A.M.U.L.E.T. Mod 3.0. Explanation & Description. Created by: Messmann

Transcription

1 A.M.U.L.E.T. Mod 3.0 Explanation & Description Created by: Messmann 1

2 Content Installation and Technical Info... 5 Installation... 5 Technical Information... 6 Making sure the game does not crash... 7 Change log... 8 Introduction and Background Credits Basic Information Difficulty Recommended Game Rules Reasons for Changes Balance What the mod does for you Description Unit Changes at a Glance Movement type car Movement type Swimcar Special units Grenadiere in defensive position Towed anti-tank guns in artillery mode Ju 88 strategic bomber Mountain artillery Sturmpioniere The Fieseler Storch (recon plane) Kommando Units The Luftwaffenbauregiment

3 Transport Units Light transport units Medium transport units Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) Heavy transport units Horse transport units Mistakes of the game (Bugs) Flak cannot shoot Tactics and Strategy The weakness of the AI General advice How to make them surrender Initiative? What does that mean? Terrain with automatic entrenchment Close defense terrain The Pushing Move Attack Groups Scout movement The bunker surprise Destroying heavy tanks The most important target List of Changes Infantry Tanks Recon Units Towed Anti-Tank Guns Light Anti-Tank Vehicles

4 Heavy Anti-Tank Vehicles Assault Guns Hetzer and Jagdpanzer Artillery Units Towed Light Anti-Air Units Anti-Air Vehicles Heavy Flak Guns Land Transports Elite Air Units No Changes for Immobile Units Effects with regard to gameplay Structure of the Equipment File

5 Installation and Technical Info Installation Attention! This 3.0 version of the mod is not compatible with any other older version of this mod, be it 1.00, 1.01,1.2 or 1.2ß. Please remember that any kind of changes will not be taken into the system anyway, at least not without starting a new game from scratch. So you need to begin a new game or campaign. If you want to continue with an already existing army the only option would be to take this army in your old mod to the last scenario of a campaign and change all units to standard Wehrmacht units. Change all transport vehicles to Opel Blitz trucks. Those units the system will recognize for sure. Then, restart the last scenario, now playing with normal units. Afterwards save your core. When beginning a new game, you could load this core to start anew. However, this is not possible without some cheating and number noting, since the system won t recognize the prestige points you spent. The following files or archives will be replaced or affected: Audio (Attacksfx, movesfx folder and damage sounds); Data (equipment, movement and gamerules file); Graphics folder (Animations, Units and the efx file); UI folder (bigunits folder, movement folder, and startscreens folder, the latter to replace two start screen pictures). There is also a folder called Amulet DCS Sprayshop. It does not have a meaning for the game, but only for people interested in modifying the game. The Amulet Sprayshop is program which can be used to color units. It contains all base icons and masks. The steam version of Panzer Corps should be able to be changed as well, but only if steam does not replace or correct game files automatically. For this to avoid, the internet connection needs to be switched off. 5

6 How to install the mod: 1. Go to your Panzer Corps folder. Make safety copies of each of the files mentioned above and store them somewhere else. 2. Copy the content of the Amulet mod into the Panzer Corps folder and overwrite the old files and folders. 3. That s it. You have to start a new campaign for this mod to be in effect, though. 4. It may impair cache capacity if you play for long hours. After two scenarios, I recommend restarting the game. 5. For steam users: Disconnect steam from the internet. This is to avoid an automatic correction of game files, which will render the mod defunct. As a hint, it s possible to use a program like Generic Mod Enabler. So you could create a file called Mods in your Panzer Corps folder and you would activate or deactivate this mod like any other mod at your choice. Technical Information Equipment file: Equipment file has been restructured according to a scheme suggested by Guille (see below). I recommend following this structure to allow for a better overview. Efx file: Efx file is sorted alphabetically. The majority of the sounds and animations were given by VPaulus from his redux sound mod, although self-created, changed and new sounds were included (e.g. Panzerfaust/Panzerschreck). The VPaulus sounds are allowed for this publication only. Do not publish the sounds of VPaulus without permission of VPaulus (slitherine.com Forum). Suggestions for modders: Nearly everything can be taken and changed. The equipment and efx file are sorted clearly. Sounds and animations, however, may only be taken and published after VPaulus consent (slitherine.com). This does not apply for sounds and animations of myself. These can be used freely. As already mentioned, there is also a DCS version which contains all base icons and masks. Redundant small unit icons: There may be a couple of small unit icons which are redundant. I haven t had the time and the overview to sort them out. I suggest to not care about these icon pictures because they won t affect the game. 6

7 Making sure the game does not crash The following text is a piece of advice of slitherine.com which is recommended for complicated mods such as this one. See here: It is recommended to run the game with the "/nocache" startup switch. Otherwise chances are high that the game would hit a memory limit after several turns and crash. The thing is that, without the /nocache switch, the attack animation files are all loaded into the memory and are stored there until the memory gets filled up causing the game to crash. And there are many units in this mod with many different animations. Luckily, with the /nocache switch applied to the PanzerCorps.exe shortcut I never had a game crash during testing. So, how to do it? Create a shortcut for the PanzerCorps.exe file (which should be in the folder where you installed PzC): locate and right click on it and then choose send to -> desktop. (Warning! The Panzer Corps shortcut on the desktop created during the installation of the game is NOT good as it points to the autorun.exe and not to the PanzerCorps.exe!) When it is on the desktop right click on the icon and choose properties. Then you have to add the /nocache command after the end of the filename like this: The only other option is to make a new savegame after playing 4-5 turns, quit the game and then restart and reload. This would empty the memory for the time being so that you can play another 4-5 7

8 turns before you need to save and quit again. I think the former method is more user friendly and certainly much safer. Change log Changes version 101 in comparison to version 1 Steyr RSO reduced price -10 (50), Fuel +18 (90) Self-propelled anti-air units +1 movement except for 10/4 (reason is reconmove) Panzer IVC Ground Defense -2 (4), Close Defense -1 (1), historical reasons reduced cost of normal Infantry from 127 to 120 reduced cost of 43 Wehrmacht Inf from 187 to 180 Luftwaffenwagen with airstrip landing available Elite cost are eclusive; upgrade from normal units only possible with full costs Brückeninfanterie and Brückengrenadiere no switching anymore Pioniertransport vehicles for all Brückenpioniere Panzer II E movement type "car" (new movement for better wheeled movement) Costs of Elilte tanks increased to +70 % New Unit "Kübelwagen Aufklärer" New Unit "Kübelwagen Transport" New Unit "Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33" Liberalized transport vehicle upgrade (except armored personell carriers) 8

9 Changes 1.2 New Rules and stats Transports: Transport vehicles without weapons cannot shoot anymore (the only "shooting" transports are armored personell carriers) Transports: All unit types may only use the transports assigned to them: normal units may use normal transports, elite units only elite transports and SE units may only use SE-transports. All transport units of a certain unit type are upgradable among each other. The old costs are taken into account. new rule: All StuG have camo trait, but only during anti-tank mode new stats: reduced movement of 3 to 2 for Elite/SE Grenadiere troops new stats: reduced movement of 3 to 2 for Elite/SE Pioniere troops new stats: reduced movement of 3 to 2 for Elite/SE bridge engineers troops renamed Elite units: In the short description, elite units are designated with a "EL" new stats for most of the elite and SE infantry units (mostly movement reductions) New Units new unit Sturmpioniere: Better pioniere who are able to cross rivers with boats. Expensive unit. new unit Sturmbootwagen: transport unit for Sturmpioniere new unit: introduced Panzer 35 (t) new unit: introduced Einheits-PKW transport car new unit: le IG 18 light artillery, parachutable (old 7.5 cm Fallschirmjäger artillery discarded) Grenadiere can be switched to fortified Grenadiere New icons (better Graphics) new icon Bunkerflak, with artillery switch new icon 15 sig Sfl und AT available, repaired glitch new icon Kübelwagen Inf and Kübelwagen Transport new icon: Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (SWS) heavy transport unit new icon Luftwaffenbauregiment new icon Feldflugplatz new icon MBenz L4500 Flak new icon 3.7 cm Opel Blitz Flak new icon Brückengrenadiere new icon Hetzer Schürzen new icon Nashorn and Nashorn Artillery new icon RSO-3 Raupenschlepper Ost new icon MBenz L4500 new icon Opel Maultier transport vehicle new icon SdKfz 251 Flakdrilling AA and AT new icon SdKfz 251/22 antitank 9

