Is there a quick way to get CAs to stop being used as a scouting force?

[Silamon]

I have CLs and destroyers for that. I don't want my CAs to be the first ships to make contact.
Is there a way to stop that from happening without having to make a division for every CA and set a role for them?

[DeltaDude]

I think you just described your solution. If you make a division for them they should prioritize the role you give them. Otherwise the battle generator will make those choices for you.

[ViiK]

As DeltaDude mentioned, make a division for them and give that division a default role.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by DeltaDude:

I think you just described your solution. If you make a division for them they should prioritize the role you give them. Otherwise the battle generator will make those choices for you.

So the thing was, I didn't *want* to have to set up a division for all of my CAs. RTW2 always put CLs or DDs as the scouting force, is there no way to make that the default in rtw3?

[DeltaDude]

You could try doing the inverse and make dedicated scouting divisions using your CLs while keeping your CAs as independent. This is what I've done in my games. I make a BB flag division and give them a subordinate division of CLs set to scouting. With this setup I don't remember a time where the AI has used my CAs as scouts.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by DeltaDude:

You could try doing the inverse and make dedicated scouting divisions using your CLs while keeping your CAs as independent. This is what I've done in my games. I make a BB flag division and give them a subordinate division of CLs set to scouting. With this setup I don't remember a time where the AI has used my CAs as scouts.

Yeah, I guess I can try that.

The reason for this post was me getting frustrated at seeing my brand new heavy CAs (9600 tons, 5inch belt, 3 inch BE and UB, 2.5 inch deck, 1inch DE, 4x9 inch guns 10x7 inch gun(casemates) 20 knot top speed) get put as a scouting force in a battleship engagement. For the moment, those are basically my capital ships because any battleship I make with more than 10 inch guns will be -2 quality so even battleships are armed with 9 inch guns they just have heavier armor and lower speed.

Those ships got stuck as a scouting force, and since I can't control ships at the start of an engagement they made contact first and took some pretty heavy damage as they retreated back to my fleet... Just got me really annoyed is all.

[DeltaDude]

Originally posted by Silamon:

Those ships got stuck as a scouting force, and since I can't control ships at the start of an engagement they made contact first and took some pretty heavy damage as they retreated back to my fleet... Just got me really annoyed is all.

Well I don't mean to be facetious but these are some of the exact reasons why they added in the option to make our own divisions and prioritize their roles prior to battle. It's imho one of the best QOL changes they've made since the last game. I share your frustration with what happened that battle.

[ulzgoroth]

Originally posted by Silamon:

Originally posted by DeltaDude:

You could try doing the inverse and make dedicated scouting divisions using your CLs while keeping your CAs as independent. This is what I've done in my games. I make a BB flag division and give them a subordinate division of CLs set to scouting. With this setup I don't remember a time where the AI has used my CAs as scouts.

Yeah, I guess I can try that.

The reason for this post was me getting frustrated at seeing my brand new heavy CAs (9600 tons, 5inch belt, 3 inch BE and UB, 2.5 inch deck, 1inch DE, 4x9 inch guns 10x7 inch gun(casemates) 20 knot top speed) get put as a scouting force in a battleship engagement. For the moment, those are basically my capital ships because any battleship I make with more than 10 inch guns will be -2 quality so even battleships are armed with 9 inch guns they just have heavier armor and lower speed.

Those ships got stuck as a scouting force, and since I can't control ships at the start of an engagement they made contact first and took some pretty heavy damage as they retreated back to my fleet... Just got me really annoyed is all.

Low-vis conditions? Normally cruisers in a scouting force would expect to be able to make contact with the enemy and run away, and brand-new heavy CAs should be able to handily punish whatever tries to chase them.

But at night or in rain you can wind up noticing the enemy at practically small-arms ranges.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by DeltaDude:

Originally posted by Silamon:

Those ships got stuck as a scouting force, and since I can't control ships at the start of an engagement they made contact first and took some pretty heavy damage as they retreated back to my fleet... Just got me really annoyed is all.

Well I don't mean to be facetious but these are some of the exact reasons why they added in the option to make our own divisions and prioritize their roles prior to battle. It's imho one of the best QOL changes they've made since the last game. I share your frustration with what happened that battle.

It wasn't a problem in RTW2 because only CLs and DDs were used as scouting forces, this is a step backwards IMO.

[ulzgoroth]

Originally posted by Silamon:

Originally posted by DeltaDude:

Well I don't mean to be facetious but these are some of the exact reasons why they added in the option to make our own divisions and prioritize their roles prior to battle. It's imho one of the best QOL changes they've made since the last game. I share your frustration with what happened that battle.

It wasn't a problem in RTW2 because only CLs and DDs were used as scouting forces, this is a step backwards IMO.

Uh, I'm pretty sure I had BCs put in scouting forces on the regular.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by ulzgoroth:

Originally posted by Silamon:

It wasn't a problem in RTW2 because only CLs and DDs were used as scouting forces, this is a step backwards IMO.

Uh, I'm pretty sure I had BCs put in scouting forces on the regular.

I never had that happen, sometimes BCs would not be with the main fleet but they were never out at the front making first contact.

[ulzgoroth]

Originally posted by Silamon:

Originally posted by ulzgoroth:

Uh, I'm pretty sure I had BCs put in scouting forces on the regular.

I never had that happen, sometimes BCs would not be with the main fleet but they were never out at the front making first contact.

Normally in a battle where a BC division is the core of the scouting element you'd also have some CLs and destroyers screening it I think, unless you'd not had any of those available in the zone.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by ulzgoroth:

Originally posted by Silamon:

I never had that happen, sometimes BCs would not be with the main fleet but they were never out at the front making first contact.

Normally in a battle where a BC division is the core of the scouting element you'd also have some CLs and destroyers screening it I think, unless you'd not had any of those available in the zone.

Mmm, maybe. I just don't remember them being so far away from the core fleet without support like my CAs were in that battle.

[Silamon]

Originally posted by DeltaDude:

You could try doing the inverse and make dedicated scouting divisions using your CLs while keeping your CAs as independent. This is what I've done in my games. I make a BB flag division and give them a subordinate division of CLs set to scouting. With this setup I don't remember a time where the AI has used my CAs as scouts.

How do you make a subordinate division exactly?

Edit: nvmd I think I found it, the lead division right?

[Blyatman]

I love my CAs being in my scout force

[Silamon]

Originally posted by Firewatch:

I love my CAs being in my scout force

I am glad it is an option for you then, but I prefer my faster more disposable forces to be doing the scouting. Thankfully what Deltadude suggested seems to be working well enough, I just have to make sure I have some cls dedicated to scouting at all times.