Locarnus Addon 2025-08, for Battlefield Europe, Afrika Korps and Grand Campaign East

[goose_2]

New Years Day and this morning were productive. 2 recordings and somewhat good progress in the first 11 days, so much fun and destruction. I may have to buy even more elite replacements to finish this scenario. I am hoping successfully.

see you Friday

[Locarnus]

New Years Day and this morning were productive. 2 recordings and somewhat good progress in the first 11 days, so much fun and destruction. I may have to buy even more elite replacements to finish this scenario. I am hoping successfully.

see you Friday

Happy New Year!

Yeah, those scenarios are quite a bit of work, any progress is hard fought.

I also thought about the captured KV-85 problem. Turns out I already changed them into KV-1S, though the T-34-85 is more fitting, so I'll settle on those.

[goose_2]

New Years Day and this morning were productive. 2 recordings and somewhat good progress in the first 11 days, so much fun and destruction. I may have to buy even more elite replacements to finish this scenario. I am hoping successfully.

see you Friday

Happy New Year!

Yeah, those scenarios are quite a bit of work, any progress is hard fought.

I also thought about the captured KV-85 problem. Turns out I already changed them into KV-1S, though the T-34-85 is more fitting, so I'll settle on those.

so appreciated the discussion yesterday and the encouragement to retry my 3rd broadcast...so much goodness happened, not perfect and some mistakes, but so much goodness I actually believe a DV may be possible.

It may not be, but I am going to need to push for everything I have got, but I think I may pull it off.

I am hoping to get time tomorrow morning to pull it off, but not sure.

So much fun and good things in this game

[caesar67]

Happy New Year!

I have a question while playing BC in Jan.44: I've been told to buy strongpoints, mines etc. before D-Day. But I can not found them in the production menu.

Another point to mention: it is a but confusing finding the Elephant in the tank menue and not in antitank menue!

[caesar67]

A month later: I want to upgrade a 3,7 Pak to 7,5. That wieks, but there is no truck in antitank menue available!?

[Locarnus]

so appreciated the discussion yesterday and the encouragement to retry my 3rd broadcast...so much goodness happened, not perfect and some mistakes, but so much goodness I actually believe a DV may be possible.

It may not be, but I am going to need to push for everything I have got, but I think I may pull it off.

I am hoping to get time tomorrow morning to pull it off, but not sure.

So much fun and good things in this game

With that difficulty, a DV will will probably be simply impossible on quite a few scenarios.
No total losses, more experience on your units and enough prestige to continue will be a good outcome, everything else is a bonus under those circumstances!

Good luck!

Happy New Year!

I have a question while playing BC in Jan.44: I've been told to buy strongpoints, mines etc. before D-Day. But I can not found them in the production menu.

Another point to mention: it is a but confusing finding the Elephant in the tank menue and not in antitank menue!

Happy New Year!

Ah, yep, strongpoints and minefields are purchased "on trucks" from the "AA" class.
You then move those trucks to the desired location and "switch" them, which transforms them into the actual strongpoint or minefield (like the seamines, they can't be switched back). However most players ignore those options and favor normal units. Because once deployed, the strongpoints and minefield can get into the way of the own units and then have to be disbanded (using the "D" key when selected) without giving your spent prestige back. Unfortunately, they also take up core slots, if that is a concern to you.

Well, tanks are in the tank class , with and and without turret (reigniting the old debate).
On a serious note, it is a matter of class specific combat boni and upgrade options.
An upgrade from Tiger P to Elefant (or Panzer III to StuG III) is only possible in Panzer Corps, if they are in the same unit class.
I agree that the Elefant should then simply also be in the AT class (and be able to switch between those, like the long barrel StuG III). That was actually just implemented in the last Addon update. With some more tweaks to it in the update I'm trying to finish in the coming days.

A month later: I want to upgrade a 3,7 Pak to 7,5. That wieks, but there is no truck in antitank menue available!?

Towed AT units with camo trait have the transport "included", instead of purchasable separately like infantry or towed AA guns. Thats the reason you have to manually switch them to use their transports, instead of transports working automatically like they do on other units.
The "7.5 Pak 40 /Henschel" in the AT class purchase menu can switch to the Henschel truck.
The "7.5 Pak 40 /RSO" can switch the "Raupenschlepper Ost" transport vehicle.

