How to flank?

[Dennis[DK]]

Even that I have play this game for a while (also completed it once), I'm still not able to flank the enemy proper. It often happen by random for me, and I have never learned the mechanics truly yet.
No guides tells anything about it (maybe also because of Steams sucky search function, that I haven't found any). So I hope someone can help.

[Owl]

flanking counts when an enemy is in cover, but the cover isn't facing you. Basically, if they're behind say, a log, and you move a soldier far enough that the log isn't in the way, you're flanking, as is indicated by a yellow icon, rather than a red one. simple as that :)

EDIT: you should've learned flanking on the tutorial, by the way

[hghwolf]

How to flank a target :

1. The target must be capable of taking cover.
2. The target must be in cover.
3. If the cover the target is using is not between it and a hostile unit the target is considered to be flanked by that unit and loses its cover bonus against that unit.

In other words, flanking is simply being positioned in such a way that enemy cover does not intersect the LOS.

[Dennis[DK]]

Okay, thanks.
I thought that flanking was kind of like the flanking in Civ V, and that in XCOM's case, flanking is where two or more units are within fire range of the enemy, from different angles.
So a unit can actually flank a enemy solo?

Yes, I have play the tutorial (actually twice). But long time ago, so I don't remember that part much. (or maybe I misunderstood it)

[Owl]

yeah, a unit can flank solo, its nothing at all like civ V's version of flanking :) its purely a LoS thing, similar to brothers in arms, get around the sides, rendering the cover useless.

[Corporal Clegg]

At first I found the cover-system a bit confusing as well. Until I figured out the game does NOT take firing-angles in to account.

In other words: Moving your unit a little bit closer to get a better shooting-angle doesn't work.

The map is a grid. You should think of cover as lines along that grid. Any fire coming from in front of the line is protected by the cover. Any fire from behind that line is not protected by cover and thus counts as flanking.

[red255]

theres also stepping out. your unit is actually one tile to the right and left of where he is, if he can step out. (and not if something is blocking that motion) which is why you can be seen on the edge of high cover. but can't if something is preventing that.

[Dennis[DK]]

Thank's for updating me on how flanking works in this game. Now I better understand why I never could make it work (I'm probably not the only one who misunderstood the XCOM-flanking-concept, since the developers took the wrong term for the concept). But now I would probably be able to beat the game in higher difficulties than easy :)

[red255]

flank
flaNGk/
verb
gerund or present participle: flanking
attack down or from the sides, or rake with gunfire from the sides.
"a flanking attack from the northeast"

....confused what word you'd use. you can just say 'I Don't know what the word flanking means'

but don't say its wrong like a scrub.

Originally posted by DennisDK:

Okay, thanks.
I thought that flanking was kind of like the flanking in Civ V, and that in XCOM's case, flanking is where two or more units are within fire range of the enemy, from different angles.
So a unit can actually flank a enemy solo?

Yes, I have play the tutorial (actually twice). But long time ago, so I don't remember that part much. (or maybe I misunderstood it)

For clarification, thats a pincer. also Civ 5 does not exist.

[Owl]

sort of agree with red.. you got the definition wrong, not the devs, but civ 5 definitely exists, its in mine, and most peoples library :P

[red255]

You are probably thinking of Civilization Revolution 2.

[Elleron]

Originally posted by HermitTurtle:

At first I found the cover-system a bit confusing as well. Until I figured out the game does NOT take firing-angles in to account.

That's available in Enemy Within through the Second Wave option, "Aiming Angles."

[Dennis[DK]]

Hmm, then I must have misunderstood the concept
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanking_maneuver

[red255]

Originally posted by DennisDK:

Hmm, then I must have misunderstood the concept
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanking_maneuver

The manuever typically has 2 forces the force that pins the enemy (suppression) and the force that flanks the enemy.

without a force fixing the enemy in place with suppression, it relies on the enemy messing up to get the flank. but its not technically needed for the flank.

the flanking force and the fixing force are...separate.

you could alternatively ambush the enemy, wait until its flanked as it moves thru a patrol, probably pop some landmines to take out its armor and attack its flank.

[shorn_]

DennisDK,

Here is a quick flanking thing i did for the game a while back. Hope it helps.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1589284/D%26D%20stuff/Cover%20line%20of%20sight%20flanking%20and%20you%20.pdf

[CloudSeeker]

Flanking is really really good with the absolute critical mode in play, it means everyone that is flanked have a 100% chance to be hit by a crit, and that does include you as well. It makes flanking a high risk high reward choice that can both save and destroy you. Aiming angles is also very very fun to use as it allow you to get better aim depending on how close you are to flank the enemy, ofc it works the same for the enemies as well. With aiming angles you can make the choice between not moving and get a worse chance to hit or more and risk your life more but get a higher chance to hit.

Flanking is just so so fun and important in this game.