Commendations, Caches, and Collectables

[Tassadar]

Can someone tell me how you’re supposed to get both rewards at Saarbrucken while also getting the hero in scenario 2? I’m a few missions deep and it seems like you can’t make 12 commendation points before you kiss the chance for both things at Saarbruken. Can anyone confirm you can get 12 commendation in time to get both rewards? If yes, then is it just by getting all the bonus objectives done up until that point?

I got both rewards. Hero in scenario 2 is fully covered by CP you get assuming you meet the objective, then other scenarios including Forbach are enough to cover then 12CP spend in Saarbrucken. This however also means that if you take both and still want the reward in Warsaw scenario you will need to exchange prestige for CP, even if you do every bonus objective after Saarbrucken.

[Stormchaser]

So, just a heads up but there has been a slight update to the 1939 list of rewards.

It turns out the Somua S35 you get in Saarbrucken isn't actually a Gift Unit. It's instead a normal Captured Unit, plus an extra 25 stockpiled for repairs.
I had assumed that it was a Gift Unit do to the Event being very similar to the Verdeja I and Panzer II Gift Unit Events in SCW, and never noticed the increase in my stockpiles of Somuas.
It's still one of the best tanks you can get in 1939, and 25 is a decent stockpile, but it is definitely less valuable than if it had been a Gift Unit.

[Kerensky]

There is a conflict of stockpile management when the game tries to offer a permanent unit that also exists as a ordinary capture-able unit. Hence the change.

But honestly, I think it's a good problem. Offering something you can acquire normally is less interesting by default, because you can access it already.

Units that are un-acquirable are far more interesting. German prototypes, enemy aircraft, enemy prototypes, or truly unique units like the Verjada 2 are the real cherries on top of the Commendation system. Definitely expect to see more exotic rewards and less meh ones, because it's just a good thing, but also because this issue mandates it.

[Stormchaser]

There is a conflict of stockpile management when the game tries to offer a permanent unit that also exists as a ordinary capture-able unit. Hence the change.

But honestly, I think it's a good problem. Offering something you can acquire normally is less interesting by default, because you can access it already.

Units that are un-acquirable are far more interesting. German prototypes, enemy aircraft, enemy prototypes, or truly unique units like the Verjada 2 are the real cherries on top of the Commendation system. Definitely expect to see more exotic rewards and less meh ones, because it's just a good thing, but also because this issue mandates it.

So it was a Gift Unit originally then?
Makes me feel better then, means I'm not as oblivious as I thought.

[Tassadar]

Units that are un-acquirable are far more interesting. German prototypes, enemy aircraft, enemy prototypes, or truly unique units like the Verjada 2 are the real cherries on top of the Commendation system. Definitely expect to see more exotic rewards and less meh ones, because it's just a good thing, but also because this issue mandates it.

I just have one concern about that. There is only so many prototypes and gift units one can get before it becomes difficult to get them onto the battlefield over experienced veteran units for reasons other than fun and flavor. So far it's not a problem in AO, but each time I get a new unit, I ask myself the question - will i need it in the ling run. This was more of an issue in PzC1, where I had tons of captured units just sitting there in reserve doing nothing, but it would be nice it there was some mechanic that allowed to swap crews between non purchasable equipment.

[Scrapulous]

Units that are un-acquirable are far more interesting. German prototypes, enemy aircraft, enemy prototypes, or truly unique units like the Verjada 2 are the real cherries on top of the Commendation system. Definitely expect to see more exotic rewards and less meh ones, because it's just a good thing, but also because this issue mandates it.

I just have one concern about that. There is only so many prototypes and gift units one can get before it becomes difficult to get them onto the battlefield over experienced veteran units for reasons other than fun and flavor. So far it's not a problem in AO, but each time I get a new unit, I ask myself the question - will i need it in the ling run. This was more of an issue in PzC1, where I had tons of captured units just sitting there in reserve doing nothing, but it would be nice it there was some mechanic that allowed to swap crews between non purchasable equipment.

Yes, please!

