Locarnus Addon 2025-10a, for Battlefield Europe, Afrika Korps and Grand Campaign East

[goose_2]

I checked the next 3 days in the Narva scenario. This is a pretty cake scenario after the initial first couple of days. They appear solely focused on plowing into my brick wall of defense in Narva itself making it possible for me to make a strong push across the river in the south and Center.

I feel that I will tear this one up completely, just wish I could use my mighty air force in the North but that is impossible with all of those roving SPAAG's. They will tear me up and make me wince in pain.

But it is pretty cool taking out big dog tank units in the city with my upgraded infantry which tear them open like tin cans.

Looking forward to Sunday to show you the brutal start. I hope that I am done with my playthrough by that point so make sure and indicate which unit should finish in which unit type so i can make needed switched before Rimski

[Locarnus]

Looking forward to Sunday to show you the brutal start. I hope that I am done with my playthrough by that point so make sure and indicate which unit should finish in which unit type so i can make needed switched before Rimski

Depends on which units you deployed in Narva and what equipment you are using on them at the moment (thus at which point in the upgrade chain you are right now).
If Soljaism still has that "12 Gr Werfer", he should end the scenario in infantry mode to be able to upgrade to "10 Nblwf".
If Gigiduru still has the "7.62 FK 288(r) r11", he should end the scenario in artillery mode for upgrade to "8 GrWerfer 34 r11".
And so on.

[goose_2]

Soljaism will def end in inf mode
Gigi is now a rip roaring Grenadier
he slaughters their frontline units. It is a crazy good unit. +1 Movement has changed Grenadier versatility

[Locarnus]

Soljaism will def end in inf mode
Gigi is now a rip roaring Grenadier
he slaughters their frontline units. It is a crazy good unit. +1 Movement has changed Grenadier versatility

Yep, biggest challenge at Narva was to keep in mind that so many aux units have to survive.
Contrary to the usual PzC campaign habits of using them.

Grenadiere really are the heavy weapons infantry type shining in late game, and that movement hero counters their only major deficit.
Due to the soft attack values on tanks going up way less than tank hard attack, Greanadiere are surprisingly decent at holding open terrain (at least when supported by one defensive arty).

Speaking about infantry:
I'm thinking about joining the "Jaeger" and "Mobile" infantry upgrade families.
Upgrades between them would still face the hurdle of Cav and Krad not using organic transports.
It would simplify the infantry upgrade families to a regular one and a special/Jaeger one.
(I guess my anger over dropbox enshittification only momentarily kept me from thinking about mod improvements )


If you deployed DoktorG in StuG III G+, then he should end either in AT or arty class, so that he can become a StuG IV.
Rimski in StuG IV should be in tank class, so that he can upgrade to PzSfl IVb.
If Pierre is in PzSfl IVb, he should end in tank class to upgrade to Jagdpanzer IV/48.
Raycaster in StuIG 33B r8 should end in tank class to upgrade to StuG III 44.
Locarnus has to be in tank class for the upgrade to Möbelwagen SPAA (on Panzer IV chassis like Brummbär).

[goose_2]

Quick Update:
Recorded 2nd Broadcast yesterday and received 2 more heroes that I am pleased to receive.

2nd heroes will be coming with greater and greater frequency in 44.

It has me thinking that the most important heroes to wait for great heroes will be in the 2nd hero category as 3rd heroes will be really hard to come by. Tanks and my 1st 4 SE units will be the really only guaranteed 3rd heroed units that I can wait until I am given a really great 3rd hero, where as the other units will be a more surprise and acceptance of any heroes for 3rd heroes as probably not going to get.

[goose_2]

I looked at the break down on last years end of 44 for thejf where he had 5 units with 3 heroes and where he had 12 by the end of the entire campaign.

I think I will grow stronger with more units hitting that 3rd hero threshold.

I think for the airplanes I will try and stop using airplanes that reach 2 heroes and 4 stars of exp. That is enough for this stage in the war and I would like to try and get a majority of planes to that difficult threshold of 4 stars exp and 2 heroes.

