Foxhole Artillery for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

[@LegendaryZA]

Pro tip @ 8:07 if you load your shells onto a small train wagon, disconnect the wagon and use a crane to place that wagon next to your ammo room you can jump on the wagon and instantly loadup your ammo room using left click. Similarly you can deposit crates of ammo into the storage room using crated shells. o7 great vid, keep em coming!

[@kodstergames]

This is fascinating, I’d absolutely hate to lose my wagons though 😂 I may have to try it out

[@LegendaryZA]

@@kodstergames Id rather lose a wagon over a pallet of 120 tho. 😉

[@QuantumImperfections]

Finding this out actually made setting up artillery positions SO much more effective. There's a spot in Jade Cove (north half, SE of the 'right' Safe House) where you can place 1x artillery position (T2 octagon), 1x Ammo Room (T2), 1x Trench Connector (T2) and if setup with barbed wire, sandbags and some tripod weapons you can effective defend against southern assaults. If a 150mm artillery (especially the Colonial version) you can hit everything in JC, Huskhollow and get pretty close to Scarp of Ambrose with wind. Terra can be a bit of a stretch but wind in your favor can at least stop assaults from the east towards Scarp.

[@vestige1885]

Hello, artilleryman here. You are indeed correct about the FFE command. I would just like to add a small note. A mortar platoon consists of 4 mortars, with the 3rd mortar being the main piece. The 3rd mortar receives a fire command from the FO (Forward Observer) and the FDC (Fire Direction Control). This will always start with an *Adjust Fire* command (adjusting and checking technical conditions such as wind direction, humidity, etc.). When the FO observes the first round or the first specified number of rounds impacting, adjustments are made to the coordinates, which are then relayed. Once this is done, the command *FFE* (Fire for Effect) is given. At this point, all mortars will fire at the designated coordinates. The number of rounds is communicated beforehand unless "continuous fire" is specified. In that case, all mortars will keep firing until the command *cease fire* is issued. Keep in mind that when the *ADF* (Adjust Fire) command is given, the other mortars will also aim at the designated coordinates but will not fire until the *FFE* command is given.

[@kodstergames]

Makes sense that you could use the same numbers to just fire all of them. I’ve always tried to stack target areas for increased shelling, I guess they wouldn’t be too far off and still overlap a lot with them all placed by each other

[@vestige1885]

@@kodstergames I understand what you're saying. This is also a technique that exists, called "Converge." It is executed by multiple pieces targeting a single zone (e.g., an open field). Each piece is assigned its own coordinates.

[@AskewMoth]

As someone who's done a lot of arty, I have to say that this video is a great guide!

[@kodstergames]

Thanks for coming to check it out! I certainly appreciate it. The video actually is wayyyyy longer than I originally planned, but I feel like it was all stuff I wish I knew when I started, so it all stayed in 😂

[@kzrlgo]

I feel like you made this whole video to correct people on "fire for effect" 😂 Jokes aside, very informative and well made. Thank you

[@kodstergames]

Oh that drives me insane when I hear people say it lol thanks for coming to check it out!

[@AeciusthePhilosopher]

Might be worthwhile linking the 3rd party tool you used in the description, since people might not know how to find it.

[@kodstergames]

Thank you for reminding me 😂 I finished this video after a 15 hour shift and 100% meant to add that to my description. Obviously it slipped through, but it’s in there now!

[@kirkkirk8608]

Did you link the right one?? I clicked on it and my phone went haywire the screen looked like it was cracked and no picture on the screen. I just wanted to look at the site but now idk if I wanna try it with my computer ​@@kodstergames

[@kodstergames]

Yes, its correct. It will not open at all on your phone. fharty.craftingthrulife.com/

[@Timjackson6538]

Warden express is the best option if you have access to it

[@kodstergames]

Haven’t used that one, I’ll have to check it out

[@misterweebs]

Good video! Some additional tips: -Try to have your arty shell facilities as close to the front-line as possible: you want the shortest drive possible for your shell runners. Backline shell facilities are usually not worth it. -If you are running defensive arty at a bunker base, you can use Observation bunkers (the bunkers that have an octagon protrusion that grant extra intel) to spot up to 230 meters. It's a bit safer than using binos if you can do it -It's shown a bit in the video, but don't ever shoot enemy concrete Howitzer garrisons unless you know what you're doing. They will obliterate you and you will accomplish nothing

[@giaktour]

Hold on... AI arti bunkers FIRE BACK at enemy arti shelling the base?