10 Changes 2.0 New Rules and stats All light and towed anti-aircraft units are "invisible" (camo) during anti-tank mode. Mules (transport horses unit for mountains) movement increased from 3 to 4 Artillery mode for 7.5 cm Pak 40, range 1 Artillery mode for 8.8 cm Pak 43-41, range 2 Armored personnel carriers (SdKfz 251/1 and 250/1) can only be used by infantry and can only draw light weapons Transport units are normally expensive for Elite and SE units No more additional capabilites of Elite and SE transport units Normal transports für bridge engineers, except armored personnel carriers (APCs) Heavy towing vehicles necessary for 15cm sfh 18 Movement 2 for all towed Nebelwerfer rocket launcher units Movement 2 (leg movement) for all light artillery types Elite tanks cheaper (60% instead of 70% additional costs) SE infantry initiave -1 and hard attack increased. New Units New unit Fieseler Storch, recon plane, does not need an airfield New unit Kommando, superior airborne unit, extremely expensive Ju 88 C2: bomber with basic air attack capability, available Ju 88 C6: bomber with basic air attack capability, available Schwimmwagen: recon car which can cross river, available Schwimmwagen Transport for light infantry, available SdKfz 6: medium towing vehicle, halftracked movement, available SdKfz 8: heavy and fast towing vehicle, tracked movement, available SdKfz 9: heavy towing vehicle, movement type tracks, available SdKfz 11: medium towing vehicle, movement type tracks, available cm Gebirgshaubitze 40: 10.5cm gun for mountain regions, available Removed Tiger 44 (new unit). 10

11 Changes 2.0 New icons (better Graphics) All units with desert camouflage, except for a couple of airplanes. New icon SdKfz 251/10 3.7cm Pak New icon Kradschützen 39 and 43 New icon Grenadiere 44, switch mode for fortified Grenadiere 44 New icon Flakvierling and Flakvierling AT New icon SdKfz_7-1 und 7-1 AT New icon 3.7cm FlaK und 3.7 FlaK AT New icon 3.7cm FlaK und 3.7 FlaK AT parachute New icon Grenadiere 43, switch mode for fortified Grenadiere 43 New icon 12.8cm Selbstfahrlafette Pak Aty New icon 2cm Flak 38 New icon SdKfz 10-4 AT New icon Kavallerie und Kavallerie 43 New icon Maultiere (leichter Transport für Gebirge) New icons of six transport units (different camouflage) New icon 7.5 cm Pak 40, with artillery mode range 1 New icon 5 cm Pak 38 New icon 8.8 cm Pak 43-41, with artillery mode range 2 New icon 3.7 cm Pak Parachute New icon Fallschirmjager and Fallschirmjager 43 New icon Bruckeninfanterie and Bruckeninfanterie 43 New icon 7.5 cm leig 18 parachute New icon 12.8cm Flak 40 New icon Panzerfaust Infanterie New icon Panzerschreck Infanterie New icon SdKfz 7-2 anti-air and antitank mode New icon Gepard AT New icon Möbelwagen AT New icon Ostwind AT New icon Wirbelwind AT New icon Flak / Pak 36 New icon SdKfz 7 New icon Gebirgsgeschütz 36 New icon Feldwagen Hf1 New icon Feldwagen Hf2 New icon Feldwagen Hf7 New icon 15cm sfh18 AT New icon 17cm K18 AT New icon 21cm Mrs 18 New camo scheme 15cm Nblwf 41 und Nblwf 42 New camo scheme 30cm Nblwf 43 New camo scheme Kavallerie und Kavallerie 43 New camo scheme Gustav New camo scheme 280mm K5 New camo scheme Brummbar and Brummbar AT New camo scheme StuG III A and StuG III B New camo scheme Sturmpanzer I AT New camo scheme Hummel AT New camo scheme Flammpanzer 38(t) New camo scheme Panzer II F New camo scheme StuG IIIF Aty New camo scheme StuG IIIG Aty New camo scheme Wespe AT New camo scheme sig 38 (t) AT New camo scheme Sturmtiger Aty and AT New camo scheme Eisenbahnflak 8.8 cm and 12.8 cm AA and AT New camo scheme Go 229 A New camo scheme Ar-234 B New camo scheme E-555 New camo scheme SdKfz New camo scheme Panzer II Flamm New camo scheme Marder III New camo scheme Panzer IIIM Schurtzen 11

12 Changes 3.0 New Rules and Corrections Audio bug train sound removed Audio bug Elite Gustav removed Increased number of available units in 1936 new movement type Kommando units, now able to land on coastal tiles/ lakes new icon Bunkerflak, with artillery switch New Icon 8.8cm Flak artillery, Flak now with artillery switch New Icon 12.8cm Flak artillery, Flak 40 now with artillery switch New Icon 8.8cm Flak 36 train artillery, now with artillery function New Icon 12.8cm Flak train artillery, now with artillery switch New Icon Panzerfaust Infanterie New Icon Panzerschreck Infanterie New Units Infanterie 45, available Jäger 45, available Gebirgsjäger 45, available Grenadiere 45, available Pioniere 45, available Fallschirmjäger 45, available Sturmpioniere 45, available Kradschützen 45, available Kavallerie 45, available Brückeninfanterie 45, available Brückengrenadiere 45, available Kommando 45, available Volkssturm, available SdKfz 250/3 MG, fast recon unit, available SdKfz 250/9 20mm, fast recon unit, available SdKfz 250/10 37mm, fast recon unit, available mm PaK 38 on Panzer II, available cm Pak Waffenträger, with artillery switch, available cm PaK44, with artillery switch, available cm PaK Waffenträger, with artillery switch, available E 10, light AT with camo switch, available E 25, medium AT, available Jagdpanther B, heavy AT, available Jagdpanther II, heavy AT, available E cm Jagdpanzer, heavy AT, available E cm Jagdpanzer, heavy AT, available E 50, medium tank, available E 75, heavy tank, available E 79, heavy tank, available Löwe, heavy tank, available cm lefh Waffenträger, with AT switch, available cm sfh 18 Waffenträger, with AT switch, available Gneisenau 15cm Zwilling, rail gun, available Gneisenau 28cm, rail gun, available Kugelblitz, FlaK-Panzer, with artillery swicht, available Kätzchen, fast APC, available Do 215B, light strategic Bomber, available

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14 Introduction and Background Credits I d like to mention the people who published icons and had ideas which in some way or another found their way in this project. Most of them you will find in the Sliltherine Forum: Airbornemongo (idea of elites which can be purchased like normal units) Razz (some big icon photos; idea of switchable anti-air units and Panzerfaust units) Guille, bebro, puma, flakfernrohr and many others as artists of small unit icons Guille (idea of structure of equipment file) VPaulus (sounds and large parts of the efx file) and Slitherine Company. Basic Information Thank you for your attention! If you read this, you belong to those players who share an interest in a different kind of Panzer Corps. And I daresay you might find something new here. Before continuing with my assuming remarks, I d like to introduce you to the basic idea of this mod. In essence, this is a unit mod of German units only so far. However, several new units and the abilities of old units have been changed and influence gameplay directly or indirectly. A.M.U.L.E.T. means Advanced Multipurpose Units and Limited Elites in its totality. This is ironic, but it points out at least one conspicuous thing. The main concept is switchable units which are available on a large scale now. You can switch most anti-tank weapons to artillery, and most anti-air units as well; and most artillery units can be switched to anti-tank weapons. Another important change is purchasable elite units. You can buy all normal units as elite units now at a higher price, for sure, but with values which could make them unique. And you can get your bonus SE units as well every ground unit is available as SE unit. This mod is totally compatible with Grand Campaign, and, as of yet (September 2018), Legacy of Versailles. When changing this file, you may publish it if you mention the source, which is Messmann; otherwise, please do not change the order of the equipment file, since it is meant to make things easier for all people who share an interest in this. Each unit is assigned a historical unit photo at least for German units. Not all of them are in color, of course. Please do not take the photos of SE units too seriously, since it is only meant to reflect 14