I have way too many with only a single hero, but real close to either 2nd heroes or 4 stars of exp. I want all planes with at least 4 stars and 2 heroes.

[Locarnus]

I looked at the break down on last years end of 44 for thejf where he had 5 units with 3 heroes and where he had 12 by the end of the entire campaign.

I think I will grow stronger with more units hitting that 3rd hero threshold.

I think for the airplanes I will try and stop using airplanes that reach 2 heroes and 4 stars of exp. That is enough for this stage in the war and I would like to try and get a majority of planes to that difficult threshold of 4 stars exp and 2 heroes.

I have way too many with only a single hero, but real close to either 2nd heroes or 4 stars of exp. I want all planes with at least 4 stars and 2 heroes.

Well, I complain about not having enough time for playing PanzerCorps, but won't stop overspending time on modding and unit options/upgrades instead.

You are not satisfied with the pace at which you gain heroes and experience for your airforce, but continue to not make the simple changes that would lead to faster hero and experience gain for your airforce.

Patrik (youtube original campaign playthrough) seems to be unhappy with his prestige available for purchases and upgrades, but continues to burn his prestige on extremely expensive overstrength before doing purchases and upgrades.

[goose_2]

Hey buddy,

I think my use for planes is garnering the desired exp and heroes, I know we disagree with what I am doing, and yet I see myself pushing the limits of what is possible.

I believe once I finish 44 that build I am attempting in 44 will benefit the survival in 45, I do not plan on training all units to be 5 star units, but 4 starred Fighters with 2 5 starred Fighters will work my way through 45 just fine.

I am in the middle of Patrick's vids on Stalingrad. They are heart wrenching to see the painful way he plays, but I find it entertaining. It is making me want to play the Vanilla Campaign with your mod. I have not played the single player Vanilla Campaign in a very very long time. Always been focusing on playing it in MP mode. So I think playing on Double Rommel with one unit rule would be sufficiently difficult.

Thoughts?

[Locarnus]

Hey buddy,

I think my use for planes is garnering the desired exp and heroes, I know we disagree with what I am doing, and yet I see myself pushing the limits of what is possible.

I believe once I finish 44 that build I am attempting in 44 will benefit the survival in 45, I do not plan on training all units to be 5 star units, but 4 starred Fighters with 2 5 starred Fighters will work my way through 45 just fine.

I am in the middle of Patrick's vids on Stalingrad. They are heart wrenching to see the painful way he plays, but I find it entertaining. It is making me want to play the Vanilla Campaign with your mod. I have not played the single player Vanilla Campaign in a very very long time. Always been focusing on playing it in MP mode. So I think playing on Double Rommel with one unit rule would be sufficiently difficult.

Thoughts?

Today I watched the latest two videos from Patrik (Lake Balaton). Wrote a comment on his latest video in the hope that it might help his next Panzer Corps playthrough (with or without my mod).
Then considered starting an original campaign playthrough, to see for myself that there really is no major issue with the available prestige. It has been quite some time since I last played it from start to finish.

But first I checked that Lake Balaton scenario in the editor. Hm, too many SU-100, no 76mm Emcha. Replaced two of the former with the latter. Then looked at those aux units not having hungarian equipment. Fixed that as well in the editor. Reminded me of some other grand campaign issues still on my to do list, just a few clicks away in the editor...
Did not manage to start the original campaign, spent the time on modding, once again...



Imho the original campaign has several major issues for my personal taste. I'm not sure how much time and effort I want to spend on it in terms of modding.

- Many scenarios in early years, few scenarios in later years. When all those interesting (for me at least) upgrade options are available.

- And it is designed around the AI spamming units to defend the objectives further back. So without that spam in the Addon mod, the action is very frontloaded in the original campaign scenarios. I considered manually placing more units there, but then would also have to balance for those wild scenario objectives (like "finish with 9 turns remaining for decisive victory"). Or I would have to change the objectives.

