Rinaldi

The (poor) sarcasm is doing you no favors. Jackass move.

Turns 6-9 Surplice continues to wage an aggressive defense - divining what I have in mind, he begins to piss some mortars down near my ATGM teams, critically wounding a team member before I am able to displace the rest to safety. This is the story all over the front; with mortars landing dangerously near any infantry maneuvering - a different German mortar fire mission interdicts the surviving infantry from the first failed armoured thrust, causing several casualties and forcing them to ground. However, before that, they have a couple of notable successes: working closely with their remaining BMP they are able to knock out in quick succession a 20mm Wiesel and a MILAN team - both of which have demonstrated themselves to be threats. Knocking a hole in a wall with its 30mm, a BMP-2 exposes a Wiesel 20mm, which is knocked out by infantry RPG fire The BMP in turn knocks out a MILAN team The surviving armour also has success; it takes a couple of minutes to be made aware of the location (relayed through the accompanying company commander) of the Wiesels in the wooded copse but once appraised of the situation a section of T-72s sends some HE down range. As you recall from the last update I put quite a bit of stock in this little stunt and am quite relieved it works. As the dust settles on the target area, one of the tanks is able to see a German crewman scurrying away from a destroyed Wiesel. A second is seen beating a speedy retreat from the area. A T-72, inset, opens up on the known position of a Wiesel, which it is aware of but cannot identify presently. It works. A Wiesel, thinly armoured, is destroyed by the HE fire. A surviving crewman is seen bailing. A second Wiesel is seen beating the retreat, an HE fired at it by an observant T-72 unfortunately misses. The steady erosion of Surplice's anti-armor assets is something that I will need to number crunch on. He has by my estimation lost 6 or 7 TOW wiesels; with at least 5 destroyed to the direct front of the T-72s. I'm not too familiar with Bundeswehr TO&E, but I would hazard a guess that he has between 3-4 TOW wiesels remaining. A few more knock outs may allow me freedom to maneuver again. For now, despite the constant pounding from mortars, its time to launch the bulk of the Mech Group forward with support of the surviving two Shilkas. With the only spotted hard threat being a single 20mm Wiesel, I'm confident I can get this attack back on track.

Faster flow of information; better spotting. Units that are vaguely aware of an enemy's presence will spot it faster. The more ways a tank platoon leader or platoon sergeant has to say "hey, look over there!" the better for you to get that first shot off.

Haha you're going to get a 1000 different answers; Shock Force and Black Sea are my favorite, with Normandy a very close 3rd for myself. I prefer the little-room-for-error of the modern titles; and the scale tends to be a bit larger, which is to my tastes. I'd definitely echo Emrys and say I find myself playing BN and BS the most; they tend to be the better multiplayer experiences which is what I focus on.

A combination of factors, not all of them something that I would describe as bad; straight up political mismanagement aside, the 'cultural' view of military service, if you'll forgive that term, doesn't exactly make it a first choice for a fit teenager or a well educated young man. The lack of an existential threat on your border, a strong pacifist movement, the knowledge that a superpower is going to come rushing to your nation's defense, and the (understandable) optics of deploying German military power anywhere also factors in. The long and short of it: They don't have an esprit d'corps and they aren't really being given the incentive (and green) to develop one. Stagnation is basically inevitable. That's the quick and dirty of it. Anything else I could write would be parroting @panzersaurkrautwerfer and there's no need to be redundant.

Which circles back to the point that the Bundeswehr is a bit of a shambles, not well motivated, questionably well trained, and poorly maintained. If I raise my eyebrows any further they may merge with my hairline. You turn yourself around two posts later then go off on this very strange pseudo numbers crunch about GDP and defense expenditure. I'm not sure why everyone voluntarily chose to get lost in the sauce here, but the bottom line is the Bundeswehr is not currently capable of maintaining themselves and it shows quite clearly in their soldiery. Most here who decided to dance the jig have shown pretty strong evidence that the political management of funds is a large factor, if you want your why.

