Locarnus Addon 2026-03, for Battlefield Europe, OC, AK, SC and Grand Campaign East

[Locarnus]

I added a corvette unit type, essentially a weaker and slower destroyer for convoy protection and changed some of the British Empire destroyer units to that. Most likely needs some tweaking in the future.
Since I do not have special graphics for those, I gave them the aux strength plates for better recognition (except for the one with Walker hero).


2026-03 Update "Locarnus Addon" Download: https://bit.ly/3ZZADD3

This is only an update to the Addon and requires the 2026 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 2026 base version are included in this one.

UI & Library changes, thanks to eskuche BE playthrough
- BE Upg family separator for Hungarian & Romanian Bf 109
- BE Upg family separator for Finnish Inf/Jäger
- BE Finnish Inf 39 versions adjusted in purchase/upg screen

Technical fixes and graphics, thanks to eskuche BE playthrough:
- Changed Southern Tunisia snow/swamp graphics (visual only)
- Changed Bremen channel to river appearance (visual only)
- Graphics changed for several mountain tiles (visual only)

Battlefield Europe (thanks to eskuche), GC East, AK, SC & original campaign
- BE Core slot scripts reduced by 10 for each step (eg 190 instead of 200 turn 2)
- BE Some British Empire destroyers replaced by weaker and slower corvettes
- BE Deactivated strat bomber replacement units (formerly spawning near Frankfurt)
- BE Hs-129 spawn message fixed (turn 21 instead of turn 40)
- BE Würzburg radar costs 320 instead of 245

Unit Changes, thanks to eskuche & goose_2 playthroughs:
- 76mm ZiS-3, 57mm AT, 100mm AT, 8.8cm Pak nerfed defense
- Western Allied (UK, US) aircraft reduced GD again by 1 (still higher than 2025)
- 8.8cm L56 Flak slightly more expensive, 10.5cm Flak slightly cheaper
- Corvettes introduced for BE (weaker and slower destroyers)

[eskuche]

Oh, nice. Good thing I was just about to start some activities tonight!

[Locarnus]

Oh, nice. Good thing I was just about to start some activities tonight!

The changes still require that transition to the big scenario to take effect, just not a campaign restart.
If Finnish Infantry purchasing screen shows the "Jäger" separator in the big scenario, then all the changes should functionally work.

Looking forward to the next run, especially feedback for the Battle of the Atlantic changes.
Some of them might be going too far, others not far enough (eg corvettes).

Not sure if it is worth converting a high experience Ju 88 strat bomber for long range fighter escort duty over the Atlantic at some point, like the Ju 88 C. The C-6 from Feb 1942 at least has spotting 3 as well, so can help with the detection.


I converted the 2026-03 equipment file to ods format and made it slightly better readable. Eg some colored columns, hidden columns for graphics file and long name and so on, and fixed columns/rows view when opened with libre office (and probably ms office as well?):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/of8riki9 ... psjwn&dl=0

[bondjamesbond]

I added a corvette unit type, essentially a weaker and slower destroyer for convoy protection and changed some of the British Empire destroyer units to that. Most likely needs some tweaking in the future.
Since I do not have special graphics for those, I gave them the aux strength plates for better recognition (except for the one with Walker hero).


2026-03 Update "Locarnus Addon" Download: https://bit.ly/3ZZADD3

This is only an update to the Addon and requires the 2026 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 2026 base version are included in this one.

UI & Library changes, thanks to eskuche BE playthrough
- BE Upg family separator for Hungarian & Romanian Bf 109
- BE Upg family separator for Finnish Inf/Jäger
- BE Finnish Inf 39 versions adjusted in purchase/upg screen

Technical fixes and graphics, thanks to eskuche BE playthrough:
- Changed Southern Tunisia snow/swamp graphics (visual only)
- Changed Bremen channel to river appearance (visual only)
- Graphics changed for several mountain tiles (visual only)

Battlefield Europe (thanks to eskuche), GC East, AK, SC & original campaign
- BE Core slot scripts reduced by 10 for each step (eg 190 instead of 200 turn 2)
- BE Some British Empire destroyers replaced by weaker and slower corvettes
- BE Deactivated strat bomber replacement units (formerly spawning near Frankfurt)
- BE Hs-129 spawn message fixed (turn 21 instead of turn 40)
- BE Würzburg radar costs 320 instead of 245

Unit Changes, thanks to eskuche & goose_2 playthroughs:
- 76mm ZiS-3, 57mm AT, 100mm AT, 8.8cm Pak nerfed defense
- Western Allied (UK, US) aircraft reduced GD again by 1 (still higher than 2025)
- 8.8cm L56 Flak slightly more expensive, 10.5cm Flak slightly cheaper
- Corvettes introduced for BE (weaker and slower destroyers)

Thanks, mate!

In 1942, comparative winter tests were conducted on the Valentine, Matilda, Panzer III and T-34 tanks. The tests showed that a series of thick, trampled snow walls was a serious obstacle for foreign tanks.

This monster, which looks like a motorway tank, is actually a T10 Sherman M4A2, a kind of modified version of the famous American medium tank, designed for clearing minefields. It was also advertised as an uncompromising breakthrough tank. Yes, the Americans boldly experimented with mine trawls. In this case, the tracks were removed from the Sherman tank and replaced with massive rollers that crushed and detonated mines at a safe distance from the tank's steel hull.

American troops are moving towards the Normandy coast. 6 June 1944.

[eskuche]

Yeah my issue was that I used 100% prestige so had to restart regardless (and cheat my unit histories into play). Messages add to library are nice. However, there seems to be only a partial, possibly due to entry maximum size, FYI.

[kieronus]

Is it just me or do cavalry have the exact same stats when mounted and dismounted?

