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Questions about saving a game, entrenching

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:19 am
by vonwell
Great game! I'm still learning the game, but so far think it's much better than TOAW or the Campaign Series games. I'm currently playing my 2nd battle (PBEM) -- the scenario "Rommel - Master of Battle" and so far find it very entertaining. First question: Is there a way to save your turn midway thru the turn? As a beginner, I'm taking lots of time to play my turn and would like to split up the playing time before sending the file. Second question: How do you know how far you can move AND entrench the unit? Third question: When you click on a unit, sometimes there is a light-blue arrow border around the unit on the map. What does this signify? Thanks for your help.

RE: Questions about saving a game, entrenching

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:41 pm
by JSS
ORIGINAL: vonwell

Great game! I'm still learning the game, but so far think it's much better than TOAW or the Campaign Series games. I'm currently playing my 2nd battle (PBEM) -- the scenario "Rommel - Master of Battle" and so far find it very entertaining. First question: Is there a way to save your turn midway thru the turn? As a beginner, I'm taking lots of time to play my turn and would like to split up the playing time before sending the file. Second question: How do you know how far you can move AND entrench the unit? Third question: When you click on a unit, sometimes there is a light-blue arrow border around the unit on the map. What does this signify? Thanks for your help.

1. During secure PBEM games you can exit KP (via the "x" button)... it saves the secure game where it is... you have to return to that PBEM game. Works well for saving & returning.

2. Two things on entrenching: #1 has to be in territory you control that turn and #2 unit has to be able to entrench. Many tank units in Rommel cannot dig in to the frozen steppe.

3. Not sure what the third border is... look for the divisional integrity which should be light blue ring around a division when closely assembled.

RE: Questions about saving a game, entrenching

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:35 pm
by pterrok
How do you know how far you can move AND entrench the unit?

As JSS mentioned, the key is that you have to stay inside you OWN territory to entrench. If you've pushed the lines forward by moving other units, you'll still see your front line that existed before you started your turn. Go past that and you won't be able to entrench. Other than that, when you click on the unit you can use the full regular movement allowance and then entrench. You CAN'T use extended movement since that's an action!
When you click on a unit, sometimes there is a light-blue arrow border around the unit on the map. What does this signify?

It does sound like the Divisional Integrity border. It can be toggled on and off with the 'd' hot-key. It goes away when you have moved a unit outside of the range of 5 hexes from one of it's fellows. Not all units get this modifier--only those with a percentage number on the counter, anywhere from 30% to 100% for some Axis units! When you are OUT of div int range then you'll see some numbers in red on the unit which are the values you are NOT getting added to your attack and defense strengths--get all the guys back into range and those numbers become white (or green?) and ARE added making your units much, MUCH stronger!

If you click on a unit which has potential division integrity and DO NOT see the blue border pop-up it means that the unit can't be moved anywhere to satisfy the 5 hex requirement. You'll have to cycle through the units of the division to find where they all are to see how to get them back together.

I'll break div int on some low value units or when I really need a unit as a gap filler somewhere, but you can't afford to have your really good divisions split up very often. A good attacker can sometimes see how he can force a defending unit back on a retreat that will cause it to break div int range and THEN attack one of the other, now weaker units in the division! [:D]

RE: Questions about saving a game, entrenching

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 5:52 am
by vonwell
I realized early on that getting stuck out on the steppe (or Clear) terrain can result in a bloody nose real quick. Entrenching can really save you in Clear terrain. Thanks for the replies to my questions.
I can't say enough about this game. I'm learning to play it with another friend who I've played various games via PBEM over the last 5 years. We're really impressed with the supply model and the fact that combat is so transparent. Maybe seeing the dice brings back the old Avalon Hill boardgame days. Thanks again.