Forward Fire Direction

[TMaekler (OP)]

In this post

http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=8495.msg105824#msg105824

Steve mentions the FFD module and that it will be explained later. Have sifted through the posts but can't find that later explanation. Did you forget that, Steve?

[DFNewb]

I assume it somehow helps non-front-line units who are supporting front line units with them, but I am not sure and I do not remember Steve saying anything about them either.

[TMaekler (OP)]

Yes, the posting says that you can direct fire from rear and support positions with it. But the later-in-detail-posting... either I am blind or it doesn't exist.

[Alsadius]

FFDs allow ground support fighters to work properly. One FFD controls six fighters. I think it's described in the post on ground support fighters.

Edit: http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=8495.msg109886#msg109886

[Doren]

Remember something about supporting fighters just like Alsadius said

[thashepherd]

My understanding from http://aurorawiki.pentarch.org/index.php?title=C-Ground_Combat.

A formation in one of the front-line positions can be supported by as many other formations in support or rear echelon positions with bombardment components, fighters, or spacecraft as it has FFD (with some restrictions).

• I can't confirm that units with bombardment components do ANYTHING unless they are explicitly assigned to support a unit in a front-line position and the conditions below are met.
• The unit that's being supported has to contain the FFD, or (I believe) be the parent of a unit that contains the FFD. I'm not sure whether or not it can 'borrow' FFD from its parent unit.
• Units with anything other than than HQ, supply, and bombardment components are dead weight in a combat formation you're using for support...unless things go poorly and that formation has to suddenly defend itself...
• Units with light bombardment components MUST be in the support position. They will always (and only!) attack the formation targeted by the front-line formation they've been assigned to support.
• Units with medium bombardment components MUST be in the support position. They will attack either a) front-line and support elements at random within the formation targeted by the unit they're supporting, or b) support elements in formations supporting the formation targeted by the unit they're supporting. This attack occurs AFTER front-line positions and their supporting light bombardment units have performed their attack.
• Units with heavy bombardment components MUST be in either the support or rear-echelon position. They will attack either a) front-line, support, and rear-echelon elements at random within the formation targeted by the unit they're supporting, or b) support and rear-echelon elements in formations supporting the formation targeted by the unit they're supporting. This attack occurs AFTER front-line positions and their supporting light bombardment units have performed their attack.
• Putting FFD units in the same formation as bombardment units is dead weight...unless the formation gets overrun, and you need to assign units to support it while it defends itself...

Bombardment units can't attack independently; they can only attack formations attacked by your own front-line units.
Which units are targeting/attacking YOUR combat formations is completely irrelevant.
[/list]


I still have a ton of questions, though. I'm not sure if assigning units to support a rear-echelon Regimental HQ that has a bunch of front-line Battalions does anything, for example, or if you would have to specifically support one of those Battalions. I'm still not 100% sure that a medium bombardment unit in the support position doesn't do anything if it's not assigned to support any front-line units.