Company commander bug/exploit

[Shorebreak]

Much to my annoyance, my buddy has been recently found a bug/exploit in the buy phase of the game. He purchases a company, removes all the platoons, leaving the company commander, then continues to repeat the process until the maximum amount has been met(I think it's around 5). After all of this, he proceeds to purchase the rest of his infantry in platoons along with the rest of his force. The result is almost limitless rallying capability for every squad, as each one can be rallied by by a nearby company commander and lieutenant(imagine 2 infantry companies split between 5 company commanders!) Until recently I have resisted using the exploit, as it just seems cheap & unhistorical, but the results have been so overwhelming that I'm going to have to use it to compete.

I'm just curious to know if anyone has run into this exploit and/or knows a way to limit it via options or something.

[Skirmisher]

I've never had anybody do that in a PBEM.

The easiest way to fix it is to just make it illegal in the purchase.

[DRG]

We'll put this on the list to investigate

Don

[gila]

I never had that happen before as AFIK, after 100+ pbem games.

What i would do first of all is cease playing that guy,instead of going down the same road and doing the same dirty trick to other honest potential opponents.

Screen saves of rosters before first turn or last turn would catch it,

Too bad vermin like that are exploiting the game

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Shorebreak

Much to my annoyance, my buddy has been recently found a bug/exploit in the buy phase of the game. He purchases a company, removes all the platoons, leaving the company commander, then continues to repeat the process until the maximum amount has been met(I think it's around 5). After all of this, he proceeds to purchase the rest of his infantry in platoons along with the rest of his force. The result is almost limitless rallying capability for every squad, as each one can be rallied by by a nearby company commander and lieutenant(imagine 2 infantry companies split between 5 company commanders!) Until recently I have resisted using the exploit, as it just seems cheap & unhistorical, but the results have been so overwhelming that I'm going to have to use it to compete.

I'm just curious to know if anyone has run into this exploit and/or knows a way to limit it via options or something.

It is really quite simple - if a PBEM opponent insists on using such gamesmanship, once you have asked him not to do so again then do not play that person. Same as if you agreed an arty points limit and he keeps breaking that.

If it is some sort of ladder - then he should be reported to the organisers for bad sportsmanship too. Such vermin are mere oxygen thieves.

As to could it be fixed in code - probably.

Andy

[Imp]

As others have said why play him if asked him to stop doing so & he persists. Lots of work as he has to cross attach the platoons & rebuild the formations & I have never come across it.
Though I do use something similar mainly for campaigns but on occasion for 1 off battles.
If artillery for the side I am playing does not have a Company level force or the company leader is a FOO I will buy a company & delete all its units. I then assign all Artillery & AAA to this guy, my arty park commander if you like.
Simply done because assigning to other frontline formations means large distances between commander & arty park

[Imp]

Sorry for double post could be a problem if put in code as often end up deleting one platoon in one formation to make units fit battle points available.
Example delete one tank platoon to free up points for extra infantry otherwise you have to do a lot of fudging working out points & buy this Company last so comes minus the extra platoon of tanks. Or sell it off cause you realise forgot to buy SAMs ATGM or some such rather than restarting whole buy process.
Think most people do this delete 1 or 2 platoons at end to buy bits n bobs if dont fit or suddenly realise forgot to buy something.

[DRG]

The trick to fixing this will be to to find a way to expose the exploiters without causing grief to legitimate uses like you documented.

I suspect this is not a "new" cheat. Normally when people find things like this they don't brag about it so this could have been quietly used for years as there is no really way to spot except that the other guy seems to always have his troops rallied. The end game screen is currently no help as all it shows is "rifle section" and that could be commanded by a Sgt or major.

It's definitely on the to-do list

Don

[Cross]

I don't see how this is much different than a player purchasing 120 snipers for their infantry company.

The problem is with the purchaser, not the game.


Cross

[Shorebreak]

Originally Posted by gila

I never had that happen before as AFIK, after 100+ pbem games.

What i would do first of all is cease playing that guy,instead of going down the same road and doing the same dirty trick to other honest potential opponents.

Screen saves of rosters before first turn or last turn would catch it,

Too bad vermin like that are exploiting the game

Yeah, but the thing is that it's my buddy who I often play in casual hotseat games on a laptop (Laptops saved the hotseat format!) He is stubborn and cheap about things like this; that's why I posted to see if there was a way to disable it from the start (outside of a gentleman's agreement.)

It's really annoying though and I hope you guys never come across it. Here is an example of how good this exploit works:

I pound 2 Thai rifle squads dug in on a hilltop fortification ring with the heaviest Japanese off-map artillery for 30+ turns, Z fire them with 5 rifle squads for numerous turns when I was in range, roll a type 97 1 2 hexes away and empty out 3 shots plus machine gun fire and the next turn he miraculously rallys his squad, moves it out into the open, takes 2 shots from the 97, 2 shots from a covering and previously hidden rifle squad, is still able to rally, assaults & destroys the 97. Imagine how frustrating this type of thing is when playing out for an entire match?