15 military history as far as I could; and many of the SE unit photos do not show actual SE units, because I couldn t find historical photographs of each unit type. Gamerules have not been changed at all, although there is a gamerules file(version 1.21) ; but this file is meant to be for your experimentation which would be limited to this mod only, such as if you want to switch off the prestige soft cap or whatever without tinkering with the original file. You can mod and publish (nearly) any of this stuff freely, as long as you mention this source, which is Messmann. There is only one exception, the sounds. The majority of them are provided by VPaulus, and you have to ask for his permission if you want to publish the sounds. Other than that, that s it. Difficulty With the new settings of Panzer Corps 1.20 upwards you can change the difficulty as you like it - if wanted, even for any scenario anew. For example, it is possible to vary one s own prestige, the number of turns, the strength of opposing units and some additional things. Basically, this mod is intended and built for high difficulties, especially for the Grand Campaign (the DLCs of Panzer Corps). It is recommended to play on field marshal. The AI level should be set at stage 2, the highest stage. Then, leave the prestige earning limit (soft cap) unchanged, as it is in the new rules of the vanilla version Panzer Corps With this alternative, you are able to get to know all units of the mod, and, depending on the case, you can field many versatile units on a regular basis. The reason is that on the one hand, you have certain options when purchasing units. And on the other hand, the cheaper and frequently disregarded small units get some attention. It would also be possible to raise prestige levels of the AI, for example to raise it to 200%. For this and in general, I suggest to take a look into the description of individual unit changes. There are novelties, and many small units have become stronger and therefore more interesting. But there are other options as well. I present some of them here, together with what I have found out might happen when you play them. More prestige for the AI: The victory hexes are packed. At the end of the game, the opponent may still come up with some airplanes. Possibly difficulties at the end of scenarios. Overstrength for the opponent: Own units will be damaged quickly, a lack of attention is punished. A tactic game develops, you tend to play for the surrender of enemy units. Strong artillery is needed, together with bomber, recon units and other fast units. Little prestige for one s own troops, e.g. 50 % less ( Rommel ): Lack of transport units and good air force. May be dealt with in early war years, but later on it gets increasingly difficult. Especially the years of 44 and 45 might be a challenge. Fewer turns: A race at the end of a scenario, daring actions. Depending on the case a purchase of auxiliary troops during scenarios. Not every city hex can be occupied, therefore less prestige. Makes playing with little prestige even more difficult. 15

16 In my point of view, it amounts to a combination of less prestige for oneself and some overstrength for the opponent; or, to try a different alternative, to play with fewer turns and more prestige for the opponent. For me, the latter seems to be more difficult. In the following paragraphs, you will find some information about the possible effects of the new rules. While you are still able to play with the old rules of version 1.14, the new rules of version 1.20 onwards are automatically set when you do not change it. Compared to version 1.14, the new rules do the following: Prestige income limit ( soft cap ): It is necessary to take care not to field units which are too expensive. From an average price of 400 points onwards, there are cuts on your prestige income. For the number of prestige on the field, each unit is counted, overstrength included. Except for the SE or bonus units which may be expensive without any effects. Artillery: Has become weaker, because there were deductions on the effects of ranged attacks. Thus the normal bombardment of infantry units in cities will not lead to suppression at once. So you need to have stronger artillery or sufficiently available infantry. Infantry: As already mentioned, infantry has become more important because of weaker artillery. It pays off to keep some cheap infantry units ready to start a risky attack once and awhile. Other than that, I d say you could start a new campaign which allows you to tinker around with some aspects of this mod. Afterwards, read this description (or vice versa). Then, start an actual campaign. (For this mod to take effect, you need to start a new game or campaign.) Recommended Game Rules Personally, I do not support how the prestige soft cap was introduced and implemented by Slitherine for version 1.20 onwards. I also don t favor the higher costs of overstrengthening units. For possible changes, I added a gamerules file. In its original state, it is unchanged. Reasons for Changes I will briefly explain why I have created this mod: Anti-Air units are most times not worth buying at least if you are interested in a strong core. Anti-Tank units are most times not worth buying, at least well, the same as above. Artillery units can only shoot suppressive fire they do not have an anti-tank capability, not even a meager one. Is this historical if we dare use that term? Elite units are not that special, and you have no influence about purchasing them. 16

17 The tactical options are limited, and they don t make sense at times. An important aspect is that more than half of all available units are not purchased. The strict limitation of core slots puts efficiency always in the foreground at least if you are a game-person which is safety-oriented. That means that more than half of the units have no function apart from decorating the purchase screen, that is. I suppose this is connected with design flaws. At first, it s the idea of limited slots for core units, while it would make more sense to set a prestige cap for certain unit types that can bw bought and/or used in each scenario. Moreover, it is highly subjective what a unit represented by a unit icon actually stands for and why it should have the stats it actually has. Then, there are almost ridiculous variations of time and mile scales on the map. For example, you fight in the streets of Warsaw in one scenario and in another one, you conquer Paris four little hexes. What s the common scale of the game? A suggested solution for parts of these problems is the so-called prestige soft cap. In essence, it decreases your prestige output which might be realized in late-war years especially. The computer calculates the worth of all your units during deployment, deducing the average worth. If this average is above 400, your prestige output is reduced gradually. The limit is 800 on average: Here the maximum punishment is reached. Then, you ll only get 20% of your normal prestige output. Reserves and SE units do not count, but costs for overstrength do. Please consider that costs for overstrength have been raised, above +12 quite dramatically so. A solution would be to vary and rotate units, and to not use expensive stuff always. I think the game does not give a sufficient overview over this major change. If you want to accept this, you can; but I have included the gamerules file which allows you to switch it off or tinker with your own variations. The new rule changes of Panzer Corps Version 1.20 onwards weaken heavy artillery, strengthen infantry and increase costs for elite replacements. The latter applies especially for replacements beyond 11 or 12. The Amulet Mod can equalize this a bit, but not in all points. In case of doubt or need, just change the gamerules file. Balance I know that in-game balance is delicate issue, and have tried my best to include changes which won t impair game balance too much. I cannot say how much I have succeeded with that, since it will always be a subjective topic. Be that as it may, I do not foresee that I will dismiss my concept altogether for balance reasons. This is not how think, because I favor an increased opportunity for tactical variation. However, I have structured the files as clear as I could to allow for personal changes. 17

18 With the changes of PC version 1.20 the option is given to play on high or higher difficulty levels. The mod is designed to allow this. The changes of Panzer Corps Version 1.20 onwards will lead to weaker artillery, stronger infantry and a loss of prestige at later game stages. It will be difficult to play Rommel difficulty with the new rule changes, especially 1943 onwards. In addition to this, difficulty levels can be customized. 18

19 What the mod does for you Description This mod was designed for gameplay at a very high difficulty. In brief, it does the following: Most of the artillery can be switched, as well as anti-air and also most of the anti-tank units: Artillery units switch to limited anti-tank units and back, many anti-tank units can turn into limited artillery units; and anti-air units can switch to limited artillery units. Each ground unit can be bought as elite unit with better stats, usually in the +1 range with some additional traits. Costs usually are at about 150 % prestige, with maximum additional costs capped at 200 prestige. The better stats are in most cases different values, which give you elite units which are unique. There are some new German and some newly modified units. A few examples: The Sturmtiger heavy mortar, a 12.8cm antitank-artillery gun, panzerfaust and panzerschreck Infantry, mobile Bridge Engineers and so forth. Details see below. For the later war years and fictitious years 1946 and 1947, a number of new units have been introduced. Mostly, these are self-propelled artillery and antitank units (Waffenträger) and heavy tanks (E-series tanks). The stats are fictional at times, but are inspired by the stats of real units. There are more units available from 1936 onwards, in order to allow to play some modified campaigns of these years. Each ground unit is available as SE bonus unit. They have better stats than elite units, focusing both on defense and attack capabilities. It is only possible to upgrade elite units among themselves. If you want to change a normal unit and upgrade it you ll have to pay fully. Better and somehow more original sounds. As large pictures, there are only historical photos all pictures have been revised and carefully exchanged with wartime-only photographs (no photos of Allies so far, I m afraid). Unit Changes at a Glance At first, a general remark: Only German units are affected. I haven t had time to work at Allied units so far. I also do not make any kind of promises regarding Allied or any other powers. There are three types of German units: 19

