Optimal Use of Heroes

[jceecs]

Long time reader but first time posting. I currently am working my way through the 41 DLC and several of my units have heroes, I was curious on the communities thoughts on how to best use them
1.) I have 2 tactical bombers with +3 defense: should i use these as stukas or use them as fighter/bombers...what would be the pros/cons of each?
2.) I have a fighter 109E with a +3 defense: should i keep him as 109E or upgrade 109F? most ppl sacrifice the firepower for initiative but the +3 defense might make it worth keeping?
3.) I have 2 inf units with +1 spotting: should i convert them to cavalry/mountain/inf for the extra movement or turn them PzGren/pio...what would be the pros/cons of each?
4.) I have an artillery unit with +1 defense so i converted him stug IIIB right away...thoughts?
5.) I have 2 artillery's with +1 spot any way to make use of these?

Thanks for the info in advance!

[Kerensky]

I would keep your +3 defense tactical bombers as Stukas. I don't know how far your campaign is, but I assume you are playing the DLC. +defense on Stukas is pretty important, because starting in DLC 1942 and continuing on from there, the Allies get some pretty powerful fighters with decent experience. Gone are the days of Me-109s annihilating biplanes. In this situations, a beefy Stuka is better able to survive being attacked on the occasion the AI catches your Stuka without fighter escort.

109E, but then, I always prefer the 109E over the F.

If you don't like your + spotting heroes, I would recycle them. The DLC campaign is very long, and EXTREMELY long if you link multiple DLC together, so you have lots of time to train up new units and 'reroll' the dice on the hero generation. Disband your +spotting artillery hero during deploy phase, and buy a new unit of the same type, and hope for a non-spotting hero. That's what I do, heh.

Defense on arty is pretty nifty though, especially on low range artillery pieces, such as the StuG IIIB and StuH42.

[deadtorius]

pray for a +1 move on your artillery, I have one in my DLC core, its great to be unlimbered and able to move 2

[Vaughn]

I like your idea about turning your spotting infantry into mountain or cavalry. You could do that and have some pretty good recon.

I agree with Kerensky about the tac bombers and fighters. +3 defense always comes in handy.

Sorry about spotting on the arty. Unfortunately, that is the waste of a good hero slot. I generally like spotting heroes - just not on artillery.



I have a question of my own. While fighting in Stalingrad one of my artys got his second movement hero. I have 2 movement heroes on an 88 and it is awesome. Any clue what the best use of two movement heroes on an arty would be?

[McRoos]

Hmmmm.. interresting story.
Makes deploying your units a bit more time consuming.

Spotting in my opinion is usefull for spearhead panzers, or recons.
Recons already are capable of spotting, but some extra hexes to be seen.... can make a difference.

Defense. Usefull for infantry in cities.
Initiative. For the panzers.

But then again..... Luck is also a major factor to deal with.

[Casaubon]

I got some defensive heroes on artillery and its not a bad thing if you upgrade the unit to StuGIII, they rock in the very front line

[Akaoz]

I have a +3 initiative para. Any suggestion on what to use him for? Honestly, of all the stats in this game, init is the one I am the most clueless about. I can never figure out how much of a difference it makes.

Also, is it just me or is +3 attack wher. inf. extremely good in the 39-40 DLC? Would they be even better as pio or para?

[Goat]

Don't understimate +3 initiative. I have a pioneer with move +1 and initiative +3 - i can attack infantry in the city without softening it and only have usually betwwen 0-1 loses.

[charonjr]

I have a +3ini para as well and they really did shine inStalingrad, they were better than a +2attack pionier.

[Anfield]

Honestly I dont even pay attention to Heros, is such a chore to keep looking to see what units have what. I just fight, and if it happens to be a hero doing something its good at all the better. There REALLY needs to be a better way to instantly see what heros a unit has. Cause really, I never even look anymore.

[charonjr]

Putting small remarks in the units name helps (e.g. 3A or 1D), but I agree that there should be a real ingame solution.

[deducter]

I have a +3ini para as well and they really did shine inStalingrad, they were better than a +2attack pionier.

I have a +3 ini paratrooper too. Annihilates anything in close terrain even on Manstein without artillery support. Always overstrength and elite reinforce this unit for maximal power.