New to series Question(s)

[rcbricker]

West since you will have most of your prestige stolen and many of your units taken away with I think the first scenario in the West, I still have not played it but at least know that much, you want to build up an elite core force of some 13 to 17 units, I am unsure of the number as again I have not played. So reserving prestige in the early Campaign when you know you are going West is pointless. Once you start West however it becomes very tight very quickly apparently.

So is it better to start with West then go to East?

Build up a wide range of infantry and do not use costly transports...

but then they are really slow! I am not certain I could DV in the GC with that slow of troops. Any tips?

Once they get a decent hero or reach max experience use a fresh green one.

How do you know if they are at max XP?

Sell off any +1 Spotting hero's you may get...

How do you sell off a hero? do you have to sell the whole unit?

[robman]

So is it better to start with West then go to East?

I think East makes more sense for a first play-through, as the transitions from one year to another are not so dramatic.

but then they are really slow! I am not certain I could DV in the GC with that slow of troops. Any tips?

You will not need halftracks until you get to Russia in fall 1941. Do not upgrade to the more expensive (200 point) halftracks--the 100-point models are pretty much the same.

How do you know if they are at max XP?

Each campaign year has an experience cap. You receive this information at the beginning of the campaign.

How do you sell off a hero? do you have to sell the whole unit?

Yes, you have to disband the entire unit. I do this when an artillery unit's first hero is a spotting hero. Because heroes are based on kills, it takes a very long time for an artillery unit to earn a hero, but very little time for artillery to gain experience, because experience includes suppression.

[rcbricker]

Each campaign year has an experience cap. You receive this information at the beginning of the campaign.

But how do you know a specific unit has maxed out?

Yes, you have to disband the entire unit. I do this when an artillery unit's first hero is a spotting hero. Because heroes are based on kills, it takes a very long time for an artillery unit to earn a hero, but very little time for artillery to gain experience, because experience includes suppression.

I see. I guess that makes sense. Is it better to hang on to the unit for awhile till you can replace it with a new unit (and get its xp up)? Just in case?

[Cerberus51]

Each campaign year has an experience cap. You receive this information at the beginning of the campaign.

But how do you know a specific unit has maxed out?

You need to know the max figure for that part of the GC. During a scenario right click on the unit and you can find its current experience. During deployment (or any other time) if you mouseover the row of stars for the unit you get a tooltip giving the exp number.

[goose_2]

I only know Eastern strategy and even that is a learning curve for me.

A lot of questions so little time.
1939 cap is 225
When a unit gets close to 200 or get's it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit. (Your super heroes such as Oleh Dir and Albert Kerscher once they get 100 exp substitute them out as you will learn to lean to heavy on them and they will max out to quickly before you have built your strong base you are needing.
1940 cap is 325
When a unit gets close to 300 and has it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit.
1941 cap is 375
When a unit is over 300 and has it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit. (Your heroes may start to double up at this point and if they do substitute them out on the following scenario as you will need these gems for your forces in 44 and 45 like you wouldn't believe.

[goose_2]

If you sell/disband a unit do it between scenarios and make sure to give it reg replacements so you get full money as you get nothing for experience when you sell it.

DO NOT KEEP +1 Spotting AA or artillery.
They are worthless and heros are so rare.

[goose_2]

If you sell/disband a unit do it between scenarios and make sure to give it reg replacements so you get full money as you get nothing for experience when you sell it.

DO NOT KEEP +1 Spotting AA or artillery.
They are worthless and heros are so rare.

Or I should say 1st heroes are easy but 2nd heroes take years to obtain.

[rcbricker]

If you sell/disband a unit do it between scenarios and make sure to give it reg replacements so you get full money as you get nothing for experience when you sell it.

DO NOT KEEP +1 Spotting AA or artillery.
They are worthless and heros are so rare.

good idea on the replacements I would probably forget to do that.

Heroes are rare? I understand that, but this makes it sound like if you have been awarded a hero their existence lowers the chance of getting another one in that scenario/map? Is this true?

Also, from your previous post you stated when a unit gets over XXX xp (depending on GC) swap them out for a green unit...