20 1. Normal German units, among them Heer (army), Luftwaffe (air force) and Kriegsmarine (navy). These are the standard units, or Panzer Corps version 1.21 units. However, there are very many multipurpose units now, especially in the anti-tank, artillery and anti-air branch. 2. Elite units (Heer and Luftwaffe only). They represent well-trained and better equipped Wehrmacht formations. An historical example would be the PanzerLehr Division. You can buy the Elites at a high cost, usually 50% higher than normal units. On the map, they appear in bright camo. 3. SE units (Heer only). These types of units have high attack capabilities and can defend better, even better than Elite units. Moreover, they are relatively cheap: Their cost is only 20% higher than those of normal troops. But you cannot purchase them. You may only acquire them as bonus units. On the map, they appear in dark camo. Unit capabilities can differ, according to the type they belong to. However, there are certain things they have in common. The most important things I will outline here. Infantry: Fallschirmjäger were made the elites they were historically, while Kradschützen and Cavalry can move like recon units (reconmove trait). This gives you the ability to shift around infantry quickly. Grenadiere can fight in fortified conditions. Some new units, like Sturmpioniere. Recon units: Elite recon units receive better stats, most importantly in spotting. Tanks: It is worth noting that tanks receive a higher rate of fire like most Elite or SE units. That s why it really pays off to keep them at full strength. (The new Panzer II E tank was a tank which could drive unhindered on roads only.) Towed anti-tank guns: All light towed Pak guns have movement 2. All towed anti-tank guns have the camo trait, which means they can t be seen from an enemy which is not standing right next to it. This gives you the opportunity to ambush the opponent. Elite towed anti-tanks get better stats, and heavy towed guns have movement 2, as well. Hetzer and Jagdpanzer: They are also invisible for enemies who are not standing right next to it. StuGs: They all can switch to artillery and antitank. The values are usually lower than comparable units in the artillery and/or anti-tank field; the range of artillery StuGs remains 1. All Stugs receive the Camo trait but only in anti-tank mode. Artillery: They all can switch to anti-tank. Exceptions are heavy guns, like 21cm or rocket launcher types. The anti-tank capability is usually low, such as a low initiative. Towed anti-air guns: Similar to anti-tank weapons, they move at a rate of 2. They can also switch to artillery use. In this effort, they attack like artillery, with low aim, but a high rate of fire. This is effective against lowly entrenched targets with a low defense rating. Anti-Air vehicles: They are similar to towed anti-air guns, but they can be moved more flexibly. In this mod, anti-air vehicles move like recon vehicles. The spotting range does not change. (The new 20

21 SdKfz 8.8cm Bunkerflak was not a flak weapon, but an anti-tank gun. It can be switched to artillery, though.) Heavy Flak guns with artillery switch: The heavy flak guns 8.8 cm and 12.8 cm can be switched to artillery mode as well. The range is one or two hexes. Land transports: Among a few new motor vehicles, horses are now onboard ( Feldwagen ). Now you can move your units as in true history (as if there s anything like that), with a usual movement of 4. Air power: Elite airplanes have better attack and defense capabilities. 21

22 Movement type car There is a new movement type called car. It is a fusion of truck and all-terrain movement. With that kind of movement a unit is able to move quicker and better than a truck, at least if the terrain is unhindered (clear) and not, for example, countryside. Countryside tiles still require two movement points to cross. There are several units with this type of movement. The horse wagon is the Feldwagen Hf2 (movement 4). The tank is called Panzer II E, and was dismissed because it could not cope with cross country terrain. Yet this movement type is still useful, especially if you want to advance with light units. The VW Kubelwagen can transport light units (available ). 22

23 It can also be acquired as a recon unit (on the right). Movement type Swimcar These units (Schwimmwagen and Schwimmwagen recon) can cross rivers at a movement rate of 2 for each river hex. 23

24 Special units Grenadiere in defensive position Grenadiere can be switched to a defensive position. In this case, they can defend slightly better, but their movement is very slow. Towed anti-tank guns in artillery mode Towed artillery guns may be used as limited artillery now. The range of the Pak 40 is 1, the range of the Pak is 2. 24

25 Ju 88 strategic bomber The Ju 88 was a multipurpose bomber. To symbolize this, there is a C2 variant of the bomber A4 with basic air attack capability. The similar applies to the variant C6. So the air plane can be refitted to a different variant with little or no costs. This may happen on an airfield during the game (upgrade). Mountain artillery Artillery for mountains is symbolized by an observer. This kind of artillery can be moved in mountains without restrictions and can be carried by mules. 25

26 Sturmpioniere Sturmpioniere are pioneers who are equipped with boats, the stormboats (Sturmboote). They are able to attack slightly better than normal pioneers. So they are elite units in and of itself. The boats are activated with the normal switch button. Boats can only travel on water, that means rivers, straits and the sea. Boats can be activated on land hexes, so that it is possible to move onto water in a single move: Sturmpioniere are also able to cross a river in one move only. They don t need to switch to boats: 26

27 In this case, it is assumed that Sturmpioniere are especially trained and equipped, like with ponton material, which allows them to cross rivers the quick way. Basically, Sturmpioniere can use each transport vehicle. However, in a normal situation, this robs them of the possibility to cross rivers the way it was mentioned, because the transport vehicle will determine the mode of movement. An example will show this. The path is clear: The unit can cross the river. They can do this because their transport vehicle, a SdKfz halftrack, which is not able to move this way. The reason is the path in the upper right, across the bridge. Here, the halftrack would (theoretically) be able to reach the indicated location. 27

28 Now, however, a tank on the right is blocking the path. The halftrack could not reach the location across the river. So, the path is closed, and the unit can only get over the river the normal way. (Obviously, you could switch to boats, but this move is not important here.) The same situation with pioneers on the left, now starting from the forest. Now, they cannot reach the other side, even when the path is free. The SdKfz halftrack is too slow, so it could not theoretically reach the location across the river. Thus, normal transport vehicles impair the special way Sturmpioniere can move. How far this goes is dependent on the type of movement of the vehicle and its speed. How exactly the influence is cannot be stated explicitly, since it is a hardly calculable mistake of the program, the hardcoded software. In order to avoid this, you will need a faster transport vehicle. Or, you acquire a Sturmbootwagen which can only be used by Sturmpioniere: 28

29 This vehicle represents the better equipment with ponton material etc., so that Sturmpioniere may move with trucks across rivers in one move only. It is not possible to move to open sea like this, although the Sturmbootwagen may move into shallow sea locations at a snail s speed. Across deep seas, Sturmpioniere with Sturmbootwagens cannot move. Landings in these environments can only work with normal landing crafts, like with every other unit. The Fieseler Storch (recon plane) The Fieseler Storch can land everywhere, even in mountain regions. The plane is designed for recon tasks. 29

30 You may purchase this plane as a tactical bomber. It is moved exactly like that, with the exception of the possibility of moving two times each turn (recon move). An airfield is not needed. You may switch to land the plane on land fields and may refuel it anywhere: A landed airplane cannot conquer victory hexes, such as unoccupied airfields and similar places. Furthermore, a Storch does not carry weapons and is defenseless against attacks from the air. However, it is possible to protect the plane with a fighter plane in the same way as if it were a tactical bomber. Kommando Units Kommando units (commandos) are trained specialists who are able to do everything : To fight, to recon, to march quickly, to land with airplanes and to start with airplanes. Considered as infantry units, commando units are all-knowing, which means they have the same capabilities as pioneers. Also, they are naturally equipped with airplanes which can land everywhere on land places (Fieseler Storch). The airplane is activated or deactivated with the switch button. So commando units are able to start and land anytime at the beginning of a turn. 30

