Westwall DLC - Feedback

[Bee1976]

Im late to the party - and i havent found a topic related to feedback on this. Thats strange ?

So far, this is the best "non AO" DLC for me. Tough difficulty (im playing on Generalissimus without mass encircleling and without prestige harvest).
I really enjoyed it, so there are mostly the obvious topics to complain, like "slow modernisation = free points" or "its over *sniff*". Oh and i havent dound any easter eggs or hidden chaches - dat sad!

On my next playthrough i might pick reduced core slots...i never had the joy to play witg a full core army after the first 3 scearios, due to some prestige issues

[terminator]

I am in the middle of the DLC and I share your opinion that it is the best DLC

[adiekmann]

Im late to the party - and i havent found a topic related to feedback on this. Thats strange ?

So far, this is the best "non AO" DLC for me. Tough difficulty (im playing on Generalissimus without mass encircleling and without prestige harvest).
I really enjoyed it, so there are mostly the obvious topics to complain, like "slow modernisation = free points" or "its over *sniff*". Oh and i havent dound any easter eggs or hidden chaches - dat sad!

On my next playthrough i might pick reduced core slots...i never had the joy to play witg a full core army after the first 3 scearios, due to some prestige issues

You echoed my sentiments exactly when I did the beta testing. I could not use my usual general traits of Slow Modernization, Trench Slog, denied artillery/aircraft in these short DLCs. I haven't played it since the beta, though, as I have been replaying all of the big revised mod campaigns by Grondel, Andrea, and Gnosport. I pointed out that it was unfortunate that with a little more planning this could have been part of a longer linked US campaign that included the Battle of the Bulge DLC along with others including D-Day and the French campaign that led to this point. I believe they heard us as shown in the Road Map plans this summer.

[Bee1976]

I pointed out that it was unfortunate that with a little more planning this could have been part of a longer linked US campaign that included the Battle of the Bulge DLC along with others including D-Day and the French campaign that led to this point. I believe they heard us as shown in the Road Map plans this summer.

Yeah, exactly! They could’ve easily tied this DLC in with others, but it actually stands really well on its own. For me it’s like finishing a good book – you close it, happy that it was such a great read, but at the same time you kinda wish it would keep going. That’s what makes a good book for me, and that’s exactly how it felt here.

By contrast, with the 'Fall of Poland' DLC I had a lot of fun too, but I was honestly just glad when it was finally over.

The toughest moment for me, though, was definitely the ending of the last scenario, AO 1946. And that sad feeling of "its all over now"!!

[adiekmann]

I pointed out that it was unfortunate that with a little more planning this could have been part of a longer linked US campaign that included the Battle of the Bulge DLC along with others including D-Day and the French campaign that led to this point. I believe they heard us as shown in the Road Map plans this summer.

Yeah, exactly! They could’ve easily tied this DLC in with others, but it actually stands really well on its own. For me it’s like finishing a good book – you close it, happy that it was such a great read, but at the same time you kinda wish it would keep going. That’s what makes a good book for me, and that’s exactly how it felt here.

By contrast, with the 'Fall of Poland' DLC I had a lot of fun too, but I was honestly just glad when it was finally over.

The toughest moment for me, though, was definitely the ending of the last scenario, AO 1946. And that sad feeling of "its all over now"!!

I felt more that way with the North African Italy/Britain DLC. I wish it was Part I of a longer N. African campaign, but the overpowered unique heroes kind of ensured that it wasn't meant to be.

[bebro]

Im late to the party - and i havent found a topic related to feedback on this. Thats strange ?

So far, this is the best "non AO" DLC for me. Tough difficulty (im playing on Generalissimus without mass encircleling and without prestige harvest).
I really enjoyed it, so there are mostly the obvious topics to complain, like "slow modernisation = free points" or "its over *sniff*". Oh and i havent dound any easter eggs or hidden chaches - dat sad!