This is some spicy, top-tier, fingers-in-ears denial. God Bless. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/less-third-german-military-assets-operational-says-report/ "The Bundeswehr’s problems aren’t new, but it is shocking that nearly nothing has improved after four years of Ursula von der Leyen serving as defence minister,” said Tobias Lindner, a defence and budget expert for the opposition Greens." https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1G31PF - My emphasis. I am sure you will find a way to hand wave this away as well, while at the same time preaching of being open-minded in an onion-like ironic display. Again: I am always amazed at the hills some forum members here choose to die on, but this one amazes me the most. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Bundeswehr+equipment+ready+rates For further edumacation. By the way; it matters very little how 'small' an army is; operational ready rates of 50 percent or lower are atrocious. Absolutely atrocious. Having to cannibalize a division to equip a battalion is what we call a joke with a very bad punchline.

Uh...k. I speak from experience; this isn't any of us being a bot. At the risk of sounding like my old RSM, the enforcement of basic stuff like that imparts the kind of skills and habits that are desirable. It's emblematic of the whole. It always amazes me the wee little hills members of this forum choose to die on, and this one was by far the strangest and smallest of them all yet. If following evidence (yes, even anecdotal evidence) is "close-minded" to you, I'm not sure I want to be your version of open minded.

If I have to explain the irony of this statement to you - one of NATO's ostensibly senior partners can deploy a well trained company; I really have nothing left to say.

No, its sign of sloppy discipline and lax grooming standards. There are no 'experienced combat soldiers' in the Bundeswehr; just some geared-up fellows from one of the quietest areas of Afghanistan. The Bundeswehr is a mess, and has been for a long time. On the one hand its a good sign of a healthy pacifist movement in Germany, on the other hand its a worrying sign about funding problems (beyond the usual) for the military and for piss-poor retention rates for enlisted men. They are dealing with less of what they should be dealing with materially and in terms of manpower; and they aren't getting the pick of the litter.

Turns 4-6 Surplice isn't finished with me yet. The turn begins with more enfilading fire devastating the group that began the attack. In rapid succession two BMPs are knocked out by TOW fire. There's really nothing more that can be said or done here - when a T-72 attempted to push through to a bit of cover, all it got was an ATGM for its trouble. He has me here, and no doubt. It's time to see if those poor freaking infantry can do anything with the remaining BMP-2, which is unceremoniously using the carcasses of its friendlies as cover. More on the Armour group's plight later; for now the focus will have to shift to the Mech group, who have begun to engage targets with their MGs and ATGMs - mostly Fuchs. A few teams are going to have to be told to hold their fire until targets worth striking are discovered, still though it feels good to hit back a little. The mech group's weapons dismounts have continued to advance in bounds towards an orchard overlooking the military compound (TAI 21), and have nary had a shot fired at them, a good sign. Some spotting rounds from enemy mortars have been falling but so far the MG and ATGM teams have gotten under them every time. My own artillery is being redirected to start hitting likely enemy observation posts to try and discourage enemy forward observers. The SU-25 is also called off for now, it will be redirected if I can figure out where these Wiesel TOW's are making hell for me. I don't have to wait long; a Wiesel is spotted trundling into a battle position, and a T-72 tracks and kills it with an absolutely astounding shot through its own dissipating smoke. More Wiesel movement is spotted by the observation posts in the Mech Group area. First one, then a second and third, are seen dashing to a small copse of trees...which looks like it had great line of sight to the flank of my assaulting armor and infantry. My opponent is wisely reinforcing success and clearly is keeping count: he knows I still have T-72s and is likely anticipating another push from me soon. That isn't going to happen; but the FOs feverishly call in air and a few untasked mortars on the location. More importantly the surviving T-72s can have possible lines of fire on this position, and are stationed right next to one of the two infantry company HQs. A quick order to 'open up' on the nearest T-72 is given and word should spread quickly about the Wiesels' locations. When that occurs, some accurate area fire is going to be placed on the battle position. Wiesels are - clearly as has been demonstrated - armored in name only, and a few HE shells relatively on target should reap results. The rest of the turn passes quietly, giving me time to plan how to reinvigorate my attack. As alluded to in previous posts, I want to try and push the Mech group up to TAI 21. This will place it abreast of the Armour group and discourage further flank threats. The high 3-storey buildings near my start lines have proven the most valuable asset; the forward observers have spotted ample enemy vehicle movement and report the entry of what appears to be a quick reaction force - more infantry mounted in Fuchs. The plan: 1) Armour group goes firm, orienting its weapons towards the identified anti-armor battle position that destroyed the first attack. 2) Surviving infantry from the Armour group sweeps the known enemy positions; well covered by the T-72s and MGs. The surviving BMP will provide close support to them for as long as possible. I know that there's an enemy Milan team and a Wiesel with a 20mm somewhere in the vicinity of TAI 23 and want to confirm they're knocked out, or make them that way. My infantry dismounts are, all things considered, cool as cucumbers and in a fighting state. 3)The Mech Group's weapons are in good positions to support an attack and will now 'pull' the BMPs, Shilkas and infantry into an attack on the enemy positions to their front. Smoke will be called to discourage enfilading fire from TAI 11 - it's 8 minutes out however and I'm struggling internally to control my urgency to attack.

