Forward Observer question

[vbaron]

Hi, new to the Open General, it's great!

I have a question about one of the enhanced abilities you can apply to units: Forward Observer. Do you apply that to artillery units or forward units such as infantry?

Thanks,
Vin

[Ale]

must say i rarely used it, that's optional attachment taken and incorporated from game "People's general" from 90s, not used in campaigns always

answering just in case you don't get any better answer - from my moderate playing experience and (distant) memory of game it can be used on infantry as well, how's that for not good answer )... if you don't get other answer, look at some help, strategies and effectivness of attachment for that mentioned game. didn't try it much in OG.

[randowe]

Hi, new to the Open General, it's great!

I have a question about one of the enhanced abilities you can apply to units: Forward Observer. Do you apply that to artillery units or forward units such as infantry?

Thanks,
Vin

Vin

Forward observer increases the attack value of an unit firing indirect at an adjacent target. That applies to Artillery, Air Defense and Ships.
The attack value for this attachment is set at efile or campaign level, so it can differ.

[Parabellum]

I have never used this attachment because I did not really understand its effect: does "adjacent target" = directly adjacent hex, or can the target also be two or more hex away?

[randowe]

I have never used this attachment because I did not really understand its effect: does "adjacent target" = directly adjacent hex, or can the target also be two or more hex away?

My understanding is that adjacent means directly adjacent = the enemy must be in one of the 6 hex adjacent to the unit.

[LuisGuzman]

to the forum vbaron

"Forward Observer" attachment works like this:

Say unit A has this attachment and is located adjacent to enemy unit B
Then if unit C fires to B using indirect fire, C gets the effective attack increased by the "bonus" defined for "Forward Observer" attachment (+2 by default)

Which units can use this attachment is customizable at efile level, so it depends on the equipment used (by default neither air units nor naval units can use this attachment).

My understanding is that adjacent means directly adjacent = the enemy must be in one of the 6 hex adjacent to the unit.

Exactly!

Hope it is clearer now

[randowe]

to the forum vbaron

"Forward Observer" attachment works like this:

Say unit A has this attachment and is located adjacent to enemy unit B
Then if unit C fires to B using indirect fire, C gets the effective attack increased by the "bonus" defined for "Forward Observer" attachment (+2 by default)

Which units can use this attachment is customizable at efile level, so it depends on the equipment used (by default neither air units nor naval units can use this attachment).

My understanding is that adjacent means directly adjacent = the enemy must be in one of the 6 hex adjacent to the unit.

Exactly!

Hope it is clearer now

Aha interesting. That means that not the unit with the attachment gets the attack bonus, but the bonus is applied to any unit, firing indirect to an enemy adjacent to the player's unit with the forward observer attachment.

So i misunderstood the attachment. In my efile the attachment is only applicable to ATY, AD and ships, but it must be applicable to any unit. I have to change that. But i must admit that all the years people misunderstood the attachment it seems

So it makes more sense to apply the forward observer attachment to recons and drive them next to an enemy.

[LuisGuzman]

Aha interesting. That means that not the unit with the attachment gets the attack bonus, but the bonus is applied to any unit, firing indirect to an enemy adjacent to the player's unit with the forward observer attachment.

So i misunderstood the attachment. In my efile the attachment is only applicable to ATY, AD and ships, but it must be applicable to any unit. I have to change that. But i must admit that all the years people misunderstood the attachment it seems

So it makes more sense to apply the forward observer attachment to recons and drive them next to an enemy.

Yes, recons are the best units to give this attachment, specially if having a decent movement allowance.

Forgot to mention that the Aty/AD/Naval guns, get the bonus for each Forward Observer adjacent to the unit to fire (like Combat Support).

[Parabellum]

...
"Forward Observer" attachment works like this:

Say unit A has this attachment and is located adjacent to enemy unit B
Then if unit C fires to B using indirect fire, C gets the effective attack increased by the "bonus" defined for "Forward Observer" attachment (+2 by default)
...

I am still skeptical whether I have understood it to the end: For the effect it is necessary that unit A and B stand side by side (hex to hex), while unit C can also be a few hex away (as is typical with artillery)? So it is necessary that unit A from enemy B, to B1, to B2, etc. moves so that unit C, C1, C2 etc. can benefit from the attachment when she attacked. So it's practical to understand that I don't have to stand next to my own units, but next to the enemy. Correctly?

[lvjtn]

I am still skeptical whether I have understood it to the end: For the effect it is necessary that unit A and B stand side by side (hex to hex), while unit C can also be a few hex away (as is typical with artillery)? So it is necessary that unit A from enemy B, to B1, to B2, etc. moves so that unit C, C1, C2 etc. can benefit from the attachment when she attacked. So it's practical to understand that I don't have to stand next to my own units, but next to the enemy. Correctly?

you are 100% correct

i made a very simple test scenario for my efile_test (see my .sig), its title is "forward observer", and you can check a few basic situations. there is only one thing i would mention:

- arty having f.o. attachment itself adjacent to an enemy unit can use its own attachment when firing at the adjacent enemy. but it is a very rare and not too practital design, imo

edit: +1 comment, my experience is that +1 – +3 attack points are barely noticable, at least +4 ha/sa gives one extra kill to the "unit c" (arty/ad gun or ship)

[Parabellum]

Luis and Csaba, this is fantastic and I take it for myself as "knowledge of the week" ...

...
- arty having f.o. attachment itself adjacent to an enemy unit can use its own attachment when firing at the adjacent enemy. but it is a very rare and not too practital design, imo
...

...and yes, I totally agree with you: the player should avoid this situation if possible.

(and thanks to vbaron for the question )