QB type option

[Mitra76]

I tried to understood better the selection logic behind the QB in CMSF, but the more misterious parameter remain the "type", not well explained in the manual. I think originally the parameter should limited the sublevel of a TOE&E selected between the possible ones of the selected branch. But perhaps being other logic criteria prioritary respect it (random choice of TOE, value in points of various units (first company, platoon in second choice)) it is work only rarely.

I don't understood anyway what is the criteria of subdivision: what troops types are considered heavy,light,medium? what mean heavy combined,medium combined,light combined?

[Mitra76]

I think to have understood alone, the type represent each possible AI choice TO&E in a branch. Example in the case of Syrian mech inf.branch, the armor are the tank companies TOE, the heavy,medium,light infantry are the BTR mech,reserve and recon TOE, the combined heavy,medium,light are the BMP mech,reserve and recon.

[Mitra76]

I evaluated in these days the QB in CMSF (I think I generated more than 200 QB from CMSF and CMA), as programmer I consider it as a fascinating routine, also if has problems, but due to complexity and number of parameters I think is normal. Also the comparison with CMBN QB help me both for differences and similitude. Please note this analysis is a mine intellectual game (a little crazy but it was fun), it is not official or done reading the source code, as far I know can be completely wrong.

The first part is similar to CMBN, you have a hidden amount of points to expended for your force; the amount of points for attacker and defender is determined by the battle size, battle type (ME, probe, attack, assault) and by the force adjustment parameters.

The service parameters explain himself.

The next important parameters is the “Branch”; at first I was deceived thinking it was linked to button of “branch” in the scenario editor, but this is false; the branch of a TO&E is given by the branch of single units present in. The US. Army Armor branch is not present in the scenario editor button, because is in list with mechanized forces, but the branch is anyway different (as you see from the unit icon on gui bar), and the editor take this not the editor subdivision. I found only a case of mixed branch (for company level not battalion level): the Canadian recon troops on Coyote vehicle have the troops with infantry branch, and the vehicle with mech. infantry branch, so they are taken for both the branch. I don’t know if this is a bug or a desired effect, it offer anyway interesting possibilities of mixed branch.

The fit parameter is identical to editor functionality and the quality parameters works in similar mode to parameter in CMBN QB human choice selection of quality (that in the left-middle part of screen, with typical as default). This permit to generate, between specified limits, the soft factors and the equipment of units selected, in a mode similar to manual selection in the scenario editor, when you leave the soft factors set to typical. Fit and Quality parameters have a important part for evaluating the “points cost” of a unit; higher is the quality select higher will be the randomized soft factors and more expensive will be the unit cost, the contrary when the quality lower. The CMBN quality parameter in human choice QB works at the same mode, so you have a visual example of the process.

The next steps are the more largely hypothetical derived only by observation of frequency, but I think there is a good possibility they are near the true routine.

As I told before the “type” parameter indicate a TO&E in the selected branch; could be a company or a battalion, anyway is always the first level of TO&E you see in the scenario editor. Each army has different subdivision so it is difficult to indicate the correct “Type” for each TO&E.

Second observation the AI work always for company and platoon level, never for partial company or platoon, and in this is different from the “suggestion” functionality in CMBN. In CMBN automatic choice the AI can take battalions, companies, platoons, sections, and can eliminate from the TO&E units for decrease the amount of points or rarity necessary. In CMSF the AI take or a full company or a full platoon (or section). If you see over the map the units generated by the QB never have the battalion indication over the company, nor the company for independent platoon, much different from the units inserted using the scenario editor, like they wasn’t taken according to the hierarchy but extracted directly from the database.

Sure some particular types of units are excluded by default like the camion units and independent forward observers, because useful in scenarios not in QB.

So as first step the system extract the first valid unit from the list, according to a random factor determined also by criteria: the rarity of units (that you see in the scenario editor), the level of unit (he try to take before a whole company or independent platoon if possible, if not he tried to take one of the sub levels of the same company) perhaps the “type” parameters and other criteria I don’t know, perhaps other much more complex (like reduce the % of possibility a already taken unit type\code name can be take a second type).

Then the AI generate the soft factors according to quality parameter, this determine automatically also the value in points. The unit is taken if his point value is under the points amount set for the battle otherwise is excluded.

After the first unit is taken the amount of points for the battle is reduced of value of this unit and the other units which values go over the new amount, are excluded from the new extraction. And this sequence of controlled random extraction and amount reduction go ahead just it is no more possible take other units with the residual amount (perhaps exist also a limit of expense in point for a single unit for avoid to use all for a single unit, I don’t know). Note also the support\artillery enter in this process.

The extremes of this selection can be seen in two cases: the amount of points doesn’t permit to take any units (set the battle tiny, minimum purchase adjustment, quality excellent, republican guards), in this case no unit is taken, the map is blank. And the amount of points is too much respect the base of TO&E (set huge map, assault, quality poor, maximum purchase adjustment, us army armor) so you start to have duplicate of same unit (at example two company A of same type) like you selected a second battalion, and you have a big number of support\artillery.

So my suggestions for have a good QB forces more frequently is:

1 - avoid branches with few TO&E and too specialist, especially with the other rare and limited, this is valid especially for western. Select mix in these cases, more TO&E units you have, more the “always” units you can have.

2 – With little battles, set the quality to poor or fair (depending also from the battle type) you will have more point amounts an so more possibilities the AI choice more units. As alternative, choice a battle of superior dimension (medium at example) and set Excellent as quality, you will have bigger map with smaller OOB.

3 - some Canadian troops are under valuated in points terms, so they are taken in mass. Avoid them.

[Mitra76]

Always theoretically speaking (I don't know how hard should be in the real routine), a good mode to improve the system will be to set the option for avoid to take companies but only platoon level unit at maximum, this will increase the possibilities to have different types units, and a secondary option for avoid to take rare\limited formations, which are too expensive for tiny\small battles.

[Mitra76]

ME, medium battle, mix and excellent quality gives more frequently at example a average of good units, respect the normal, because it take platoons more frequently respect the company, if the first unit is a expensive one (so no sufficient point for take a full company). Usually a small battle with average gives a company or a company + a platoon, if I raise the quality to excellet usually I have two or three good platoons.

[Mitra76]

I saw now that also in CMBN manual the "type" parameter for QB automatic purchase is listed, but in reality in the game is not present. Is it a print error in the manual?