You can see those transports in the infantry class, with the name flipped around.
The "Henschel /7.5 Pak 40" in the infantry class is the "7.5 Pak 40 /Henschel" AT unit when switched to transport mode.
This time, the upgrade option from infantry to AT gun is just a side-effect. The only reason for having it this way is, that the "camo" trait is programmed in a way that would affect the transport as well (if the transports were added normally instead of using the unit switch). So with the current implementation McGuba avoided something of a programming issue from the Panzer Corps engine.

[goose_2]

Buddy,

I have a request. For the next update, can you make the better Henkel, the one that is not in family with the Henkel, the super Henkel available. I finished Storming and see that the super Strat is not available for me to use on Docks.

Please rectify for the Jan update.

[Locarnus]

Buddy,

I have a request. For the next update, can you make the better Henkel, the one that is not in family with the Henkel, the super Henkel available. I finished Storming and see that the super Strat is not available for me to use on Docks.

Please rectify for the Jan update.

It seems that the He 177 had quite a few problems early on.
Thus despite being used as a transport aircraft in early 1943, it seems that real bomber operations with this type did not start until summer of 1943.

But I can add the He 111 H-11 version and make it available from October 1942 (so Stalingrad Docks).

[Locarnus]

[...]I finished Storming and see that the super Strat is not available for me to use on Docks.[...]

Great to hear that you finished Storming Stalingrad scenario! Looking forward to the dicussion tomorrow.
Question: Did you use the Panzer III N with NightPhoenix and his attack +2 hero? That would give it 11 soft attack. Still vulnerable to being attacked by Guards in very close terrrain, but also packs quite a soft target punch when used offensively against suppressed SMG Infantry, even in city hexes.

I made the He 111 H-11 strat bomber available for Docks (shown at end of the list, but still in the He 111 upgrade family). Not great, not terrible .


2025 brings some changes to the Addon.

EVERY grand campaign and original campaign scenario should now have at least one in-scenario upgrade hex, marked by the black cross or double chevrons. Like Afrika Korps had already.
This means that the GrandCampaignNoSpam mini mod had to be incorporated, since those special hexes do not work without the Addon anyway.
And the PG style strength plates optional mod and some marker and rail graphics were added to or modified. Thus this optional mod is also incorporated.
=> With those two optional mods incorporated and the growth of the Addon in other aspects, it makes sense to switch to a different install scheme.


In the future, the smaller updates (eg 2025-02) have to be installed ON TOP of the now released
2025 base version of the Locarnus Addon.
This will drastically decrease the download size of those smaller updates.



The install order should now look like this (once there is an eg 2025-01 update to the 2025 base version):




Since there is currently no 2025-01 update, the start screen at the moment looks like this (2025 base version of the Addon):




2025 Complete "Locarnus Addon" Download: https://bit.ly/4a7Nnvv

This is the 2025 base version of the Locarnus Addon. From now on, updates to the Locarnus Addon have to be installed on top of this base version.

UI changes, thanks to caesar67 for the request!
- Moved the A, B, C, $ map markers a bit away from the center of the hex
- This makes those markers more visible with move indicator or unit on top
- Added several markers, used for the Battlefield Europe scenario
- Three rail graphics corrected (wrong connections even in the vanilla game)

Battlefield Europe, Afrika Korps, GC & original PzC campaign compatibility
- GC & OC scenarios now ALL have at least 1 black cross marked upgrade city
- GC compatibility KV-85, IS-1, IS-2, M4A2(76) unit ID switcheroo
- GC unit ID switcheroo between german captured KV-1S and T-34-85
- GC Bonus SE Marder III H added, Marder III M moved several weeks back
- BE trigger conditions for soviet Valentines added (no spawn if Sealion)
- BE Leningrad defenders beginning strength increased
- BE Leningrad siege faster (90% chance every 5 instead of 6 turns)
- BE Leningrad capture gives prestige reward again (500)
- BE Minsk cauldron surrender changed to new zone 189 (includes Minsk)

