Matrix Games Forums

When you are using the sub-commander optional rule so Corps leaders can have "division" leaders assigned to them, the Leader has a number displayed after the Corps designation. The number is always negative and changes depending on the number of units included in the group, becoming more negative, and is returned toward zero as sub leaders are added to the group.

Does anyone know what this number measures in game terms?

The negative number is the number of units in the Corp without sub-commander support due to either too few sub-commanders or the wrong type of sub-commander(s) for the Corps's units.

When no number is displayed, all units in the Corp have sub-commander support.

I figured it was related to the two since adding units made it more negative and adding leaders made it positive.  The thing I can't tell is whether it makes any difference in combat.  For example assuming all modifiers for the leaders are the same which is better one Corps leader (command of 12) with 12 units attached and no sub leaders (very negative Corps number) or two leaders (command 6) also with 12 units divided among them?
 
In other words, is the Corps negative number just there to tell you that you could attached more leaders to help or is it telling you how poorly this guy will perform if you don't.

As I understand it, in your first example: 1) Corps leader with 12 units attached (for simplicity sake we'll assume they are all infantry), each unit would have the Corps leader's infantry rating added to their combat rolls. 2) in the second example of a Corps leader with 2 CSC leaders we have to dig a little deeper. A CSC does not command units based on the command rating, it is based on rank + 1, so for example a 2-star general commands 3 units. So, for example, let's assume your 2 CSCs are both 2 star generals (you would see -6 on the Corps leader), here is how the combat rolls would break down:

3 units would have their combat roll modified by the Corps leader infantry rating plus the CSC leader #1 infantry rating
3 units would have their combat roll modified by the Corps leader infantry rating plus the CSC leader #2 infantry rating
6 units would have their comat roll modified by only the Corps leader infantry rating

So, ideally you always want to have enough CSCs assigned to bring the Corps leader down to (0) so that each unit gets the combat benefit of the Corps commander and a CSC leader.

-Jim