Weapons parameter screen

[Atlantikwall]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

This is "Weapons parameters" screen (it's probably not the "official name") but let's call it that for now.

Icons on top of the screen depict main weapons systems, and that is from left to right: CV fleet, Heavy (BB) fleet, Light fleet, Sub fleet, Transport fleet, CV air, Fighter air, Tac Air (Stukas, Sturmoviks and light bombers), Heavy air. Second row: INF, Militia, Mech, Arty, AA, Paras, Supply, Factories, Railways, Resources.

As you see we picked Fighters (slightly highlighted, and I also outlined it in purple for better visibility). Purple numbers (I also highlighted them in purple circles for better visibility) are used to show that the value has been improved through research.

So we see, German player has improved Speed for his fighters (I am NOT sure right now but I think fat arrow to the left signifies speed) from one to current value of 2, and also anti air value of his fighters to 7. He is also working on their evasive capabilities (6, with test-tube thingie, to the right). Americans are also working on anti air values of their fighters, but it is safe to say German fighters are the best on the planet right now. Whether that will help them or not remains to be seen [:D]

Other countries don't care all that much about improving their fighters (only producing them [:D]). I am following wise words of the komrade Stalin - "quantity has a quality of its own!"

Could you please explain the different values of that screen, too, please? First is certainly the range, but then?

[Atlantikwall]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

OK, final post in this "chapter" on research.

Best explain both together!

[Joel Billings]

Speed (movement points), transport capacity (either load capability or cost to load unit), land attack, air attack, ship attack, ASW attack, torpedo attack, combat range, evade, durability, armor (reduces number of attack dice), cost/time to build.

On the research screen, you have the current rating of the unit and in parenthesis the number of points spent on this item so far/the max number of points it will take to increase the level by 1, it might take 1 less than this depending on a die roll). So a 4(9/17) means the current rating is 4, 9 points have been spent so far and 17 total are needed. You can usually spend 1 the first turn, 2 the second turn and 3 the next turn and thereafter (if not already over the world standard), so it takes 3 turns to spend 6, 4 turns to spend 9, etc. So any increase takes at least 3 turns (9 months).

[Becket]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

Speed (movement points), transport capacity (either load capability or cost to load unit), land attack, air attack, ship attack, ASW attack, torpedo attack, combat range, evade, durability, armor (reduces number of attack dice), cost/time to build.

On the research screen, you have the current rating of the unit and in parenthesis the number of points spent on this item so far/the max number of points it will take to increase the level by 1, it might take 1 less than this depending on a die roll). So a 4(9/17) means the current rating is 4, 9 points have been spent so far and 17 total are needed. You can usually spend 1 the first turn, 2 the second turn and 3 the next turn and thereafter (if not already over the world standard), so it takes 3 turns to spend 6, 4 turns to spend 9, etc. So any increase takes at least 3 turns (9 months).

Just to elaborate, if the current rating is 0, then you are always capped at spending one point. So, if the current is 3/6, and you spend three points to go 6/6, then next turn you're capped at spending 1 point.

[Atlantikwall]

Does the amount you have to spend on a tech improvement only rely on the number of units you have or does it also have anything to do with the "quality of the tech? It looks like you always have to pay at least 5 units (of what? Supply?) to upgade anything. The more units you have, the more expensive it will get. As SU has lost of inf, they have to pay 17 units for upgrading, i.e. WA would propably pay less to get the same upgrade, right?

[Becket]

I think Joel covered the cost of the improvement in a separate post (when it varies based on the tech level compared against global standard). It does increase based on the number of units on the field and under construction. So, for example, upgrading the land attack for my artillery might cost six points at the start of the production round, but, if I order up 12 artillery units, I'll go back and find the cost to upgrade has increased.

Each point of research consumes one research point. Research points represent one production point (1 factory point + 1 resource point). You build research points on the production screen and then can immediately spend them on the research screen.

