PeterX Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Here's a well-meaning suggestion for the rewrite: abstract out prisoners. In other words, once a depleted unit/crew surrenders remove it from play. At the same time the computer could deduct- invisibly- a squad member or two, commensurate with the number of POWs- in order to simulate the guard detail. The way it works now the victorious player has to hunt for a spare crew for guard duties and, if none's handy, break up a perfectly good squad for the job. Escorting prisoners to that clump of Woods in the rear contributes little to strategy and opens up- reportedly - the gamey trick of using them as human shields. Additionally, the option to execute them should be available depending on the units represented. Cruel, but realistic in certain theaters (Malmedy).Admittedly, this feature would be difficult to slip past the Eurocensors. I think we'd happily exchange this abstraction for a more robust depiction, say, of weapon crews. [ March 13, 2003, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: PeterX ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Wait a minute.. breaking up a squad or finding someone for guard duty "contributes little to strategy" but then you suggest executing POWs? How does this contribute to strategy as you put it? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimorodok Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Execute them? :eek: Good luck getting that 'feature' in the game. I have, actually, been able to execute my prisoners in two different ways. One, the "Sepoy Mutiny" trick, is to place them somewhere and fire something big (canister) at their feet (area target). The other way is to walk them over to another enemy unit, allow them to be 'recaptured' and shoot them in the back. Neither of these are especially good for your point totals though. Perhaps we could have an automatic "Commissar Order" and refuse the surrender of any Officers as well. *wait* before the flames start, it is not a policy of units under my control to execute prisoners. That is not to say that accidents haven't happened in the course of battle. *end* Zimorodok [ March 13, 2003, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: Zimorodok ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterX Posted March 13, 2003 Author Share Posted March 13, 2003 The other way is to walk them over to another enemy unit, allow them to be 'recaptured' and shoot them in the back. Neither of these are especially good for your point totals though. Now THAT'S cold. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rosenrosen Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Back to the more sensible portion of the original post.... Why do you need a guard detachment? Can't you just issue a Move order for the prisoner to head for the border? What happens if he's not guarded? Dr. Rosenrosen 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterX Posted March 13, 2003 Author Share Posted March 13, 2003 What happens if he's not guarded? He *might* escape. Or so I've heard. [ March 13, 2003, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: PeterX ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Geepers, sounds like this guy's a Bush advisor! The AI already does a perfectly adequate job of commiting its own war crimes. Not only in CMBO but in CMBB I've seen surrendered troops continue to take casualties from close enemy units, including cries of pain. Some have tried to explain these occurances away as perhaps friendly fire or collateral damage, but it looks to me like being a prisoner in enemy hands in CM is not at all safe. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimorodok Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Originally posted by PeterX: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> What happens if he's not guarded? He *might* escape. Or so I've heard. </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimorodok Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Originally posted by MikeyD: Geepers, sounds like this guy's a Bush advisor! do you mean moi? Zimorodok 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimorodok Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Originally posted by PeterX: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> The other way is to walk them over to another enemy unit, allow them to be 'recaptured' and shoot them in the back. Neither of these are especially good for your point totals though. Now THAT'S cold. </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zook Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Do you still get the points if you send your captured prisoners off the map? I've done this in a PBEM game that I'm currently playing. I'll report back if nobody has an answer. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterX Posted March 14, 2003 Author Share Posted March 14, 2003 Originally posted by PeterX: quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The other way is to walk them over to another enemy unit, allow them to be 'recaptured' and shoot them in the back. Neither of these are especially good for your point totals though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now THAT'S cold. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I observed this, I did not order it. I had captured a tank crew close to the front lines...by the time he 'obeyed' my order to relocate to the rear, the enemy had nearly overrun his position. After the guarding unit fled, I had to shore up the position with some HTs....they machine-gunned everything, including the liberated, retreating tank crew. Interesting. But how do you live with the guilt? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laxx Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 this thread is very surreal. hmmm, gonna start experimenting with getting a captured unit to walk towards the enemy/minefields. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YankeeDog Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Originally posted by Zook: Do you still get the points if you send your captured prisoners off the map? I've done this in a PBEM game that I'm currently playing. I'll report back if nobody has an answer. Yes, but you need to make sure to send them off a 'friendly' map edge. Generally, this is the best thing to do with prisoners if you have the time and escort, as it eliminates any chance of liberations and means you don't have to worry about them anymore. Cheers, YD 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dschugaschwili Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Originally posted by MikeyD: Geepers, sounds like this guy's a Bush advisor! The AI already does a perfectly adequate job of commiting its own war crimes. Not only in CMBO but in CMBB I've seen surrendered troops continue to take casualties from close enemy units, including cries of pain. Some have tried to explain these occurances away as perhaps friendly fire or collateral damage, but it looks to me like being a prisoner in enemy hands in CM is not at all safe. I have also seen this, but only within the first few seconds after they have surrendered. CM simulates the time any kind of fire needs to get from the shooter to the target, so it's quite possible (and common) that there are still some shots on the way to the unit when it surrenders. Those can and will do damage when they hit. Ok, there's another case: night battles. When friendly fire is on, prisoners are of course also affected by it. Dschugaschwili 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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