[Matyna]

Units that are un-acquirable are far more interesting. German prototypes, enemy aircraft, enemy prototypes, or truly unique units like the Verjada 2 are the real cherries on top of the Commendation system. Definitely expect to see more exotic rewards and less meh ones, because it's just a good thing, but also because this issue mandates it.

Flamethower B1bis when?

[Stormchaser]

There is a conflict of stockpile management when the game tries to offer a permanent unit that also exists as a ordinary capture-able unit. Hence the change.

But honestly, I think it's a good problem. Offering something you can acquire normally is less interesting by default, because you can access it already.

Units that are un-acquirable are far more interesting. German prototypes, enemy aircraft, enemy prototypes, or truly unique units like the Verjada 2 are the real cherries on top of the Commendation system. Definitely expect to see more exotic rewards and less meh ones, because it's just a good thing, but also because this issue mandates it.

While I do agree and look forward to having more unique units as Gift Units, I had a thought that might have also been able to get around the issue. Would it have been possible to simply copy the Somua S35 data, rename the copy as Panzer 35-S 739(f), and then have the renamed copy as the Gift Unit?

Again, having more unique rewards is probably better in the long run, I'm mostly just curious.

[dalfrede]

Would it have been possible to simply copy the Somua S35 data, rename the copy as Panzer 35-S 739(f), and then have the renamed copy as the Gift Unit?

That's a mod, Kerensky is doing official DLC work.
He is not allowed to alter the Unit file.
You can of course alter yours.

[Stormchaser]

Would it have been possible to simply copy the Somua S35 data, rename the copy as Panzer 35-S 739(f), and then have the renamed copy as the Gift Unit?

That's a mod, Kerensky is doing official DLC work.
He is not allowed to alter the Unit file.
You can of course alter yours.

I knew Kerensky was in charge of DLC, but I wasn't sure what the limits he has in that role. I mean, new Units have been added by DLC before, particularly a lot of units from the Spanish Civil War. So there must be some back and forth between him and whoever creates units and whatnot.
And what I meant was that, since the problem with the Somua Gift Unit seems to be the game considering a Gift and Captured Somua's the same thing, would making a renamed copy get around that issue, thus allowing for Gift Units of things you can capture?

[Bee1976]

Brest/Wlodawa
Events
Time for the 1939 Prestige Sink. At the start of either mission you can pay 75% of your prestige for 14 Commendations. Much like with the Prestige Sink during the Spanish Civil War, you can expect a reason for this massive amount of resources soon.

Well, im facing a strange problem. I have played Brest twice now, and there was no prestige sink for me ??

I played the mission, i occupied that optional hex to "take a look on russian warmaterial" (btw they attacked me :/, but i had no prestige sink. I banked a lot, but im lacking on CP. In the Warsaw Scenario i wanst asked if i wanna check out some rumors.

Can someone help me ? Am i doing sonething worng or is this just a bug ?

[raider45]

Hello, yes it's a bug.
Has it not been fixed yet?
The problem is a script error.
This always occurs if you do not play the mission (or both, other way) in English.
I have the same problem with German texts.
So restart the mission or load an old saved game and set the game to English, then it should work.

[Bee1976]

Ah, thx for the help Dude I will try that out

Edit: It worked! :]

[brettwjohnson]

Prestige is a son of a bitch to balance, because the spectrum of players is outrageous. People who play on higher difficulty than they probably should and who also don't rely on any encirclement or surrender mechanics will absolutely get annihilated no matter how much prestige I inject into the content. On the other hand, players who play with all the tricks in the bag are swimming in captured stock and also prestige.

<snip>

Even so, prestige is still a hot topic in Panzer Corps 2. If you run out, you are royally screwed, because it causes a snowball effect of problems. Too weak to fight, makes too weak to capture, makes too weak to claw back, and on the vicious cycle goes.

From the giant mountain of feedback we've gotten from players playing the heck out of 2 DLC I think....

Prestige needs to be ultra generous. Running out of prestige is the worst feeling there is, because it effectively ends your ability to play.
Prestige sinks need to be more frequent, to try and offset out of control prestige inflation.

Running out of prestige is shitty, but having infinite surplus also takes away some important decision making elements of the game.
<snip>

FWIW - I think the underlying problem is the continued use of a single currency mechanic (i.e., prestige) for both replacements, elite replacements, and unit upgrades.

