Desert movement cost

[allophyl]

I'm just starting the Afrika Korps campaign and wanted to learn how different movement types are affected by desert terrain, so I went to check out the wiki (https://panzercorps.fandom.com/wiki/Terrain) but it has negative values under desert for most movement types. Is that a typo, or do negative values mean something?

[PanzerTum]

If you look at the library you will see these values as percentages



I'm not sure but I think the values must be interpreted as the cost to move 1 hex.

Normal infantry for instance will have to spend 2 of its movement allowance in hills, all of its movement allowance in mountains to move 1 hex
Alpine infantry movement cost for moving in hills & mountains is only 1

Bersaglieri with movement 3 in desert can only move 2. Maybe that is 50% of 3 rounded to 2.
Trucks with movement 8 can move 5 in desert. 8 - 20% is 6.4 so I really cannot explain this at the moment

[allophyl]

Ah I think I understand now. The movement cost is 50% of the unit's movement points for leg units and 20% of the unit's movement points for wheeled units, so infantry will always be able to move 2 hexes across desert regardless of their base movement points, while trucks and wheeled recons will always be able to move 5 tiles regardless of their base movment points), and all-terrain units will always be able to move 6 tiles regardless of their base movement points

[terminator]

If I understood correctly :
2(foot)+5(wheel)=7 which amounts to 8 - 20%(=6.4) rounded up ?

[allophyl]

If I understood correctly :
2(foot)+5(wheel)=7 which amounts to 8 - 20%(=6.4) rounded up ?

No. Either foot or wheel movement are used in a single movement phase, not both. The 20% for wheeled isn't a 20% penalty to movement. The 20%, like every other number in the table, is a cost. Instead of costing a flat 1 or 2 movement points like most other terrain, it instead costs a percantage of the unit's total movement points. That means that all wheeled units, having a 20% cost, can move exactly 5 tiles across desert, regardless of their base movement speed. Similarly, legged units, having a 50% cost, can move exactly 2 tiles across desert, whether they are a grenadier or wehrmacht. An all-terrain recon unit, having a 16% cost, can move exactly 6 tiles across desert.

I'm not sure how exactly movement heros factor into this, if the percentage cost is based on the movement before or after the hero bonus. Once I get a movement hero or two I'll let you know.

[PanzerTum]

Ah it finally makes sense to me know. These units instead of looking at movement points just have 100% of movement to spend, so when the cost for 1 desert hex is 20% you can move 5 hexes.
Easy once you know it..

[terminator]

So no matter the maximum number of movement points, the maximum is 5 in the desert (5 x 20% = 100%).

[rubyjuno]

Interesting and informative discussion... one of the reasons I come back to the PzC forum regularly!

I'm just starting the Afrika Korps campaign

AK is a great campaign, lots of variation, you'll enjoy it.

[captainjack]

The 50% move for infantry and 20% for vehicles negates move heroes which is a bit annoying. I wouldn't mind but I haven't yet worked out the full set of changes needed to mod movement changes so that they work - when I've tried edits, it usually throws a wobbly and crashes the game.

[stormbringer3]

Are movement heroes ever useful, such as in the later scenarios, or is it best just to ignore them completely?
Thanks.

[rubyjuno]

Are movement heroes ever useful, such as in the later scenarios, or is it best just to ignore them completely?
Thanks.

Movement heroes are great for infantry, especially Grenadiers and Pionieres, who only have a move of 2. I have a fixed AA (88mm) with a move hero and this is handy as it means I can get more aircraft in range. Also for tanks, as it gives the Panther a great range, and later the Tigers which have low movement as standard. On aircraft, I suppose it's not such a big deal as they have a greater move anyway. So I think they are useful, depending on the unit.

[stormbringer3]

I always use them in the regular campaign but after looking at captainjack's post above I was wondering about using them in Afrika Korps.

[captainjack]

Many AK scenarios include non-desert terrain, so move heroes can be useful.
They do seem to work for towed artillery, AA and AT at all times - and for me the move hero on any of these units is the most useful of all.

[stormbringer3]

Thank you captainjack for your reply to this post and also to my previous thread. You have been so very helpful concerning this game over the years and have also shared a lot of gameplaying knowledge.

[faos333]

great discussion, we always need to know more