Lawyer Posted February 2, 2001 Share Posted February 2, 2001 I'm not sure whether the best bet for good shots and kills in CM is to target units yourself or let them move ahead with the AI deciding what targets to shoot. Having observed indecisive AI-controlled units failing to shoot at all, as well as confused AI units shooting at minor targets first, I have been manually targeting many of my units on the battlefield. Yet this is time-consuming and seems to rob my unit AI of the chance to see and exploit sudden targets. I see the pros and cons of each method, but am not sure what to do as a general rule. Right now, I think I do too much manual targeting for my units. What do you recommend? Thanks for any help. Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoncawley@ameritech.net Posted February 2, 2001 Share Posted February 2, 2001 The advantage of the AI / no target approach is that your men will tend to defend themselves better. They will re-target on squads that rush them, try to cross open ground, people shooting at them, anyone getting too close for comfort. It will also tend to work better when targets are disappearing and others are appearing, because a unit with a designated target order will tend to cease fire altogether (for the rest of the minute anyway) when its target moves out of LOS. Usually those advantages are worth grabbing. But a problem with AI targeting can arise when there is a disproportion between the threat from enemies and their distance, which often happens e.g. on the attack, after you enter the enemy positions for the first time. And the AI does not distribute shooters for suppression as well. I find that in "static" firefights, it works better to pick targets myself for all but the front-line infantry - like the MGs and vehicles and mortars. I do so with an eye to suppressing enemy fire as much as how close each target is, and I generally try to put 2 shooters on a target from different angles, but not more unless I really need that guy dead and fast. The front line infantry, I try to let the AI pick the targets, so they can pick up new threats better. That works OK because "shoot nearest" is often the right thing for them. Standard infantry sees its firepower rise very rapidly with the closeness of the range, whereas MGs and such have little loss of power with range. Occasionally you will still want to retarget a front line squad - e.g. when a nearby enemy is so suppressed it is not firing, and somebody else farther away is - the AI will often shoot back at the firing enemy, when it could rapidly finish off a closer cowering unit. In those cases I just make sure I don't re-target everybody - so some of them are available to pick up new targets. Just the way I handle it, I don't know if it is "best" but it seems to work out OK most of the time. Your mileage may vary... [This message has been edited by jasoncawley@ameritech.net (edited 02-01-2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remo Posted February 2, 2001 Share Posted February 2, 2001 Well, as a newbie (maybe half a dozen small scenarios played so far), I'd say that I usually let my units pick their own targets. They react faster that way, and generally seem to pick the targets I'd want them to attack. The only exception is when I specifically decide to hammer a particular enemy unit, either to suppress it or destroy it quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt the Paladin Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 I also tend to let the AI choose its targets, it usually does okay. However, I always check at the end of every minute to see where my arty, AT guns, mortars, and tanks are shooting. Althought the AI is smart, you usually see things that your men don't. However, if your men aren't following your target orders, stop trying to give them, as it only results in confusion and poor performance. ------------------ "War is like a cat, it is easy to let out of the bag, but hard as hell to put back in!" -Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dumrox Posted February 6, 2001 Share Posted February 6, 2001 I usually let AI do the targeting for troops and AFV's, but I've had good luck manually targeting for my sharpshooters. In a recent ME, I was able to shock both of my opponent's AFV's and eliminate several PIAT teams with my sharpshooters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte99 Posted February 8, 2001 Share Posted February 8, 2001 I enjoy manually targeting HE on buildings housing a particularly annoying MG or infantry unit. Suppresses the hell out of 'em, and you get the added bonus of blowing up the building real good. I just love that. About the only time I give infantry target orders is when I need to suppress a dug-in enemy unit so other squads can close and eliminate it ... ------------------ "War does not determine who is right - only who is left." -Bertrand Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doghouse Reily Posted February 11, 2001 Share Posted February 11, 2001 I don't manualy target my inf. because they ned to evaluate the threat to themselves. I do man. target my arty., mortars and at. guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted February 11, 2001 Share Posted February 11, 2001 While I often leave standard inf. squads to their own devices, one situation in which I like to manually issue target orders is when they can 'faust a nearby tank, or, more often, work together to eliminate a badly weakened squad. Sure that enemy squad may just have two or three men (and little firepower) left, but since each of your units can only directly fire on one unit at a time, I think it's generally better to cut down on the number of potential targets. I.e., it's often better, all things considered, to be faced with two squads than with three squads. ------------------ New to Combat Mission? Visit CM Boot Camp at Combat Missions for tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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