Matrix Games Forums

Hi, I'm new to this game and I have a question about soldier movement. I'm playing the Guadalcanal map and I want to move some soldiers from Port Moresby to an adjacent hex because there's a battle going on.
I select a ground unit from Port Moresby and click Move Side. The direction says "Enemy," but it doesn't move.
What's happening?
Thanks.

Not sure what "Move Side" is. Never saw it in my game. You should be able to click Move and then the Hex you want it to move to. The hexes next to PM are all tough terrain (press 1 to see the terrain type) so it will take days or even weeks to march one hex. The manual has a movement table showing the daily miles possible for Unit Type and Terrain Type. Note that morale and fatigue can affect travel time too.

Web site is acting up so this reply may end up being a duplicate.
You should be able to get it to move by clicking on the unit, select Move mode and then click on the hex you want it to go to. If the unit is newly arrived in Strategic mode it must unpack before it can go into movement.
All the hexes surrounding PM are tough terrain. Press 1 to see the terrain types. There is a table that shows movement rates in miles by Unit Type and Terrain Type. It can take up to 23 days to move one hex in heavy terrain. Unit low morale and high fatigue can also affect movement.

I would like to move to a square next to it, but it always takes weeks to move one unit, like that?

I also pressed button 1 and several letters appeared, e.g., hexes. What are they? Thanks.

Pressing 1 will give you information about terrain in hexes.

E.g. Clr = clear, Swp = swamp etc.

When you press Move in unit panel and then hex where you want to move, then unit starts to move and distance it moves is calculated by end of daily turn.

It is often difficult (and realistic) to be able to move only 6km per day when terrain is difficult. If you happen to have road or trail, it is quicker.

Jusepe131 wrote: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:17 pm I would like to move to a square next to it, but it always takes weeks to move one unit, like that?

I also pressed button 1 and several letters appeared, e.g., hexes. What are they? Thanks.

you need to determine which side "owns" the hex sides that you want to transit. Often a land unit will be forced "go around" rather than straight at a target hex due to not being able to transit a hexside. this could add days, depending upon the hex terrain, to what otherwise would be an easy move.......

dr.hal wrote: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:41 pm

Jusepe131 wrote: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:17 pm I would like to move to a square next to it, but it always takes weeks to move one unit, like that?

I also pressed button 1 and several letters appeared, e.g., hexes. What are they? Thanks.

you need to determine which side "owns" the hex sides that you want to transit. Often a land unit will be forced "go around" rather than straight at a target hex due to not being able to transit a hexside. this could add days, depending upon the hex terrain, to what otherwise would be an easy move.......

Pressing 'w' shows 'Who' own the hexsides when there are troops in them. There are two back to back doors on each hexside - one is the inside door for your hex side and the outside door into the other hex side. Your troops must own the inner door side to be able to leave the hex through that side. If they get through to the other side and stay, the second door on that hex side also becomes controlled by them. If there are no enemy troops in a hex with your troops, your troops own all the inner doors. You can trap enemy troops in a hex if you bring your troops into the hex through all six hex sides. Some of your troops must remain in the hex with the enemy while all the other hex sides are being pierced to trap the enemy.

[/quote]

Pressing 'w' shows 'Who' own the hexsides when there are troops in them. There are two back to back doors on each hexside - one is the inside door for your hex side and the outside door into the other hex side. Your troops must own the inner door side to be able to leave the hex through that side. If they get through to the other side and stay, the second door on that hex side also becomes controlled by them. If there are no enemy troops in a hex with your troops, your troops own all the inner doors. You can trap enemy troops in a hex if you bring your troops into the hex through all six hex sides. Some of your troops must remain in the hex with the enemy while all the other hex sides are being pierced to trap the enemy.
[/quote]
clear explanation, well done BB!

Jusepe131 wrote: Fri Mar 14, 2025 5:17 pm I would like to move to a square next to it, but it always takes weeks to move one unit, like that?

I also pressed button 1 and several letters appeared, e.g., hexes. What are they? Thanks.

In this instance weeks would be correct. It is some of the most treacherous, isolated mountain terrain in the world even today 80 years later. No roads, limited paths, dense jungle, fiercely steep climbs followed by harrowing plunges. Hiking it is a challenge. Trying to move any equipment, almost impossible.

I read about an American unit that walked through the jungle. There was no fighting, they couldn't carry enough supplies, and half of the men were out of action for awhile. The colonel had to be replaced because he suffered a heart attack.

There was also no need of that walk since there were other ways to get to where they were going that were much easier.

There was a reason why e.g. Australians in New Guinea used native porters/bearers in addition to what they themselves managed to carry.

They were essential to get supplies to frontline and wounded back to rear echelon.

Sardaukar wrote: Fri Mar 21, 2025 10:41 am There was a reason why e.g. Australians in New Guinea used native porters/bearers in addition to what they themselves managed to carry.

They were essential to get supplies to frontline and wounded back to rear echelon.

They were also adapted to the climate.

On the positive side, if they found some Japanese then the natives may have consumed less of the food that they carried!

RangerJoe wrote: Fri Mar 21, 2025 3:39 pm

Sardaukar wrote: Fri Mar 21, 2025 10:41 am There was a reason why e.g. Australians in New Guinea used native porters/bearers in addition to what they themselves managed to carry.

They were essential to get supplies to frontline and wounded back to rear echelon.

They were also adapted to the climate.

On the positive side, if they found some Japanese then the natives may have consumed less of the food that they carried!

That was indeed the case, somehow.

Japanese treated locals very badly, so locals did quite a lot of head-hunting... There were instances when locals had several Japanese wristwatches in their arm etc...