Is there an easy way to distinguish engineers from rifle squads?

[ClarkWGriswold]

I'm hoping there's something simple that I'm just overlooking, but I can't see to easily tell, at a glance, engineers from generic rifle squads in-game. They look the same from high camera vantage points, they use the same unit icon, etc. The only real way to tell seems to be by clicking on their icon and reading their unit title. That's not really feasible when you've got dozens and dozens of squads on-screen. Several times I've sent them in to battle, not realizing I'm sacrificing my only asset that can blow holes in bocage and wire, until it's too late. Is there a quick way to differentiate the engineers from other units? Is there perhaps a way to assign them their own icon?

[Holman]

I think it's important to get in the habit of knowing your Order of Battle cold. Never just send a squad into the fight because they're the nearest set of rifles. You have to know how they fit into the organization and what their peer units are doing. This isn't just about telling specialists (like engineers) apart from regular rifle squads; it's about command & control and using your leaders effectively, etc.

If you internalize the above rule, you'll know who's who as a matter of course.

(Hey, my 1,001st post!)

[Johnny Canuck]

I've accidentally used ammo bearers as scouts, and with all those floating icons, am having a tough time determining who's what and who are they connected with.

Also finding it harder than CMBB (which I just got as well) to see the movement orders for the active unit.

Guess I just need more practice and stronger reading glasses.

[ClarkWGriswold]

Ammo bearers is another one that I've made that mistake with. Because there's fewer of them, I often catch myself and realize the mistake before I make it. But it sure would be nice if they had their own icon as well (or at least a "special unit" icon to cover all non-riflemen).

[Pvt. Ryan]

You need to click on a unit to give it orders, so you will know what kind of unit it is before you send it anywhere.

[Johnny Canuck]

I click on the unit, and have the paths turned on, however the thick semi-transparent line for the current unit is sometimes difficult to make out against the myriad of thin ones. So, I fiddle around for a bit and either misinterpret what I thought I saw or just remove and re-issue the order just to be sure.

[gunnergoz]

It really helps to keep squads close to their platoon leaders and the platoon leaders in touch via radio at least with the company CO. If you use the chain of command in this game, you will be rewarded and penalized if you do not.

As for engineers, apart from the unit description, I look for demo packs in their equipment list. Regular leg infantry does not carry demo packs, although paratroopers do, but you will seldom see paras and engineers together in any of the included scenarios.

One thing I've learned is that the split teams command is your friend since individual teams can be ordered to points on the map with much more precision than a lumpy squad of 12 men.

When you have to move men quickly (say to enter a house for cover) they lump up less than a full squad if you send one team at a time. I hate it when a full squad gaggles up and hesitates in front of a door while under enemy MG fire: "You first"..."No, you first, please"..."Please, you first - Ugh, nevermind, I'm hit already!"

This way you can site your LMG to best effect too. But be sure to keep the squad leader within communication range!

[ClarkWGriswold]

You need to click on a unit to give it orders, so you will know what kind of unit it is before you send it anywhere.

It shouldn't be necessary to click on a unit and examine 12 pt text to determine what unit type they are. This was a non-issue in CMx1 because the units carried weapons representative of what they were and you could make the units large enough to tell at a glance without ever having to select them, even from very far away.

Also, while it's true that you have to click on a unit to give it an order, it's possible (and much quicker and easier) to plot movement orders for multiple units at once by selecting them with shift+click and plotting everyone's moves (or fire arcs) at once. If you use this method, you do not see that a unit is Engineers, Ammo Bearers, etc. Anti-tank teams have special icons, FOs have special icons, HQs have special icons, etc. Can't you just click on the unit if you need to tell what it is? Why bother with different icons for these units? Because it's very helpful to be able to tell who is where without having to click each and every unit or memorize everyone's location.

[Pvt. Ryan]

I can't imagine giving movement orders for multiple units, especially in hedgerow territory. Seems like a good way to get your men killed.

[womble]

I'm hoping there's something simple that I'm just overlooking, but I can't see to easily tell, at a glance, engineers from generic rifle squads in-game. They look the same from high camera vantage points, they use the same unit icon, etc. The only real way to tell seems to be by clicking on their icon and reading their unit title. That's not really feasible when you've got dozens and dozens of squads on-screen. Several times I've sent them in to battle, not realizing I'm sacrificing my only asset that can blow holes in bocage and wire, until it's too late. Is there a quick way to differentiate the engineers from other units? Is there perhaps a way to assign them their own icon?

