Resupply micro-management and Arty Retreating

[Wolfe_CH]

One of the things I was hoping would be addressed in SOW over TC2M was the mechanism for resupply. As it is now, you resupply each unit manually (and individually). This often becomes a micro management pain in the butt, particularly on larger scenarios. Especially since there's no indicator to know a unit's supply without clicking on the unit. Perhaps an exclamation point above a unit whose ammo is running low?

I'd love to see some sort of auto or semi-auto mechanism where just keeping the Ammo Wagon nearby the brigade commander would resupply troops. Either by trickling the ammo in, or by requiring the player to hit the brigade commander's resupply button so that any of his units currently within his command range would be resupplied. I don't know how this meshes historically, but I think at some point game play concerns have to take precedence.

The most annoying behavior, however, is that of Artillery units and Canister. Whenever an artillery piece runs out of canister it automatically retreats, sometimes clear across the map! Instead of retreating (an action you can't stop until the unit reaches its destination) I'd rather see an artillery piece switch over to Shot and begin to fall back, not retreat, in the direction of the division's Ammo Wagon.

Another oddity is a unit's movement once it gets resupplied. Once a unit fills back up, it automatically starts moving towards its immediate commander. I'd love to see this behavior modified as well.

- Chris

[Shirkon]

Wolfe_CH wrote:

One of the things I was hoping would be addressed in SOW over TC2M was the mechanism for resupply. As it is now, you resupply each unit manually (and individually). This often becomes a micro management pain in the butt, particularly on larger scenarios. Especially since there's no indicator to know a unit's supply without clicking on the unit. Perhaps an exclamation point above a unit whose ammo is running low?

I'd love to see some sort of auto or semi-auto mechanism where just keeping the Ammo Wagon nearby the brigade commander would resupply troops. Either by trickling the ammo in, or by requiring the player to hit the brigade commander's resupply button so that any of his units currently within his command range would be resupplied. I don't know how this meshes historically, but I think at some point game play concerns have to take precedence.

The most annoying behavior, however, is that of Artillery units and Canister. Whenever an artillery piece runs out of canister it automatically retreats, sometimes clear across the map! Instead of retreating (an action you can't stop until the unit reaches its destination) I'd rather see an artillery piece switch over to Shot and begin to fall back, not retreat, in the direction of the division's Ammo Wagon.

Another oddity is a unit's movement once it gets resupplied. Once a unit fills back up, it automatically starts moving towards its immediate commander. I'd love to see this behavior modified as well.

- Chris

All units do have a display as to how much ammo they have in SOW.

As for firing shot when out of canister, the minimum range for all munitions except canister is 200 yds which is the maximum distance for canister. So if they are close enough to fire canister they are too close for the other munitions. In SOW the guns now fall back to a safe area. If you can keep your supply wagon in that area you should be able to resupply rapidly once the guns get to that area. In many of the scenario's you will find that your commander is already in the safe area. As with TC2M though if you drive the supply wagon slowly near the limbers for the guns, it will resupply them if they need it. This also works for regiments. The drawback is that once they resupply they will march toward their commander.

[garyknowz]

Personally, when out of ammunition I'd like my units to fall back to the supply wagon (effectively setting that as the "safe place" per se) rather than watch them flee practically off the map. Ultimately, retreating costs so much by means of fatigue, that if a unit is still in good order and with high morale, I see no reason why they'd run hundreds of yards out of the way.


Moreover, when out of canister, I'd like to see artillery simply fall back to a range where it can use shot or shrapnel munitions rather than retreat out of the battle altogether.

[RebBugler]

"I'd love to see some sort of auto or semi-auto mechanism where just keeping the Ammo Wagon nearby the brigade commander would resupply troops. Either by trickling the ammo in, or by requiring the player to hit the brigade commander's resupply button so that any of his units currently within his command range would be resupplied. I don't know how this meshes historically, but I think at some point game play concerns have to take precedence."

Me too, hopefully we can evolve the game in that direction. I'll push from my end, but there's only so much a tester can do. Still, the new supply sequence is much improved, and supplying the troops is a big part of becoming a complete General, covering all the bases if you will.

"The most annoying behavior, however, is that of Artillery units and Canister. Whenever an artillery piece runs out of canister it automatically retreats, sometimes clear across the map! Instead of retreating (an action you can't stop until the unit reaches its destination) I'd rather see an artillery piece switch over to Shot and begin to fall back, not retreat, in the direction of the division's Ammo Wagon."

Good points, especially falling back to shot range and not retreating. Still, retreat should not be that far and is not normally so. This is a scenario design option.

"Another oddity is a unit's movement once it gets resupplied. Once a unit fills back up, it automatically starts moving towards its immediate commander. I'd love to see this behavior modified as well."

Maybe this should be changed but I have no problem with it. I simply move the immediate commander where I want the guns to return to after resupplied, and this works fine.