Yes you and @Sgt.Squarehead are right of course; the loss of the only real combat power I have is irksome - a bitter pill, as I said. I expected high losses but wasn't expecting so much enfilading fire; and with the benefit of hindsight a co-ordinated push by both the separate 'wings' of the Battalion would have been wiser. This having been said, what's left of the armor group is now in good cover and has no anti-armor threats left to its direct front. So a belated push by the Mech group may restore the situation. I'll once again be inviting him to react to isolated thrusts as he sees fit but I'm committed now. I'll be publishing an update soon, both my opponent and myself have been busy with our respective revision for school.

Everybody take a shot....

There's pro/cons to the way foxholes and trenches are in game: and the pros outweigh the cons. Games like Shock Force, Afghanistan, Graviteam etc. have actual deformation of terrain when creating battle positions but that's (a) a mapmaker level prerogative and/or (b) impossible to hide in fog of war. I'd rather have slightly goofy looking mounds that do the job just as well and are not spotted and flattened with artillery turn 0.

"Movement is easier to spot - this perturbs me greatly" and "talking out my behind on muzzle flashes" Yawn. This is a heady mix of salt, hot takes, and stuff that's demonstrably incorrect. For example: if you think "moving objects being easier to spot" is somehow flawed or that "units that have a general idea of the location of an enemy spot faster and with greater ease" is also flawed, then there's really no cure for the hypertension this game has caused you.

Apologies for the delay, I've been quite busy. This won't be a text heavy update; the images speak for themselves. Turns 2-4 (0706-0708) The battle continues to rage; the armor group continues to identify and destroy more enemy weapons carriers; two are identified and destroyed to the Armor Group’s front. The Wiesels go up in satisfying balls of fire, the T72s being able to engage them with standard high explosive shells. The trade is not utterly one sided, however. Despite attempting to use houses to cover their flank, a T72 is struck in the flank and destroyed. It’s time to try moving again. The Mech group has not been idle either, dismounts are swinging wide to the left to try and begin putting TAI 11 under small arms and missile fire. Once the dismounts have been pushed up to middling positions, their armor and AAA support can begin to fan out, covered somewhat by the infantry. The idea is simple; the dismounts will push, pulling the supporting vehicles along with them. As it is right now, the two parts of the Battalion are essentially fighting two very different battles: this is far from ideal, but I’m committed right now, and the air is thick with German missiles and autocannon fire; not exactly the best scenario to try and completely change the plan. The enfilading fire coming from TAI 11 and 21 is something I can attempt to deal with, however – the armor group make use of their smoke generators and shift a bit to their right, ready to make yet another dangerous dash across some open ground: The obscurants build... Three T-72s and the surviving two BMP-2s thrust forward…the Armor Group’s FO sees an enemy Wiesel from across the river begin to displace – I’m moving as fast as possible but my enemy is reacting just as fast. The enemy is setting up an L-shaped ambush. It works. Despite the dash being well covered by the billowing smoke, the formation takes fire from what I believe are panzerfaust 3s (they are shockingly inaccurate), two T-72s are struck as they arrive in position on the far side of the shield; one from the front, the other from the flank. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. It’s made a bit easier to digest as I give as good as I get: the surviving T-72s and those that were kept behind in SBF destroy two more Wiesels in return. More importantly, the BMPs have survived and were able to disgorge their infantry into cover.

Old post but had to comment; Hell let Loose doesn't have me impressed, but Post Scriptum reminds me very much of the RO1 mod: Darkest Hour, which I can't recommend enough. It has my curiosity piqued and I've loved what I've seen thus far.