On my next playthrough i might pick reduced core slots...i never had the joy to play witg a full core army after the first 3 scearios, due to some prestige issues

Thanks for the feedback, great to hear you enjoyed it. Just curious -- what's the issue with "slow modernisation = free points" (forgive me if I overlook something obvious here )

[adiekmann]

Im late to the party - and i havent found a topic related to feedback on this. Thats strange ?

So far, this is the best "non AO" DLC for me. Tough difficulty (im playing on Generalissimus without mass encircleling and without prestige harvest).
I really enjoyed it, so there are mostly the obvious topics to complain, like "slow modernisation = free points" or "its over *sniff*". Oh and i havent dound any easter eggs or hidden chaches - dat sad!

On my next playthrough i might pick reduced core slots...i never had the joy to play witg a full core army after the first 3 scearios, due to some prestige issues

Thanks for the feedback, great to hear you enjoyed it. Just curious -- what's the issue with "slow modernisation = free points" (forgive me if I overlook something obvious here )

Normally, in a long campaign like AO Slow Modernization is not a big deal. Each DLC/chapter covers time slowly enough that being given only 3 upgrades per map is not a big deal until you reach 1943 and all of your infantry is at an older/lesser standard. However, in short DLC campaigns, like Bulge or Westwall, the campaign isn't long enough to keep up. You can make it to the end of the campaign and still not have been able to upgrade all of your core units.

[terminator]

Difficult to see the land mines especially in the Huertgen Forest, we often guess them thanks to the strength indicator.

Wouldn’t it be possible to make the red warning sign more visible ?

Capture d'écran 2025-10-05 083904.jpg (940.04 KiB) Viewed 1255 times

[DefiantXYX]

Well, mines should be hard to be detected?

[bebro]

Normally, in a long campaign like AO Slow Modernization is not a big deal. Each DLC/chapter covers time slowly enough that being given only 3 upgrades per map is not a big deal until you reach 1943 and all of your infantry is at an older/lesser standard. However, in short DLC campaigns, like Bulge or Westwall, the campaign isn't long enough to keep up. You can make it to the end of the campaign and still not have been able to upgrade all of your core units.

Ahh, yes, that makes sense. Hadn't thought of it as my DLCs so far were "shorties" only. Thanks for the hint.

terminator:

Yeah, I get your point. Was probably made that way to not stand out too much on other terrain, which could be annoying.

[Bee1976]

Thanks for the feedback, great to hear you enjoyed it. Just curious -- what's the issue with "slow modernisation = free points" (forgive me if I overlook something obvious here )

Sry for the late answer. Thats not a real issue of course. But some positive traits are way more powerful in short campains like (i lack the name) 3 heros. And some of the negative traits are simply "free points" i never had the urge (nor the prestige) to upgrade 3 units in one scenario. And my main complait is, that in short campaigns the traits could be more balanced around that campaign. I havent tried it in Westwall, but i would bet "Industry Connections" is not worth the pick i.e.

But to be fair, in a long DLC series you shouldnt be able to switch commander traits after importing your core aswell. So again :not a real issue

[adiekmann]

Thanks for the feedback, great to hear you enjoyed it. Just curious -- what's the issue with "slow modernisation = free points" (forgive me if I overlook something obvious here )

Sry for the late answer. Thats not a real issue of course. But some positive traits are way more powerful in short campains like (i lack the name) 3 heros. And some of the negative traits are simply "free points" i never had the urge (nor the prestige) to upgrade 3 units in one scenario. And my main complait is, that in short campaigns the traits could be more balanced around that campaign. I havent tried it in Westwall, but i would bet "Industry Connections" is not worth the pick i.e.

But to be fair, in a long DLC series you shouldnt be able to switch commander traits after importing your core aswell. So again :not a real issue

Oh, yes, there are many differences in the traits I choose and not pick when it's a short campaign vs. something like AO. Generally speaking, you don't have as many heroes throughout a short campaign so I don't pick Force Concentration (4 heroes per unit). Anyway, opinions vary and I don't feel like writing more than this about that topic anyway.

