Is longstop hill not kinda... rigged?

[Simple As]

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1742321943759804308/254B3F1C180A11EF0231DDC0FC7DA932BAB69674/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

I'm not sure how the AI can join the OP phase, as I can't take over AI units (although I would like to). I can't move my own units north of that blue OP line, what gives?

[jcmiller101]

AI units follow their orders without any input from the player.
You can take over AI forces via option in settings. (There may be a penalty for doing so however).
The battle will be historically accurate so you will find shortcomings, not a game 'balance' & this battle was 21 to 23 April 1943 so that will impact events/movement.

[archibaldthe1]

The responsibility sector split is a pretty common concept. I cannot verify this particular case (British archives are not all digitized) - but it’s very much possible that two different infantry brigades of 78th division received mutually exclusive tasks. From the little information I did find, the timespan of fighting around that northern sector (next to dj El Ang) lasted couple days longer than that the Longstop hill battle.

This setup could be less that ideal if the ally force messes up your winning conditions :)

[Simple As]

So how do I get the AI battlegroups into the OP map? I kinda need more men and they're just sitting on the margin

[jcmiller101]

Originally posted by Simple As:

So how do I get the AI battlegroups into the OP map? I kinda need more men and they're just sitting on the margin

The AI will act when it's orders come into effect. This is similar to reserves being in transit for x hrs, you cannot interact with them til they arrive.
The map border area has to be viewed as an ETA & arrival zone, not an available asset - until they are flagged as having 'arrived'.
You won't get anything til it's available & the AI is choreographed to mimic the historical time-frame.

[Flan]

Originally posted by Simple As:

So how do I get the AI battlegroups into the OP map? I kinda need more men and they're just sitting on the margin

Yes that's their area of operation, they are basically fighting a separate operation at the same time as yours. They are on the map because historically they were and for cases where your units and their units fight at the same time in an area that is at the zone border.
The " :10 " means they won't arrive for 10 turns as well.

[Zyhgar The Phoenix]

The ai aren't all that useful in this campaign but you have plenty of soldiers, tanks and artillery to smash the hill use your artillery well as it can help you take the hill quickly with relatively low losses.

[Battleshipfree99]

You can start the OP with "control AI units" right?

[andrey12345 v2.0]

Originally posted by Battleshipfree99:

You can start the OP with "control AI units" right?

But then you get not a "Battle for Longstop Hill", but "Fantasy fighting in the mountains."

[Simple As]

Couldn't you let the player control AI units in Longstop DLC, but make it so you can't move them past those blue ------ lines? Their just sitting in the margin missing out on the fun :(

[archibaldthe1]

Originally posted by andrey12345 v2.0:

Originally posted by Battleshipfree99:

You can start the OP with "control AI units" right?

But then you get not a "Battle for Longstop Hill", but "Fantasy fighting in the mountains."

Originally posted by Simple As:

Couldn't you let the player control AI units in Longstop DLC, but make it so you can't move them past those blue ------ lines? Their just sitting in the margin missing out on the fun :(

I was just about to say - the operation already has the sectors borders in it - the northern group of 78th division does have its own sector and will not be able to help Longstop fighting. So while it would no longer be just Longstop Hill, it would not be “fantasy” either - something like “part of British 5th Corps offensive”

[andrey12345 v2.0]

Originally posted by archibaldthe1:

I was just about to say - the operation already has the sectors borders in it - the northern group of 78th division does have its own sector and will not be able to help Longstop fighting. So while it would no longer be just Longstop Hill, it would not be “fantasy” either - something like “part of British 5th Corps offensive”

The northern group will still not come out, as it is surrounded by the Germans on the active part of the battlefield. And when the Germans retreat, it will be released under the leadership of AI.

[Simple As]

So those RIF and Skins units will eventually join the Operation map on their own? This photo was taken on turn 2 or 3 maybe

[andrey12345 v2.0]

Well, in the briefing, everything is written (and drawn!) who goes where when.

[Simple As]

Yeah but im lazy