I hope so - since my style is a blatant imitation of his own. Hopefully @Bil Hardenberger takes that as the compliment it's meant to be. We have an action packed first turn; and as I suspected it's ugly. The Battalion's lead elements deploy into a swathe of fire. ----- Turn 1 (0705-0706) The Armor group immediately launches itself forward, in a wedge – an attempt to protect the vulnerable BMPs behind the bristling armor. It doesn’t work; a BMP is hit almost immediately, seconds after the battle kicks off – the rifle squad tumbles out with only a couple of casualties but are understandably in a state of panic and will be out of the battle, I imagine, for a few turns. As the formation surges forward, a T-72 is struck by an ATGM, and then just as they begin to identify targets and exit the kill-zone, a second T-72 is destroyed. Then, we begin to engage, knocking out exposed enemy light skins and putting fire down on an identified threat battle position – including an offending Milan launcher – as the first furious minute comes to an end. The Mech Group meanwhile starts off with a bang also. Despite best efforts to nestle my BMPs and ZSUs in good cover while other elements move, a BMP-2 and an enemy TOW carrier spot one another as soon as the battle begins… …with both aiming and firing in the same instance; missiles reaching out to one another across the open plain. The result: A mutual kill. Though my enemy gets the better deal; as the TOW impacts the BMP, its sympathetic effects knocks the nearby ZSU out as well. This is why you don’t attack from the march, everyone. About halfway through the turn the pre-planned fires are brought to bear; and immediately rip into TAI 22, 23, KT3 and TAI 21. The lone SU-25 also burns over the field, coming around to engage unseen targets behind TAI 21. I was unable to conduct battle damage assessment (BDA), however. If it’s hit anything, I remain unaware of it. 122mm Rocket Artillery saturates the target zone, hopefully killing or otherwise pinning further threats to the Armor Group's advantage. Point fire from regimental mortars strikes at prominent buildings in TAI 21, buildings with what I estimated to have the best field of fire in the area. Enemy fire from positions in front of the Mech Group seems anemic. The majority of the damage done to both groups comes from TAI 22 and 23, which is encouraging as these positions are getting the hardest hit currently. A key-holed 20mm weapons carrier wreaks havoc on the Scout and ATGM platoon as they race down the road to try and seize a few forward buildings with better fields of fire. A BMP is out-and-out destroyed and two are immobilized; and as the turn ends the two wounded BMPs are bringing their cannons to bear on the offending Wiesel. The dismounts are nervy but responding to orders, and are making good their escape to the desired buildings. A BMP is struck by a burst of 20mm fire as it begins to peel off a road. It’s a hairy start, but one to be expected given the terrain. I would have been less surprised if I wasn’t confronted immediately by a furious amount of enemy fire. It could have – should have – been much worse. Situation 0706 As said: It was ugly, but it worked. The bulk of the Armor group has gotten through the most dangerous ground and is now in a position to begin engaging positively identified units. The weapons teams were able to successfully peel off from the formation and were in the process of establishing SBF positions by the end of the first minute. The weapons platoon begin dismounting early in the first turn, they will be setting up MMGs to provide support to the Armor Group's advance in the minutes to come. With overwhelming artillery fire landing directly to its front, I remain convinced that the Armor Group’s best chance of minimizing losses lies with its ability to advance swiftly. The formation will halt for the next minute to engage targets and ensure the formation remains intact, then plunge onwards to TAI 22 and 23. The thought process is simple: The sheer amount of fire makes me believe the enemy has no depth to his current positions, punch through and the chance of taking fire will decrease significantly. The situation and plan for TAI 22 & 23 in the immediate future. Note the destroyed enemy vehicles; primarily weapons carriers and light skins – in line with templated enemy forces.

Tell me Squarehead, do you enjoy being wrong when you try to taunt others? The last map published for Black Sea with an AI plan: just coming up to the 7 month mark. The one before that, mid-summer 2017. That's just for BS: let's look at the latest uploads of finished, published scenarios: An empty QB map; A H2H for CMBN; A H2H for CMFB; 4 maps for CMSF, which do not suffer from the AI problems I'm noticing a stunning lack of singleplayer scenarios being published here. You sure showed me. Once again: if you're going to have a go at me, bring your A game, not this drek. I'd say that the sheer effort involved in publishing maps is among one of the reasons, but the futility of playing singleplayer is almost certainly a factor as well. As to those who are trucking on: my hats off to them, I do not share their patience for the broken state of SP play - and I'd wager they are in the minority. Finally, how many maps have you published for the 4.0 version games, again? PS: the irony of being called a loon by a conspiracy peddling contrarian is, by the way, not lost on me. Trot on.