The introduction of slots and CPs have introduced additional currencies...

Running out of prestige is only a problem, because everything critical uses it... Just brainstorming some alternative ideas a bit... What if:
1) Dramatically reduce earned prestige (e.g., reduce to 40% of current)
2) Make regular reinforcements free during scenario
3) Make elite reinforcements free during after scenario refit
4) Consider a standing menu of available CP spends (e.g., spend 1 CP (2CP if the unit is isolated) to do a full elite reinforcement of 1 unit, ignoring normal limits (e.g., a size 1 infantry could refit to 15))

Now running out of prestige during a scenario is painful, because you can no longer take elite reinforcements (i.e., your units begin losing hard earned exp), but not crippling...

With this change, you no longer need to worry about being overly generous with prestige to prevent the problem of not being able to get any (green) reinforcements...

I also consider it thematic in the sense that HQ *is* going to send you replacements, but getting those combat vets with experience is much tougher... Currently the delta between green replacements and elite replacements is small enough that (to me) its a no brainer - *always* take elite reinforcements...

With this alternative approach, a player is not crippled by running out of prestige during a scenario - but is forced to make some hard choice...
1) (free) refit and lose precious exp...?
2) don't refit (know you get free elite refit after scenario), but the units are weak and you risk losing them

[Stormchaser]

Germany vs France-Round 2: FIGHT!

AO 1940
Fornebu
Events
Let's start off with what you get when you start 1940 without importing a Core from 1939: 9 Heroes both new and old. Alongside some random Heroes, you get Adolf Galland from the SCW (Albeit without the +2 Initiative and +2 Air Attack Stat Boosts), Siegfried von Bonde from starting 1939 without a Core, and you also get 2 new special Heroes: Reinhardt Herzog and Ludwig Mittermeier.
Herzog possessed First Strike and Phased Movement, making him a good choice to put on your front line Tanks and Infantry with Phased Movement opening up maneuverability options while First Strike give them an edge in combat.
Mittermeier is an interesting Hero; possessing both Evasive and Liberator, he fits in with any Ground Unit you don't want getting too shot up while also giving bonuses for taking Flags with the unit.

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map. Protecting the landed planes earns 3 Commendations.
Total: 4 Earned/0 Spent.

Cache
If you manage to destroy the fortress that's harrassing the Blucher and take the Supply Hex it is positioned on, you recivie a stockpile of 30 Wurfrahmen 40.
The Wurframen 40 is a powerful self-propelled rocket artillery. much better than the Sturmpanzer I which is currently your only other choice for self-propelled artillery. It is slot heavy like all good artillery with a cost of 5 Slots, and capturing that island is a major challenge, but the reward is definitely worth it.

Totally not Czechoslovakia
Events
It is here on turn 5 that you can spend 3 Commendations to support women in auxiliary roles, granting the special Hero Elsa Kloss.
Kloss is an Artillery Hero, and provides any Artillery assigned +3 Ammo and +1 Range. Despite not giving any special Traits, this is still a potent buff, as many of the more powerful Artillery have very limited stocks of ammunition, and extra range is always useful for an Artillery.

Objectives
There are 0 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 4 Earned/3 Spent.

Valkenburg/Eben Emael
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 6 Earned/3 Spent.

Cache
On the Netherlands branch, in Valkenburg Raid, capturing the De Kooy Naval Airbase earns you 30 Fokker D.XXI.
The Fokker D.XXI is a poor reward compared to the last Cache, as it is a vastly inferior Fighter compared to the German Fighters you should have available at this time.

Grebbeberg/Hannut
Events
Our next Commendation Reward costs 4, and is a Neubaufahrzeug Gift Unit, deployed immediately.
The Neubaufahrzeug is an interesting addition. Slower and slightly less armored than the Panzer III and IVs, it's Rapid Fire 1.5x combined with superior Attacks stats to aforementioned Tanks makes this a a powerful, if slightly more fragile, asset to your army.

Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on Grebbeberg, which rewards 3 Commendations.
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on Hannut, of which destroy 20 French Units earns 2.
Total: 9 Earned/7 Spent.

