Matrix Games Forums

I fully understand the use of FO's in the game but I was wondering how Scouts and Recon units are meant to be used.

Can they also spot for artillery?

Recon units have advantages to spotting the enemy units, and (with C&C ON) allow free movement in all directions instead of toward a preset objective hex. They are primarily used as a screen to spot enemy forces before te ambush shreds your advancing troops.

Most of the time you want these a bit in front of your regular forces to spot the enemy positions before you blunder into them. An effective method, for example, is to have a recon unit out ahead of your infantry platoon. The scout spots an enemy position then either pulls back or digs in while the main body maneuvers to bring more firepower into the fight. On defense they are hard to spot, so they can put a possible approach line under observation and remain hidden while you bring in the forces needed to slow or stop the enemy force.

Recon units often are too small to do much damage to a squad of infantry -- or much of anything else, really -- on their own, so any stand up exchange favors the other side.

Set their range to 0 and move them under 3 hexes per turn (only 1 hex when you know the enemy is in LOS) until you get a good view of the enemy. Then just leave them. They give you info, not firepower.