Apparently you are too busy being your contrarian self ("opinions that are not my own are rubbish, but do not take me to task for my rubbish opinions") to truly grasp the point being made: AI is objectively broken, making even the most fine-tuned AI plan impossible to evaluate in testing. This is a direct result of AI cutting and running after the lightest of indirect fires; a botched, if well-meaning, implementation of additional self-preservation features. This guts singleplayer play, and trivializes it. Which brings me back to the salient point of: why bother wasting my time attempting to code AI plans in that environment? Which is a key part of single-player scenario design. Note I didn't say I've stopped designing maps or indeed even scenarios for head to head; which if you spent more time walking around with your eyes open you'd have noticed: a map has been published and a second scenario based on another's map is currently being playtested. I don't make maps for the piss of it, I create them for a scenario, and the current singleplayer projects I was helping create are impossible to evaluate with 4.0 in its current form. Was the AI plan trash, or did the human tester fire some off-map 105 and make an entire platoon cartwheel into a MG? Do I need to draw a picture for you? Yawn. Not when the issue is fundamentally beyond the scope of a scenario designer. Next time you have a go at me, or decide to call something I say rubbish, make sure all your synapses are firing, your contrarian drivel is truly starting to bore me now.

Actually, it is quite good reasoning. I basically abandoned/put on hold my work on Ithikial's latest project (geared towards Single player) because 'fire few rounds of 60mm and HE, slaughter battalion of rats swarming in the open' was neither challenging, fun, or rewarding as a scenario designer to see. Before you go 'but you can plan the AI now and wait on the patch...' I've been waiting on the patch for quite long enough already, when I have other ideas I want to put down (such as my H2H scenarios in Black Sea) and it makes playtesting impossible, and functionally moving ahead also. I see no point in pumping out something that will be for all intents and purposes unplayable. Wasted effort. That's what the singleplayer and mapmaking experience is currently like in the series: un-play-able.

The first orders have been given, and I'm while I'm waiting for it to be bounced back to me, its time to finish my METT-TC analysis and look at my Scheme of Manoeuvre. ---------------------------------- Troops Available Assigned to this attack is a Mechanized Battlegroup consisting of a Guards Battalion (-), task-organized with a Guards Tank company, and some self propelled anti-aircraft artillery (SPAAG). The battalion is not concentrated, and we are attacking from the march. In approximately 20 minutes I can expect the trail elements of my force to arrive in the battle zone. Fires consist of rocket launchers and organic regimental mortars. Air support is available in both rotary and fixed-wing variety and I should have priority from all available air forces in approximately 15 minutes. Currently, a single SU-25 is available. This is the full Monty, a doctrinally appropriate force with an appropriate allocation of fire support to accomplish my objectives. Command has given me every tool I need to effect decision at an acceptable cost. Let’s have a look at my forces in detail; currently on the board there is: Time: It is now 0705 hours. I am expected to be on objective and ready to repel threat counterefforts no later than 0905 hours local. This gives me 2 hours to accomplish my objective. Civilian Considerations: ROE Green. There are no restrictions placed on me in this mission. I may place fires promptly and with whatever effect I desire on any and all positions. Opening Moves As mentioned previously, my battlegroup is attacking from the march, with the battalion being limited to three main axes – the paved roads at the right edge of the battle zone. The battalion is advancing with an armor heavy group on the open ground, using the top two roads. A mech heavy group is stationed in the built-up area directly across from Fafrin. These dispositions naturally limits my opening options, and forces me to basically launch my armor group into the attack immediately. The other option is to stew in the open and make myself an easy target – simply not acceptable. The mech group has the advantage of affordable cover to deploy in but has no MBTs to support or lead its advance across the open ground. I am also extremely worried about walking into a kill sack formed by mutually-supporting fires from TAI 11 and 21. The goal therefore is to unite my two forces or place them in a position to effectively support one another. Based on these considerations, my opening moves will be as follows: Armor heavy group advances immediately to attack TAI 22 and 23, with company weapons peeling off to establish support-by-fire. Mech heavy group establishes battle positions to it immediate front and attacks-by-fire TAI 11 and 21. Once the armor-heavy group has cleared TAI 22 and 23, they will swing towards TAI 11. From there, I anticipate they will be able to put effective direct fires on both TAI 11 and KT3. The cross-attached infantry will leave behind weapons and anti-tank elements (at the very least) at TAI 22 in anticipation of enemy counterefforts. The mech group will advance with the balance of its force to assault and secure TAI 11, leaving behind weapon and anti-tank element to support/attack by fire positions that threaten the advance. The desired end-state is to have the battalion now concentrated in and around TAI 11 with ample ability to interdict any enemy counterefforts. From there, my next steps cannot be properly anticipated – I will have to see what the enemy has done to me by then.