But Bee, I would object to your criticism that you don't believe you should be able to change your traits from one AO DLC year to the next. SCW is the perfect example of what I stated previously. It is also in vanilla format the only AO DLC that capturing enemy equipment is a must because your own stuff sucks. As a result, it's the only one I always choose Trophies, but the situation changes as the war continues so my traits change as well.

[DefiantXYX]

But Bee, I would object to your criticism that you don't believe you should be able to change your traits from one AO DLC year to the next. SCW is the perfect example of what I stated previously. It is also in vanilla format the only AO DLC that capturing enemy equipment is a must because your own stuff sucks. As a result, it's the only one I always choose Trophies, but the situation changes as the war continues so my traits change as well.

I cant agree more. Would be boring as well, if you are never able to change your traits.

To the traits itself, we already had this discussion several times, there should be some finetuning. And like always, sliders would be nice. If your units dont fire back at all thats bullshit. If they only fight back with 25%/50%/75% efficiency it would be worse a try, at least for me.

[terminator]

Pillbox in the Huertgen Forest

I find that the Pillboxes are not too difficult to locate to accomplish the optional objective (destroy 14 Pillboxes)

Pillbox (Huertgen Forest).jpg (804.58 KiB) Viewed 972 times

[terminator]

METZ

Why there are no counters for the optional objective : Take Eastern Objectives in 22 turns ?

There are 4 Eastern Objectives :
-Hombourg-Budange
-Bettelainville
-Retonfey
-Pange

Capture d'écran 2025-10-12 075520.jpg (713.81 KiB) Viewed 746 times

[bebro]

Yeah, the prob is: counters work well for pre-set objectives like "take x victory hexes" or "kill xx units". For those you just mark the hexes or units required in the editor -- the game counts those automatically, and displays the counter for that.

But this does not work for custom objectives which are scripted completely in LUA. They are needed in some cases, for example here to qualify this as objective where you have to take selected victory hexes within the given turn limit (while some other victory hexes are treated differently)

[terminator]

Strange behavior of enemy aviation (METZ scenario):

Why is this German plane going to an enemy airfield ?

In any case, he was poorly received by the local DCA (controlled by the AI).

Capture d'écran 2025-10-16 081527.jpg (404.52 KiB) Viewed 448 times

[Tassadar]

Strange behavior of enemy aviation (METZ scenario):

Why is this German plane going to an enemy airfield ?

In any case, he was poorly received by the local DCA (controlled by the AI).


Capture d'écran 2025-10-16 081527.jpg

This is not a scenarios specific thing. While I never experienced it myself, I saw similar reports in the past for various scenarios. Was it raining around the turn this occurred?

[terminator]

This is not a scenarios specific thing. While I never experienced it myself, I saw similar reports in the past for various scenarios. Was it raining around the turn this occurred?

It was raining :

Plane.jpg (466.87 KiB) Viewed 259 times

[Tassadar]

This is not a scenarios specific thing. While I never experienced it myself, I saw similar reports in the past for various scenarios. Was it raining around the turn this occurred?

It was raining :


Plane.jpg

Rain and some other factors seems to sometimes affect aircraft behavior in specific ways:

- planes that spawn via script during rain will not fall out of the sky
- planes that are boxed between other aircraft will sometimes not return to bases and just stay in the same hex for one turn

In the case here there are also two other factors. One is you have taken airfield hex 23,10. While this plane is normally based on hex 34,21, the rain might have caused it to go to the nearest airfield instead. If you taken 23,10 on the same turn, something could have bugged out and caused this change, but that's just speculation. As said, I never got this to appear despite well over 2,000h clocked in the game, but seen reports of it and ironically, the latest ones I could find were also ones you reported.

viewtopic.php?t=97527&start=1120

However, there's also this old post by dalfrede from way back 2020 - note how it also shows snowy conditions by then:

viewtopic.php?t=97527&start=360