Zone of Control

The red artillery, being in the zone of control of the blue infantry, cannot move into any square other that is also in the blue infantry's zone of control.

Zone of control (ZOC) is a ability some units have that inhibits enemy movement in squares adjacent to them.

Units with ZOC emit a zone of control that effects all eight adjacent squares. Enemy units cannot move from one square that is next to a unit with ZOC to another square that is next to that same unit.

Infantry, cavalry, and generals emit ZOC.

Strategy

Zone of control is a central mechanic of combat in Inflection Point. Having an intuitive understanding of ZOC is required to effectively wage war.

Defensive lines

Units with ZOC can for an impassible formation by standing in a certain type of line where each unit is separated by one square.

Trapping units

Two units with ZOC standing on either side of an enemy unit can prevent said unit from moving at all.

Screenshots

• 
  The blue infantry is totally trapped by the two cavalry. There is no square it can move to that is not also next to one of the cavalry.
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  Three green infantry form an impassible line thanks to zone of control. There is no path through them that does not go from one square adjacent to an infantry to another square adjacent to that same infantry.
• 
  In this case, the 3 green infantry are in an "L" shaped formation that still forms an impassible line thanks to zone of control.
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  In this case, red's cavalry is able to pass through the line of infantry by moving two squares to the west. Infantry in this type of diagonal line do not form an impassable line.