31 On the right, it cannot be seen that Kommando units are fighting like pioneers. They are able to remove mines. Moreover, Kommando units may move two times each turn, although they cannot attack two times ( recon-movement ). The most important advantage, for sure, is the ability to fly with an airplane everywhere, stop and escape by plane afterwards. They can also land on shallow sea, lake and river areas, and attack from there. There are also refined command units for the year 1943 onwards. The only disadvantage of Kommando units is their extreme cost. Thus command units remain special units, and need to protected from artillery strikes and counter attacks. The Luftwaffenbauregiment Luftwaffenbauregiment means air force s construction regiment. It allows you to switch to an improvised airfield on clear, countryside, road and railroad tiles, even in cities (for technical reasons, but it is conceivable somehow). A friendly airplane right on top of the airfield will be resupplied with fuel and ammo. These airfields work like an aircraft carrier. Only fighters and fighter-bombers will be refueled, and only if they are directly above the airstrip. Strategic bombers will need to be flown to normal airfields, still. 31

32 The construction unit can be found among the anti-air-units. 32

33 Transport Units This mod offers a broad range of transport vehicles. A brief remark on historical accuracy: Mechanical facts were taken into account somehow, but compromises have been made for unit relation and balance. The goal was to create unique units for different purposes. Light transport units These are the light units. From the left to the right: Opel Blitz: The standard truck. MBenz Truck: A little bit faster, but also more expensive than the standard truck. Einheits-PKW: General issue motorized vehicle. Cheaper than a truck, designated for light weight purposes. Kubelwagen transport: Faster in terrain than the trucks, and in off-road situations better than the normal Einheits-PKW. Schwimmwagen: Like the Kubelwagen, but can swim across rivers. It can only carry light infantry. 33

34 Medium transport units From the left to the right: SdKfz 6 (SdKfz means special purpose motorized vehicle): Mediocre speed, but for the early years of the game the cheapest alternative. SdKfz 10: Very fast for medium weight, but also comparably expensive. SdKfz 11: Standard halftrack vehicle. Opel Maultier (Maultier means mule): A cheaper halftrack vehicle, less protection and less fuel. MBenz Maultier: This mule is faster than the Opel Maultier, and not so short on fuel. RSO-3 (stands for tracked towing vehicle East): Comparably slow, but cheap. And it moves on tracks for a very good cross-terrain capability. Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) In this mod, the SdKfz 251/1 and 250/1 can only be used for infantry transport and for towing light artillery. Bruckenpioniere may not use these vehicles. 34

35 On the other hand, the stats of these units are slightly better and more combatlike. Heavy transport units You may also use these units for light and medium weight purposes. Every unit may use a heavy vehicle. From the left to the right: SdKfz 7: A cheap, but also comparably slow towing vehicle. Movement type halftrack. SdKfz 8: The cross-terrain capability of this unit is very good (track movement). It is also the fastest vehicle of this category. Its cost is very high. SdKfz 9: Also very good in terrain (track movement), medium speed. Schwerer Wehrmachtsschlepper (SWS), which means heavy Wehrmacht towing vehicle: Very good in terrain (track movement) and cheap, but also a little bit slower. 35

36 Horse transport units Finally, there is the option of horse transports for light and medium units. These are very cheap, but usually slow. From the left to the right: Mules: Can only be acquired by mountain units. Enables a unit to move fast in mountain regions. Heeres-Feldwagen (army field wagon) Hf 1: relatively good in terrain (movement type horse), but only available for light units. Feldwagen Hf2: The horse transport unit for medium units. Movement type car makes it a little less suited for terrain then the Feldwagen Hf 1. Feldwagen Hf7: Slow in terrain, but fast on streets. Truck (wheeled) movement. Attention: This wagon should not be used for infantry which is able to move four hexes. Although this transport can move six hexes on streets, it can only move three hexes in terrain. By that it determines the speed of the unit which is supplied with this vehicle. In other words, if an infantry unit can move four hexes in open terrain, with this transport it would only be able to move three hexes. 36

37 Mistakes of the game (Bugs) The following text is about bugs which probably will not be repaired. These bugs are caused by the game system. Flak cannot shoot The quadruple flak has a range of 2 hexes and the enemy bomber is visible. Yet, the flak is not able to attack. This changes when a friendly unit is standing under the plane (picture on the right). The consequence: If you own a flak, and you are in your turn, take care that a friendly unit is standing under your target plane. Otherwise, you will not be able to shoot. The same happens with other light and medium flak units. 37

38 Tactics and Strategy Are you interested in playing the game with success? In that case, you will find some hints in the following section. Many of the tips are from the slitherine forum, but some stem from my own experience as well. The weakness of the AI I think it is fair to say that the AI does not pose a great challenge. In many cases, it is just too passive, and as far as attack is concerned, it throws everything at you without any major calculation. However, the AI can throw many units at you, especially in higher difficulty levels. And he can plant defenses around cities and strongpoints, supported by a steady prestige flow. It is quite possible that you will run out of gas during the later parts of the scenario. And so it happens, at times. Many people wonder how to avoid losing too much too early. How can one do better? General advice Let s start right away with general advice. Don t rush too much. Be on the move, but be patient, and play a little bit defensively. The more you risk, the greater the losses. Stay out of sight. Stay out of the opponents spotting range whenever you can. If the AI cannot see you, it cannot attack you. Most of the time, the AI waits. Let it be that way until you decide to attack on your own terms. Form groups. A single unit cannot do anything, except minor harassment and gaining time for better defense. Go about with three units at least, one with artillery function. Keep your units together. Suppress. Before each attack, there should be some kind of suppressive fire first. Even if there is no actual damage result, there will be at least a reduction of entrenchment. Only attack when you can destroy a unit for good. There are exceptions of this, of course, but in general you should try to remove an enemy unit right away as soon as possible. Before each scenario, take a closer look at the map Where are the airfields? How far are they? What about terrain? Roads? Rivers? Bridges? Pathways? Dead ends? Do not replace during scenarios. If a unit is damaged, send it to the rear. Try everything to avoid elite replacement during scenarios. Remember: During scenarios you pay for normal replacement, but in 38

39 the deployment phase it is for free. And elite replacements cost 10 % for each strength point replaced while during scenarios, it costs five times as much. How to make them surrender There is an interesting function in the new rules which allows you to gain prestige by making enemy units surrender. The prestige you get depends on the enemy strength points left when the unit surrenders. The stronger the enemy unit is the more you get. But how does this work? When you make a unit retreat and it cannot go anywhere, because all hexes around it are occupied. For a retreat there has to be an attack by a unit with a damage result which is greater than the actual strength of the defending unit. Damage is considered to be actual kills and suppression, at first by the attacking unit itself and secondly by any suppression because of former bomber and artillery attacks targeting the defender. And the entrenchment level has to be 1 or zero. With more entrenchment, a retreat does never happen. So reduce the entrenchment to 1 or 0 at first. For suppression, you need artillery and level bombers. Look at the numbers of how your attack went along. How many points are suppressed? There has to be a yellow number at least, although this does not show complete suppression. A red number is much better. Then attack. If a unit has to retreat, it will try to retreat to reach the hex right to the opposite of the attacker. If that is occupied, it will go the hex to the right of it; if that is occupied, it will go to the left. And if these two are occupied as well, it will go once again to one of the remaining hexes, once again at first to the right, then to the left. See The following pictures can explain this. The principle is: go clockwise, right from the perspective of the attacking unit. 39

40 So, for successful surrender attacks you need artillery and narrow conditions. Remember, you could park your units around enemy units and block them. There is a slight possibility that your own units will get into such a surrender trap. It is a good idea to leave a little bit space behind your front units to avoid that. Initiative? What does that mean? Initiative determines who shoots first (regardless of who attacks and who defends) and how many times a defending unit can shoot back. This refers to the strength of the unit which is suppressed and reduced or killed during an attack. If the initiative of the attacker is five points higher than the initiative of the defender, not a single one of these points will shoot back. This means: For every point your initiative is higher than your opponent, 20% of the points which are suppressed and killed by the unit which has shot first will not shoot back. Fractions are rounded up. Any kind of suppressed strength the unit with the lower initiative already has is taken into account. Which means: If the unit with the lower initiative has been attacked with artillery and bombers before, and if this has resulted in suppressed strength, this strength does not shoot back. The higher the initiative the greater the probability to shoot first and the less casualties by units which shoot back. And it is advantageous if the defending unit has been suppressed by artillery and / or bombers before. Units with a high initiative have an advantage in the most cases, at least. Certain factors may limit your initiative. This is the weather, the type of unit and the terrain where the defender is located and the type of unit. Furthermore, there are random variations of 0 to 2 for the defender and attacker each, which are totally independent of weather and terrain. The following table gives you an overview: 40

