Why does Japan start with tier 1 Infantry Weapons tech?

[Alcibiades73]

I think Germany is the only other nation with it, and I fail to see the rationale. Japan definitely did not have more advanced infantry than the major European powers at this time - or at any juncture in WW2. I guess this may have been done to distinguish combat effectiveness between Japanese infantry and Chinese infantry, but surely this could have been achieved other ways? Perhaps give higher experience for all or most of Japanese infantry units - the way the game does with Japanese infantry units directly adjacent to Chinese infantry units already. Or reduce the number of Chinese Army units and employ more Corps. It just seems that giving the Japanese better technology than the European Allied nations in this respect is strange and jarringly immersion-breaking.

[Platoonist]

There was a British officer who served on the front line in Burma in 1944.. His observation of Japanese infantry in wartime was that; "They were first class soldiers in third class army". Brave, stoic, capable of dealing with great privation under arduous conditions for long periods of time. But cursed with poor kit, lousy logistics and often unimaginative leadership.

[Alcibiades73]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

There was a British officer who served on the front line in Burma in 1944.. His observation of Japanese infantry in wartime was that; "They were first class soldiers in third class army". Brave, stoic, capable of dealing with great privation under arduous conditions for long periods of time. But cursed with poor kit, lousy logistics and often unimaginative leadership.

Yeah, German observers who saw the Chinese front before WW2 were equally desultory regarding the Japanese army's equipment. They were inferior across the board - small arms, artillery, and obviously tanks. It probably was worse equipped than even the Italian army, and it boggles the mind that they are as advanced as Germans technologically in this respect here - and more advanced than any other European army. It's perhaps the most egregious departure from history in this game.

[Elessar2]

I did notice that the Chinese HQs tended to be rather competent. I doubt that any should be above 4, save maybe Stilwell.

[Alcibiades73]

ORIGINAL: Elessar2

I did notice that the Chinese HQs tended to be rather competent. I doubt that any should be above 4, save maybe Stilwell.

Yup. China has 6 HQs over 6 rating. China overall is represented as far more competent than it was historically at this time. It's a bit silly. We are dealing with what is essentially a bunch of disorganized fiefdoms here, not Tang dynasty peak China.

[Alcibiades73]

Okay, I dealt with this issue by following modding changes:

I took away the tier 1 in Infantry Weapons and instead replaced it with tier 1 in Infantry Warfare. This sounds fitting, as Infantry Warfare boosts morale - and if the Japanese Army had anything, it was this in superabundance.

Also, there were numerous Japanese infantry units that lost the tier 1 upgrade in Infantry Weapons; I decided to compensate by giving those same infantry units an extra point of Experience and corresponding extra point in Strength. MPP-wise, this was the same exact exchange. I do not think the combat results will dramatically differ either.