Do you mean during the battle? if so how? didn't know you could do that. Of course I have yet to start a map with more core than deployment slots.

[rcbricker]

Each campaign year has an experience cap. You receive this information at the beginning of the campaign.

But how do you know a specific unit has maxed out?

You need to know the max figure for that part of the GC. During a scenario right click on the unit and you can find its current experience. During deployment (or any other time) if you mouseover the row of stars for the unit you get a tooltip giving the exp number.

Thanks. Good to know. I will start looking at this information.

AGH! so much to know and do! lol I love it!

[goose_2]

If you sell/disband a unit do it between scenarios and make sure to give it reg replacements so you get full money as you get nothing for experience when you sell it.

DO NOT KEEP +1 Spotting AA or artillery.
They are worthless and heros are so rare.

good idea on the replacements I would probably forget to do that.

Heroes are rare? I understand that, but this makes it sound like if you have been awarded a hero their existence lowers the chance of getting another one in that scenario/map? Is this true?

Also, from your previous post you stated when a unit gets over XXX xp (depending on GC) swap them out for a green unit...

Do you mean during the battle? if so how? didn't know you could do that. Of course I have yet to start a map with more core than deployment slots.

You cannot pull out units in the Grand Campaign, but you can in Soviet Corps which is an incredible feature.
You do it between scenarios.
Evaluate your troops. For IE:
I see I have 2 artillery units that are almost or are at 200 experience in 1939 and they do not have a hero yet.
So I am going to buy 2 new artillery and save my other 2 artillery units for use again in 1940 where hopefully they can get their first hero.
Use artillery liberally as they are huge part of minimizing losses and also maximizing prestige by Surrounding, Suppressing, and Surrendering the enemy units.
The 10.5cm arty's are really nice as they have a rate of fire of 100%
15cm arty have a rate of fire of 80% so not as many chances to hit.

[tenshin111]

So is it better to start with West then go to East?

I think it is better to start with a different campaign whatsoever The "vanilla" Wehrmacht campaign is easier for a beginner (IMHO) because there are no scripted events (and thus no nasty surprises ), your goals are straightforward (capture X number of locations in Y number of turns) so that you can focus on combat and the whole campaign is pretty short, especially if you follow the "alternate history" route and capture Moscow quickly in 1941.

So maybe try that first? That's how I started anyway, so I might be biased

[goose_2]

I was frustrated with the vanilla campaign going right from 1939 straight to Norway so I immediately got the Grand Campaign and started playing that.
I have played through the Vanilla Campaign but found it frustrating, I like the more detailed and drawn out style of the Grand Campaign. Just my humble opinion.

The mastery of the multiplayer maps especially on the vanilla campaign is unparalleled and I have never gotten bored with multiplayer.

[tenshin111]

I was frustrated with the vanilla campaign going right from 1939 straight to Norway so I immediately got the Grand Campaign and started playing that.
I have played through the Vanilla Campaign but found it frustrating, I like the more detailed and drawn out style of the Grand Campaign. Just my humble opinion.

The mastery of the multiplayer maps especially on the vanilla campaign is unparalleled and I have never gotten bored with multiplayer.

Yes, in terms of scenario design the vanilla campaign is pretty "meh", but I still claim that it's a much gentler introduction to the game and its rules than GC.

You are already talking about long-term planning, 80% Rate of Fire vs 100% rate of fire, min-maxing your core and prestige management, etc. This is rather cryptic for someone just starting out and who needs to learn which unit is better for a given task or how the terrain influences battle results.

[rcbricker]

I am playing the vanilla after realizing that there were a number of mechanics I was unsure of and that was leading to prestige loss. So far it is going ok, but I am still having a little trouble with my pace. I either conquer quickly but take tons of damage or just make the cut with fewer losses. Those little polish MG mechs are deadly. I think my most glaring weakness is recon and paying attention to things like enemy movement over terrain. Those are easy fixes though.

Another question...(I know I am full of them aren't I?)

I watched a Let's Play of sealion and the host was discussing suppressing a unit would cause them to lose ammo as well as dig in. Does this happen with all suppression or only certain units?

[rcbricker]

I only know Eastern strategy and even that is a learning curve for me.

