Question - Manual Defensive Fire in PBEM - on or off?

[mynorth]

Okay, friends, pros & cons of Manual Defensive Fire optional rule activated?

I don't have any experience in PBEM games and can only assume the most obvious thing — it makes players spend more time on moves. Would be glad to hear an opinion on the subject from seasoned players. 

[jonnymacbrown]

The auto D fire is really good. Don't always work like you'd want it to but most of the time it gets the job done. Game play 2 x as fast. Indispensible.

[agmoss99]

I agree. It speeds things up. Auto defensive fire from a unit can fire multiple times as opposed to just once in MDF....or not once. It's pretty random. In larger games it will sort of average itself out.
With MDF you get one shot off but at least at a unit of your choice.
I think most folks play with it on.

[mynorth]

@jonnymacbrown, @agmoss99. Thank you for your perspective on the subject.

Okay, fellas, no pros for this rule?

Here's my view on this topic. I've never played tabletop war games, but I guess this rule comes from there. You kinda have to roll the dice for every action while playing that type of game, but when it comes to an automated simulation for hundreds of units, it's an obvious choice to leave that part of the process for the game engine.

[Mr Grumpy]

Yup that just about sums it up, can be frustrating at times when an opponents unit moves adjacent and your unit doesn’t fire, but as already said it averages out over the larger games.

personally I have never used it for PBEM but I can’t imagine it would be possible to play a scenario of any size with it on, I am not sure anyone has that amount of time to invest in a game 

So not perfect but is default for a good reason ……..