[@misterweebs]

@@giaktour That's correct. It takes a really long time for a bunker base to reach that level, but once you do and place your howitzers correctly you are mostly safe from arty.

[@kodstergames]

Great tips here. And yeah, I cut out the video where 15 howitzers turned on us immediately after the first shell 😂 It was promptly followed by my gunners going “everything is gone” That was not something I’ve ever encountered in game. I always figured those were big AT guns

[@misterweebs]

@@kodstergames hahaha! thats understandable, the game doesnt really explain much, that happens to everyone at some point.

[@halfmoongarage]

Great video! Excited to give it a try. Fire for effect makes sense, good to know.

[@kodstergames]

Thanks for coming to check the video out

[@SemSaidaTraps]

Another tip for when playing at night, leave the post-processing on LOW, it reduces the darkness of the night.

[@kodstergames]

That I didn’t know, my nights are always SO dark 😂

[@louislidome4284]

"Professionnal" arti spotter here! That's a really great tutorial! And the wind is just as you said, having a windsock is good too. Maybe the wind level is to take into consideration between like 1 and 5 but after some test rounds you'll be able to adjust it easily. I would just put a bit more focus on the job of recon, because the frontline move quite quickly sometimes and it happens often, that when you set up, enemies are either too far, or already knocking at your door😂

[@kodstergames]

I can agree with all of this. It’s amazing how fast the front can move. Can’t tell you how many times we’ve shelled a ally or had infantry push up on our position

[@louislidome4284]

@kodstergames you know what? I went to recon. Frontline was good. Set up arti pits. BoB. Other guys arrive. They shoot right into Howitzer trap. Everything dead, one shot. Sad.

[@E2e4-n4x]

Good tutorial, thank you!

[@kodstergames]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for stopping by

[@SuperFlatContender]

*for spotting you dont necessarily need the calculator. You can guessestimate the range and azimuth based on the cardinal directions and go from there.

[@kodstergames]

Absolutely, that’s a learned skill for sure. And after doing enough arty, you definitely pick up on how to do that

[@herkul1215]

How does wind effect rockets? I did see a lot of people totally miss with them? I did use Arty a lot. But not much rockets? Also how does 300mm storm canons calculate for hex hopping shells? Thanks You for teaching the new players how to play the game so that I don't have to. :P

[@kodstergames]

These are wonderful questions and I wish I had better answers to them. I know rockets are much much shorter range, so you can get accurate targets from the car itself. On the arty calculator website you can use it for all artillery, including the storm cannons. I haven’t had the pleasure of using one of those yet but I can’t imagine it being much different to the 120&150 guns. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for teaching new players when you can 😂 I know that’s a time consuming process that I go through with tons of new players

[@tseftz]

Rockets are effected in the same way as shell-based artillery, the rockets get pushed in the direction of the wind - but the effect can seem greater because rocket artillery have a bigger dispersion at long range compared to 120mm and 150mm

[@kodstergames]

I was under the impression that rockets were 30-60m, I’ll have to go check that out. I didn’t think they had that kinda range to them. Thanks for the response on that

[@SuperFlatContender]

@@kodstergames the maximum range on the hades net is 435m

[@kodstergames]

Oh I’ve got to get my hands on that thing then 😂

[@vendtzu6318]

now I know why wordens need so much art to make something good

[@alexox6005]

Emplacements are optional. Most times you are just better of getting the gun set up as quickly as possible and have it be easy to move out. Also really good guide

[@kodstergames]

Yeah, I can agree with the speed factor. There’s been a few times I’ve cut guys short of building the bunker storage just so we can start firing Usually we roll up with 4 guys on avg and getting an emplacement down for the health boost is huge. We love setting up right behind the front line so, our set up is usually pretty hot. Thanks for checking it out and for the support ⚔️

[@iwearpantsofpower]