FWIW the Russian APS is confirmed for being able to block HEAT in game (I have seen BMP-3s with the module block HEAT, which is a cool thing to see) , and the physics of it make sense. As @Sgt.Squarehead mentioned to disrupt the warhead doesn't take much. Furthermore, HEAT rounds tend to have a lower velocity and are lobbed at a target: slower = easier to track and intercept.

I am not exactly sure why I was tagged or plugged in this, and hope @BletchleyGeek and @General Jack Ripper will carry on with their AAR and discussion - which I've been enjoying quietly. Let's move past this banal distraction.

I'm aware of the bug - I'm not sure if this NATO map is pre 1.32; at any rate if I can get a surrender it will all be academic. I certainly have the means to as well I believe...without further ado: METT-TC analysis Mission: A key crossroads at the hamlet of FAFRIN is the main effort. Securing passages to MAERITE and an abandoned Army COMPLEX are also targeted areas of interest (TAI), but the pursuit of these secondary and tertiary objectives are not to interfere with the main effort. Desired end-state is to have friendly forces on the crossroads arrayed in defensive positions oriented south, ready to pass additional units through my positions for a general expansion of the attack. Enemy: The precise unit is unknown, however intelligence templates threat forces to our front consist primarily of light infantry from a German unit. I expect the unit will ultimately be supported by mortars and plentiful anti-armor weaponry. The probability of an enemy quick reaction force (QRF) is high; and I suspect it will consist of heavy, mobile threats. I also would be more surprised if the arrival of a QRF does not coincide with the threat forces gaining priorities from heavier fires, such as 155s. Finally, while command is confident the SAM network that is covering this effort will hold, I am not. The possibility of NATO airpower intervening at some point needs to be considered and on my mind at all times. Terrain: The battlescape is almost table-top flat. Almost. 01 - Demonstrating the flatness of the terrain generally There are key complexities: The terrain is broken in places by sunken fields, orchards, and small villages (consisting primarily of one-storey houses). The most notable terrain feature is a dried river bed that bisects my avenues of advance and hampers horizontal communications within my battalion – it is, however, passable to vehicles. Terrain is predominantly rural and many small stone walls separate plots of land. The sunken fields and the resulting berms dividing them create potentially deadly threat battle positions (BPs). The smattering of built up areas are less of a threat but may also provide many potential battle positions. The squat, flat houses will be difficult to target over the high crops and stone walls and may frustrate my attempts to identify shooters and place effective direct fires on them. 02 - A typical berm caused by the sunken fields and orchards 03 - The muddy riverbed I have identified 3 pieces of Key Terrain: 1. KT1: The dried riverbed – as stated, it bisects my axes of advance and currently separates my armor and infantry. 2. KT2: Seizing the paved passage over the river bed will ensure a link up between my forces without the risk of losing much needed fighting vehicles to bogging. 3. KT3: The sunken fields – a large rectangular swathe of them will offer good fields of fire over most of my targeted areas of interest. The KT offers good cover and decent concealment. It will need to be put under serious indirect fires to minimize the threat of anti-armor weaponry. KT3 also offers another advantage to my enemy: it is a well covered and decently concealed area to concentrate any QRFs that arrive. 4. TAIs 11, 22 & 21: Are all key terrain unto themselves; being the most built up areas on the map as well as my three most important objectives. The handful of two storey buildings on this map may as well be mountains for the fields of fire they provide the enemy – and for once in my life I am worried about enemies on rooftops; an otherwise suicidal move. They are almost certainly to be occupied for that reason alone. Given that these areas of interest all sit astride good roads, I strongly suspect that they are objectives for my enemy as well. They will have to be factored into my fires plan to frustrate anti-armor fire coming from them. 04 - The big picture and what I've identified as areas of interest and key terrain. I'm still mulling over my opening moves; next time we'll take a quick look at the exact forces I've been handed to accomplish my mission, and how I intend to use them. The terrain is what I would best described as "fire-swept" and I definitely need some time to consider how I can turn the sight lines to my advantage, rather than my enemy's.