ME 67 Volcano Mod question

[Elxaime]

Regarding the +20% modifier on clear desert terrain, this is not a mistake. Basically, I was never happy with 0% modifier on desert terrain, feeling that this is something more to 1km "clear" terrain in a woodland environment (where foliage would exist). The +20% was done in all _Alt scenarios in the desert environment to reflect the fact that combat in the open desert is deadlier and units more vulnerable because there really is no place to hide.

Of course if you don't agree with it then feel free to change it, it applies to both sides so it is really a mechanism to make combat more deadly for everyone in the clear terrain, and it makes those otherwise measly -10% brush hexes actually places you really want to be. :)

On the WW2-era western desert, I found this interesting passage:

"...the terrain was mostly flat and featureless; dust and sand, churned up by artillery fire and tanks, obscured the battlefield; each side used the other's vehicles and armour, often making identification impossible until too late; radio communications were unreliable; and desert navigation was an art few could master..."

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/western-des...z2txrlw69E

I am wondering if twenty percent might be too harsh given the dust/visibility issue, which is something much more impactful in sandy terrain than hard-packed earth. While the PZC system includes visibility, once you "see" someone you fire at full effect. It is an either/or situation. Granted, dust is something very hard to model. I am wondering if another way to do it in desert campaign games is to increase the random spread of direct fire effectiveness. Sometimes fire will be fully effective, other times not at all, all random to take into account the chaotic impact of dust clouds. For indirect fire, you could import the WW1 campaigns method of advance fire being targeted but falling randomly if no spotting was maintained.

Dust, fuel shortages, heat, water needs - not sure if the system accounts (or can account) for those. But otherwise the armies may be racing around and doing things they historically did not attempt. Movement rates, for example, may be too optimistic.

Lots of discussion has been had about the specific terrain and weather impacts of severe environments, e.g. if PzC was to ever try and model the Pacific New Guinea fighting. I think the desert was in its own way almost as challenging.