Matrix Games Forums

Hi, I got a noob question, but what's the difference between convert/upgrade/swap of ground elements?

P.S. I accidentally post the same thread in AAR one, so how can I delete that duplicate?

Thanks.

Upgrade -- Element goes from an older model to a newer model along its upgrade path

Swap -- An element (say a light tank) is swapped for another light tank model as there is a shortage of the first, can be to an older model

Convert - I believe this CAN be the same as upgrade, or it can denote converting to an entirely new unit or ground element

Thanks for the answer. So convert is actually upgrade and/or swap?
I'm wondering this because patch 1.08.08 has a new rule:

14.Improved ground element conversion/upgrade/swap procedure to optimize huge
armaments drain and general slowness of converting/upgrading/swapping obsolete
elements to new elements that are built on-demand (especially those of class infantry and
mechanized infantry), causing drop in army’s overall strength. Previously, the procedure
attempted to add missing elements as well (up to TOE requirements), which had to be
built using armaments and paired with free manpower.

That's a little bit confusing...

I think that refers to the conversion of old elements back into the pool.

So obsolete elements are usually building up in the pool and not going anywhere so they "convert" now back to the ARM pool so they can be used for new elements is my understanding.

I believe conversion is when one element is modified to most recent model;
e.g. panzer III j converted to panzer III l spending some armaments points.

The difference with upgrade is that in upgrade you add a new element and put the older in pool.
In conversion you have just one element and you modify it.

Edit you can see modified elements in the logistic report

Upgrade: change equipment to a different type, one that lies along old equipment upgrade path
Swap: change equipment to a different type, one that does not lie along old equipment upgrade path (so downgrade will be a swap)
Conversion: change equipment to a different type, one that is set to import from the old equipment (may lie along old equipment upgrade path, but that's not necessary)

Upgrades and swaps involve sending old elements to the pool, and taking new elements from the pool (or building some on demand if auto-produced). Conversions are about changing equipment in the unit, without using the pool (so that old "magically" becomes new). Conversions in the field (in units) are allowed only for squads and infantry weapons, not guns and vehicles (these may convert in the pool, which means rear area workshops in this case). Conversions have greatest chance to happen, swaps the lowest (of course with many modifiers affecting this).

The game also tries to add missing elements if possible during upgrade/swap/conversion, in order not to enter loops of constant swapping (because full slots have lower desire to change). But this wasn't working well when such a crucial element as rifle squad was going obsolete, and at the same time there was general shortage of men to replace it with full quota in hundreds of units. Imagine the German army in 1943 with 70% averageTOE is missing tens of thousands of rifle squads. Of course it wasn't possible due to men shortage, and the conversion process was slowed down by this. At the same time old squads were not replenished because they were obsolete. The effect was an even greater drop of strength than it should be, hence the fix.

ORIGINAL: NotOneStepBack

I think that refers to the conversion of old elements back into the pool.

So obsolete elements are usually building up in the pool and not going anywhere so they "convert" now back to the ARM pool so they can be used for new elements is my understanding.

Conversion is about changing one element type to another. Permanently destroying elements for ARM gain has a different name. I think it's called decomposition.

That make sense, thank you all for the help!