Message

[Warnevada]

What is the purpose of the "hits the deck" message? As far as I can tell nothing appears to be affected after it comes out. Sighting is the same and hit percentage appears to be the same.

[scorpio_rocks]

I believe that infantry no longer count as moving last turn if they hit the deck

[Mobhack]

It is one of the infantry avoidance messages.
- hits the deck means they have gone prone
- takes cover has a chance to break LOS
- pull-back a hex (sometimes popping smoke) was the original SSI reaction

All of those can break the "chain of fire" at a unit. Unlike the original SSI skedaddle, it leaves the target in the same hex.

[Warnevada]

All of those can break the "chain of fire" at a unit. Unlike the original SSI skedaddle, it leaves the target in the same hex.

I've never seen the Hit The Deck message break the "chain of fire" which is what prompted the question.

[Mobhack]

All of those can break the "chain of fire" at a unit. Unlike the original SSI skedaddle, it leaves the target in the same hex.

I've never seen the Hit The Deck message break the "chain of fire" which is what prompted the question.

Well, it can. Just like the take cover action doesn't always result in broken LOS either. War is random, so is the game.