[Joel Billings]

Basic cost is 5 + (number of units on map and in production/5), rounded up. So if you have 24 units, the cost is 5+(24/5) or 10 (with a small chance it will only cost 9.

[SeaMonkey]

I see that a number of Air and Naval units possess the ability for "Ship Attack" and "Torpedo Attack". I'll assume this depicts the difference of bombs and shells vs the use of torpedos, but can you tell me the contrast in combat factors(die roll/numbers) that this represents?

[Joel Billings]

Armor does not reduce the number of dice that are rolled by torpedoes. Not important against transports, but against a heavy fleet with an armor of 3, torpedoes are often then only kind of attack that can hit them other than another heavy fleet. Armor value normally deducts from the number of dice rolled by the attacker.

[SeaMonkey]

No hurry to answer this question. Since there are a number of weapon advances to be made from research, obviously not all units will be elligible for upgrades. Can you clarify which unit classes are elligible for which upgrades? For example, category armor, naval vessels(heavy only?) and mechanized units, but what about strategic bombers, ground infantry(excluding paratroops), artillery, etc.? How about speed for ground/mechanized or naval vessels? I'm assuming from these threads that the application of research upgrades is "across the board" to all units of that type and the owning player can not be selective to which units receive the upgrade.

[Atlantikwall]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

ASW attack

I´m not so used to english abbreviations: what does that stand for?

[Becket]

Anti-submarine warfare

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: SeaMonkey

No hurry to answer this question. Since there are a number of weapon advances to be made from research, obviously not all units will be elligible for upgrades. Can you clarify which unit classes are elligible for which upgrades? For example, category armor, naval vessels(heavy only?) and mechanized units, but what about strategic bombers, ground infantry(excluding paratroops), artillery, etc.? How about speed for ground/mechanized or naval vessels? I'm assuming from these threads that the application of research upgrades is "across the board" to all units of that type and the owning player can not be selective to which units receive the upgrade.

Look at the screenshot above of the research screen. Only those items with numbers can be increased. So movement speed (movement points) of ground units cannot be researched, but it can be in aircraft and ships.

[SeaMonkey]

Okay, yeah I got it. Wasn't sure if the screen was complete to the right....my error for having it in a window....thanks for the clarification. So certain unit attributes like range, durability and armor cannot be enhanced through research?

[Atlantikwall]

Are reasearched techs effective at the end on one`s turn or at the beginning? So if it would take 4 turns to reasearch e.g. better german tank evasion could you a) attack with the improved skills that turn and b) defend with improved skills in the following russian counter-attack (of the same round).

And can you move a newly produced unit the same turn?

[Darken]

I still have two questions to research.

a) Is there a maximum rating for each ability (f.e. you cannot develop more that 6 load-rating for transports)?

b) What happens if during the development the number of units is increased (f.e. if you develop tanks 1/6 during 1st turn and 3/6 during 2nd turn while building many more tanks, what is your develop-status in 3rd turn - 6/6 or 6/7)?

Thanks for answering

[paullus99]

No theorectical maximum, but with the increasing costs to get to each additional level, you won't get most attributes past 7 or 8, depending on total costs.

If you build more units while researching - your costs go up, since the total research cost also includes the time & cost to upgrade the existing units with the new tech (so if you have lots and lots of infantry, your infantry research costs are going to be higher, since you have to figure on building all those new fangled machine guns to hand out to the soldiers).

A brilliant concept actually & one that gives a more accurate portrayal of the elements involved in upgrading tech on the battlefield.

[pterrok]

Do your research costs go DOWN if you start losing units of that type left and right compared to when you started researching?

[Becket]

Yes.

[SeaMonkey]

A brilliant concept actually & one that gives a more accurate portrayal of the elements involved in upgrading tech on the battlefield

Okay, I agree it is a good abstraction. But....yeah the ole "ButMonkey", I would like to see the flexibility to selectively apply better equipment/doctrines(training) to units of my choosing allowing for a more customized force mix. Maybe in the sequel.