Quick Game @ Firefighter's Park

[HBWW]

We got there a little late, then some others who were more late came later. Unfortunately, my measly armory wasn't able to cover everyone really well but everyone had a soaker at least. We fought around the picnic area and tried to do assault-defend on the playground, which lasted a round until some kids went on so most of the action was in the woods. There were slight conflics w/ frisbee golfers telling people to get out of the way as they retreated but for the most part it worked out.

Details. We just did teams, 1HK elimination for the most part and ended with an FFA survival and then just plain screwing around unorganized soakfesting. In the woods, theres lots of open area and the trees provide sparse cover. Emphasis was mostly on speed and being able to coordinate and break up enemy formations. Since the war was just amongst ourselves, we split up, seemingly between those who could dodge and charge quickly and those who could not. 0_o The fact that they got 1 more long-range soaker didn't help, but our team couldn't coordinate and people wouldn't pay attention to their surroundings. Seriously, when the ground is that opened and our formation can get flanked and chargers can run through so easily, thats when you know your team is... to put it nicely; having problems. Everyone was trying to go after the wrong people and the other team was able to split us up, against my explicit orders to maintain a certain spread and to watch all sides. For the most part, a lot of us got eliminated pretty quickly without getting many, or sometimes any kills. My aim was also pretty bad today but I didn't compensate enough by using more long shots instead of tap shots, which is essential at that range against fast dodgers. Speedwise, my pistol and empty water balloon canister was weighing and slowing me down a bit more than I expected.

I'm not sure if we'll be fighting in those woods again. (not soon, anyway) Aside from the picnic shelter, there's not enough cover around and enough places to sneak up and attack. Next up will most likely be around a playground, but problem is, around and most likely not on since they're usually being populated, unless its raining well. (as with the war w/ MTU at Novi a few weeks ago)

This is actually our first time fighting in the woods. But where we can play, theres no thick bushes or anything to go around, just some trees here and there to hide behind. I'll see what I can do later on. How have others' fights been in the woods?

[DX]

Semi-open woods tend to be tactical and slow-paced. It's not a place for ambushes, stealth, or even speed really. When all you have is open ground and trees, it can become a positioning battle, one where an enemy goes tree-to-tree trying to improve their angles and/or get the better cover. Post warfare for the most part. Flanks or pushes followed by rushes are the most common way to force a break. Withstanding them requires some sort of fluid or swinging line - you want to be able to react quickly to any shift in enemy position. If broken, the ability to get the hell out of dodge, but then instantly reform your line a distance away is important. It's like chess, the action is slow in general, but when something decisive happens, it's faaaaaaaaast. It's also a place where range does not matter much; aim and ability to dodge matter greatly.

Your confidence in coordination should affect your next choice of fighting location. Woods without bush-style cover require a LOT of the unspoken type of coordination, the type where players intuitively figure out where they need to be, when, why, and do it on the snap.

[HBWW]

Yeah, apparently so. I also forgot to mention about the wind. We kept spawning at the same place but the wind was blowing towards us, yet we really had no opportunity to try to go around and use it to our advantage. But as you said (and as I thought about but wasn't really sure on), range doesn't matter as much in those situations. The crippled coordination was what allowed the other on my team to get FF'd.

Should I try to spread out more and encircle the others as they're trying to circle around our formation? Coordination was absolutely horrible; it seemed like everyone was facing in the same direction towards the same enemies the whole time. Perhaps it was part of my/our attempt to divide up targets. In this case, we should've only pretended to be distracted, then charge back and fire as soon as someone rushes in to flank, break, and make some sparta-kills. I guess most of our reflexes were too slow that day...

[Adrian]

Sounds like you had fun. Wish I coulda been there.

The great thing is that while it sounds like you need practice, practice is gonna be awesomely fun.

