GAME MANUAL - Steam

HEARTS OF IRON DARKEST HOURadjusting the values using the“+” and “-” buttons. To simplygo ahead and launch theattack, click the OK button.The Orders interface will closeand the field command’sorders panel will be updated toreflect its new mission. If theattack is to begin immediately,the red movement arrowwill also appear on the map ifthe unit is still selected. If youhave set a delay on thetiming, the arrow will notappear until the attackactually begins.As soon as the combatbegins, a variety of gameinterfaces will also be updatedto reflect the fact that a battleis taking place. In any interfacewhere the field commandis listed (i.e. if you click on theLand Forces Hot Button), youwill see a small red battlesymbol at the right edge of thedisplay. If you click theProvince Hot Button, you willsee the same symbol besidethe province name. This samesymbol also appears in theborder type display of theProvince Details informationpanel. Depending on yourcurrent message settings,you may get a pop-upmessage box to inform youthat battle has been joined.The easiest way to viewbattle locations is to click onthe Active Combats HotButton which will display thecombat quick view (seebelow) for any battle orprovincial occupation that iscurrently underway.Timing Your AttackIt is usually best to launch anattack that is timed to begin atdaybreak or at least duringdaylight hours, sincemost forces don’t fight verywell at night. This is easilydone on the Orders Interfacewhere you can adjust theexact date and time that youwould like the attack to begin.The time displayed in theOrders Interface is alwaysGMT, not local time, and asmall symbol in the interfacewill indicate whether this willbe a daytime or night timeattack. In more advancedcombats, you will frequentlyuse this interface to time thevarious components of yourattack (i.e. to conductpreliminary aerial bombardmentto soften up theenemy before your landforces begin to advance)or to gradually escalatethe scale of the conflict.BasicCombatResolutionAs soon as battle isinitiated, you willnotice that the FieldCommand details in theinformation panelchanges to display a“combat quick view” atthe top in place of theusual province details.The mission box willdisplay the unit’s currentorders, such as “Attack”if it is the aggressor, andbelow this will be a briefgraphical summary of thecurrent status of thebattle with the provincename and battle icon inthe center. On eitherside, you’ll see theportraits of the opposingcommanding officers,their current strength andorganisation, the numberof divisions involved onboth sides, and their nationalities.The attacker will alwaysbe listed at the left side of thesummary and the defender atthe right. Below this is a barthat stretches from left to rightacross the bottom of the battlesummary, indicating whichside currently seems to holdthe advantage. If this is mostlyred, the attacker seems likelyto win. If it’s green, thedefender would seem to beprevailing. This status is not a114