You do have to click on them to send them to their fate... Do you employ crews in such a cavalier way? Or split AT or MG teams? Admittedly, I'm only playing WeGo, but I look at what I've got selected to do a thing every time I select 'em, if only to confirm I've picked the squad I thought I had...

[ClarkWGriswold]

I can't imagine giving movement orders for multiple units, especially in hedgerow territory. Seems like a good way to get your men killed.

If you have a dozen squads that you want to move up to a fence, it saves a ton of time. Even if you have to re-plot a couple of moves, it's far faster than doing each one separately.

[mrpwase]

I really don't see the problem here. Martyr is right, if you don't know what units you have where when playing a scenario then you've gone wrong somewhere.

[Bridger15]

Seems to make sense that you always want to ammo bearers near the heavy weapon that can use their ammo, so why don't they merge with the appropriate squad the same way a split rifle squad will reform if you leave them near each other?

[Sergei]

If you're lassoing units without knowing what they are and then sending them off, I guess the fault is with you. But are you aware that you can double click a unit to select its platoon (or, if it's a HQ, select all of its subordinate formations)? Since engineers are organized separately from rifle companies, this should allow you to avoid making the same mistake again. Really, stop lassoing units. It makes Baby Jesus cry!

[ClarkWGriswold]

I really don't see the problem here. Martyr is right, if you don't know what units you have where when playing a scenario then you've gone wrong somewhere.

So, you're telling me that if I have two companies of men on screen, I should manually have to keep track of what each and every squad is? Honestly, that's absurd. If that's the case, why do HQ units have their own icon? Why do AT teams have their own icon? Why do each of the different vehicle types have their own icons? If the icons are just there to give you something to click on, BFC could have easily made all of the units use a single icon and saved a lot of work. Obviously, distinguishing units is important enough that they spent the time and energy to put in specific FO icons, HQ icons, and so on. So why not distinguish engineers and ammo bearer teams? Saying "just click each individual unit and be happy" is, frankly, a pretty crappy response to a legitimate concern. Especially one that has been halfway addressed by the inclusion of a dozen different unit type icons already.

[Guest]

I lasso units all the time. The tools exist for a reason. If I'm sending units into action, though, I do tend to use the chain of command or give units individual orders. Also, if I've got pioneers I segregate them, mostly because I try to keep them out of firefights.

The easiest way I've found to distinguish engineers - number of men and equipment. If it's a small unit, all with rifles and blasting charges, I know they're my precious engineers.

Edit: I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for separate ammo bearer and engineer icons. That's something that Steve is going to need to respond to, though.

[gunnergoz]

I would vote for separate ammo bearer and engineer icons, as well as one for dismounted AFV crew, just for my own convenience while managing my own troops.

[Wodin]

WEGO solves this problem...you have time to take it all in....other than that you have to read the UI and finally unless I'm mistaken the individual soldiers do carry the relevant weapon...

The UI is there for a reason and all the info you need is on it...including demo charges etc etc...

[MikeyD]

That's the annoying thing about everyone wearing uniforms. they're all so... uniform!

American engineers are eight men in two teams which makes them pretty easily distinguishable from a dozen men in three teams - with a bit of practice. What I usually do is first positively locate my engineer squads before startup. Then after locating them I don't often misplace them afterward. Unless the game becomes a real furball.

[gunnergoz]

I do play WEGO but on larger maps with scattered forces like, say, Huzzar, or on any map with large forces, such differentiated friendly icons would be useful...to me at least.

And what would really be cool would be a toggled label to go under the unit icon that would ID the unit by team/squad/platoon/company/bn. It would be as simple as A-1-3-B-501. Probably asking too much, though.

[Wodin]

I'm sure ti's possible to mod extra icons...would be a good idea...I never lasso in this game...ever...sometimes though I double click a HQ to move all the untis under iy's command in one go...but usually I move each unti individually...setting waypoints as I go...other wise you can find your untis not taking the path you want them to...

I'm playing Huzzar at the moment...57 mins to go....great sceanrio...

On my size montior it's bext to play in widescreen view...think it's the c key...