SE unit question

[thgmusic]

I'm going into the 4th scenario of the 42 grand campaign in pretty good shape, with about 20K in prestige (I'm playing colonel difficulty...still basically a newb!) and my core has a good balance of forces with a lot of experience. I only have 4 SE units, though (3 infantry and 1 tank). I've seen discussions here where people have many, many more than that, and I think that was by the 42 campaign.
Am I missing something in playing that makes me "eligible" for them? I do try to keep at least 1 core slot open, although when I happen to capture a city that gives me a russian tank, that usually fills the slot until the next deployment phase.

Thanks for the information if you can share...

Cheers,
Brad

[captainjack]

There is a maximum limit on SE units that increases as you move from one DLC to the next. It starts at 2 for DLC 39, and goes up to 4 by 1941 and 5 by 1942. I have only played 1943 and 44 once and haven't yet made it to 1945, so can't comment on the upper limit in these later ones. There is also an experience cap that gradually rises as you move through the DLCs. Both of these are shown at the starting screen of each DLC (in the PC version) and if I remember rightly this is also shown in the message screen if you click on that during the game.

Having said that, SE units are awarded randomly at the beginning of each new scenario - there's a 30% chance of getting one if you haven't got the current maximum. While that sounds like you'd be a near certainty of getting an additional one after three or four scenarios in each DLC, there's actually about a 10% chance you could go six or seven scenarios without getting one and about 1 in 30 chance of not getting any within 8 or 9 scenarios. So you could just be unlucky.

[thgmusic]

There is a maximum limit on SE units that increases as you move from one DLC to the next. It starts at 2 for DLC 39, and goes up to 4 by 1941 and 5 by 1942. I have only played 1943 and 44 once and haven't yet made it to 1945, so can't comment on the upper limit in these later ones. There is also an experience cap that gradually rises as you move through the DLCs. Both of these are shown at the starting screen of each DLC (in the PC version) and if I remember rightly this is also shown in the message screen if you click on that during the game.

Having said that, SE units are awarded randomly at the beginning of each new scenario - there's a 30% chance of getting one if you haven't got the current maximum. While that sounds like you'd be a near certainty of getting an additional one after three or four scenarios in each DLC, there's actually about a 10% chance you could go six or seven scenarios without getting one and about 1 in 30 chance of not getting any within 8 or 9 scenarios. So you could just be unlucky.

Thanks for the clarification, captainjack. I appreciate the explanation of how that works. According to that, I have about the right number of SE units for this time in the game overall. Maybe my luck will improve as time goes on!

Cheers,
Brad

[antoniocapo]

Also if you are feeling too unlucky you can save the last turn on the last move just before scenario end. Then after you start the next scenario, if you didnt get an SE reward, just reload to the saved point above, move a few units (somene said that moves were important to reset the checksum) and then go to the next scenario again. Keep reloading until you get an SE unit, usually can take from 3-4 tries average (i have gotten on first try and on the 10th). This also works at the start of a campaign after you select your new core force, so reload and reload unitl you get an SE (worked for me at the beginning of 1940 as i wanted the extra SE immediately to xp it up fast ).

You cant go over the limit of SE per campaign though, so make sure you have space for the new SE unit or you will go crazy.

[hs1611]

I do try to keep at least 1 core slot open, although when I happen to capture a city that gives me a russian tank, that usually fills the slot until the next deployment phase.

There's no need to keep a core slot open. SE units do not use core slots. If at the deployment stage you have, for example, 20 core slots, that means you can deploy 20 normal core units plus all your SE units.
If you leave open slots that will only allow you to deploy units on latter turns, until all slots are filled.
You don't even need slots open to get captured units.

[Dmurphy238]

In a related issue, if going into turn one of Storming Stalingrad, you have no prestige points, are you basically toast?

[thgmusic]

In a related issue, if going into turn one of Storming Stalingrad, you have no prestige points, are you basically toast?

Hey,
No fair hijacking my thread! : )

Cheers,
Brad

[thgmusic]

I do try to keep at least 1 core slot open, although when I happen to capture a city that gives me a russian tank, that usually fills the slot until the next deployment phase.

There's no need to keep a core slot open. SE units do not use core slots. If at the deployment stage you have, for example, 20 core slots, that means you can deploy 20 normal core units plus all your SE units.
If you leave open slots that will only allow you to deploy units on latter turns, until all slots are filled.
You don't even need slots open to get captured units.

Thanks for this bit of info, hs1611. Is that in the manual somewhere or are you privy to some "inside intel"? : )

I'm going to go fill that slot I've been holding open with something useful for my core force, like a medic...

Cheers,
Brad

[captainjack]

You can also buy SE units if you use the "All eqp" cheat provided you have a legitimate SE slot available.
In my defence, I forgot to switch on "Reform units" and didn't realise until half way through 1941, when I suddenly found I was missing one of my SE Gebirgsjagers and one of my standard Gebirgsjagers. By then I was too far through to restart the DLC.

As with all cheats there is an element of personal taste and self-control - after all, who doesn't wonder how a Maus or Elefant would fare against a T26?

[hs1611]

Thanks for this bit of info, hs1611. Is that in the manual somewhere or are you privy to some "inside intel"? : )

Nope, no "inside intel". I've just been playing this game for the last 2 years and learned a few things.
Can't recall if it was on the manual or here, in these forums.
I seriously doubt it was on the manual because, let's be honest, the manual is very incomplete and vague. I don't remember the last time I looked at it. Probably about a week or 2 after I found these forums.
Fortunately, there's a lot of more experienced players, amongst whom I do not include myself, who don't mind to come here and give advice or answer questions.
Often you don't even have to ask because someone already did and the answer is already available. Just browse and search.
Enjoy the game.

