I've been thinking about the ground combat some more and decided to make a couple of changes. The first is that during front-line combat, rather than each element attacking a hostile element, it is now each individual unit in a formation attacking a random hostile unit within the hostile formation (still based on relative size). This is for a couple of reasons. I don't want to discourage small elements within a formation (such as infantry MG, AA or AT) and as things stand small elements would be eliminated when a large element attacked. On the other hand, i don't want huge overkill for the attacker in that situation. Also, it seems more reasonable that a formation is based on combined arms and that tanks and infantry would attack together, not separately.
The second change is for breakthroughs. I've added a more complex version because I wanted it to be more meaningful and potentially more likely, plus provide a reason to value high morale, vehicle-focused formations on front-line attack.
The relevant new section of the rules is below. I've also updated the original post:
http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=8495.msg109786#msg109786****************************************************************************
Once a front line formation (or a light bombardment element in the Support position) has been matched against a hostile formation, each friendly individual unit (a soldier or vehicle) in that formation engages a random element in the hostile formation, with the randomisation based on the relative size of the hostile formation elements. The targeting on an individual unit level represents that the different elements in a front line formation will generally be attacking in conjunction (infantry supporting tanks, etc.).
Once all front line attacks have been concluded, each unit in each element providing supporting bombardment will engage either the hostile formation being targeted by the friendly formation they are supporting, or one of the hostile formation's own supporting elements (counter-battery fire). If the hostile formation is targeted, each unit in the supporting artillery element engages a random element in the hostile formation, with the randomisation based on the relative size of the hostile formation elements (the same as front-line vs front-line). If a hostile supporting element is targeted, all fire is directed against that element. This represents the difference between providing supporting fire in a combined arms front-line battle and targeting specific hostile artillery for counter-battery fire. The decision to target the hostile front-line formation vs hostile support elements is based on the relative sizes.
Supporting medium artillery will choose between hostile forces in Front-Line or Support field positions (and will ignore any elements in Rear Echelon field position for purposes of relative size), while heavy artillery can select targets in any field position. In other words, if the enemy has supporting heavy artillery in a rear echelon position, you will only be able to target those elements with your own heavy artillery (or ground support fighters, or orbital bombardment support).
Once all the initial combat is complete, there is a chance for a breakthrough. Each defending formation is checked according to the following procedure:
- A Cohesion Damage value is determined for each formation element using the following formula: Element Class Size * Units Destroyed in Combat Phase * (100 / Element Morale)
- The total Cohesion Damage is summed for all elements in the formation and compared to the formation size. This value, from 0 to 100%, is the Formation Cohesion Rating
- For each front line formation that attacked the defending formation, a Breakthrough Value is determined for each formation element
- Static elements have zero Breakthrough Value. Vehicle elements use the following formula: Element Class Size * Element Units * (Element Morale / 100). Infantry elements use the same formula as vehicles with a further modifier of 0.5.
- The total Breakthrough Value is summed for all elements in the attacking formation and compared to the formation size. The value is multiplied by 2 if the formation has a field position of Front Line Attack. This value, from 0 to 200%, is the Formation Breakthrough Rating
- A Breakthrough Potential value is determined for the attacking formation by multiplying the defending Formation Cohesion Rating by the attacking Formation Breakthrough Rating. If this value is equal to or greater than 30%, a breakthrough has occurred for that attacking formation.
- Each formation that creates a breakthrough mounts a second attack. This attack does not benefit from supporting artillery or fighter support. However, it functions as if the attacking formation has a field position of Front Line Attack, which means all hostile formations are potential targets, not just those on the front line.
The breakthrough rules mean that defending formations that suffer casualties may allow attacking formations to penetrate their lines and conduct a second attack. This is more likely under the following circumstances: A single defending formation is attacked by multiple attacking formations, the defender suffers a high casualty percentage in a single ground combat round (potentially because the formation is small in size), the defender suffers disproportionate casualties to elements with larger unit classes, the defender is low morale, the attacker is primarily vehicle-based, the attacker is on front-line attack, the attacker is high morale.
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