Unit Changes:
- Unit ID switcheroo between german captured KV-1S and T-34-85
- Soviet KV-85, IS-1, IS-2, M4A2(76) unit ID switcheroo for Grand Campaign
- IS-2 split into early and late version, early IS-2 graphic thanks to guille1434!
- ISU 122 range in arty mode increased from 2 to 3
- German SU-122, SU-85 & SU-100 nerfed soft attack
- StuG III F/8 and E+ have 13 instead of 14 ground defense
- StuH 42 tank mode & Panzer III N+ have 1 less HA
- Marders are more expensive, Grille is less expensive
- German Ostwind SPAAG available much later, Ostwind II added
- Minor changes for some very late german aircraft (eg Do 335)
- Panther G and Jagdpanther available a few weeks earlier
- Some late german heavies (Elefant, Tiger II based ones) have higher GD
- Tiger I (non P) has 1 less GD, Panther has 1 more GD
- Big german TDs with camo in AT mode have only 1 movement in AT mode
- Fw 190 F & G series aircraft rebalanced (nerfed), F-8+ and G-8+ added
- He 111 H-11 version added for Stalingrad Docks
- Switchable cavalry for Hungarians, Soviets and others
- All switchable cavalry can attack in recon mode, but rof reduced to 7
- Panzer III M & Wurfrahmen 43 version have camo thanks to DCS!



The 2025 updated unit list for the GC 39 & 40 timeframe can be viewd and dowloaded here (link to dropbox):
https://bit.ly/3DQiLCL

[goose_2]

Hey buddy, I applied and the new screen looks great. I did end up going full boar like you suggested, but my use even more before I actually start. I plan on trying probably next weekend.

My son is doing his broadcast today and would love to chat with you,if you have the time.

Blessings and see you Tuesday!

[Locarnus]

Hey buddy, I applied and the new screen looks great. I did end up going full boar like you suggested, but my use even more before I actually start. I plan on trying probably next weekend.

My son is doing his broadcast today and would love to chat with you,if you have the time.

Blessings and see you Tuesday!

Hope you have not started Stalingrad Docks yet.
I forgot to reduce the stats of the soviet naval transports in the 2025 base version of the Addon (so there they have the higher BE stats, making them much faster).
This is corrected with this 2025-01 Addon update.
Unfortunately the update only works if you load the save from end of Storming Stalingrad and again transition to Stallingrad Docks after the update is already installed!
My apologies!



2025-01 Update "Locarnus Addon" Download: https://bit.ly/40dQFc4

This is only an update to the Addon and requires the 2025 base version of the Locarnus Addon to be installed already.

Battlefield Europe, Afrika Korps, GC & original PzC campaign compatibility
- BE British recon info for Northern France (French Resistance Liaison)
- BE Malta gives a bit more prestige again (300 instead of 100)
- BE capturing Tobruk activates a script that makes it German flagged for purchases
- BE Libyan desert no-cheat transport markers updated with the new graphics
- BE identified many more soviet heroes with the glowing strength plates
- GC german captured SU-122 is primarily in tank class (no range heroes)

Unit Changes:
- GebG in AT mode are NOT in the standard Pak(AT) upgrade family anymore
- German captured SU-122 (GC) is primarily in tank class (no range heroes)
- SU-122 reduced HA both in arty and tank mode by 1
- SdKfz 7/2 late version added with improved 3.7cm Flak
- Hummel 1944 version with Ostketten added
- Pz IV Möbelwagen SPAA cheaper
- Sherman late versions back down to 3 close defense
- Soviet Naval Transport nerfed (lower movement, defense)
- He 111 some some buffs to H-11 and H-20 (renamed from H-21)



If you use the mod manager, it should now look like this:

[goose_2]

I have not started, and am happy to get this in before I start to play around with Docks this weekend.

I am in the middle of finishing Budapest Seige in soviet storm, so will only start preparation on Docks after that.

The good news is that I have a chance to do that on Monday as I have it off from work.

MLK Day.

[Locarnus]

I have not started, and am happy to get this in before I start to play around with Docks this weekend.

I am in the middle of finishing Budapest Seige in soviet storm, so will only start preparation on Docks after that.

The good news is that I have a chance to do that on Monday as I have it off from work.

MLK Day.

