Matrix Games Forums

As a new player I'm confused by command limitations. After having played through the tutorial and a couple short scenarios I'm now early in the campaign game. I'm working on moving various Allied forces around to more defensible positions but it is sometimes challenging...sometimes you can load unit X onto a transport and sometimes you can't. I figure this is due to a mismatch in commands. A Dutch unit belonging to ABDA, for example, can't load onto the transport I sent to pick it up unless I transfer it to Southeast Asia command (this I discovered purely through trial and error). It's easy enough to see to which command a ground unit belongs but what about transport ships? Is there some information somewhere that explains how command connections work?

Thanks.

- Jeff

There are several commands that are locked from being able to load on transports or be airlifted: ABDA, USAFFE, Australian, NZ, West Coast for allies; Home defence (orhowisitcalled) for Japan. Air units with restricted command can't transfer to bases under diferent command.
To be able to transport units you need to spend political points and change their command to some unrestricted one. The bigger the land unit, the steeper the cost, so if you want to save some land units from encirclement and elimination it's advisable to wait for the unit to suffer heavy casuaties. Then its PP cost will drop and you can change command then evac by submarines. Plains have PP cost of 4 per plain, ground units I dont rememeber exact formula.

Thanks for the explanation. I've determined most of this by trial and error. Wondering if this is actually spelled out somewhere.

- Jeff

The manual explains many things, though at the same time is outdated by changes made in patches.