Will there be a 2018 update?

[Mobhack]

The ability to fire direct area fires at things that would have an LOS but it was blocked due to smoke or visibility limits was something that was vigorously argued for by many players in the original DOS days, so that is why it was provided.

Those who hate it can agree with their PBEM opponents as to any house rules regarding it in their games - whether nil or limited usage. The AI does not use it.

As to the original posters moan about Z fire going through trees and buildings - that is the normal SP scatter rules, which take no account of any blocking terrain for any area fire that is off-target. If the routine decides on 2 hexes scatter, and that new x,y ends up a couple of hexes into a built up area, or splats units in a valley that could not be directly targeted then that is where it goes.