Entrenchment thoughts, possible suggestion

[Riekopo]

I just had a thought about HOI4 entrenchment. Currently when your Division isn't moving it automatically starts 'entrenching' itself and gets a higher and higher defense bonus. But that doesn't really make sense to me actually.

That suggests that the unit is digging into the ground and fortifying its position. Moving itself into a defense posture. Trenches, ditches, minefields, foxholes, barbed wire, ambush positions, bunkers, etc. Which you would think would make the Division much less mobile. If everyone is spread out and dug in. i.e. not in attack positions and columns ready to move.

I think maybe it should be a toggle option. Mobile or Entrench. Could be literally one button on the Army Group and Army and Division. And you would choose a default posture in general for all units. If you 'entrench' then you get the defensive bonus but you lose your mobility the next time you try to move to a new tile. If you don't entrench then you retain your normal mobility but don't get the defensive bonus.

Thoughts?

 

[Zauberelefant]

I like it as is. Entrenchment takes time and was sop for any Frontline unit. You always would dig in.

 

[Fulmen]

Entrenchment takes time and was sop for any Frontline unit. You always would dig in.

This.

 

[The_Blind_One]

I like it as is. Entrenchment takes time and was sop for any Frontline unit. You always would dig in.

Yup the romans would totally agree with you. Even the Legions would dig in the moment they stopped marching to make sure that they would never get surprised and always had maximum defense possible. If you ain't marching laterally and horizontally you're moving vertically, get out those shovels and start digging ...

 

[Harin]

I just had a thought about HOI4 entrenchment. Currently when your Division isn't moving it automatically starts 'entrenching' itself and gets a higher and higher defense bonus. But that doesn't really make sense to me actually.

That suggests that the unit is digging into the ground and fortifying its position. Moving itself into a defense posture. Trenches, ditches, minefields, foxholes, barbed wire, ambush positions, bunkers, etc. Which you would think would make the Division much less mobile. If everyone is spread out and dug in. i.e. not in attack positions and columns ready to move.

I think maybe it should be a toggle option. Mobile or Entrench. Could be literally one button on the Army Group and Army and Division. And you would choose a default posture in general for all units. If you 'entrench' then you get the defensive bonus but you lose your mobility the next time you try to move to a new tile. If you don't entrench then you retain your normal mobility but don't get the defensive bonus.

Thoughts?

The times I could see this being realistic is when units are moving in provinces behind the front and well out of range of enemy artillery and possible surprise advances. Units then actually try to rest, recuperate, and train the new guys. Instead of giving units a movement buff for not digging in, it might be better to give the entrenched front line troops a built in pause before beginning movement to reflect the time it takes to collect gear and personnel spread out and in range of the enemy.

 

[sekelsenmat]

There is already "mobile" mode in game. It is called "strategic redeployment", makes you faster and decreases org.

 

[Riekopo]

There is already "mobile" mode in game. It is called "strategic redeployment", makes you faster and decreases org.

This post has nothing to do with strategic redeployment.

 

[Yanotoshi]

Army service is about learning the basics of orders and efficiency. A good commander would always keep his troops well trained and in alert mode. Lazy soldiers survives by luck, not by skill.