41 Terrain of the defender Highest initiative possible Attention: Infantry units are exempt from this! Regardless of the terrain, the initiative of infantry stays the same. It can only be influenced by other things such as weather, ambushes and so on. Clear and landscape (fields), airfields, desert, rough desert No limits Dunes 7 Hills 5 Fortification and bocage 3 Swamp and forest 2 Town, port, jungle, thick forest, mountain, high mountain 1 Other influences on initiative Rain and snow Effect on initiative Highest value is 1 for all units Tank or recon unit attacks anti-tank unit Anti-tank unit gets + 3 A unit has run out of fuel Unit gets -2 Ambush and rugged defense Experience Attacker has 0 automatically Depending on the unit a bonus of 5 % or 10 % of the total initiative of the unit. Then there is the possibility of mass attacks. For every additional unit which is located right next to an enemy unit, the initiative of the defending unit is reduced by one. This does only work with units which are actually able to attack, and artillery is not counted. So the more you surround enemy units with more units of your own, but only units which are not artillery and may be able to attack, the lower the initiative of the defender. For air combat, you need to use additional fighters and tactical bombers. See here: 41

42 Terrain with automatic entrenchment Here you can find a list of all terrain types with a certain base entrenchment value. At each start of a turn, any unit which is located on such a terrain receives this value. A unit does only surrender when the entrenchment value is reduced to 0 or 1. Terrain Entrenchment hills, airfield 1 Bocage, forest, mountains, high mountains 2 City, port, jungle 3 fortification 4 Close defense terrain In certain terrain, the stats for normal ground defense are ignored. Instead, the system applies the stats for close defense. Close defense, however, is much lower than normal ground defense, predominantly for tanks and transport units. Infantry units usually have the highest ground defense. Therefore, this type of terrain favors infantry, while it is disadvantageous for all units which attack infantry which is situated in such a terrain. The terrain types are swamps, bocage, forests, dense forests, jungles, hills, mountains, high mountains, cities and ports. When someone is attacking, what is counting is always the terrain of the defender. As a consequence, I think there are the following principles: Move infantry to such a terrain when possible, and keep tanks away from such a terrain. And be careful when attacking such a close defense region. The Pushing Move The pushing move is a method which I have happened to do often to attack and destroy in one turn while being on the move. The principle is to move a second own unit right next to an enemy unit (mass attack) and attack it, and force the enemy unit to retreat right towards the second unit. This other unit destroys the enemy for good and can move on. Ideally, you can save time with this, because you can destroy units on the fly, which means you can move and attack with the first units and attack and move with the second unit. No additional move is required. 42

43 A few pictures will explain this: In the first picture, the tank could attack, but this would not lead to total destruction of the unit. In addition to this, a second move by a second unit would be required to destroy the infantry for good. So it waits for a second tank to move nearby. And this attack would be a mass attack, since a second unit is involved which could attack the infantry as well. In this case, the tank waits for the artillery to fire suppressive fire. The suppression ensures a retreat and successful attack. Then, the tank attacks and pushes the enemy unit right to the front of the first tank. This one does have to shoot only once, and can move on afterwards. 43

44 Attack Groups Each group should contain a minimum of three units. At least one of these should have the ability to suppress, which means it should be artillery or a strategic bomber. With these three units, you are able to reach minor objectives. And you can make pushing moves to destroy units in one row. For more difficult tasks you need to adapt. One possibility is a recon unit, two tanks, two artillery, among them one self-propelled and one long range artillery, and two decent infantry. The flak is not a requirement, but I included it for anti-tank purposes. I think that it is a good idea to advance with the protection of the self-propelled artillery behind you. This is important in scenarios with intense fighting. The more intense the situation is, the more units need to be close to each other. Do not stray off too far. Scout movement Recon vehicles have by far the highest casualties, even for cautious players. The reason is that they are at the front, where you tend to move them to risky situations while not being able to move back in time. The principle is to never move a recon unit completely in one single move. You should move less than the half way, take a look, and retreat to the rear where no one can see you. Remember: Each interruption of a recon move costs one movement point. Of course you may stay at the front as well. But do so only if there is a definite purpose for you, such as destroying a rest of a minor unit, occupying city hexes or participating in mass attacks and such. 44

45 These are situations where recons do come handy, at least if they are handled with care. Recon units are very useful in some instances because of their ability to move several times in one turn. But other than that: If there is too much going on, it is better to move back. The tanks cannot be destroyed with the attack group I have assembled here. And the spotting range of the bunker is 4. This means the recon unit can be spotted and attacked if it would not move at least four hexes away. Other than that, the attack group has to stay closely together. The self-propelled artillery may protect it against too much aggression. 45

46 This should hold for a turn. The next target would be the bunker to the left and the destruction of the two tanks waiting there. 46

47 The bunker surprise Have you ever wondered how the AI manages to find your units from time to time even if you took great care to avoid being spotted? Well, in many cases the answer is bunkers, radar istallations and other fortified buildings. Bunkers have a standard spotting range of four hexes, while you more than often cannot see them in time. The standard spotting range of land units, for example, is only two hexes, and of recons three hexes. If you find a town or stronghold with bunkers, try to attack with all your units at a single corner of the whole city first. If your units need to be in the vicinity of a bunker or stronghold for some time, destroy the structures always. Thus, your opponent will be blinded and not be able to attack you with airplanes. Destroying heavy tanks In some scenarios, heavy tanks may occur and cause difficulties. What can be done? In my point of view, there are some options which have proven to be useful. Contain: If you are not able to destroy the heavy unit, it should not be able to roam freely. So block the path of the unit, preferably with anti-tank units. And protect your units with artillery. In the background, move anti-tank and flak towards the opponent. Isolate: The strong unit can be isolated from weaker units around it, for example by allowing it to move into a certain area or by destroying all units around it. Eventually you could encircle the tank with three own units at least, to avoid that the AI refills the tank with ammo and strength. Terrain: The best solution is to entice the tank to move to a hex where only close defense stats are counted, so-called close terrain, and where the initiative of all units and tanks is usually limited or very low, except for infantry. These are forest and city regions, or hills or mountains. 47

48 Destroy: Attack with bombers and artillery first to suppress strength. Then attack repeatedly, even with infantry, at least until the ammunition of the tank is depleted. When the conditions are narrow, try to make the tank surrender. Contain it, isolate it, encircle it and bombard it with bombers and artillery. Afterwards, attack. Who knows perhaps the unit surrenders after the first attack? The most important target What is the greatest threat when attacking cities? It s long range artillery. Artillery can target your most expensive units while you cannot do anything, and it can block your path with suppression. It can also hinder you from destroying enemy anti-aircraft units. This is not possible with anti-tank and infantry units. Even an enemy tank can be blocked, or at least contained and isolated, but not long range artillery. I reckon that artillery causes the most severe point losses, especially if it fires at my own artillery. The consequence is to contain enemy tanks and go for artillery at first. Stay out of spotting range as much as you can, but then when you are ready and filled up move all units at once and attack with each unit. And if you cannot reach the artillery to destroy it, damage and suppress it at least. In many cases I have found myself in a situation where the only thing I could do is to offer the AI as many targets as possible to shoot at while moving everything in range I had. However, the AI tries to pick off your most expensive unit. 48

49 In this case, I would regroup and shift the long range artillery ono hex towards the upper left next to the town. The flak goes to the place of the tank to the right, the pioneers go the place of the flak, the tank moves to the left. Then, move the recon backwards, and stay out of spotting range. The alternative would be to attack the center or left side. Contain the tanks at the right but do not move your flak within the range of the enemy artillery. Try to destroy the antitank gun at first. 49

50 List of Changes Infantry Light Infantry Units: Infanterie (43+45), Jäger Infanterie (43+45), PzFaust+ PzSchreck Infanterie, Volkssturm New Units: Infanterie 45: Refined infantry, available Jäger Inf: Infantry with higher movement and increased spotting range, available Jäger 45: Refined Jäger infantry, available PzFaust Infanterie: Anti-Tank infantry, available PzSchreck Infanterie: Anti-Tank infantry, available Volkssturm: Improvised infantry, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Infanterie : Cost -7 form 127 to Initiative +1 Initiative Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack Infanterie : Cost -7 form 187 Hard Attack Movement +1 (except Jäger) Movement +1 (except Jäger) Air Defense +1 (only for Jäger) Air Defense +1 (only for Jäger) Ground Defense +1 (only for Ground Defense +1 (only for Jäger) Jäger Inf) Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

