Request for Army & Army Group HQs

[Talen]

This may not be possible except in a new version of the game but...I would like to suggest the inclusion of Headquarter Units for Armies and Army Groups (adjusted for Nation; Russian Armies were the approximate equivalents of German Corps, at least until 1943 or so). I do so for two reasons, one practical and one aesthetic.

First, the practical. In WWII some armies within each nations total forces were superior to others. The 6th German Army that perished at Stalingrad was one of the better German Armies. The Russia units with Guard designations tended to be of higher quality ect. Much of this had to do with their command organizations. If HQs were included individual units could be attached to them and receive bonuses, or minuses, based on the HQ rating, which, in turn, would be effected by its success or lack thereof, in operations. Destruction of HQ units would have a great detrimental effect to the units attached to them, and would simulate how this actually occurred during the German blitzkreig of the early war and the Russian deep penetration operations of the later war.

Second, the aesthetic. HQ units would help to visually organize the units, especially on the Russian front, which would help with planning and also make the whole seem less of a gigantic mass and more of an articulated organization. Come to think of it, here the aesthetic would also have a good practical effect.

Anyway, just a suggestion, but the lack of HQ units in so many wargames has always bothered me a bit. They were, of course, crucial. One of the reasons for the tactical and operational resilency of the German Army was the overall excellent quality of their staff work (but not at the higher levels; as someone, I think the historina H.P. Willmott, said, "the Germans know how to win a battle but not a war.")

Thanks

[firepowerjohan]

The Commander have individual plus ranged bonus already and work like that. For example, you can assign Rommel to a German Armour unit in Africa providing battle bonus for it and effectiveness bonus for all German units within 8 hexes range.

Similarily, on the eastern front you cannot fit all units inside 8 hexes range so you need as in real history 3 Commanders to be able to cover the whole front line with effectiveness bonus.

Add to this that the leaders will get injured when its unit is killed and MAY get injured when its unit retreats you have all the interesting decisions needed for how to use your commanders in game.

For example, do you keep your defence bonus leader in Kiev intending to use him in battle or do you buy a leader with high leadership and no combat bonus to keep further back to not get involved and avoid injury or perhaps do both but that will cost alot of dough. There are plenty of strategies with Commander assignement in CEaW and a challenge to use them effectively

[Talen]

I appreciate that the commanders function like this but the fact that the AI can't use commanders makes it one sided. If it is possible to patch in the AI using them this would be great; if not, its ok, it is a very minor thing. As a boy, about 300 years ago, I always loved military maps of operations with the designations and symbols of all the units and HQ's on them. I suppose I am regressing. And I have not played yet with the AI getting maximum advantage. Perhaps I should do that and then I wouldn't feel like I was gaining an advantage by using commanders.

[mrdozer2379]

im not sure, but is there a way to tell what units are being commanded by what commander? Meaning the HQ unit is attached to a tank and has subordinates, but which units are its subordinates?