Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

Agreed......nobody is "forced" to use it and in PBEM it's obvious right away if your opponent is using it....... but I do not see how it "breaks the game" at all......the AI doesn't use it, only human players

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

The ability to fire direct area fires at things that would have an LOS but it was blocked due to smoke or visibility limits was something that was vigorously argued for by many players in the original DOS days, so that is why it was provided.

Those who hate it can agree with their PBEM opponents as to any house rules regarding it in their games - whether nil or limited usage. The AI does not use it.

As to the original posters moan about Z fire going through trees and buildings - that is the normal SP scatter rules, which take no account of any blocking terrain for any area fire that is off-target. If the routine decides on 2 hexes scatter, and that new x,y ends up a couple of hexes into a built up area, or splats units in a valley that could not be directly targeted then that is where it goes.

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

Part of the problem is this.......Neither Andy nor I use Z-fire except on very rare occasions and since we don't PBEM we don't meet up with people who, by reports like this, use it as SOP.

BUT.......it's very obvious if someone is doing this so we get back to "self control" and PBEM "house rules"....... if you don't like it, don't use it and if you don't want a PBEM opponent to use it get that agreement before the game starts...and if he ignores that don't play a game with him again.

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

Changing the subject: Could we ever have 10 hex wide or height maps?
That would be great for copying Advanced Squad Leader Boards.
Thanks.

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

I'm not sure I entirely understand what you are asking for but the scale the game works at will never change

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

He is saying wants to create a 10 x 30 map similar to the boards in squad leader.

Most games use more than 1 board so you are going to be cut & pasting anyway so I would make all maps 30 x 30.
Going to need to create 4 for each board to cover all facings, then there are the overlays :)

For multiple board sets load the first board
Adjust playing area to total size for all boards, 40x30 would be 4 boards.
Cut & paste the other boards to original board.
Done.

Dont remember playing many single board games, would need to get creative & while not perfect just add a couple of rows of impassable terrain.

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

You can Z fire into unseen hexes, at the Blitz we call it GOD MODE firing, where the AI has shown an enemy unit but you don't have anyone who can see it. You can, sometimes, fire into that hex. This GOD MODE is the exact reason Z fire has so many restrictions in the optional game rules I posted under mods.

Also, I didn't know Z fire used 2x ammo, that is interesting, but I kind of agree that Z firing units are hosing down an area with rapid fire, maybe it should be increased? Thanks for that info DRG, didn't know that. I take it that increase in ammo use also applies to artillery firing Z fire over open sights?

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

I *thought* I had seen double ammo used when I first tested but I haven't seen it since and IDK why I *thought* I saw it the first time but Andy reminded me we HAD discussed doing that.. my brain **may** have been thinking we had and I wasn't paying enough attention to the test game...regardless any testing I did after showed normal ammo depetion

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

Another feature that makes the game overpowering and needs to change is the ability to load a save game in a single player battle and/or campaign. If you do bad you can just load a save game. That is just bad game design.


(yes I am kidding)

Re: Will there be a 2018 update?
 

Yeah, I know all that already. Plenty of scenarios with single boards. Adding a bunch of impassable hexes looks...tacky.

Yes, I'd like the option to make a 10x30, or 30x10 map.