51 Fallschirmjäger Units: Fallschirmjäger (43+45) New Units: Fallschirmjäger 45: Refined paratroopers, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Fallschirmjäger: Initiative +1 Initiative +1 Ground Defense +2 from 5 to 7 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Cost +30 from 140 to 170 Hard Attack +3 Fallschirmjäger 43: Movement +1 Movement +1 Ground Defense +3 from 5 to 8 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 from 4 to 5 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Cost +83 from 167 to 250 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max. +40 Cavalry Units: Kavallerie (43+45) New Units: Kavallerie 43: advanced Cavalry, with Reconmove, available Kavallerie 45: advanced Cavalry, with Reconmove, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Kavallerie Initiative +1 Initiative +1 added Reconmove Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +2 Movement +1 Ground Defense +2 Ground Defense +2 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

52 Motorcycle Infantry Units: Kradschützen (43+45) New Units: Kradschützen 43: advanced Kradschützen, with Reconmove, available Kradschützen 45: advanced Kradschützen, with Reconmove, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Kradschützen Initiative +1 Initiative +1 added Reconmove Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +3 Cost +30 from 147 to 177 Movement +1 Movement +1 made available in 1939 ( ) Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 movement type car Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max. +40 Pioniere Infantry Units: Pioniere (43+45), Sturmpioniere (43+45), Kommando (43+45) New Units: Sturmpioniere: Advanced pioneers with boats; can cross rivers in one move (available ) Sturmpioniere 43: Refined version, available Sturmpioniere 45: Refined version, available Pioniere 43: Advanced Pioniere with better attack values, available Pioniere 45: Refined version, available Kommando: Advanced engineer, airborne unit, reconmove, very expensive, available Kommando 43: as above, refined and very expensive airborne unit, available Kommando 45: Refined version, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: none Initiative +1 Initiative +1 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +3 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 no Kommando Units no Kommando Units Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

53 Gebirgsjäger Infantry Units: Gebirgsjäger (43+45) New Units: Gebirgsjäger 45: Refined Version, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: none Initiative +1 Initiative +1 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +3 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max. +40 Grenadiere Units: Grenadiere ( ) New Units: 44 Grenadiere: Anti-Tank Infantry, available Grenadiere: Refined Version, available All Grenadiere: can switch to Grenadiere Nest, better defense, movement 1 Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: None Initiative +1 Initiative +1 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +3 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

54 Bridge Engineers Units: Brückenpioniere, Brückeninfanterie (43+45), Brückengrenadiere (43+45) New Units: Brückeninfanterie: better Brückenpioniere, available Brückeninfanterie 43: as above, available Brückeninfanterie 45: Refined Version, available Brückengrenadiere: better Brückenpioniere, available Brückengrenadiere 43: Refined version, available Brückengrenadiere 45: Refined version, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: None Initiative +1 Initiative +1 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +2 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +2 Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

55 Tanks Tanks Units: all Tanks New Units: Panzer IIA: early version of Panzer II tank, available Panzer IIE: faster version of Panzer II tanks, car movement, available Panzer IIG: refined version of Panzer II tank, available Panzer IIIA: early version of Panzer III tank, available Panzer IVC: early version of Panzer IV tank, available Panzer III M Schürzen: tank with better close defense, available Panzer 35(t): light Tank, available Flammpanzer 38 (t): alternative Flametank, available Tiger I: increased hard attack, +1 from 17 to 18 E 50: Medium tank, available E 75: Heavy tank, available E 79: Heavy tank, available Löwe: Heavy tank, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Panzer II Flamm: Soft Attack +2 from Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: 6 to 8 Initiative +1 Initiative +2 Panzer IIC: Rate of Fire +2 from 10 to Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Costs +60%, max Costs +20%, max

56 Recon Units Recon Units Units: all Recon Vehicles New Units: SdKfz 251/10 3.7cm Pak, light Anti-Tank Recon, available KdF 82 Kubelwagen, light recon car, movement type car, available Schwimmwagen: light recon car, can cross rivers, available SdKfz 250/3 MG: Fast recon unit, available SdKfz 250/9 20mm: Fast recon unit, available SdKfz 250/10 37mm: Fast recon unit, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: SdKfz 222: changed movement type Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: "wheeled" to "car" Initiative +1 Initiative +2 SdKfz 231: changed movement type Spotting +1 Spotting +1 "wheeled" to "car" Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Panzer IIF: Rate of Fire +2 from 10 to Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Panzer II Luchs: Rate of Fire +2 from Movement +1 Movement to 12 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max Towed Anti-Tank Guns Towed Anti-Tank Guns Units: 3.7cm Pak 36, 3.7cm Pak 36 (Fj), 5cm Pak 38, 7.5cm Pak 40, 8.8cm Pak 43-41, 12.8cm Pak 44 New Units: 3.7cm Pak 36 (Fj): Light anti-tank gun for paratroops, available cm Pak 44: Heavy anti-tank gun, with artillery switch, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Movement 2 and movement type Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: alpine (Mountains) for 3.7cm and Initiative +1 Initiative +2 5cm Pak Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 decreased prices of various units Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +1 Camo trait (cannot be seen except Movement +1 for 7.5cm and Movement +1 for 7.5cm and when enemy unit is right next to it) 8.8 cm Pak cm Pak cm Pak Hard Attack +1 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Artillery mode for 7.5cm Pak 40, Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Range 1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Artillery mode for 8.8cm Pak 43-41, Range 2 Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

57 Light Anti-Tank Vehicles Light Anti-Tank Vehicles Units: Panzerjäger I, 5cm Pak Pz II, Marder Series, SdKfz 251/22 7.5cm Pak, SdKfz 8.8cm, 8.8 cm Pak Waffenträger, 12.8cm Pak Waffenträger, E 10 Jagdpanzer New Units: SdKfz 251/22 7.5cm Pak: Light anti-tank vehicle with reconmove ability SdKfz 8.8cm: 8.8 cm anti-tank vehicle with improvised artillery (not Flak) switch 50mm Pak 38 Panzer II: Light anti-tank vehicle, available cm Pak Waffenträger: Self-propelled AT with artillery switch, available cm Pak Waffenträger: Self-propelled AT with artillery switch, available E 10 Jagdpanzer: Light anti-tank vehicle with camo switch, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Target type now soft target Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: (except SdKfz 8.8cm Pak/Flak) Initiative +1 Initiative +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +1 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Movement +1 Movement +1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Heavy Anti-Tank Vehicles Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max Heavy Anti-Tank Vehicles Units: Jagdpanther, Elefant, Nashorn, Jagdtiger, 12,8cm PzSelbstfahrlafette, Jagdpanther B, Jagdpanther II, E 75 Jagdpanzer, E 79 Jagdpanzer New Units: 12,8cm PzSelbstfahrlafette: Heavy anti-tank vehicle with artillery switch Jagdpanther B: Heavy anti-tank vehicle, available Jagdpanther II: Heavy anti-tank vehicle, available E 75 Jagdpanzer: Heavy anti-tank vehicle, available E 79 Jagdpanzer: Heavy anti-tank vehicle, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Initiative +1 Initiative +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Ground Defense +2 Ground Defense +2 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

58 Assault Guns StuG Assault Guns (Sturmgeschütze) Units: StuG (all types) and StuH 42 Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: anti-tank StuGs can be switched to Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: light artillery (range 1). artillery StuGs can be switched to low-initiative anti-tank mode. Initiative +1 Initiative +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 StuG IIIa: Ammo -2 from 8 to 6; Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 cost -20 from 221 to 200; Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 can be purchased ( ). Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Fortkiller trait for all. Rate of Fire + 20% Rate of Fire + 20% Camouflage for all, but only in anti-tank mode. Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max Hetzer and Jagdpanzer Hetzer and Jagdpanzer Units: Hetzer, Hetzer Schürzen, Jagdpanzer IV/48 and IV/70, E 25 Jagdpanzer New Units: Hetzer (Schürzen): Anti-tank vehicle with better close defense, available E 25 Jagdpanzer: Late anti-tank vehicle, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: Camo trait (cannot be seen except Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: when enemy unit is right next to it) Initiative +1 Initiative +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Ammo +1 Ammo +1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

