In the previous update, we talked about the use of combat aviation to help win difficult fights. Now, it is time to switch gears and talk about less obvious factors that impact combat readiness.
There is a saying that “all battles are won in the mind”. In The Slush Force, this is not entirely true.
However, we cannot ignore the reality that morale and psychological factors are indeed very important for combat effectiveness.
Morale Damage
Obviously, it is stressful to be shot at! All weapons in The Slush Force deal some amount of suppression. Near-misses are somewhat damaging to morale, but direct hits cause extreme panic.
Generally, vehicle-mounted weapons, as well as explosives (such as those you see on tanks and planes) are the most effective at suppression. Alien weapons are also quite intimidating.
The Effects of Stress
As you probably guessed, stress is not the best factor for high performance!
The speed at which soldiers become stressed out is determined by various factors, including their training, their own bravery, and their brothers-in-arms.
Seeing death and destruction is good for the mind, and your troops’ performance will get worse under these stressful conditions. For instance, they might miss more frequently, find it harder to reload, may refuse to advance forwards, or in extreme cases could even run from the battlefield.
Tactical Implications
Artillery, vehicles, or aircraft can all be used tactically to suppress a very powerful enemy unit and harm their fighting ability. More numerous enemy units could also be suppressed so that you can defeat them in detail. Not every round needs to hit the target to leave an impact!