Adrian

[DX]

Should I try to spread out more and encircle the others as they're trying to circle around our formation? Coordination was absolutely horrible; it seemed like everyone was facing in the same direction towards the same enemies the whole time. Perhaps it was part of my/our attempt to divide up targets. In this case, we should've only pretended to be distracted, then charge back and fire as soon as someone rushes in to flank, break, and make some sparta-kills. I guess most of our reflexes were too slow that day...

When the enemy spreads to try and outflank you, definitely spread to mirror that movement. If an enemy shows signs of interest in a gap, the people involved need to be aware that they need to contract their part of the line ASAP if necessary. At the center, that is easy. At the flanks, shortening the line often requires bending it in from the center [rather than moving the guy on the far post]. That way you create a small concave V in your line...the line can squeeze while all players remain supported. If the enemy tries to move in anywhere other than flanks, they can be caught in a crossfire. You can form a convex ^ if the enemy outnumbers you, but may be dangerous if your center can't train their focus on multiple enemies.

Now on the flanks, let's say the enemy has one guy opposite to your left behind a tree. You can force him to move by sprinting left of him, while at the same time a guy from closer to your center sprints in on a diagonal slant. This creates a crossfire that comes in too quickly to hold back. When he reels, you take that position, your other guy falls back, your center moves up, and you preserve the concave fighting line.

You can also sweep the enemy flank in by having two guys sprint to the flank and roll all the way around in a C. All this really does is turn the enemy line [or part of their line] 90 degrees and back, but it can also force them from a desirable area. Any kind of flanking sweep is good for that terrain, that's just the most common and easy example. If you get swept, you have to bounce back a bit and re-extend out, killing the enemy momentum unless they all rush.

There are a lot of other line motions that work in open forests...I adapted one from the Civil War into a water war trick tactic that I'd love to see tried. It's called "Sudden Bloom" - you bring your line in fairly tight and wait for the enemy to appear. When your make contact and the enemy spreads to flank...you all sprint out and your line instantly outspreads the enemy, forcing them back. However that's untested so I make no gaurantees! :p

As for enemy targetting, tell your players to train their focus on the closest - greatest threat. If 2 enemies are "near" your guy, they should track the "greatest" threat with more effort [the one with the better gun, better skill, etc.]. If the enemy is flanking you, the "closest - greatest threat" will be the flankers, while the center line would be ignored until they become the closest - greatest threat. That's also how you can move people around your line in the face of the enemy, leaving very brief gaps to bring that extra firepower where it's needed most.

Now as for coordination, obviously that doesn't come overnight. As I often say, the best way to learn is to do. Skirmish with the players who need it the most...simulate normal game conditions if possible. Simulate 1 on 1, 1 on 2, and 2 on 1 flank motions...give no advice until the simulation is run. Do it until the players can both successfully break through and repel. While some may see this as excessive, it is not wasteful. Having players who can manage their own part of the line is a huge asset to a commander with coordination concerns. If you can trust them with the flanks, you can expect a stable line, and can focus your efforts on outmanuevering the enemy.

Of course I wrote another book-post...didn't even notice...

[Silence]

[quote=C-A_99]Should I try to spread out more and encircle the others as they're trying to circle around our formation? Coordination was absolutely horrible; it seemed like everyone was facing in the same direction towards the same enemies the whole time. Perhaps it was part of my/our attempt to divide up targets. In this case, we should've only pretended to be distracted, then charge back and fire as soon as someone rushes in to flank, break, and make some sparta-kills. I guess most of our reflexes were too slow that day...[/quote]
That sounds like the Race to the Sea. Essentially, both sides continued flanking and extending the line until they hit a geographic obstacle. Instead of blindly flanking, it's usually better to flank in a way that takes advantage of obstacles. For example, extend the line to a stream or cliff that can protect your flank for you. Obviously, such obstacles would be of much smaller scale in a water war. But my point is that you'd actually have to try hard to continue a flank in a straight line forever, although Firefighter's Park does sound rather sparse.