Squats in EA |
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Jimbo
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Post subject: Squats in EA  Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:50 am |
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| Quote (CyberShadow @ 14 2004 Feb.,12:34) | | Reading the rules for overwatch again and I come up with a strange point. You can only overwatch fire at an enemy formation that moves. |
You can only overwatch fire when an enemy formation moves.
Can you fire normally rather than use overwatch fire?_________________ Jimbo
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Tas
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:05 am |
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Hmmm...think of what is actually happenign on the ground and what the rules are trying to represent:
Commissar: Sit here Troopers- shoot anything that moves!
Scared trropers: Aye Aye Sir!
Or
Here they come lads! Show them the Emperor's Fury!
zap zap zap!
They firing units have to see something, otherwise they wont fire. Similarly, they are waiting for the bad guys to rush in so hey can get a better shot:
"Wait till you see the whites of their eyes!"
Otherwise put them on Sustained Fire. So in essence, I think its what you are expecting to get out of Overwatch rather than the rule itself
[Disclaimer- this example uses Human male terms. No Racist/Sexist/Armist inference is intended  ]
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Agent Brown
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 1:49 pm |
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I really don't see the problem. The only way for the situation that has been referred to happen is if you went into OW when there was an enemy formation that had you within range of their weapons or an enemy formation moves closer to you but still out of range of your weapons and within range of theirs.
That is the choice you make as a commander. You could have went on to Sustained fire or moved away/closer etc., but chose not to. Instead, you decide to wait until the enemy get closer or a juicier target comes along. To activate OW fire when shot at seems a little like having your cake and eating it.
As for two formations on OW squaring off, again this is down to the commanders rather than the rule. If you allow the situation to happen, that's up to you.
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Legion 4
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:10 pm |
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iblisdrax
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:04 pm |
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Hmmm, after some thought, I agree that the rules require no modification. After all, how many times is this situation going to occur in a game? If the opposing force goes into overwatch after watching you march up, then they should pay the price for guessing wrong. Although, if I had an assault biased formation march up to one of mine, I would probably think about doing the same thing. And how many pro-assault formations can really shoot good at range?
my 2cents,
iblisdrax
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Tas
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:58 pm |
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| Quote (iblisdrax @ 16 2004 Feb.,04:04) | | After all, how many times is this situation going to occur in a game? ? |
Often in a good game!- but then that is part of the Command Decision Process. As you say there are a myriad of factors- guess the wrong one and your men will suffer for it.
There are lots of tactical options here, and OW is only one of the possible solutions....
PS Greetings Agent Brown!- Hope you like it here as much as we do!
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Legion 4
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:50 am |
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Good call Agent Brown ... the more guys play E:A and tell us about it, the more we all can learn ! 
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primarch
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:00 am |
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Hi!
Goes to show sometimes a rule may bug "you" but everyone else is okay with it. Gaming quirks is all.
Primarch
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CyberShadow
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:36 pm |
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Viscount Charles
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:53 pm |
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Isn't the point that if you have an enemy formation in front of you, and you want to shoot it, you should choose sustained fire yourself?
Choosing overwatch orders should not be a solution for the problem that you can't make your mind up when it's your turn to move - "Do I shoot at these Orks now, or hope that a more juicy target presents itself later?" being the kind of indecision that makes a recipe for miltary disaster, as it confuses your own troops on the ground.
It may well be that JJ didn't *want* people hedging their bets in this way. "Shoot now, or risk losing the chance altogether" being the lesson.
Perhaps we're in danger of getting confused because of the number of games in the past where Overwatch and Sustained Fire have sought to achieve the same ends? In E:A, Sustained Fire is all about having your lads pour as much fire into the enemy over there *right now*; whereas Overwatch has them ignoring that lot over there, and instead pointing their guns somewhere else in the *hope* of getting the drop on some other guys you think might be moving in the next 15 minutes.
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Legion 4
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 6:02 pm |
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As the commander on the ground, you have to make that decision. That is one reason why I like Epic ... it's more like chess, where say 40K is more like checkers ! Both good games in the own right, but I won't be playing checkers anytime soon ! 
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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
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CrimsonFury
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:37 pm |
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Gotta agree with whats been said. If the target is alreaday in range and LOS don't go on overwatch, go on sustained fire (or whatever action you prefer to attack the target), but not overwatch.
Overwatch is meant to sit and wait to shoot at targets that entre your range and LOS, that were not in range and LOS at the time you choose the overwatch action. eg there are some nasty skimmers on the other side of a ridge ready to do pop-up attacks on your formation. Then go onto overwatch, forcing your opponenet to either accept the OW fire from your units or not attack the formation on OW.
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Tas
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Post subject: Squats in EA Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:17 pm |
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As the commander on the ground, you have to make that decision |
This is the heart of the matter, and why wargaming is a challenge (and fun!). IMHO a good set rules emphasises this and all else supports the resolution of the decision.
Back OT though, another option is to pound the target with something else and see which way he jumps- you may seriously diminish the threat posed (through casualties or BMs) and open up other options.
As any grunt will tell you- when in doubt call in fire support!
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