Stack vs individual unit fire

[Steelwhip]

so...something thats recently cropped up in my thinking process. Is there any difference in having whole stacks firing at targets or having individual units fire separately.

does firing large stacks generate the same casualties and fatigue to a target or is it better to fire individual units separately. Im talking in a general overall average sense. 

the thought process got kick started when I was playing ME '67 doing the '73 golan heights scenario (stick to the plan) and that the Syrians (and to a large scale I suppose the computer player in general) would fire these huge stacks of units individually and it seemed to me...that in a long term engagement-my units were taking a ton of fatigue damage from it. I would toss a fresh unit into the fray and a couple turns later they were looking at 200+ fatigue.

now granted this may have been from the Syrians were operating in battalions and the Israelis were operating in platoons and companies, and there was just HUGE stacks of syrians (serious..I think at one point there was a stack of 12+ syrian units in one hex!)

so whats the advantages/disadvantages of firing stacks vs firing individual units.

[Glenn Saunders]

so...something thats recently cropped up in my thinking process. Is there any difference in having whole stacks firing at targets or having individual units fire separately.

does firing large stacks generate the same casualties and fatigue to a target or is it better to fire individual units separately. Im talking in a general overall average sense. 

the thought process got kick started when I was playing ME '67 doing the '73 golan heights scenario (stick to the plan) and that the Syrians (and to a large scale I suppose the computer player in general) would fire these huge stacks of units individually and it seemed to me...that in a long term engagement-my units were taking a ton of fatigue damage from it. I would toss a fresh unit into the fray and a couple turns later they were looking at 200+ fatigue.

now granted this may have been from the Syrians were operating in battalions and the Israelis were operating in platoons and companies, and there was just HUGE stacks of syrians (serious..I think at one point there was a stack of 12+ syrian units in one hex!)

so whats the advantages/disadvantages of firing stacks vs firing individual units.

Except for FRD the math is the same really. Where it differs is, each roll has a chance of getting a fatigue result. Two fatigus and you break the unit. 

Of course you might also be firing pre assault and wanting to get a disruption result to affect the defence value of units in an assault.

I think it really depends as single firing each unit is more tedious. 

That's my take on it anyway.

Glenn

[Mr Grumpy]

Without any actual evidence I have always felt that firing a stack combined has a greater effect than individual units, the downside is that you get less shots and hence less chance of a disruption shot.

You could also argue that firing individually to gain more offensive shots may result in you suffering more defensive shots, but defensive fire is controlled by the engine and hence the counter effect is always variable.

Once again the more you play the more results you see and the greater the "feel" you will get of what seems to work and what does not over multiple games.

[Kool Kat]

Without any actual evidence I have always felt that firing a stack combined has a greater effect than individual units, the downside is that you get less shots and hence less chance of a disruption shot.

Gents:  

That's always been my impression.

When I volley fire an entire stack versus a single enemy unit, there is a higher casualty rate with the enemy unit then if I fired individual units against it.

Now, I don't know if I added the cumulative casualty rate of firing individual units versus a single enemy unit - would it equal three stack volley fires?  It does not seem to hold true here.

[Glenn Saunders]

Without any actual evidence I have always felt that firing a stack combined has a greater effect than individual units, the downside is that you get less shots and hence less chance of a disruption shot.

Gents:  

That's always been my impression.

When I volley fire an entire stack versus a single enemy unit, there is a higher casualty rate with the enemy unit then if I fired individual units against it.

Now, I don't know if I added the cumulative casualty rate of firing individual units versus a single enemy unit - would it equal three stack volley fires?  It does not seem to hold true here.

Your impression is likely correct. I did say FRD which is fractions rounded down.

I hadn't considered the increase chance of defensive op fire, and a God only knows how many time this has caused disruption to my own units and frigged up a perfectly planned assault.

That said, I'm sure John Tiller would concur, the rare math is all the same.

[Kool Kat]

So Steelwhip or The Original Grognard:  

Hope you can use the "stack versus individual unit fire" information in your next PBeM game!

[Steelwhip]

So Steelwhip or The Original Grognard:  

Hope you can use the "stack versus individual unit fire" information in your next PBeM game!

someone has been watching my videos. =) 

im making my way through Budapest right now. losing more scenarios than im winning. dont think ill ever be ready for PBeM =)

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

So Steelwhip or The Original Grognard:  

Hope you can use the "stack versus individual unit fire" information in your next PBeM game!

someone has been watching my videos. =) 

im making my way through Budapest right now. losing more scenarios than im winning. dont think ill ever be ready for PBeM =)

Nobody is ever ready for pbem.   When you try your first one, you'll realize you've been as ready as you're ever going to be.  Only you've missed out on a lot of fun by not playing pbem.  Playing against the computer you have to remember, the computer lack the ability to change it's mind.

[Landser34]

I agree with the above statements about PBEM if I only played against the AI I would have been done with this game years ago.You just need to jump right in a play a game against a live opponent and most of the guys I have ever played will give you tips and answer your questions

[Kool Kat]

Agree 100% 

Transitioning from HAL to human opponents, you will get your butt handed to you in your first few PBeM matches!  

But with each game versus a human player, you will learn better tactics and strategies, improve your game play and have more excitement / fun then against the AI.  

IMO, the more you play against HAL - the more "bad" habits you adopt in your game play and the harder it becomes when you eventually try a few games versus a human opponent.

You don't know what you may be missing until you take the plunge!

I hope you do!