Slitherine

Trepko wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:00 pm While playing MP games and especially WC2021, I'm realizing that many of us don't master the retreat mechanics. However, knowing where an enemy unit will retreat is absolutly vital for setting a powerful attack (and the same concerning your own unit to set a proper defense).
The least that we can say is that game manual is not crystal clear concerning the retreat mechanics (only general guidelines)

So I'd like to share what I know about this, and I'd like to complete my knowledge about what I don't know !

Some general infos to remember :
Retreat occurs when 66% (or more) of a unit’s unsuppressed strength is killed, and if its entrenchment level equals to the base level of the hex (after the entrenchment reduction of the attack).
As always, the exceptions:
- Planes don’t retreat
- Ships don’t retreat
- Units attacked by planes, artillery and ships don’t retreat
And the exception among the exceptions: ships in a port can retreat if attacked by a land unit.

The process to determine the hex which will be chosen by a retreating unit is the following one, with the questions asked in this order (and sorry for the awful quickly drawed paint)

Retreat.jpg


As you can see, I don't have all the infos neither, and there are still some cases where I don't know what will happen... If someone knows the anwsers, please share them !

GomezAdams wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 1:01 pm I think there's also a factor of how experienced the unit is that needs to retreat vs. the experience of the attacking unit. That's why you have some units surrender when it appears that they have a means of retreat sometimes.

Example: a unit with no stars of experience is attacked by a unit with 4 stars of experience. The route is so bad that rather than retreat the inexperienced unit surrenders with 3 or 4 units left.

I'm thinking there's a panic equation based on unit experience somewhere along the line.

Tassadar wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:30 pm Answering this would probably require setting up a very specific set of test scenarios unless the devs are willing to share some light on the way this is coded. However, checking if it is random can be a bit faster and in fact it requires a very simple setup on all open terrain - enemy unit between two units, attacked and forced to retreat either left or right. If I run into this specific situation in one of my games I'll try not to forget to check it out with reloading (plus reloading after game restart to try and clear the cache/seeded values).

GomezAdams wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 1:01 pm I think there's also a factor of how experienced the unit is that needs to retreat vs. the experience of the attacking unit. That's why you have some units surrender when it appears that they have a means of retreat sometimes.

Example: a unit with no stars of experience is attacked by a unit with 4 stars of experience. The route is so bad that rather than retreat the inexperienced unit surrenders with 3 or 4 units left.

I'm thinking there's a panic equation based on unit experience somewhere along the line.

I have literally never seen it happen and I don't think there is such a mechanic unless something unannounced got added to the game. The only reason I can see this having an impact would be the fact experienced units are more likely to deal enough damage to force a retreat when the unit was already previously under some condition depriving it of movement points or fuel.

GomezAdams wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 12:19 pm You know, that makes more sense. It hadn't moved the turn before because it had put in reinforcements.

VirgilInTheSKY wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:56 pm Sounds like nowhere to retreat then. Unit only surrender when nowhere to retreat or not enough movement to retreat.

GomezAdams wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:31 pm

VirgilInTheSKY wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 7:56 pm Sounds like nowhere to retreat then. Unit only surrender when nowhere to retreat or not enough movement to retreat.

Read the thread. That's not accurate. I've had enemy units surrender with nobody around them at all but my attacking unit. Plenty of hexes to retreat to, 4 units left, surrendered.