Several Moscow 42 Questions

[76mm]

Thanks for the replies. So far I'm only playing the AI, and I've maxed out the AI play speed, so everything is kind of a blur, so I am indeed missing it...

Ricky B, after reading the more carefully, I think you're right, but the wording is rather subtle and there is another reason why we need to select targets for direct fire:

Indirect Fire:
First, each such Indirect Fire is doubled in fire value, but the cost of firing is doubled. Second, such Indirect Fire is applied against ALL units in the target hex, proportional to their strength, instead of being applied against a single target unit.

Direct Fire:
...Direct Fire and Indirect Fire of mortar or heavy weapon units is conducted under different rules. Although a target may be selected, under this rule, if the target unit is not a Hard Target, then the resulting fire is dispersed and affects the OTHER units in the target hex.

First, alternative direct fire only applies against soft targets, so if you select a hard target it won't apply. Second, use of the words "other units" instead of "all units" seems to imply that the selected target will take more casualties than the rest, but they'll still be affected, although this is not very clear.