​@@kodstergames great video, some more information that might be useful: 1) it was unintuitive to me that the wind is the same for the whole hex! if you can glimpse a flag in one corner of the hex it will tell you the conditions for everywhere in that region 2) if youre going to take the time to dig a shell room you should probably T2 the octagon and connector as well 3) if youre short on manpower but have guns and shells, usually one loader can load 2 guns in a pinch if the guns are very close to the shell pallet 4) you can submit shell crates into the ammo room. so you can drive trucks with 15 crates up, fill your pockets with 8 crates, and dump shells 40 at a time into the shelf. its situational but a handy trick when the circumstances allow it

[@kodstergames]

The crate trick is interesting. Is there a way to go from pallets of shells to crates? I produce all of my shells through the large shell factory instead of the regular factories which I know produce crates anyways. All those other tips are great also, I highly recommend people read this comment

[@iwearpantsofpower]

@@kodstergames theoretically there is a way with a small cart but you have to be really close and its not practical for your use case of an ad hoc frontline arty pit. you can produce reservable crates from a private queue in a shell fac btw

[@Battlehawks101]

Now do a tutorial for howi duelling. 😆 Great vid

[@kodstergames]

I have no idea what that is but it sounds like a blast lol thanks for coming to check this one out

[@Tuck213]

I like the guide, but I think you should explain how to 'eyeball' the distance and azimuth instead of using a third-party website. It's not that hard to do; point the arty in the general direction of the target, the distance is the distance between spotter and gun + the distance between spotter and the target, then correct for wind.

[@kodstergames]

That’s definitely an advanced way of doing things. Maybe I’ll make a second video for that, choosing targets and some other things. I 100% agree with you though, that’s something I’ve learned while using the 3rd party website, it just took a while to start seeing how the arty worked when I first started

[@Tuck213]

I taught my arty regiment how to spot like that and it allows for more flexibility from the spotters, plus a sense of pride that they're nailing it all on their own

[@stitch77100]

This only works if the spotter and guns are sufficiently aligned, doesn't it? (I mean, i still remember my trigonometry classes enough, and it can be quite complex if they are not well aligned. Though I guess it can be a fast way to approximate, if the spotter is close enough to the target, maybe...

[@kodstergames]

@@stitch77100 it is very complex to do it, but you get the hang of it pretty quick once you have done it a few times. I always just recommend using the 3rd party website to learn and simplify things

[@tomsmith7207]

Wait, petrol makes trucks go faster?

[@kodstergames]

Yep, but it burns at a much faster rate too

[@FeralMess]

If game needs 3rd party tools to be played effectively -- that means bad game design. From the other side using such tools is a cheating in some way. But everyone seems fine with that fact.

[@kodstergames]

I agree and disagree with this. Yeah, I wish you could equip a spotter map or something with measurement and more info. In the same way this would be considered “bad” to use 3rd party. You could say the same for any game with a difficult level or boss and you have to pull up KZbin for a guide. It’s all just another tool to make the job easier, you can operate by eye, I just don’t like using extra shells to find my position

[@misterweebs]

you don't "need" 3rd party tools to spot arty at all, you can completely do it ingame. just make it easier

[@lofipolaroid9960]

You can do it all in game if you can do the math for it or just eye ball it

[@adriantabares1494]

3rd party tools. Eeewwww Maybe teach people to use the tools in the game

[@kodstergames]

As someone that loves math and numbers, I wouldn’t even dare to try to aim arty within the game. Binoculars can’t see far enough so you’d have to do 2 measurements and still somehow get the azimuth right. Now that I’ve done arty a good bit, I think I could get a general area and then dial in without the maps. It’d waste a few extra shells but I think I could get it done

[@phantom-hugs2719]

Man 3rd party tools/websites should not be allowed in games Hot take - its called soft cheat -

[@kodstergames]

In my opinion, then every KZbin guide would be soft cheating for any hard levels or bosses too. I get what you’re saying though, still gotta have some skill to dial it in with the website

[@phantom-hugs2719]

@ absolutely right. hypothetically, Someone could have done his/her school homework themselves, but instead desided to look at the classmate work next to them and copy what they did. Or see how they cheated but coulden do anything about it