[hs1611]

You can also buy SE units if you use the "All eqp" cheat provided you have a legitimate SE slot available.

Actually, I just tried it, with that cheat you can buy and deploy as many SE units as you want, regardless of the legitimate SE slots available.
I bought and deployed 10 SE units on the first scenario of the 1939 vanilla campaign. I can't remember if the SE unit limit for that campaign is 3 or 6, but it is not 10.

[thgmusic]

You can also buy SE units if you use the "All eqp" cheat provided you have a legitimate SE slot available.

Actually, I just tried it, with that cheat you can buy and deploy as many SE units as you want, regardless of the legitimate SE slots available.
I bought and deployed 10 SE units on the first scenario of the 1939 vanilla campaign. I can't remember if the SE unit limit for that campaign is 3 or 6, but it is not 10.

Thanks for the info, captainjack. I do have a GC going on my laptop, but my main campaign (now up to Sevastopol assault) is on my iPad where, alas, there are no temptations to cheat. : ) Well, maybe the temptation is there, but not the capability! It's actually making me a much better PC player as I can't fall back on the cheat codes. In the iPad version, we don't even have the "reform units" option in the campaign set-up.

So I think I'm finally beginning to understand what you mean by "reserve" units. I can, through unit purchases up to the cap imposed in each scenario, over-build my force. I can then deploy only what I truly need for any given scenario. You're right that it's a bit late now that I'm into the '42 campaign, but something to keep in mind for future play-throughs. (I do have 10 infantry of various types in my core. I do still love the role infantry plays, especially as I learn when and where to use them more effectively.)

Edited addendum: I just realized you were talking about reserves over on the other thread I submitted about Sevastopol.

Must run. Thanks for the tips!

Cheers,
Brad

[LaStarza]

Please forgive me for what is probably a dumb question... but what exactly is an SE Unit?

Thanks

[best75]

Please forgive me for what is probably a dumb question... but what exactly is an SE Unit?

Thanks

SE units are elite units you sometimes get at the end of a campaign mission
They are munch stronger then non SE units

[LaStarza]

Please forgive me for what is probably a dumb question... but what exactly is an SE Unit?

Thanks

SE units are elite units you sometimes get at the end of a campaign mission
They are munch stronger then non SE units

Thanks for the quick reply! Much appreciated.

[Tarrak]

Please forgive me for what is probably a dumb question... but what exactly is an SE Unit?

Thanks

SE units are elite units you sometimes get at the end of a campaign mission

So far everything is correct.

They are munch stronger then non SE units

Here i must add a little correction. They aren't exactly much stronger, at least not at fighting. The SE units usually only have 1 more attack then their normal counterparts. For an infantry with for example 6 SA it may be a lot bonus. For a Tiger tank with around 18 HA its barely noticeable. The main advantage of the SE units is the fact that they do not count towards the deployment limit in a scenario. For example if you are allowed to deploy 20 core units in a scenario you can deploy 20 of your normal core units and additionally all the SE units you have. If you are playing under the 1.2 rules then the SE units have the advantage of not counting towards the soft prestige cap as well.

[GSlapshot]

Just for reference below is the SE count for each campaign.

Panzer Korps SE Units
GC 1939: 2 SE slots
GC 1940: 3 SE slots
GC 1941: 4 SE slots
GC 1942-43 West: 4 SE slots
GC 1944: 5 SE slots
GC 1945: 6 SE slots

Afrika Korps SE Units
Reconnaissance in Force through Second Offensive: 2 SE slots
Gazala Line through Basara: 3 SE slots
Persia through East Afrika: 4 SE slots
On The Road to India to End: 5 SE slots

Allied Corps SE Units
Border Raids through Bardia + Torch (US campaign): 0 (no) SE slots
Beda Fomm, Crete: 1 SE slot
Crusader, Cauldron, First Alamein + Kasserine (US campaign): 2 SE slots
Second Alamein, Medenine, Tunisia: 3 SE slots
Sicily, Salerno, Anzio Landing, + Cassino Breakthrough: 4 SE slots
D-Day through Allied Disputes: 5 SE slots

[Forefall]

Just to let Tarrack know, the actual amount of attack vs. defense doesn't seem to be the issue, it's only the difference between attack and defense that matters. So giving 1 attack has the exact same effect on a 4 SA infantry attacking a 4 GD as it would on a 18 HA tank attacking an 18 GD.

[Tarrak]

Just to let Tarrack know, the actual amount of attack vs. defense doesn't seem to be the issue, it's only the difference between attack and defense that matters. So giving 1 attack has the exact same effect on a 4 SA infantry attacking a 4 GD as it would on a 18 HA tank attacking an 18 GD.

Well what you said is true but i was talking simply about the increase in attack. If you add one point of attack to a unit with initially one attack you get 100% attack increase. If you add one point to a unit having 5 initially you get a 20% increase. If you add one to a unit having 20 you get a 5% increase in attack value. How much it affects the combat vs different units is another question. When attacking a unit 50 GD none of the before mentioned will have any effect at all.

[alkafluence]

Allied Corps SE Units
Border Raids through Bardia + Torch (US campaign): 0 (no) SE slots
Beda Fomm, Crete: 1 SE slot
Crusader, Cauldron, First Alamein + Kasserine (US campaign): 2 SE slots
Second Alamein, Medenine, Tunisia: 3 SE slots
Sicily, Salerno, Anzio Landing, + Cassino Breakthrough: 4 SE slots
D-Day through Allied Disputes: 5 SE slots

Note: These are potential maximums.

I seem to be playing an extremely unlucky run through of AC right now, where I only was granted one SE unit. And, I'm just starting Salerno.

[No, I don't game the random number generator to purposely get SE units right away.]