59 Artillery Units Artillery Units: All artillery units (except StuGs and StuH 42) New Units: 7.5 cm le IG 18: light version of 7.5cm gun, can parachute, available cm Geb.G. 36 (Gebirge): Mountain version of 7.5cm gun; available cm GebH 40 (Gebirge): Mountain version of 10.5cm gun, available cm sig 33: Towed version of Sturmpanzer I gun; range is 2; available sig 33 II (Sf): better artillery vehicle for 15cm gun; available Sturmtiger: mobile siege artillery; ignores entrechment (meng trait); available Sturminfanteriegeschütz 33B: mobile precursor of Brummbar artillery; available cm le FH 18 Waffenträger: Self-propelled artillery with AT-switch, available cm sfh auf PzIV: Self-propelled artillery with AT-switch, available Gneisenau 15cm Zwilling: Rail gun, available Gneisenau 28cm: Rail gun, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: All artillery units can be switched Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: to low-initiative anti-tank guns; Initiative +1 Initiative +2 except for 21cm, all rocket launchers Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 and Karl-Gerät, Gustav and 280mm. Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Ammo +1 Ammo cm/ 10.5cm guns: movement +1 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Sturmpanzer I: range -1 from 3 to 2; Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% 17cm K 18: range +1 from 3 to 4; Karl-Gerät, Gustav and 280mm K5: Karl-Gerät, Gustav, K 280mm, no Karl-Gerät, Gustav, K280mm, ammo +1 from 3 to 4; Gneisenau rail guns: Gneisenau rail guns can be purchased. Ammo +3 available at +50% cost no V1 and V2 Gustav and 280mm K5: no V1 and V2 range +2 from 6 to 8 and 4 to 6; movement +1 of all towed Nblwf 280mm K5: cost +260 from 540 to 800. Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

60 Towed Light Anti-Air Units Towed Anti-air Guns Units: 2cm Flak 38, 3.7cm Flak 37, 3.7 cm FlaK 37 (Fj), 2cm Flakvierling 38 New Units: 3.7 cm FlaK 37 (Fj): Parachute version of 3.7 cm FlaK 37. Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: All units can be switched to light Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: artillery use with a rate of fire of +2. Initiative +1 Initiative +2 (No minekiller capability.) Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +1 Camo trait in anti-tank mode, Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +1 which means "invisibility" Air Attack +1 Air Attack +1 Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Movement +1 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Anti-Air Vehicles Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max Anti-Air Vehicles Units: All anti-air vehicles. New Units: 3.7cm FlaK Opel Blitz: 3.7cm flak on truck, available SdKfz 251D 2cm Flakdrilling, 2cm triple flak on halftracks, available Mbenz 2cm Flakvierling, quadruple flak on truck, available cm FlaK 36 Eisenbahn, 8.8cm Flak on trains, with artillery switch, available , no SE units cm FlaK 40 Eisenbahn, 12.8cm Flak on trains, + artillery switch, available , no SE units. Luftwaffenwagen: can build improvised airstrips for fighters and fighter-bombers. Not available as elite or SE unit, available Kugelblitz: Anti-Air tank, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: All units can be switched to light Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: artillery use with a rate of fire of +2. Initiative +1 Initiative +2 (No minekiller capability.) Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +1 All can move like a recon vehicle Air Attack +1 Air Attack +2 (reconmove trait); except trains. Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +1 All units: increased movement +1 Close Defense +1 Close Defense +1 (except SdKfz 10/4) Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

61 Heavy Flak Guns 8.8cm and 12.8cm Flak Units: 8.8cm Flak 36 and 12.8cm Flak 40 Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: 8.8cm Flak 36: hard attack + 2 from Changes of normal units and: Changes of normal units and: 17 to 19. Switch to artillery or AT. Movement +1 (only 8.8cm) Movement +1 (only 8.8cm) 12.8cm Flak 40: can switch to Initiative +1 Initiative +2 anti-tank mode and artillery. Hard Attack +1 Hard Attack +2 Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +2 Air Attack +1 Air Attack +1 Air Attack +2 (only 12.8cm) Air Attack +2 (only 12.8cm) Ground Defense +2 Ground Defense +2 Air Defense +1 Air Defense +1 Rate of Fire +20% Rate of Fire +20% Costs +50%, max Costs +20%, max

62 Land Transports Land Transports Units: All land transports. New Units: le Feldwagen Hf1: Light Horse Transport; horse movement, speed 4. Maultiere (Gebirge): Mule Transport for mountains; speed 4; alpine movement, for mountain units. s Feldwagen Hf2: Medium Horse Transport; car movement, speed 4. Stahlfeldwagen Hf7: Medium Horse Transport on wheels, wheeled movement, speed 6. SdKfz 6: cheap halftrack transport, Speed 5, available SdKfz 8: expensive heavypull vehicle, tank movement, speed 7, available SdKfz 9: refined heavypull vehicle, tank movement, speed 6, available SdKfz 10: fast halftrack vehicle, speed 8, available SdKfz 11: medium halftrack vehicle, speed 6, available SWS: heavy-duty lightly armored halftrack transport vehicle, available Einheits-PKW: car for light transports; truck movement; available Kubelwagen: Swift land transport for light units; car movement; available Schwimmwagen: car for troop movement, can cross rivers, available MBenz L4500: Better truck, movement 9, available Opel Maultier: halftrack, for up to medium tasks, movement 6, available MBenz L4500 Maultier: better medium halftrack, speed 7, available Steyr RSO-3: medium tracked transport vehicle, tank movement, speed 5, available Sturmbootwagen: special transport for Sturmpioniere, can cross rivers. Kätzchen MTW: Armored personnel carrier, available Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: only for SdKfz 251/1 and 250/1 only for SdKfz 251/1 and 250/1 SdKfz 251/1: and Kätzchen MTW and Kätzchen MTW can only be used by infantry, Initiative +1 Initiative +2 and light artillery, Soft Attack +1 Soft Attack +1 except Bruckenpioniere. Ground Defense +1 Ground Defense +2 SdKfz 250/1: Air Defense +1 Air Defense +2 can only be used by infantry, Fuel +10 Fuel +10 and light artillery, except Bruckenpioniere. increased stats of these units: Ground Defense, Air Defense and Soft Attack + 1 no increased costs no increased costs 62

63 Elite Air Units Fighters Units: All fighters. New Units: Bf 109 D: Early fighter plane, availabe Changes: Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: None. Initiative +2 No SE units available. Air Attack +2 Soft Attack +1 Hard Attack +1 Ground Defense +1 Air Defense +2 Ammo +1 Spotting +1 Movement +1 Costs +50%, max Fighter-Bombers Units: All fighter-bombers. New Units: Ju 87 A: Early fighter bomber, available Fieseler Storch 156: recon plane without need for an airfield, available Fieseler Storch 256: better recon plane without need for an airfield, available Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: None. Initiative +1 No SE units available. Soft Attack +2 Hard Attack +2 Naval Attack +2 Air Attack +1 Ground Defense +2 Air Defense +2 Munition +1 Movement +1 (no Fieseler Storch available) Costs +50%, max

64 Bombers Units: Bombers. New Units: Ju 88 C2: bomber with basic air attack capability, available Ju 88 C6: bomber with basic air attack capability, available DO 215 B: bomber, available Normal Units: Elite Units: SE Units: None. Initiative +1 No SE units available. Soft Attack +3 Hard Attack +2 Seeziele +2 Air Attack +1 Ground Defense +2 Air Defense +2 Munition +1 Movement +1 Costs +50%, max No Changes for Immobile Units There are no changes regarding ships and immobile land units such as strongholds or forts. 64

65 Effects with regard to gameplay As a general assessment, I think the majority of the changes affect early and middle time game play most. Many +1 values lose significance in later years. That s why I have chosen some special features which keep their worth in all game periods, like a higher rate of fire, the camo trait and the reconmove ability. More artillery units could mean a disadvantage for the AI in low intensity scenarios without a tactical challenge. I do not think it s possible to buy core units as elite units only at least not at a high difficulty, and certainly not in the early game. In many cases, the game will develop around bonus units. 65