Cache
On the Belgium branch, in Hannut, on a Flagged hill at coordinates 2,18, you'll find a cache of 10 Char B1s.

Sedan
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 10 Earned/7 Spent.

Cache
A Village near the southeast corner at coordinates 30,48 contains 5 Char B1s.

A central Airfield at coordinates 17,25 yields 30 Breguet 693 Tactical Bombers.
Unfortunately, the Breguet continues the trend of captured aircraft being inferior to your German ones. It does have a decent amount of extra range compared to your 87s, so there is at least a use for it if you wish.

And finally, the town of Dinant just across the river at the north end of the map contains a treasure trove of 25 AMC 35s, 15 Hotchkiss H35s, and 15 Panhard 178s.
AMC 35s are almost identical to your 38(t)s, with 1 extra point of Hard Attack, and are decently competitive against the early Panzer III and IVs.
The H35s main strength is it's high defense, however your 38(t)s, IIIs, and IVs all have as good or better defense, along with significantly more attack power. easily the least valuable of the equipment here.
The Panhard is a potent Recon unit, with stronger stats at the cost of not having Rapid Fire 1.5x like most of your German Recons.

Arras
Events
Time for this chapter's Prestige Sink. Half your Prestige can be traded for 7 Commendation Points. Interestingly, declining this Prestige Sink causes a number of enemy Colonial Infantry to spawn.

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 19 Earned/7 Spent.

Cache
The town of Vimy north of Arras contains 15 Matilda Is and 10 Matilda IIs.
The Matilda I is plagued with a dismal 3 Movement but otherwise its stats and Rapid Fire 1.5x are roughly on par with your 38(t)s.
The Matilda II is a straight upgrade to it's counterpart in most categories even with the loss of Rapid Fire 1.5x, allowing it to be competitive against your IIIs and IVs, however it retains that unfortunate 3 Movement.

Lillie
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 20 Earned/7 Spent.

Cache
The Airfield at Kortrijk near the northeast corner of the map has a stash of 35 D.520 Fighters.
The D.520 is a much more welcome addition to your air force than previous aircraft caches, as it's essentially identical to your Bf 109Es but with extra range.

Dunkirk
Events
We got 7 Commendations at Arras, and now for 7 Commendations we can recruit a new special Hero: Heinrich Bar.
Bar is a Fighter Hero that grants a devastating combo of Double Attack and a +1 Bonus to Air Attack. He is also Famous, so enjoy the extra Prestige.

Objectives
There are 4 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 24 Earned/14 Spent.

Abbeville
Objectives
There is 1 Bonus Objective on this map. which grants 2 Commendations.
Total: 26 Earned/14 Spent.

Neufchateau
Events
This reward works a bit differently than most. instead of using your regular Commendation, you instead have to use 'Special' Commendation earned through this map's Special (Not Bonus) Objectives of destroying the Char 2C and capturing Neufchateau. The special reward for this endeavor? The Char 2C itself, as captured stock totaling at 35.
On one hand, the Char 2C has 3 Movement, which is bad. On the other hand, the Tank makes up for it by being a mobile fortress, with a massive 21 Ground Defense and Firepower on par with any of the other Tanks available at this time. Overall an extremely powerful, if slow, asset to your forces.

Objectives
Instead of Bonus Objectives, this map gives Special Objectives, which upon completing give you Special Commendation Points used exclusively for this map's Commendation Reward.
Total: 26 Earned/14 Spent.

Jersey
Cache
Taking the Lovasz Residence on the north end of the island causes the discvery of 9 Spitfire Mk.IIs (So close!) and 25 Hurricane Mk.IIC.
While the Spitfire is overall superior to your Bf 109Es, the Bf 109Fs you get in Dover it's a trade of 1 Initiative for 1 Air Defense. Still useful, especially if Retrograde or the new Collector Challenge are active.
Like the Spitfire, the Hurricane is better than the 109Es, but only on par with the 109Fs. The Hurricane does have an interesting quirk in that it has 4 Hard Attack, quadruple any of the other Fighters available and only 1 less than the Bf 110D, giving it some interesting ground attack possibilities.