Just had an idea for Stalingrad Docks:


I just looked again at the Stalingrad Docks scenario and wondered about the North Eastern airfield near the river that is already under german control and guarded by those german units.
Since the scenario has 3 Ju 52 german transport planes available, it would be possible to deploy 3 paratrooper units over their from the start, but only if they have an air spawn.

So the first the german Fallschirmjäger, second Kostia with the Bersaglieri can be in family upgraded to Paracadutisti for 45 prestige and then third Temis with 10.5cm leG 41 gets an air spawn if you remove the Kettenkrad for the moment. So that would cost about 85 prestige, but you would have 2 para inf and 1 para arty/AT ready over there in the first turn.

At the very start, not many enemies are there. A single active SMG inf near the river at (35,5), the passive SMG inf at (29,6) where you can capture the BA-64 recon unit and those two active AA units near the northern most "Stalingrad Dock" harbor tile at (33,7). Destroying those two AA would give your aircraft a lot of room there, and infantry that attempts to land there would be very vulnerable. Together with the aux towed AT and AA guns from the airfields, you would also have a strong force in the rear of the Railway stations & tank factory.

I have not attempted this, just thought about this. No idea how the enemy units respond, if it is feasible or benefitial. But it would be some novel approach! Instead of the Soviets getting reinforcements from there, they would get flanked instead!

[goose_2]

I saw your message on youtube and here too late to change what I already recorded. i like this idea and think it would work. I would love some one show how this would work out.

I am, as of this morning halfway through the battle. I think it is going very well. I hope to finish before this weekend, but may need sleep instead.

I busted through the next 5 days of the scenario this morning and am really pleased with the destruction and progress. I am having a much easier time then I had in Storming, because I am not facing crazy 3 starred SMG's, they were brutal.

I look forward to giving you an update on Friday.

[Locarnus]

I saw your message on youtube and here too late to change what I already recorded. i like this idea and think it would work. I would love some one show how this would work out.

I am, as of this morning halfway through the battle. I think it is going very well. I hope to finish before this weekend, but may need sleep instead.

I busted through the next 5 days of the scenario this morning and am really pleased with the destruction and progress. I am having a much easier time then I had in Storming, because I am not facing crazy 3 starred SMG's, they were brutal.

I look forward to giving you an update on Friday.

I now tried this north east corner strategy.
So to keep turn times low, I only deployed those 3 para units in the north east plus 3 aircraft plus 3 units that were ordered to get from the north west corner to the north east corner to see how fast they can link up.

After some fiddling with the best deployment and turn 1 move orders for the 3 aux units near that north east airfield (to limit the hexes where rng put the 3 para drops), it worked out quite well, though I'm not sure if it is worth the opportunity costs.

In my best attempt, I managed to destroy the SMG Inf on the river bank in turn 2.
In turn 3 I split my efforts on the two enemy AA units in that corner, getting both of them to 2-4 strength in that same turn.
This would essentially give my airforce free reign near the northern landing zone for the river transports from turn 3 onward, or turn 4 to be safe. So that the northern river transports can reliably be double or even triple tapped by aircraft.
By the end of turn 4, both those enemy AA units were destroyed, with minimal damage taken (some from enemy arty further south on river bank).

Then the problems started .
Turn 4 enemy arty fired from the west and a counterattack by an enemy tank from the south was repulsed, but with losses to the aux Pak that was targeted. Which had previously finished off one of the enemy AA guns, but was now visible due to sitting next to the enemy inf guarding that capturable recon unit.
Unfortunately the paratroopers needed turn 5 for resupply and in the AI part of turn 5, more enemy tanks appeared.

With the situation becoming more complex and my vanguard-units from the west closing in, I ended the experiment in turn 6. I'm certain I would have easily been able to hold the positions until the reinforcements arrive in turn 7 or 8, even without any direct air support (airforce just wiping infantry units trying to land in the vicinity and helping the reinforcements to break through). The two inf paratroopers and the paratrooper arty/AT plus the 2 or 3 surviving aux units are just too strong for the enemy (though 1 aux might not make it in order to protect the strength of the core units).


Benefits and Opportunity costs
This approach practically dooms every enemy infantry trying to cross the river on the northern most route.
It also allows the 3 north eastern aux units to participate early on, instead of spending the first part of the battle waiting for anti-inf support as usual.
I did not manage to take the capturable unit to help me out, due to enemy tanks becoming active.
The corner force also fought mostly enemy units that are not even necessary to fight in order to complete the scenario objectives!

