Noob combat questions

[kenh000]

I think I figured out most of this while writing the questions, however, I still want to post it to confirm my thoughts and fill in the missing pieces.

Reading from the Combat Mechanism rules for melee combat:

Determine the number of attacks:
Is this the number of dice rolls?

Modify the number of attacks for supporting battle groups. Each valid supporting enemy battle group will reduce the about attacks by 1.
Does adjacent mean next to, behind or both?

POAs and number of hits
If the enemy has 2 POAs and my unit has 0 - does this mean that each of his attacks (dice rolls) has a 67% chance of hitting while each of mine has a 50% chance? Does this equate to a roll of 3,4,5 or 6 for the enemy and 4,5 and 6 for me?

Calculating manpower losses
If the enemy landed 2 hits on me while I only landed 1 hit on him - will my losses be 5 to 14% while his will be .25 to 5%?


Miscellaneous question:

I am using the 'P' detailed Pre-combat detail display
The screen reads: A: [None, POA = 0, die =4, E(hits) = 1.556]
What does the NONE refer to?
What is E(hits)?


Thanks for the help.

[davouthojo]

Determine the number of attacks:
Is this the number of dice rolls? Yes

Modify the number of attacks for supporting battle groups. Each valid supporting enemy battle group will reduce the about attacks by 1.
Does adjacent mean next to, behind or both?
Combat support for the attacker comes from friendly BGs adjacent to the defender. Visa versa for the defender. It is slightly complicated though - see the thread lower down on "Combat support clarification please"

POAs and number of hits
If the enemy has 2 POAs and my unit has 0 - does this mean that each of his attacks (dice rolls) has a 67% chance of hitting while each of mine has a 50% chance? Does this equate to a roll of 3,4,5 or 6 for the enemy and 4,5 and 6 for me?
If the enemy is +2 POAs, he hits on a 3,4,5,6 (67%) and you hit on a 5,6 (33%)
If the enemy is +1 POA, he hits on a 4,5,6 (50%) and you hit on a 5,6 (33%)

Calculating manpower losses
If the enemy landed 2 hits on me while I only landed 1 hit on him - will my losses be 5 to 14% while his will be .25 to 5%?
His are 0.25% to 3%. See the table here: http://www.hexwar.com/field-of-glory/he ... anism.aspx

Miscellaneous question:

I am using the 'P' detailed Pre-combat detail display
The screen reads: A: [None, POA = 0, die =4, E(hits) = 1.556]
What does the NONE refer to?
I don't know! Always none as far as I can remember....
What is E(hits)?
The average number of hits you will inflict on him

Hope this helps! You will get used to it soon!

[jamespcrowley]

Yet another new player scratching his head and wondering how the game works.

Can Slitherine really not see the need for a updated manual/help which actually has this rather vital information in it?

[TheGrayMouser]

Yet another new player scratching his head and wondering how the game works.

Can Slitherine really not see the need for a updated manual/help which actually has this rather vital information in it?

Jim , all the info that Davouthojo provided is in the manual index, which btw you can access while you are playing the game. (the exception being what "none" is in the verbiose rpt, likley some kind of placeholder/code) So the info is there, although one could argue that the presentation is maybe not the best you cant say it needs to be updated to "include" vital info... What needs to be added is some of the newer changes to the sustem ie an explination of missle support troops , things like that.
Do you really think this is a plot to make people buy the TT rules? I'll bet way more people who already owned the tt have bought the PC game than vice versa.

I'd rather have more resources devoted to gameplay improvments (flank marches anyone?) than starting from scracth on the manual.

Maybe what is needed is a play by play AAR type thing that expalins each feature with ingame pics and pointers showing POAS combat support etc, would ease things for newer players.

[kenh000]

Thanks for the info davouthojo!

Need some clarifications now...
If the enemy is +2 POAs, he hits on a 3,4,5,6 (67%) and you hit on a 5,6 (33%)

I'm confused as to why I only have a 33% chance. The detailed info screen indicated that the enemy had +2 POAs and I had 0. I was assuming that each POA value was separately compared to the POA table.
Calculate the number of hits
POA ++ : 67% hit chance per attack
POA 'None' or + : 50% hit chance per attack
POA - or -- : 33% hit chance per attack

Are the two values subracted from each other i.e. enemy: 2-0=+2 me: 0-2=-2?


Thanks,

Ken

[TheGrayMouser]

Thanks for the info davouthojo!

Need some clarifications now...
If the enemy is +2 POAs, he hits on a 3,4,5,6 (67%) and you hit on a 5,6 (33%)

I'm confused as to why I only have a 33% chance. The detailed info screen indicated that the enemy had +2 POAs and I had 0. I was assuming that each POA value was separately compared to the POA table.
Calculate the number of hits
POA ++ : 67% hit chance per attack
POA 'None' or + : 50% hit chance per attack
POA - or -- : 33% hit chance per attack

Are the two values subracted from each other i.e. enemy: 2-0=+2 me: 0-2=-2?


Thanks,

Ken

The Poa's are netted so if A has +2 and B has 0, then A is ++ advantage (67% to hit) B is --(33% to hit) disadvantage

[Brigz]

So according to the above, it POA's are netted, there are only three possible hit circumstances:

One Player has ++ and hits on 3,4,5,6; the opponent hits on 5,6.
One Player has + and hits on 4,5,6; the opponent hits on 5,6.
Both Players have 0 and both hit on 4,5,6.

Or do I still don't get this?

[TheGrayMouser]

So according to the above, it POA's are netted, there are only three possible hit circumstances:

One Player has ++ and hits on 3,4,5,6; the opponent hits on 5,6.
One Player has + and hits on 4,5,6; the opponent hits on 5,6.
Both Players have 0 and both hit on 4,5,6.

Or do I still don't get this?

Yes, that is it, of course quality rerolls can drastically change your odds . Basically elite troops at ++ never miss!

[little]

The Greymouser mentioned flank marches Now that would be good. As would match ups of unequal armies where one is forced to be the attacker or defender (aside from scenarios ofc).

But I have to agree that the manual is fine. I really don't know the ins and outs of the system, but intuition should be enough (e.g. shock cav going into a marsh against medium infantry was never a good idea). The thought that the opponent is carefully consulting a book or charts before each move is a bit depressing, but then again I tend to lose a lot

[CheerfullyInsane]

..... Basically elite troops at ++ never miss!

Unless they're led by me