Civilians In Combat.

[Christopher J. D'Dario]

Im not sure if this has come up or not, but would it be possible to have civilians in combat threads? Just to have them running around adding a new element to the game?

-=[SeeJay]=-

[Heiko Alkema]

I think this was tried once but that particular battle never got off the ground. The only issue is that it adds extra and rather unnecessary complication for battle moderators. But if you create a battle with them included there's no rule that says you can't; written or unwritten.

[PuNk! ™]

Apr 24, 2011 5:18:57 GMT Christopher J. D'Dario said:

Im not sure if this has come up or not, but would it be possible to have civilians in combat threads? Just to have them running around adding a new element to the game?

-=[SeeJay]=-

You can have civilians in hostile threads, but they can't be used as extra cannon fodder for your military, whether they're friendly citizens or not. Civilians will always remain neutral and act in accordance to ordinary people being caught in the middle of a conflict.

So it doesn't matter if you're Allied or Axis, they will not start picking up weaponry and shooting for a side. That would both be unfair and cheating.

This does also cause complications for the moderator, because ideally, members shouldn't be allowed to control these civilians, because they haven't been claimed by either the Allies or Axis; for all intense and purpose, they are neutral and therefore nobody's to play with.

So Heiko is correct in pointing out the complications it would cause for a moderator whom will have to be the main controller for the neutral population on the map and how they react to the situation arising around themselves.

It's no written rule right now, because there has never been the indulgence with having civilians in a hostile thread. All I can say for now, is the following and a written set of rules will follow, to help set the guidelines on this issue.

• Civilians can't be physically controlled by the member during a hostile thread, regardless to their friendly origins or not. I.E: French civilians supporting the Allies during a combat thread.
  
  This will not occur and civilians will remain neutral objects during any hostile thread, regardless to their true alliance.
  
  
• Moderators will be able to control the movements or "official" reactions of these civilians during a hostile thread. So it's not fair play for a member to control a civilian screaming "THE ENEMY ARE COMING!" and heed this loop as a tactical advantage.
  
  Only the moderator will be allowed to control immediate reactions and movements. By all means, you can exchange dialogue with these civilians during the hostile thread, but they may not be used in any sense as a tactical or hostile piece of equipment during your battle.
  

I hope that explains and this will be brought up with the staff officially so a proper set of rules can be accounted for. What I've listed above, is some of the rules you could expect on this matter.
~Danny

[Christopher J. D'Dario]

Awesome, thanks for the info... I would like to do an experiment with civilians in a battle thread at some point, probably after my current battle is over.

-=[SeeJay]=-

[PuNk! ™]

Brilliant. I've appointed your case to the staff area and a following set of small rules will follow to allow the appropriate use of civilians in a hostile thread.
~Danny

[Harry Machin]

That is a great idea - consider for example the actions of civillians during the normandy and market-garden drops, where many allied units were helped (or indeed, hindered) by civvies giving them supplies and informing them (or the axis) about troop movements.

In addition, civillians could be used as a kind of objective - I saw a battle thread today where an experienced German officer shook off a large allied attack with mines and mortars, all the while being filmed by a photographer! I thought that really added a touch to the game. Similarly, say you run a plotline where battles are strung together, there could be an informant that one side has to keep alive until they reach their objective - like a guide.

Sorry, I'm just enthusing.

That was a great battle!

If you say so...