Slitherine

Downloaded and started fine. Will be using the core that comes with the game, on General level, for all scenarios.

1st Scenario:

Using the supplied core, burned up all 6000+ prestige trying to take everything and survive the attacks along the river. Could not make it to the northern-most objective; did get all 3 officers to locations A. It was not an easy scenario.

2nd Scenario:

Started with 950 points...bought 2 armoured cars...no other points spent on repairs...already down to 400 by turn 5 and being slaughtered. Ugghhh. I must be doing something majorly wrong. By turn 7 I quit. Will try again, though I might try the 1st scenario again and see if some stuff survives. I had I think 7 empty slots when I started this one but couldn't afford to purchase and be able to repair as I went.

Is there anything in particular that is hurting your progression the most? Soviet Air Force, Tanks, Infantry? Lack of prestige?

Or is it just all of it together causing problems?

Replayed scenario 1 and was more successful. Just managed on last turn to nab a DV. Losses were still bad but ended with about 2000 points and started scenario 2 with 3000 or so. So a close run thing (General level + DLC core) but survivable.

The extra prestige and such has helped, as well as improvements in my battle command ability.

Though, to be honest, I can't say I've truly enjoyed the first two scenarios all that much, but that's because I like the small battles (like the opening ones in Poland) as opposed to these monstrous slug-fests. As others have mentioned, it's nice to see the heroes popping up; that's a nice improvement.

Yes, this is a growing concern about the DLC, player CORE inflation, enemy unit inflation, map size inflation, all of it.
However 1943 has deserved huge and epic battles for a long time now, and we did not want to disappoint. This DLC really is for our players who want big big BIG battles (hence the lack of bonus objectives, most scenarios in DLC 1943 are purely VH driven affairs)

What we will have in DLC 1944 and 1945 is a big reduction in this inflation, which is actually quite historic and not just good for game play. More on that once we get there.

Finished 2nd scenario with about 4000 prestige and most units intact. DV on about turn 14 using the 43 core. The extra points and couple units and tweaks plus brushing up my skills has made a big difference.