack. Artillery will fire to, quote, soften up defenses in the artillery phase, but like I've said that is part of the hasty/deliberate attack.