Grenades . . . . . again!

[dragonwolf]

Ok, I'm confused, . . . so let me explain what is going on and maybe one of you geniuses can solve the mystery.

I created a test map. I have a Russian defensive position with three trenches, and a couple of buildings. I loaded them all up with Russian infantry, a HMG, and a mortar. My Germans are placed on the west edge of the map. I gave all the German infantry the "swarm_to" command and set the co-ordinance behind the Russian position. I'm not using LUA, I'm just giving them commands from the map editor. Now, when I start the map, the Germans swarm to the position fighting through the Russian defenses. Here's the thing. When the Germans get close enough to the trenches and buildings, the Russians start throwing grenades from inside the trenches and buildings, but the Germans never do. Not a one. My German grenadier shoots his rifle grenades just fine, he kneels down, fires, and I see the grenade explode inside or near the trenches or buildings, but my German infantry, for some odd reason, will not throw their grenades. It's like they're "grenade-afraid", or something to that effect. I've tried different settings for the grenade weapon file, but it's still a no-go. 

So, my question is, does anyone know the optimum settings for this problem?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ciao,
John

[Jagged Steel]

I am going to take a guess at this problem. The grenades most of the infantry carry are for vehicles, and they don't use them against infantry. It sounds like the rifle grenade is meant to target infantry, so that is why that one is being used and the others do not use them.

[Major Pain]

John

You set the attacking force to move to a point behind the trenches.   So the moving solders are ignoring stuff in their path of travel until something interrupts their move.   When the entrenched soldiers begin to attack, the moving squads change to defensive, but they are still trying to reach the arrival point.  They will defend, fire their weapons, but they will not focus their attack on the trenches.  They are still looking targets behind the trench.  Think of the fly that buzzes around your head.   The guys in the trench are a inconvience, but not the target.  They will fire their rifles to defend only.  Your grenadiers have the option to use the grenade as easily as their rifle.  But it is still a defensive reaction.    If a single soldier survives. he will still move to the location given past the trenches.   The AI tells the squads they must move to this point at all costs.   

Reset the attacking units to move to a point just in front of the trenches and you'll see a vast difference in how they react.   

[dragonwolf]

Hey guys,

@ Jagged Steel - I switched my riflemen to carry the "grenade" instead of the "grenade-at".

@ Major Pain - Your suggestion was a good one and it did work to a point, but it still did not resolve the fact that my attacking units were not throwing their grenades when in range. I did figure it out, however. I was thinking perhaps the AI prioritizes the weapons by the way they are listed on the 1.xml, so I switched the weapons around, the grenade to the top, and the rifle beneath. Now, as the riflemen crawl to the "attack" point, they shoot their rifles, and when in "grenade" range, the grenades start to fly, and they throw from the prone position. Once out of grenades, of course, they switch back to their rifles. One funny side-effect is that the Russians, standing in the trenches, look like their throwing grenades while firing their rifles, but nothing appears until the Germans are within "grenade" range. So they look like they're waiving their comrades on, and when the Germans are within range, the grenades start to fly. Now, I would like to figure out how to make the riflemen prioritize different targets with the grenade. Another mystery to solve.

Ciao,
John