Dover
Events
Interestingly, Dover presents not a Prestige Sink, but the first Prestige Reset. You can have your Current Prestige be set to 8500, and gain 9 Commendation Points

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map.
Total: 37 Earned/14 Spent.

Brighton
Events
We finally get the chance to field some Spitfires, as in exchange for 7 Commendations you can buy 31 Spitfire Mk.IIs.

If the Blucher survived Fornebu, it arrives on Turn 1 to assist your naval forces.

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map. Raiding Royal Tunbridge Wells gives 2 Commendation.
Total: 40 Earned/21 Spent.

Epsom
Events
We can spend 8 Commendations here for more British equipment, this time 35 Matilda IIs.

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map, raiding London gives 2 Commendations.
Total: 43 Earned/29 Spent.

Cache
If you can get a unit to the northwest corner and take control of the Great West Aerodrome provides you with, of all things, a single unit of Meteor Mk.III jet Fighters.
What can I say? It's a late war Jet Fighter in 1940, the only reason it isn't overpowered beyond belief is the fact that you only get a single one.

Portsmouth
Events
We can spend 9 Commendations here for one final batch of mixed British equipment: 9 Matilda IIs, 11 Spitfire Mk.IIs, 7 Hurricane Mk.IICs, and a new acquisition of 29 Beaufighter Mk.IFs.
The Beaufighter is Fighter-Bomber like your Bf 110s, and it is much better at it. An complete overall upgrade if you like using Fighter-Bombers.

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map. Sinking the Royal Navy earns 2.
Total: 46 Earned/38 Spent.

Pindus
Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objective on this map.
Total: 48 Earned/38 Spent.

Valona
Events
Our final Commendation Reward is the option to spend 4 Commendations to 'borrow' some Italian Prototypes: giving you 35 L6/40 Lf Tanks and 35 20/70 Quadruplo self-propelled AA guns.
It's difficult to compare the L6/40 Lf to your German machines, as we do not yet have access to any German flamethrower Tanks. It's stats are good, and it fills a niche we currently lack unless you captured some OT-133s in the past, so definitely a useful aquisition.
The 20/70 is better armored and better at fighting against ground based enemies compared to your SdKfz mounted AA guns, making it an excellent option for mobile AA.

Objectives
There are no Bonus Objectives on this map.
Final Total: 48 Earned/42 Spent.

[Kerensky]

Seems like a pretty comprehensive and accurate (and omega level spoiler) list of goodies stuffed into the 1940 DLC.

A few comments:

1.Last three scenarios all listed as 'Portsmouth' instead of Pindus and Valona. (looks like that already got fixed in edit)
2.In Arras, that hint of future enemies takes immediate effect. A whole bunch of French Colonial infantry are present on the map if you free your captives, and they are removed from the battlefield if you do not.
3.And that (1) Meteor III... (1) of anything is completely useless and unusable. And yet it exists. Like various Rudel hints... best to think of this (1) as a hint of future potential. The very unique aspect of carrying (1) Meteor III in your list of captured equipment and saved CORE file... this is a value that can be tracked between DLC...

Could be something a certain Willy M. might be interested in perhaps?

[Stormchaser]

Seems like a pretty comprehensive and accurate (and omega level spoiler) list of goodies stuffed into the 1940 DLC.

A few comments:

1.Last three scenarios all listed as 'Portsmouth' instead of Pindus and Valona. (looks like that already got fixed in edit)
2.In Arras, that hint of future enemies takes immediate effect. A whole bunch of French Colonial infantry are present on the map if you free your captives, and they are removed from the battlefield if you do not.
3.And that (1) Meteor III... (1) of anything is completely useless and unusable. And yet it exists. Like various Rudel hints... best to think of this (1) as a hint of future potential. The very unique aspect of carrying (1) Meteor III in your list of captured equipment and saved CORE file... this is a value that can be tracked between DLC...

Could be something a certain Willy M. might be interested in perhaps?

I was wondering about when the released prisoners would show up if you didn't take the Prestige Sink. In hindsight saving and checking it out like I did some other things wouldn't have been that much trouble. Ah well, hindsight 20/20.