[Locarnus]

Thanks, mate!

In 1942, comparative winter tests were conducted on the Valentine, Matilda, Panzer III and T-34 tanks. The tests showed that a series of thick, trampled snow walls was a serious obstacle for foreign tanks.

This monster, which looks like a motorway tank, is actually a T10 Sherman M4A2, a kind of modified version of the famous American medium tank, designed for clearing minefields. It was also advertised as an uncompromising breakthrough tank. Yes, the Americans boldly experimented with mine trawls. In this case, the tracks were removed from the Sherman tank and replaced with massive rollers that crushed and detonated mines at a safe distance from the tank's steel hull.

American troops are moving towards the Normandy coast. 6 June 1944.

Wow, didn't know about that Sherman monster truck contraption.
Thank you for sharing the picture.
Always interesting to see all those varied ideas to solve practical issues.

And fascinating how, in retrospect, obvious issues like snow and mud were not taken into account by some nations.
While Soviet tank design had its own issues, the mobility was one of those crucial aspects they prioritized.
Even if it did not practically work out, the Soviet BT series was originally designed to be able to switch from tracks to wheels.

Yeah my issue was that I used 100% prestige so had to restart regardless (and cheat my unit histories into play). Messages add to library are nice. However, there seems to be only a partial, possibly due to entry maximum size, FYI.

Library event entries only go up to turn 20 (except for the scripted upgrades).
It was already a pain to manually search for, copy and edit each entry.
I'm also still not sure about the right way to order and present them, or how much time I should invest into that (it will be a pain to keep even the included entries updated.

Is it just me or do cavalry have the exact same stats when mounted and dismounted?

Aside from the hardcoded class specific stats (recon vs inf with its close attack mechanic), only the rate of fire is different (8 rof when used as recon).
At some point I perhaps try again to add that stat to the UI instead of just the unit name, though I dread the thought of all the bugs that might cause and the obstacles just beneath the surface.
I'm also thinking about reducing the movement points when in infantry mode, like I did for the Kradschützen a few updates ago. Although it seems that the cavalry is already rather situational.

[eskuche]

Library event entries only go up to turn 20 (except for the scripted upgrades).
It was already a pain to manually search for, copy and edit each entry.
I'm also still not sure about the right way to order and present them, or how much time I should invest into that (it will be a pain to keep even the included entries updated.

I think just a laundry list would suffice. The actual details can be left to the turn message. Big pity that you can't copy paste from messages. Perhaps screenshots of a turn 99 message replace followed by AI transcription is the easiest here.

[bondjamesbond]

Thanks, mate!

In 1942, comparative winter tests were conducted on the Valentine, Matilda, Panzer III and T-34 tanks. The tests showed that a series of thick, trampled snow walls was a serious obstacle for foreign tanks.

This monster, which looks like a motorway tank, is actually a T10 Sherman M4A2, a kind of modified version of the famous American medium tank, designed for clearing minefields. It was also advertised as an uncompromising breakthrough tank. Yes, the Americans boldly experimented with mine trawls. In this case, the tracks were removed from the Sherman tank and replaced with massive rollers that crushed and detonated mines at a safe distance from the tank's steel hull.

American troops are moving towards the Normandy coast. 6 June 1944.

Wow, didn't know about that Sherman monster truck contraption.
Thank you for sharing the picture.
Always interesting to see all those varied ideas to solve practical issues.

And fascinating how, in retrospect, obvious issues like snow and mud were not taken into account by some nations.
While Soviet tank design had its own issues, the mobility was one of those crucial aspects they prioritized.
Even if it did not practically work out, the Soviet BT series was originally designed to be able to switch from tracks to wheels.

It's nice to deal with a smart and knowledgeable person! Well, you'll have to implement this information into our favourite game and mod )
viewtopic.php?t=118137&start=480
viewtopic.php?t=92787&start=5520

[Locarnus]

I think just a laundry list would suffice. The actual details can be left to the turn message. Big pity that you can't copy paste from messages. Perhaps screenshots of a turn 99 message replace followed by AI transcription is the easiest here.

It's nice to deal with a smart and knowledgeable person! Well, you'll have to implement this information into our favourite game and mod )
viewtopic.php?t=118137&start=480
viewtopic.php?t=92787&start=5520

I'll probably have to be reminded in the future, will most likely have less modding time in the coming weeks than the very mod-productive last two months.

@eskuche
The google document for the playthrough is getting quite big and hard to comment on.
For some strange reason my mobile device likes hacking off a strip from the left side of the document.

Perhaps the quasi dead AAR subforum would still entice 1-2 other people to comment and read it even in the future.
Seeing that JimmyC recently commented on BE playthroughs/announcements over there.
Unlikely to happen, but might even spawn a more general balancing and event discussion, not only for the Addon but the upcoming BE 2.5. Submarine and strat bombing theaters, as well as upgrade options have imho been workarounds since even beyond BE and the PzC engine. Even the purpose built Strategic Command series struggles with those.

[bondjamesbond]

I think just a laundry list would suffice. The actual details can be left to the turn message. Big pity that you can't copy paste from messages. Perhaps screenshots of a turn 99 message replace followed by AI transcription is the easiest here.

It's nice to deal with a smart and knowledgeable person! Well, you'll have to implement this information into our favourite game and mod )
viewtopic.php?t=118137&start=480
viewtopic.php?t=92787&start=5520

I'll probably have to be reminded in the future, will most likely have less modding time in the coming weeks than the very mod-productive last two months.

I will remind you, as it is not difficult for me, but it would be better for you to create a notebook with notes.


https://en.topwar.ru/99479-borba-s-vozd ... rovoy.html