- I don't like the campaign tree. Doing Sealion 40 and then Rush to Moscow catapults the player directly to USA East Coast. Sidestepping so many scenarios and their kills and experience farming potential. You are practically punished for doing too well. I even did a tiny PzC mod back in the day to fix that (link is still in my signature, but I think the campaign file structure changed since then?).
Reminds me of the time when I came over from Panzer General. I also had quite some trouble adjusting to Panzer Corps. Randomness and no overrun mechanic and so on...

+ The main aspect I like about the original campaign is, that there is some enemy variety with limited time commitment. Especially when going against west in the end (Gustav Line & Overlord or fantasy USA invasion).


Imho the original campaign without mods is wildly unbalanced.
And somewhat differently, wildy unbalanced with Locarnus Addon.

@goose_2
I may do some small changes and fixes to the original campaign here and there in the coming days, based on the video feedback from Patrik. But not sure how far I'm going with that. I recommend waiting for that next update then, if you consider an original campaign playthrough.

[goose_2]

@goose_2
I may do some small changes and fixes to the original campaign here and there in the coming days, based on the video feedback from Patrik. But not sure how far I'm going with that. I recommend waiting for that next update then, if you consider an original campaign playthrough.

I love this. It is like real time thought process from you going not going to do it, not able to do it, don't want to do it, 'till the final ok I am going to do it, but wait until next mod. It is so great to get you inspired, and may even be an incentive to work through balancing issues in the West Campaign, eventually. A soft way of inspiration.


Patrick is so fun to watch because it keeps me on my toes, I see the mistakes and shake my head, but realize he is playing the best way to play, just go out and do it for fun.

For most players they are just wanting to play for fu...point click shoot and keep pressing forward.


It is nut balls like me who always want to push the boundaries on what is possible.

So glad I found this game.

[goose_2]

Shoot! I have been trying out ideas around Strachwitz, I keep coming up short. This will take more research and playtesting...might not get this started this week like I was hoping, but will hopefully have an update of my progress on Friday.

[Locarnus]

Shoot! I have been trying out ideas around Strachwitz, I keep coming up short. This will take more research and playtesting...might not get this started this week like I was hoping, but will hopefully have an update of my progress on Friday.

Do you really need dedicated fighter planes for Strachwitz?
The enemy only has those 6 bombers, if I remember correctly.
Would work well to first get kills as a fighter or in fighter mode and then experience when converted to strat bomber within the scenario.
Deploying dedicated fighters and keeping them as such after those 6 bombers are shot down would be rather inefficient.

So many enemy tanks instead.
Perhaps time for more own heavies being deployed and/or units like Brummbär and Hummel making more use of their direct attack capability?
Maybe also use the Wurfrahmen 43? Such a potent unit type not being deployed for several sceanrios, just because Dneos is at 450 experience.

[goose_2]

you are not kidding this one is nuts
I have been looking and there are no clips with a successful playthrough of this insane battle.

I think I may end up with a Marginal or even a loss, I will try my best but unsure what i can do on this one.

[Locarnus]

you are not kidding this one is nuts
I have been looking and there are no clips with a successful playthrough of this insane battle.

I think I may end up with a Marginal or even a loss, I will try my best but unsure what i can do on this one.

Just looked at it again.
Did not realize there was so much close terrain. I think I really made the situation worse with my infantry upgrade recommendations from last scenario. Strachwitz Offensive seems to be an infantry map, despite not being a city-scenario. Swamp is close terrain with ini limit of 2.
Especially Bridge Engineers seem to be decisive for the last objectives, since most of them are actually river crossings!

I wonder if it is worth it to emergency convert a few more units to infantry?
Eg Raunosavolainen could become the 12cm Mortar (which is in 10.5 leFH upgrade family when in arty mode) and then upgrade to another Brückenpionier (due to having a movement hero). Alternatively Paul Wilde from the bonus SE units also has a movement hero to become a bridge engineer.
Perhaps I should make horse transports available for Bridge Engineers?

Only other option I see would be camo tank destroyers and lots of time investment into laying traps.
Overall it certainly looks like a scenario for the A-team, instead of a training exercise.