Grand campaign after AO DLCs - interesting reflections

[Vorskl]

I've just completed Generalissimus on the available AO DLCs and decided to replay the Grand Campaign (GC). And immediately.. lost at Warsaw (the very second scenario).
Wow.. GC does feels / plays VERY different, almost like two different games; more bizarre, despite all tweaks and tunes in DLCs, GC is probably closer to the "actual" experience than DLCs because of much tighter prestige conditions.

Some interesting observations:
- denied artillery and aviation, what I'd gladly take in DLCs for free traits points (thank you Kerensky for generous Soviet arty shopping in SCW ) is big no-no
- considering the campaign is only 22 scenarios, a good killer team is probably the must to have (I'd never waste traits on heroes in the DLC though)
- prestige SUDDENLY is a problem. I stopped using Edmon's Four after SCW as it killed fun. I'll probably have to use it in the GC though
- experience grows super-fast. Recons are close to get the 2nd star by the end of Warsaw. Meaning, cross-training will be the must
- slow modernization. Another 'free point' in DLCs (except 1940 where you need to switch back and forth for paras operations). I'll probably have to skip it otherwise the risk is that appear in Kursk with a bunch of unupgradable PzIIIs
- you have to carefully choose your equipment. Pioneers were my infantry of choice in DLCs (again, except back-n-forth conversion to paras). Cannot afford these now! In DCLs I've became money-lazy, buying the latest / best equipment no matter what the check (you can even deploy that expensive piece of junk called Neufa.. panzer just because you can). Have I have to unlearn this habit in GC.

Whoever recently started / completed GC, share your trait selection please.

[BaronVonKrieg]

I've just completed Generalissimus on the available AO DLCs and decided to replay the Grand Campaign (GC). And immediately.. lost at Warsaw (the very second scenario).
Wow.. GC does feels / plays VERY different, almost like two different games; more bizarre, despite all tweaks and tunes in DLCs, GC is probably closer to the "actual" experience than DLCs because of much tighter prestige conditions.

Some interesting observations:
- denied artillery and aviation, what I'd gladly take in DLCs for free traits points (thank you Kerensky for generous Soviet arty shopping in SCW ) is big no-no
- considering the campaign is only 22 scenarios, a good killer team is probably the must to have (I'd never waste traits on heroes in the DLC though)
- prestige SUDDENLY is a problem. I stopped using Edmon's Four after SCW as it killed fun. I'll probably have to use it in the GC though
- experience grows super-fast. Recons are close to get the 2nd star by the end of Warsaw. Meaning, cross-training will be the must
- slow modernization. Another 'free point' in DLCs (except 1940 where you need to switch back and forth for paras operations). I'll probably have to skip it otherwise the risk is that appear in Kursk with a bunch of unupgradable PzIIIs
- you have to carefully choose your equipment. Pioneers were my infantry of choice in DLCs (again, except back-n-forth conversion to paras). Cannot afford these now! In DCLs I've became money-lazy, buying the latest / best equipment no matter what the check (you can even deploy that expensive piece of junk called Neufa.. panzer just because you can). Have I have to unlearn this habit in GC.

Whoever recently started / completed GC, share your trait selection please.

Yeah i completed AO dlcs for the X-time and decided to go for normal campaign to see how it all started, picked my regular traits from AO, oh boi oh boi, got some shit heroes and was struggling for prestige in polish campaign, but after initial grind it gets easier for me its just those few scenarios in which i lack some prestige probably bad spending habits from AO, but then again there come some scenarios in which i bleed dry the prestige.

[George_Parr]

You mean the regular campaign of the game?
Because the Grand campaign would be the AO DLCs, as those are to PC2 what the Grand Campaign was to PC1.

The regular campaign can be quite tough early on, and you definately don't have the advantage of being swamped with lots of heroes and capable units which allow you to deal with almost any type of scenario. You also don't get to switch the options you chose like you can between the DLCs, so if you are lacking in one area you have a hard time making up for that. But overall I don't think one is harder than the other. It always depends on how you set things up for yourself.

[Bee1976]

Yes, the basegame campaign feels tough. and real short now.

If you play the historical path, the defence scenarios feels harder than even ebro. Playing it on generelissimus with challenges is fun, but not every playthrough attemp works. The only thing i dislike on the base campaign is, that its too short. There is not enough time to develop a "good" core.

[Vorskl]

Yes, the basegame campaign feels tough. and real short now.

If you play the historical path, the defence scenarios feels harder than even ebro. Playing it on generelissimus with challenges is fun, but not every playthrough attemp works. The only thing i dislike on the base campaign is, that its too short. There is not enough time to develop a "good" core.

I replayed more carefully, reached Sedan and realized I dont like how its going - I am unable to fulfill all core slots even though I am buying junk like PzII and no trucks for infantry.
Looked at the youtube walktroughts, looks like every player picked either Liberator or Trophies to tackle the $$$ challenge. What kills the fun though is the stupid -20% accuracy buff

[Bee1976]

Yes, the basegame campaign feels tough. and real short now.

If you play the historical path, the defence scenarios feels harder than even ebro. Playing it on generelissimus with challenges is fun, but not every playthrough attemp works. The only thing i dislike on the base campaign is, that its too short. There is not enough time to develop a "good" core.

I replayed more carefully, reached Sedan and realized I dont like how its going - I am unable to fulfill all core slots even though I am buying junk like PzII and no trucks for infantry.
Looked at the youtube walktroughts, looks like every player picked either Liberator or Trophies to tackle the $$$ challenge. What kills the fun though is the stupid -20% accuracy buff

Well, the -20% acc Buff on the enemies is no a big deal for me.If you proceed careful with support, its possible. But i had to call my PT with that -5 Turns per Mission Challenge. I dislike playing with trophies and liberator feels not worth it on generalismus difficulty. But i think Deadly Grasp is a mandatory pick.
I like playing with aux force, just for 2-3 recon planes for each mission, that lowers your effective prestige cost due to losses a lot. (And for the defence of berlin, if i will reach it it seems really useful) my plan is to fill all possible city tiles with cheap infantry...hope i will get enough prestige for it

But yes, seperation of -prestige and "enemy buffs" seems usefull considering the possibilty of altering the individual difficulty level.