ORIGINAL: psofos
Don't tell me this is working as intended because it would mean the game designers just hate the germans lol
There are so many variables in the game it can be difficult to see 'the wood for the trees', but now you have explained your observations more fully I can see your point better.
Game settings can vary between nations and scenarios, AI and human play, but now you have highlighted the situation for German units. The following extracts are from the data files of the scenario 'Fall Weiss', the values that effect the supply hit on effectiveness levels are covered in the main scenario 'consts.ini' file as follows :
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt25]
EffectivityPenalty = 1
ActionPointsPenalty = 0
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = 0
AirStrikeModifier = 100
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 75
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 8
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt20]
EffectivityPenalty = 2
ActionPointsPenalty = 25
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -1
AirStrikeModifier = 90
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 50
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 5
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt15]
EffectivityPenalty = 3
ActionPointsPenalty = 34
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -2
AirStrikeModifier = 80
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 35
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 4
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt10]
EffectivityPenalty = 4
ActionPointsPenalty = 50
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -3
AirStrikeModifier = 70
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 30
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 3
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt5]
EffectivityPenalty = 5
ActionPointsPenalty = 75
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -4
AirStrikeModifier = 50
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 20
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 2
These values will apply to any nation (e.g. Poland) which doesn't have different values in its own 'national consts.ini' file.
Here are the same group of settings for Germany in the 'consts_Germany' file, which over-rides, for that nation, what is in the main scenario 'consts.ini' file.
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt25]
EffectivityPenalty = 2
ActionPointsPenalty = 25
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -1
AirStrikeModifier = 90
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 70
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 7
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt20]
EffectivityPenalty = 3
ActionPointsPenalty = 34
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -2
AirStrikeModifier = 80
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 45
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 4
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt15]
EffectivityPenalty = 4
ActionPointsPenalty = 50
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -3
AirStrikeModifier = 70
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 30
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 3
[UnitsPerformanceInRelationsToSupplyAt10]
EffectivityPenalty = 5
ActionPointsPenalty = 75
ColumnShiftDuringAirCombat = -4
AirStrikeModifier = 50
MaximumReplacementsForLandUnits = 20
MaximumReplacementsForAirUnits = 2
So these are the values for supply levels of 25 and lower and the Germans have been set to have a higher effectivity penalty than other nations. This is a design decision by the Devs, can't say whether it's because they hate the Germans [X(], but it is more likely that, with early versions of the game, the uberPanzers had way too much power and completely unbalanced the game. I am guessing that this was part of the attempt to re-balance things, but you can change these setting if you wish, like most things in these data files.
In your second screen-shot the 'Armia Poznan' is showing supply level 9 from Poznan and you would expect an effectivity penalty to apply at that level, so which scenario is this and is Poland under AI, or human control ? Many of the provisions in the data files do not apply to the AI, so that it will have a better chance against a human player, otherwise there would be little challenge in the single player game.
However, the Germans in particular, had supply problems from the beginning and throughout the war and most German units, even with an effectiveness drop, are still more powerful than comparable units of other nations, until the Allied get things together later in the war. The game may not be far wrong on this issue.
Overall the supply situation seems to work OK, it is difficult for the Germans, but so it should be, as they were not prepared for the long war they ended up with.
Much of the discussion on game features comes down to scenario design and at least the structure of the game is open and easily changed, if you don't agree with these design decisions.
Worth noting that, for the start of most games, the Axis is fighting on other countries' territory and therefore have supply and unit re-build restrictions. Other nations are usually defending on home territory and supply and unit re-build is much easier, carrying less penalty. It is easier to be in supply levels over 25 when in your own territory and where there will be no effectiveness penalty.[:)]