This is a direct consequence of all weapons having 100 accuracy. The lack of cover also reinforces the problem. My much earlier suggestion about lowering the accuracy of everything except sniper rifles to 90 probably didn't go far enough. I now suspect that values in the 60-80 range for most rifles would be better for game balance than the numbers I initially suggested.No cover, fully automatic weapons. Don't even bother with cavalry. Whichever side advances first is cut to ribbons with automatic fire. You can attack 50 guys with a force of 300. The smaller force won't budge from their starting place, and as you move up on them, you will lose most of your men. What a bloodbath! I've been surviving so far by conducting anti-partisan warfare against sea-raiders (Yugoslav Partisans) and exterminating Soviet villages. I guess my guys are more of an Einsatzgruppe than a frontline unit.
Note that "The Red Wars" puts most rifles in the 50-70 accuracy category, with the best non-sniper weapons in about the 80-85 range, and those can be rather effective in the hands of well-trained troops. Automatic weapons need to have even further reduced accuracy to compensate for the increased rate of fire, making SMGs rather poor at long range, but still quite powerful in city scenes or other close quarters engagements. Giving them 100 accuracy makes them absolutely lethal at any range on a big open map, which is probably why you're seeing the bloodbaths. The moving soldiers lose accuracy while in motion, while the stationary defenders get the full 100 and hit substantially more of their shots. A lower base accuracy would favor volume of fire more than just sheer accuracy.
The other issue with advancing troops being cut down is due to the unfixable AI problem with the troops ALL attacking the closest enemy unit, leading to them clumping together or stringing out single-file, rather than advancing on a broad front with a lot of empty space between them. Essentially, they become easier targets, while they also become less effective at firing back due to the loss in accuracy while moving. In several cases, I've watched as an NPC dodged back and forth or side to side while firing, then stopped and stood still while reloading, intentionally ruining their own shot before becoming a stationary target for the opposition.
You CAN bother with cavalry if you're willing to lead them off at some angle past the enemy, so the stationary defenders fire at the fast-moving targets instead of at your slowly advancing infantry. Letting them charge straight at the enemy is an obvious death sentence. Once your infantry is in a decent position, you can let them stand and trade fire at better odds, while your cavalry detachment circles back out of harm's way until the defenders begin to break and run.
Last edited: