Locarnus Addon 2025-10a, for Battlefield Europe, Afrika Korps and Grand Campaign East

[goose_2]

Quick Update:

I finished the 2nd Broadcast yesterday morning. Things are going quite well.

I will not finish the scenario until Saturday but will save before I press end turn in case the update is not ready.

I wanted to ask you your thoughts on the 2 different directions I can take in 44.
Narva direction or the Kishinev direction?

I was planning on heading to Narva, but Kishinev does not sound as insane as I originally thought.

If I go Kishinev it will mean following Soren's lead, if I go Narva it means showing something more on the rarer side.

Which direction and why?

Love to hear your or anyone's thoughts on this.

[Locarnus]

I agree that something is missing there, I'm just not sure how to include it without providing yet more gameplay advantages to the Axis (lack of supply and logistics simulation in Panzer Corps engine is already extremely benefitial to the Axis).

Triggers for additional fuel and/or ammo loss at extreme distances? Just thought I would note that the change in rail gauges is never simulated in PC as well, a huge boon for the Axis player

Yep, scripts for fuel loss could work technically. Just not sure how players would perceive it. The first winter strength losses for the Axis are already controversial, especially for first time BE players. All the scripts are already a hurdle.
Yep, rail gauge is missing as well. As far as I know, even in games more dedicated to the whole WW2 as one big scenario, like those Strategic Command titles.

Quick Update:

I finished the 2nd Broadcast yesterday morning. Things are going quite well.

I will not finish the scenario until Saturday but will save before I press end turn in case the update is not ready.

I wanted to ask you your thoughts on the 2 different directions I can take in 44.
Narva direction or the Kishinev direction?

I was planning on heading to Narva, but Kishinev does not sound as insane as I originally thought.

If I go Kishinev it will mean following Soren's lead, if I go Narva it means showing something more on the rarer side.

Which direction and why?

Love to hear your or anyone's thoughts on this.

Great to hear that Korsun Breakout is going well.

Update will be released on friday at the latest. Can't find a StuH graphic and mask with skirts for DCS, so worst case I'll just leave it without skirts. Not having skirts would already help a lot for visual differentiation from the StuG III and IV.


The late GC 44 Return to Kishinev grinder would be interesting to see with your core force. But with GC 45 having 5 star enemies with your current difficulty settings, there is no need to have the big battle in 44 already. Plenty of challenge to come in 45, in contrast to unmodded GC 45 playthroughs.

Imho the northern path with Narva would be a welcome change from the usual Kishinev grand campaign meta.
Taking the less traveled path would fit the theme of your youtube playthrough very well.
Different difficulty, core composition and sometimes scenarios!

[goose_2]

Hey Buddy,

Yeah, I will take the road less traveled. I found something interesting on the internets...Patrik
seems to be playing your mod on the vanilla campaign.

I need to subscribe and chat with him on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBdZ5mOzzNk

You may want to reach out and find out his interest in your mod.

[Locarnus]

Hey Buddy,

Yeah, I will take the road less traveled. I found something interesting on the internets...Patrik
seems to be playing your mod on the vanilla campaign.

I need to subscribe and chat with him on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBdZ5mOzzNk

You may want to reach out and find out his interest in your mod.

Just found him yesterday by chance and skimmed through many of his already released videos with my mod.
Unfortunately no commentary on the videos, but so much to learn.

He said that he comes from Panzer General, so very interesting to see all the stumble stones that can get in the way. Panzer Corps is not great at teaching the major game concepts or even the differences to Panzer General.
And the Addon mod is very dependent on some of those differences, like unit switching!

My wall of text addon advice message in game is not great either.
I'll have to think about that a bit more. First the promised 2025-10 update tomorrow.

[Locarnus]

This update contains a few significant changes and additions for upgrade paths.

The german 12cm mortar and 7.5cm leIG are now in different families when in arty mode, making a path between 10.5cm leFH arties and infantry (via 12cm mortar). Arty upgrade families added to mortar names when in infantry mode.
While the PzSfl IVb makes a path between 10.5cm leFH arty family and Panzer IV tank family from October 1942 onwards, thanks to Birgeria graphic for that unit (several were produced and saw combat).

The Soviets finally got an earlier bridge between fighter and tac bomber classes. The Pe-3 (a variant of the Pe-2) allows that in September 1941 already.
Pe-2 got a bit better hard attack and ground defense, while the Il-2 got another ground defense buff. American tac bombers also got some attack buffs, including those in Soviet service.
There are many more interesting options for the Soviet unit roster, air force in particular. I'm trying to add them step by step, since I currently lack the time for a deep dive into the matter.




2025-10 Update "Locarnus Addon" Download:

This is only an update to the Addon and requires the 2025 base version of the Locarnus Addon to be installed already on top of BE 2.4 and the bugfixed PzC patch 1.32 first. All previous updates to the 2025 base version are included in this one.

Technical and graphics:
- Thank you Birgeria for the PzSfl IVb graphics!
- StuH 42 graphics replaced and different camo (for easier StuG differentiation)
- StuH 42 late graphics currently no side skirts (due to lack of DCS base icon & mask)
- All Soviet Il-2 use their cannons as default ground attack animation

Battlefield Europe, GC East, AK, SC & original PzC campaign compatibility
- OC added another message to Poland turn 4 regarding importance of switching units
- OC and one about prestige priorities after capturing the second to last objective in Poland
- BE area around Voroshilovsk redesigned (topography, rail, roads)
- BE Voroshilovsk emphasis on tactical hexfield considerations, instead of coordinates
- BE removed some mid 1944 tropical units for BE, purchase screen is too crowded already
- GC 44e3 Narva scenario reduced aux unit strength by 1, but more entrenchment
- GC 44e3 JassyKishinev and Narva scenarios aux units got fixed experience (script)

Unit Changes:
- Several units have shorter availability times, if newer versions are available
- In order to somewhat reduce the overcrowding of the purchase and upgrade screen
- German mortar unit names (in infantry mode) include arty upgrade family it can switch to
- German 12cm Mortar now in leFH upgrade family when in arty mode
- 7.5cm leIG has pack horse in transp mode & is in GebG upgrade family in arty mode
- 15cm Nebelwerfer & Panzerwerfer 42 soft and hard attack increased by 1
- PzSfl IVb added (10.5cm leFH family in arty mode, Pz IV in tank mode), thanks to Birgeria!
- 10.5 leFH auf B2(f) has even less fuel
- Panzer II L without 5cm gun available with Ostketten from January 1944
- Some American tac bombers have better ground attack values (including Soviet ones)
- Soviet Pe-2 better hard attack
- Il-2 & Pe-2 better ground defense
- Pe-3 introduced (switchable between fighter and tac bomber modes)!



Original game StuH42 graphics, but with corrected colors around the tracks.
AT mode had different colors than arty mode.
I then applied different camo using DCS, for the icons actually used in-game with Locarnus Addon.
Corrected base icon available here, if anyone wants to use it for DCS.

StuH 42 Arty icon unchanged:

StuH_42.png (39.73 KiB) Viewed 868 times

New StuH 42 AT icon, changed colors around tracks:

StuH42_AT.png (38.74 KiB) Viewed 868 times

Original StuH 42 as it is in unmodded Panzer Corps. The track area has a more reddish brown color, much more obvious in-game when switching the unit. And here as well when using a dark theme/background for your browser:

StuH42_AT.png (29.96 KiB) Viewed 868 times

[Locarnus]

goose_2 youtube playthrough GC Napoleon difficulty
GC 1944e3 start upgrade recommendations
~10000 prestige, after elite replacements to full strength for all understrength units and selling excess captured units.

red marker for a) no or 1 hero, b) <800 kills, c) <350 experience
blue marker for a) 3 heroes, b) >=1500 kills, c) >= 450 experience

UnitType ....... transport ... Hero ... SubscriberName ... KillCounter ... Experience with elite replacements


45 Ground units

Non-hero bonus SE units
.Std Nimrod+ r11 ............... a3s1 ... Brodrick ............. 1476 ... 359
.Std Blue Division 43 ........... d1d2 ... PatrickLee .......... 1051 ... 357 ... ==> Std Blue Division 44
.Std P26/40(i) ................... i1d2 ... Dimitri ................ 929 ... 369
.Std Marder III M .................. m1 ... PaulWilde ............ 785 ... 331
.Std Flakpanzer I r12 ....... m1a3a3 ... Makorin .............. 1368 ... 415
.7.5 FK 16 nA r11 ... Horse ....... a3 ... Eskuche ............... 188 ... 330
plus 2 non-hero bonus SE units for the current 43 and the later 44 &45 grand campaign years

Infantry
.Grenadiere 43 ..... Sd250/1+ ... d2 ... RichardMartin ....... 927 ... 332 ... ==> 8 GrWrf 34 r11 ==> 7.62 FK 288(r) r11
.Fallschirmjäger 43 .............. i1a2 ... Pullig ................. 943 ... 316 ... ==> Kz 8 GrWerfer r11 ==> 10.5 GebH + Kettenkrad
.Kradschützen 43 ................... a1 ... PeteMitchell ......... 904 ... 346 ... ==> Kradschützen 44
.Sahariana 43 ....................... a2 ... Kostia ................. 863 ... 325 ... ==> Sahariana 44

Towed AT

Towed Arty
.10.5 leG 43 ....................... m1d2 ... Artemis .............. 792 ... 349
.12 GrWerfer ........ Blitz+ ..... m1a3 ... Soljaism .............. 901 ... 338 ... ==> 10 Nblwf 35 same family as inf ==> 15 Nblwf 41 r11
.7.62 FK 288(r) r11 . Sd251/1+ . m1a2 ... Gigiduru .............. 794 ... 409 ... ==> 8 GrWrf 34 r11 ==> Grenadiere 44
.10.5cm Polish arty . Blitz ....... s1a3 ... MichalGolaszewski ... 867 ... 458
.10.5cm leFH 18M ... Horse ....... m1 ... Raunosavolainen ..... 810 ... 481
.15 sFH range3 r8 .... Sd7 .......... r1 ... Raduku ................. 595 ... 446
.17 K 18 r6 ............. Sd8 ......... m1 ... Kei ...................... 869 ... 419

Imho a Brückenpio unit would be useful for the coming scenarios. Perhaps with movement hero?
PaulWilde and Makorin from the bonus SE/Std units would qualify. And Raunosavolainen from the normal core units, since he does not have an expensive transport that would be lost when becoming a Brückenpio.
Could use the 12cm Mortar unit as a bridge, since it is now in the leFH upgrade family when in arty class (despite showing up in the wrong position in the purchase and upgrade screens).

While Pullig gets the 10.5cm GebH + Kettenkrad to catch up in experience. Just unfortunate that Raunosavolainen does not have 5 stars yet.
RichardMartin should switch equipment with Gigiduru. He can always get conscript kills using his SdKfz 250 transport, but needs an arty for experience training. While Gigiduru has the experience and movement hero for Grenadiere.
15cm Nebelwerfer have been buffed (including Panzerwerfer 42). Soljaism would need to switch to infantry class, then upgrade to 10cm Nebelwerfer, then switch to arty class and upgrade to 15cm Nebelwerfer for the higher rof. But he could keep his transport.



Recon
.Panzer II 5cm 44 r9 ................ i1 ... Blast ................... 837 ... 410
.SdKfz 233+ r9 .................... s1s1 ... DanielS ................ 821 ... 388

Tanks
.Panther A dg ....................... a2 ... Kapl ..................... 582 ... 328
.Panther D ........................ d1d3 ... Festival ................. 986 ... 404
.Tiger I 44 ......................... d2a3 ... Temis .................. 1014 ... 433
.Tiger P++ s8 .................... m1d2 ... ElBaron ................ 1082 ... 420
.Ferdinand s8 .................... m1d2 ... Gooseboy ............. 1147 ... 362 ... ==> Elefant s8
.StuG III G+ ....................... i1m1 ... DoktorG ............... 1048 ... 372 ... ==> StuG IV after Rimski in 44e4 (not Narva)
.StuG IV ........................... s1a2 ... Rimski .................. 1136 ... 328 ... ==> PzSfl IVb after Pierre
.Nashorn 44 ....................... a1i1 ... ForestLaw ............. 1010 ... 440
.SU-122(r) ......................... a3a3 ... 7Bowls .................. 1056 ... 326
.KV-85(r) .......................... d2d2 ... Paramecium ........... 1115 ... 328

Mobile Arty
.StuH 44 ........................... m1a2 ... NightPhoenix ........ 1096 ... 373
.Hummel 44 r8 ....................... s1 ... Soren ................... 672 ... 308
.Grille r8 ............................. m1 ... PanzerVorwärts ....... 781 ... 375
.Wespe ............................ m1d2 ... Goose .................. 981 ... 392
.Lorraine GW r8 .................... m1 ... Reoguru ................ 590 ... 364 ... ==> Brummbär 44 r8
.Brummbär 43 r8 ................. a2a2 ... Locarnus .............. 797 ... 400 ... ==> Panzer IV H+ (not Narva?)
.StuIG 33B r8 ......................... r1 ... RayCaster ............. 694 ... 469 ... ==> StuG III 44 in 44e4 (not Narva)
.10.5 leFH auf B2(f) ............. m1a2 ... Pierre .................. 752 ... 421 ... ==> PzSfl IVb ... ==> JagdPz IV/48
.Semovente 105/25 ................. d2 ... RightSide .............. 735 ... 438
.Panzerwerfer 42 r12 ............... a3 ... Singer .................. 720 ... 381
.Wurfrahmen 43 r8 ................ r1r1 ... Dneos .................. 891 ... 452

Anti-Air
.8.8cm Flak 41 ........ Sd7 .... m1m1 ... Jemhadar .............. 968 ... 351
.Cannone 90/53 r8 ... TP40 ....... a2 ... Zyavoo .................. 857 ... 336
.SdKfz 7/2+ r11 ................... a3a1 ... MalcolmRichardson ... 861 ... 361

Lots of reshuffling is possible now, due to the PzSfl IVb making the bridge between leFH arty and Panzer IV tank upgrade families.
Pierre uses that brigde to get the JagdPanzer IV. After that is done, Rimski would take the PzSfl IVb for efficiently training up his experience.
Perhaps DoktorG should not be deployed during Narva, as he would need to wait for the StuG IV to be available. Similar for RayCaster, who could also wait this one out.
Goose has to be deployed to potentially free up the Wespe, as well as NightPhoenix with the StuH 44.
Locarnus can look forward to the Möbelwagen SPAA available in the next scenario. Since the Möbelwagen only costs 373 prestige, he can be downgraded to Panzer IV H+ for the moment, freeing up the Brummbär. Also does not need to be deployed in Narva.
This allows Reoguru to upgrade to and use the Brummbär 44 r8 for Narva.
It is a bit wasteful to not see any Wurfrahmen use, just because Dneos is so well trained already. Maybe someone else could take the Wurfrahmen to actually use it for experience training.



15 Airforce

Single engine Fighters & Fighter Bomber
.Bf 109 G-6/U2 ...................... d3 ... vonThüringen ....... 687 ... 389
.Bf 109 F-4+ ......................... d3 ... CouchOffiziell ....... 548 ... 342
.Fw 190 A-7 ......................... a2 ... MafujKhan ............ 744 ... 365 ... ==> He 111 NJ ==> He 111 H-16
.Fw 190 F-3 ......................... d2 ... Alvarez ................ 469 ... 337 ... ==> Ju 88 A-4+
.Re.2005 .......................... a3a3 ... Noxush ................ 810 ... 405 ... ==> Re.2005+
.G.55 Centauro ..................... a2 ... BlackVulture ......... 739 ... 388 ... ==> G.55 +
+ 2x bonus SE hero fighters in 1945

Multi engine Fighter / Tac Bomber
.Me 410 A-1/U4 r9 ................. d1 ... FighterAce ............ 813 ... 350
.Ju 88 G-1 ........................... a1 ... AI181 ................... 623 ... 502 ... ==> Fw 190 A-8

Multi engine Fighter / Strat Bomber
.He 111 NJ ........................... a1 ... RMA901 ................. 551 ... 502 ... ==> Fw 190 F-3

Dedicated Tac Bomber
.Hs 129 B-2 BK .................... a3a1 ... AratoBela ............. 1061 ... 381
.Ju 87 D-5 ......................... a1d3 ... cmbbfan ............... 1011 ... 377

Tac Bomber / Strat Bomber
.Ju 188 A-2 .......................... i1i1 ... Slender1870 ........... 846 ... 429

Dedicated Strat Bomber
.Do 217 M ............................. d1 ... Richard ................. 415 ... 468

A 5 star Fw 190 can do the work of two 3 star fighters. Which would free up the airforce deployment for an additional training strat bomber....
RMA901 is ready to take the Fw 190 F-3, while Alvarez desperately needs experience training on a strat bomber.
Both are held back, while that additional strat bomber training slot is also blocked due to using many ineffective 3 star fighters for something one 5 star fighter could do.

[Locarnus]

Does anyone know of icons for the various SdKfz 250 and 251 variants?

[goose_2]

Hey...what gives? I checked and double checked my settings are at Double Field Marshall, but my aux units have 2 stars in Escape and Narva...how is that possible?

[eskuche]

Does anyone know of icons for the various SdKfz 250 and 251 variants?

Try PaKMod? Else the ATOMIC Efile for Open General that I'm playing has them but might be too low quality for PC.

[Locarnus]

Hey...what gives? I checked and double checked my settings are at Double Field Marshall, but my aux units have 2 stars in Escape and Narva...how is that possible?

Script!
I'm slowly implementing scripts to fix the aux unit experience independent of the difficulty settings. Imho this is a design bug in need of fixing. Already did so in earlier updates for the Budapest scenarios (44 & 45). Priority have scenarios with clusters and large numbers of aux units, like Narva and Jassy Kishinev this update.
Also note that while I'm at it, I usually check the aux units themselves. Eg the Budapest scenarios got some significant unit revisions, making better use of all the additional Hungarian options from Battlefield Europe.
Narva aux units were just nerfed to have 1 strength less than they had before (except for one or two of them).

Does anyone know of icons for the various SdKfz 250 and 251 variants?

Try PaKMod? Else the ATOMIC Efile for Open General that I'm playing has them but might be too low quality for PC.

Ah, thank you. Yeah, will check out the huge PAK unit roster.
Open General graphics are probably one of the factors that keep more players from going there. It is ok for those who grew up with Panzer General 2/3D, but a hard sell for those joining the niche late.

[goose_2]

.12 GrWerfer ........ Blitz+ ..... m1a3 ... Soljaism .............. 901 ... 338 ... ==> 10 Nblwf 35 same family as inf ==> 15 Nblwf 41 r11

This is not in house upgrade, not sure why but in looking at upgrades I see this is not going to work.

Is that a mistake?

[Locarnus]

.12 GrWerfer ........ Blitz+ ..... m1a3 ... Soljaism .............. 901 ... 338 ... ==> 10 Nblwf 35 same family as inf ==> 15 Nblwf 41 r11

This is not in house upgrade, not sure why but in looking at upgrades I see this is not going to work.

Is that a mistake?

The 12cm GrWerfer and 10 Nblwf are now only in the same upgrade family, if switched to infantry mode.
My recommendation is using Soljaism as the 12cm GrWerfer in this scenario and then have him end the scenario in infantry mode. So that you would have one less step if you decide to upgrade in the next scenario.

[goose_2]

crap I totally forgot about the broadcast today, i had it up but since the sound never worked I forgot to click over
crap

O am looking over your notes above and making decisions for Narva
Was going to bounce ideas off you, but now will have to wait for Sunday...and hope to have Narva ready for a start by that point

[goose_2]

.12 GrWerfer ........ Blitz+ ..... m1a3 ... Soljaism .............. 901 ... 338 ... ==> 10 Nblwf 35 same family as inf ==> 15 Nblwf 41 r11

This is not in house upgrade, not sure why but in looking at upgrades I see this is not going to work.

Is that a mistake?

The 12cm GrWerfer and 10 Nblwf are now only in the same upgrade family, if switched to infantry mode.
My recommendation is using Soljaism as the 12cm GrWerfer in this scenario and then have him end the scenario in infantry mode. So that you would have one less step if you decide to upgrade in the next scenario.

I found a flaw in the aux units

the 1st Stug 3 44 when changed to arty mode and try to move the unit in arty mode breaks the game

Please do a hot fix, but might not get applied since I need to restart the scenario?

[Locarnus]

I found a flaw in the aux units

the 1st Stug 3 44 when changed to arty mode and try to move the unit in arty mode breaks the game

Please do a hot fix, but might not get applied since I need to restart the scenario?

Wtf?

I just checked and must have saved those particular graphics in the wrong folder, since they are not distributed with the updates but still show up for myself.

Good news is, that this seems to be fixable without any scenario restart (since there are no errors in the data files, just the missing graphic).
Bad news is, that I have to go check what other graphics are missing (especially if the AI side misses one as well).
So the hotfix might not be ready today.

[goose_2]

I found a flaw in the aux units

the 1st Stug 3 44 when changed to arty mode and try to move the unit in arty mode breaks the game

Please do a hot fix, but might not get applied since I need to restart the scenario?

Wtf?

I just checked and must have saved those particular graphics in the wrong folder, since they are not distributed with the updates but still show up for myself.

Good news is, that this seems to be fixable without any scenario restart (since there are no errors in the data files, just the missing graphic).
Bad news is, that I have to go check what other graphics are missing (especially if the AI side misses one as well).
So the hotfix might not be ready today.

That is good good news

Thanks for your work on this

[Locarnus]

That is good good news

Thanks for your work on this

2025-10a Hotfix
(but includes all previous updates since 2025-01) "Locarnus Addon" Download: https://bit.ly/46U3hJZ

This is only an update to the Addon and requires the 2025 base version of the Locarnus Addon to be installed already on top of BE 2.4 and the bugfixed PzC patch 1.32 first. All previous updates to the 2025 base version are included in this one.

Technical and graphics:
- Fixed missing graphics for StuG III arty modes, thank you goose_2 for the bug report!
- The fixes directly benefit ongoing scenarios. No need for scenario transition after update.
- This hotfix still includes all previous updates from 2025-01 onwards (fully replaces 2025-10 as usual)

Battlefield Europe, GC East, AK, SC & original PzC campaign compatibility
- GC 45 Königsberg scenario aux unit experience fixed




Unfortunately Dropbox put an 8 (eight) step puzzle in front of me, before I could access my account.
After solving those 8! steps, it agreed on my "solution" but then said that something went wrong and I had to solve it again. And again. And again. And again.
It absolutely refused to let me access my account. No other option. No email code, nothing. Absolute scam.
I had to access my account from a different computer (thankfully it allowed that)!!!

I'm sorry, but there is no way that something like this is remotely acceptable.
Until I find another platform to host the files, mod development has to be suspended.

[goose_2]

That is good good news

Thanks for your work on this

2025-10a Hotfix
(but includes all previous updates since 2025-01) "Locarnus Addon" Download: https://bit.ly/46U3hJZ

This is only an update to the Addon and requires the 2025 base version of the Locarnus Addon to be installed already on top of BE 2.4 and the bugfixed PzC patch 1.32 first. All previous updates to the 2025 base version are included in this one.

Technical and graphics:
- Fixed missing graphics for StuG III arty modes, thank you goose_2 for the bug report!
- The fixes directly benefit ongoing scenarios. No need for scenario transition after update.
- This hotfix still includes all previous updates from 2025-01 onwards (fully replaces 2025-10 as usual)

Battlefield Europe, GC East, AK, SC & original PzC campaign compatibility
- GC 45 Königsberg scenario aux unit experience fixed




Unfortunately Dropbox put an 8 (eight) step puzzle in front of me, before I could access my account.
After solving those 8! steps, it agreed on my "solution" but then said that something went wrong and I had to solve it again. And again. And again. And again.
It absolutely refused to let me access my account. No other option. No email code, nothing. Absolute scam.
I had to access my account from a different computer (thankfully it allowed that)!!!

I'm sorry, but there is no way that something like this is remotely acceptable.
Until I find another platform to host the files, mod development has to be suspended.

I checked and it worked that was super fast
Thanks
hope you get the a solution to the drop box situation
might ask forum?

[terminator]

"No problemo" with MediaFire

[Locarnus]

I checked and it worked that was super fast
Thanks
hope you get the a solution to the drop box situation
might ask forum?

"No problemo" with MediaFire

I remember using mediafire some time ago.
Got some feedback that the download link was hard to find between all the ads?

So far:
Dropbox - 2 GB free - 12 month inactivity threshold - Refuses you access at will without recourse (8 step test which does not work)
Mediafire - 10 GB free - 8 month inactivity threshold? - May delete your files with ~2 weeks notice (did so in the past)?
Mega - 20 GB free? - 3 month inactivity threshold (certainly too short for me)

Free hosting needs ads and use limits. It does not need arbitrary unreliability.