Thus I m not sure if it is worth the effort.
Since that approach required 3 core slots (including 2 of the most powerful infantry) to fight in that corner, instead of plowing through the city with the main force.
Especially since it also diminished the efficiency of those two powerful infantry.
While the para inf can use the whole 4 ammo when progressing with the main force, here in that corner it can mostly just use 3 ammo until it needs to resupply. Since there is no main force to overtake it and thus protect it after firing the 4th ammo.
And it fully wastes the first turn of those 3 core units for the para drop itself.


So it seems to work and is fun, but the normal way is probably better from a unit efficiency point of view.

[goose_2]

Thanks for the assessment that was fun to read and imagine. Ultimately I am pleased with how it is going on my end. It is funny how you get distracted in Docks on so many unnecessary battles. Because there is so many areas that are unnecessary but so tempting to go after. Storming was a lot of areas of avoidance, but in Docks I am going for more kills and more areas, as the kills are so so needed to get 2nd heroes.

The real topic I want to discuss with you on Friday's broadcast is plans for se units, as I have thoughts on what directions I would like to see that go in, but need your input on. Hope you are looking forward to the discussion.

[Locarnus]

The real topic I want to discuss with you on Friday's broadcast is plans for se units, as I have thoughts on what directions I would like to see that go in, but need your input on. Hope you are looking forward to the discussion.

How about I make the 2cm Flak units available as bonus SE units?
So from towed 2cm Flak 30 to the SdKfz 10/4, Flakpanzer I and ending with the Gepard?

Those are weaker than the Flakvierling and 3.7cm Flak but still provide an alternative to bonus SE infantry choices early on.


About Stalingrad Docks, I also wrote a youtube comment.
If RayCaster and his StuG III E are deployed there, make sure to have that unit in tank mode at the end.
So that it can be cheaply upgraded to StuIG 33B (which also has range 1 in arty mode and thus would benefit a lot from the range hero).

[Locarnus]

Aw, sorry, should have thought about this on friday already.

But since every GC scenario now has at least one of those BE style upgrade cities, the StuG III E to StuIG 33B upgrade is still possible after deployment anyway.
Might even miss the 11 rof of the StuG III E+ when mass suppression is more valuable than outright kills.
So many other self propelled arty units have a 15cm howitzer already (though none with that kind of armor).

Thank you for the savegame! I'll try to do the core overview, but not sure if I have the time to finish that until the broadcast tomorrow.
Anyway, see you for the broadcast tomorrow!

[Locarnus]

The real topic I want to discuss with you on Friday's broadcast is plans for se units, as I have thoughts on what directions I would like to see that go in, but need your input on. Hope you are looking forward to the discussion.

My condolences regarding those strat heroes, seems like RNG was not kind.

Need some input regarding bonus SE options.
2cm Flak lineup for bonus SE is the best I could come up with.
Other minor axis are not at all competitive.
Really needs something different from bonus SE infantry.

But your tanks are also trailing behind in terms of experience, due to double FM.
I guess self propelled arty class has to really be used as some kind of "flow heater".
Maybe Reoguru and Blast have to become Bison I and Bison II as well, and then make one more bonus SE unit into a SdKfz 10/4 or Flakpanzer I and another bonus SE unit into a Marder I (maybe wait with that until GC East 1943)?

[Locarnus]

Hm, maybe the StuH could be moved into the 10.5cm leFH upgrade family (when in arty mode).
So many new self propelled arty units become available, mostly between March 1943 and the first Kursk scenario, making new bridges between upgrade families and classes:

Wespe, between Panzer II tank family and 10.5cm leFH arty family
Grille, between Pz 38(t) tank family and sIG arty family
StuH 42, between Pz III tank family and 10.5cm leFH arty family
StuIG 33B, between Pz III tank family and sIG arty family (already available in 42e11 scenario)
Hummel, between Pz IV tank family and 15cm sFH arty family
Brummbär, between Pz IV tank family and sIG arty family

and Nashorn is also both in Pz IV tank family and 8.8cm AT family


I'm still not sure how to best exchange units between arty and infantry classes.