Combat
General Intro:
This model describes what happens when one TF hits another TF on the main
map.
At present the combat system will involve task forces moving according to broad orders in a tick (or whatever the timesegment will be called) by tick manner. Whenever two task forces are in or are attempting to move into the same square we will have combat.
First we need to determine if this is a meeting engagement, an attack/defence situation, an attack/fortification engagement or a continued engagement. This is done by looking at the situation on the main map, if both task forces are moving then it is a meeting engagement, if one is stationary then it is a attack/defence engagement, if one is stationary and has defend orders in a fortification then it is a attack/fortification engagement, and if both are stationary then it is obviously continued over from a previous battle.
Next we need to know the squares terrain distribution. It would be best to use a percentage breakdown of terrain within the square.
The battle phases
Each battle engagement is made up of a number of phases, the first phase is normally the scout phase, which is also normally followed by the maneuver/deployment phase and concludes with the combat phase. Some special situations can effect this. In any situation where the combined deployed unit dispersions is greater than 1000 (This assumes dispersion equals total formation frontage in Km and that a square is 100 Km wide.) we have a situation where the forces of a side extend completely across a square. If both sides are in this situation then we effectively have a deadlock situation not unlike WW1 trenchlines. Scouting and Maneuver stop having any major effect as no gaps exist in either sides unit deployments. In this fairly rare situation we will have no scouting phase and units are automatically deployed into combat.
As an example I give the following situation from reality. The russian army
with 20 infantry and 5 cavalry divisions is moving into east prussia in 1914.
It has very few scout units at the strategic scale and these are low tech
with minimal communications equipment. The german force it is ranged against
consists of 5 infantry and 3 cavalry divisions. The german forces include
a number of special scouting units and these are equipped with some fast
communications equipment, as well some aircraft are available, and the area
is currently german territory. The two sides both began by trying to scout
out the opposition. The german forces very quickly scouted the opposition
forces and began to maneuver/deploy their troops. Their scouts then managed
to deceive and engage their russian counterparts to such an extent that the
russian forces had only just scouted out the germans and started to deploy
some lead troops when combat was joined by the germans.
The Scouting Phase
In a meeting engagement both sides are assumed to have their available scout elements scouting ahead of the task force. We call this combined set of elements the scouting force. The scouting force of each side attempts to find the opposition and to screen their own forces. Historically this has been the domain of light cavalry and more recently armoured recon battalions. Each side attempts to scout the opposition if one side succeeds that side moves on to deployment while the other side continues scouting.
In a attack/defence engagement one side is attempting to screen there forces from approaching attackers. In this situation the defender is mainly harrassing the opposition, while there forces prepare to engage the enemy. The attacker is trying to determine the defenders deployments and possibly slow there deployments and preperations. We still use the same system as that used in a meeting engagement except that the defender is able to use engineers to build field fortifications and deploy in better terrain.
In a attack/fortification engagement the defending scouts are trying to harras the opposition while they deploy for the attack and to hide the extent of the fortifications. The attacking scouts are trying to determine the location of the fortifications and find weaknesses in the positions.
In a ongoing engagement both sides scouts are attempting to determine weak points in the opposition line and to find and harass opposition flanks.
In all of these situations the scouts are trying to gain an ascendancy over their opposition to gain a benefit for their main force.
Each scouting phase has a round of combat resolution this takes place between the combined scout elements of each side acting as a single mass unit. The combat range for this fighting is determined from the following chart.
|
The more mobile force may add or subtract 10% (AI decision based on best
firepower/range rating)
The home force may add or subtract 10% (AI decision based on best firepower/range rating) The terrain rating x 5% is subtracted |
Because most of the combat is at long range the inter scout combat really
only starts to cause casualties when 17th century technology develops some
longer ranged individual weapons. It really becomes important around the
end of the 19th century. After the damage has been applied randomly the
participating elements that suffered loss make a morale check to see if they
carry out their task. All undamaged elements and those that pass their morale
check are now used to resolve the scout phase.
First we need to determine the actual scouting strength of each side. This
is done by the following formula. -
Total Scout strength = (The square root of the (# of friendly elements + Sum of element scout strengths + (# of opposition elements / 2)) + external scouting factors ) X Generalship factor.
Element Scout Strength = (Exp + Tech feature + Comm tech) x ((Mob
- fortification benefit - terrain mod) + hits)
This strength takes into account the experience, the technological improvements
and communications abilities of the scouting elements it also factors in
the elements mobility and the effects of fortifications and terrain on that
mobility. Scouting will be considered a special element ability if a unit
workshop is available.
External scouting factors to be taken into account include-
- scouting effects of ownership of territory as a raw value (15%?)
- aircraft and space craft recon missions (dependant on air recon system)
- special base functions (Listening centres, lookout towers or similar may
gain a benefit for combat near them)
- spies (a special spy action could include tactical information useable
within a battle, especially in the opening phases of a battle)
The reason for the diminishing returns is that there is a point at which having additional scouts is no longer helping much anymore. Having 16 scouting cavalry squadrons is useful but the last 1 does not give as much of a benefit as the first. Of course their use in beating on the oposition scouts is still handy. If we find the square root a bit extreme we could use 3/2 or some other value.
We also allow for the generalship factor of the leader of the taskforce to effect the scouting outcome. Note the factor will not be huge it will be a value between 1/2 and 2 for most leaders. I am still unsure of the effect of the generalship factor in the very individualistic area of scouting maybe we should use half the normal factor to indicate a reduced effect in this phase.
The advantaged side recieves a benefit in the maneuvering phase = Adv side scout strength - Dis Adv scout strength as a percentage benefit. For example a german force with plentiful scouts has a scout strength of 25 their russian opponents have a scout strength of 11 giving a benefit of 14% in the maneuvering phase. Should we apply a random effect ranging upto +- 50% on this value.
The advantaged side also gains a benefit in the combat phase equal to the square root of the previous benefit directly on TF firepower. The Example would give a 3% firepower benefit.
The previously described advantage system could also be used but was really aimed at the more dynamic system that was previously envisioned.