A lot of questions so little time.
1939 cap is 225
When a unit gets close to 200 or get's it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit. (Your super heroes such as Oleh Dir and Albert Kerscher once they get 100 exp substitute them out as you will learn to lean to heavy on them and they will max out to quickly before you have built your strong base you are needing.
1940 cap is 325
When a unit gets close to 300 and has it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit.
1941 cap is 375
When a unit is over 300 and has it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit. (Your heroes may start to double up at this point and if they do substitute them out on the following scenario as you will need these gems for your forces in 44 and 45 like you wouldn't believe.

So these are threshold caps not accumulative caps.

In other words if I have a unit with 175 xp in 1939. It is better to leave them out and buy another unit as they will most probably hit the cap during that battle.

[goose_2]

I am playing the vanilla after realizing that there were a number of mechanics I was unsure of and that was leading to prestige loss. So far it is going ok, but I am still having a little trouble with my pace. I either conquer quickly but take tons of damage or just make the cut with fewer losses. Those little polish MG mechs are deadly. I think my most glaring weakness is recon and paying attention to things like enemy movement over terrain. Those are easy fixes though.

Another question...(I know I am full of them aren't I?)

I watched a Let's Play of sealion and the host was discussing suppressing a unit would cause them to lose ammo as well as dig in. Does this happen with all suppression or only certain units?

There are only 2 units that have a sustained Suppression and that is artillery's and Strat Bombers.
Sustained suppression ends the moment that you attack that unit with a ground unit, notice I say Ground unit so this does not include aircraft or boats, which are great at removing entrenchement.
Once Entrenchment reaches 1 or less than that unit can retreat, it is during this retreat that you have the possibility to force a surrender, if there is no way for that unit to go.

[goose_2]

I only know Eastern strategy and even that is a learning curve for me.

A lot of questions so little time.
1939 cap is 225
When a unit gets close to 200 or get's it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit. (Your super heroes such as Oleh Dir and Albert Kerscher once they get 100 exp substitute them out as you will learn to lean to heavy on them and they will max out to quickly before you have built your strong base you are needing.
1940 cap is 325
When a unit gets close to 300 and has it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit.
1941 cap is 375
When a unit is over 300 and has it's first hero substitute it out for a green unit. (Your heroes may start to double up at this point and if they do substitute them out on the following scenario as you will need these gems for your forces in 44 and 45 like you wouldn't believe.

So these are threshold caps not accumulative caps.

In other words if I have a unit with 175 xp in 1939. It is better to leave them out and buy another unit as they will most probably hit the cap during that battle.

175 is debatable as I could see my desire to use it to try to achieve that first hero before I retire them, once they are somewhere in the 190's and any that are in the 200's it is time to change up.
Only if you are going East.
This strategy is completely opposite if going West as you are working to build up Elite units that hopefully have 2 heroes before you have to make the choice of which ones you are keeping.

[TSPC37730]

One caution about experience is that the more stars your unit has, the harder the next one is to get. So, while it may be easy to "max out" your units during the '39 & '40 campaigns, it gets progressively more and more difficult.

This is fairly easy to see. When you first purchase or otherwise acquire a unit, check the unit statistics screen both before and after its first combat action. It's not uncommon to see a unit jump from 0 to over 10, 20, or even 30 afterwards. You simply won't see those kind of results for a unit with over 300 experience. Your units may get 1 or 2 experience points per shot at that point.

[rcbricker]

One caution about prestige is that the more stars your unit has, the harder the next one is to get. So, while it may be easy to "max out" your units during the '39 & '40 campaigns, it gets progressively more and more difficult.

This is fairly easy to see. When you first purchase or otherwise acquire a unit, check the unit statistics screen both before and after its first combat action. It's not uncommon to see a unit jump from 0 to over 10, 20, or even 30 afterwards. You simply won't see those kind of results for a unit with over 300 experience. Your units may get 1 or 2 experience points per shot at that point.

That seems pretty logical. the greenist recruits would learn a lot and fast...or die.

Ok I played a bit last night and made a few duh errors as I was trying to concentrate on the new tips and tricks. Overall went well. I will come back here with more questions as they occur!