So the Meteor is there to represent the jet engine research you find there? That makes a lot of sense. Very, very curious to see what that will lead to.
Although speaking of jet engines, there were some interesting prototypes that showed up in NotCzecoslovakia that caused a bit of a spit take before their testing failed and gave me a good laugh.

[Kerensky]

Although speaking of jet engines, there were some interesting prototypes that showed up in NotCzecoslovakia that caused a bit of a spit take before their testing failed and gave me a good laugh.

They have served their purpose perfectly then.


Truth be told, they are there to add that extra bit of flavor to the brand new concept of 'training scenarios'. I didn't want them to just be purely about shooting at EXP pinatas... a non battlefield setting is a great time to do so much more interesting things. Look at future prototypes, have visits from special characters like a certain grumpy pilot, review important mechanics such as paratrooper encirclement abilities, receive letters from home, and maybe even more in the future!

All the kinds of things that are very awkward to put in the middle of the life or death battles that makes up the bulk of the game.

[adiekmann]

Germany vs France-Round 2: FIGHT!

AO 1940
Fornebu
Events

Objectives
There are 2 Bonus Objectives on this map. Protecting the landed planes earns 3 Commendations.
Total: 4 Earned/0 Spent.

Cache
If you manage to destroy the fortress that's harrassing the Blucher and take the Supply Hex it is positioned on, you recivie a stockpile of 30 Wurfrahmen 40.
The Wurframen 40 is a powerful self-propelled rocket artillery. much better than the Sturmpanzer I which is currently your only other choice for self-propelled artillery. It is slot heavy like all good artillery with a cost of 5 Slots, and capturing that island is a major challenge, but the reward is definitely worth it.

Totally not Czechoslovakia
Events
It is here on turn 5 that you can spend 3 Commendations to support women in auxiliary roles, granting the special Hero Elsa Kloss.
Kloss is an Artillery Hero, and provides any Artillery assigned +3 Ammo and +1 Range. Despite not giving any special Traits, this is still a potent buff, as many of the more powerful Artillery have very limited stocks of ammunition, and extra range is always useful for an Artillery.

Objectives
There are 0 Bonus Objectives on this map.
Total: 4 Earned/3 Spent.

I am a bit confused. At Fornebu my victory objectives show that I have captured all of the victory hexes, and it shows 3/3 for surviving Bf 110s. Yet, I only have 1 CD point and therefore never get Elsa Kloss hero offered to me. It took some time for me to figure this out since there is no place to check your CD total in the game.

The Bf 110s immediately adjacent to the supply-victory hex at Fornebu were lost. Is there something I am missing here? Do you actually have to defend/protect ALL of the 110s, meaning 4/3, in order to get the 3 CD points for it? If so, then the wording is either misleading or just wrong!

[Kerensky]

Did you blow up a 15 strength fort and instantly end the mission? It's a known issue, unfortunately.

Originally posted by !Alien!:
In the very first mission, Fornebu/Oslo, only 1 Bonus objective has triggered in my gameplay. I saved all of these BF 110 hexagon tiles and captured every victory hex. There were still a few turns left to play either. Only one single enemy unit were alive, beside the units in the Oscarbourg fortification. I then leveled the strength 15 strongpoint in the northwestern edge of the map and once I did this completely the mission immediately ended successfully but without giving me the second commendation point for achieving all bonus objectives.

That was an experimental trigger to see if we could make a scenario allow for players to exit it quickly instead of milling around if they happened to have a few turns left over.

It failed (as you noticed it caused a massive problem with CP rewards being skipped), and was going to be removed... but looks like that didn't make it into the live version.

Hopefully this can be properly adjusted, but in the meantime yea I wouldn't recommend blowing up that fort and just letting the timer naturally tick down if you have a few extra turns to spare. Given the positive response to the CP system, maybe someone can make a mod for it to appear in the UI? Or even better, maybe it'll finally find a home in the UI somewhere? One can dream the feature is that successful to warrant a permanent place in the UI somewhere.





But if you did save 3 of 4, which is supposed to be enough for the requirement, and ended the scenario by naturally running out the turn limit... that is a serious problem that would need a new investigation.