Since my last post didn't spur too much debate.........and since I am stuck at work........bored to tears.
Setting individual units op fire is one of the most important keys to success in this game. If you leave the default settings alone, your opponent will take advantage and defeat your forces. Some things I like to do with op fire include.
Setting armor to only fire at other hard targets. Leave one platoon to fire at everything. There is nothing worse than watching your tanks op fire at some infantry only to be shot to pieces moments later by enemy tanks!
Early war allied infantry, Poles and Russians in particular should have their opfire set to short or medium against other infantry. They can't really hurt anyone firing at three hexes.
Small At guns should be set to fire only at armor at short ranges. Many times they will stay hidden after shooting.
These are just some things to consider. I'm sure others have some good ideas too.
Rob
Good advice Rob, I certainly advise changing the default settings on the first turn or two, and I never leave the same op fire levels for the whole game. One thing I like to do once contact with the other side is made and I think they have worked out my op fire settings is to change them every couple of turns, this keeps them guessing one of the best is after a few turns of long hard target op fire then set hard targets to short range and set soft to long range this can pick off loaded trucks etc being moved up once your adversary thinks your op fire is used up.
Don’t have anti tank units op fire at infantry or soft targets unless they are breathing down your neck, as they aren’t that good at it and it gives away your position. Remember the anti tank setting also counts for your mobile anti tank too (I believe can anyone confirm this?), you want them picking off hard targets as they close on you.
Remember the default setting is for all units but you can pick units and change the setting for just that unit, this is extremely useful for forward scouts and ambushes.
The gods of op fire are very fickle never shoting when you want them too and it adds great tension to the battle replays, the best way to get round op fire is to move slowly one hex at a time rather than many hex's at once.
"Remember the anti tank setting also counts for your mobile anti tank too (I believe can anyone confirm this?)"
You learn something new all the time with this game.
Also, don't forget to turn the opfire off on those recon units! I know I always do...
A word of caution regarding op fire settings. Changing them is fine and I recommend it however, and this is very important, on the first turn of the game you should bring up the global op-fire menu by selecting "D" when no units are selected and change all global settings to long. Otherwise changes made to individual units may not stick as global settings always take precedent unless the new setting is more restrictive. For example if your infantry has a global setting vs soft vehicles of short and you change the individual unit to long the change will not stick because global settings take precedent.
I believe EF scenarios start with all long global settings, however I think WF scenarios begin with a mixed bag of global settings.
One of the things I hate about the first turn of a huge scenario is that I always change all global settings to long then individually tinker with each unit. It's worth the time though because throughout the rest of the scenario I can change individual settings with worrying if they will stick or not.
XLVIII Pz. Korp Wrote:A word of caution regarding op fire settings. Changing them is fine and I recommend it however, and this is very important, on the first turn of the game you should bring up the global op-fire menu by selecting "D" when no units are selected and change all global settings to long. Otherwise changes made to individual units may not stick as global settings always take precedent unless the new setting is more restrictive. For example if your infantry has a global setting vs soft vehicles of short and you change the individual unit to long the change will not stick because global settings take precedent.
This explains alot!! Thanks for posting.:)
There really should be a primer for newbies.
I have always set global Op fire because I didn't want to screw around with individual units, but I've decided the effort is worth it by virtue of this thread.
Those almost worthless 37mm AT guns (and similar units) are well worth setting to minimum distance because they are not going to accomplish anything otherwise.
Thank you gentlemen.
Jason your correct the master of disaster if playing against Jonathan think all new players should read and learn a lot from an experienced player like him.
Hello Umbro/Smed/Jason/PzKorps/et al:
Don't want to be a necroposter but I feel this thread deserves reinvigorating so I'm going for the shock paddles...
I finally tracked down Umbro's AAR in the "Pivotal Day for the 82nd" and impressive doesn't cover it. Your AAR could and should serve as a template for others who aspire to capture a scenario experience.
I guess this may be a bit off Smed's original OP Fire topic, sorry if so, but let's get back to it.
Smed's OP fire suggestions....listen to him...he knows what he's doing...and I can vouch for that....I'm playing Borisov with him....
One more little OP Fire trick I can think to add is situational but works.
You grizzled vets already know this one.
If your in a "custer's last stand hex"...knowing your boys are doomed...and UNSPOTTED...with multiple units and playing Fog of War/Extreme Fog of War....you can pick a unit with good assault and turn it OFF. What happens often as not is your opponent will pummel all the units that fire and eventually have the big red "D" on everyone HE can see. But...he won't be able to find that unit you turned off until he assaults you...often as not with a rude surprise and damage to his units.
This is most effective when playing the old assault rules where your opponent is simply trying to disrupt everyone for the assault takeout.
I'd like to tip my hat to all of you for sharing these insights. Many players who have reached a level of mastery over a game would never share those tactics and techniques. Not saying that makes them bad...but it does make them competitive...and you guys serve the game over your own interest with those AARs.
Regards,
Dan
:bow:LOL Jonathan is a lean mean killing machine Dan one of the best.You may be correct on the AAR as a template for other users another is the leader of the club ie Jim about the use of BT7's etc all good learning stuff for new rectruits and idiots like myself who tends to play wildly most games.