Matrix Games Forums

Does anyone upgrade existing HQs to better generals (e.g. O'Connor (5) to Monty (7) in 1940/41 for the UK,or Von Bock/Kuchler (6) to Manstein (9) in 1940 for Germany)? Costs less MPPs than buying a new HQ in the short run, but maybe not worth it in the long run, assuming you'll be buying more HQs at some point?

I have never done so. I don't know what the advantage of the higher rating is but I do not get the impression it is worth it. Eventually, my goal, except with the Americans, is to build all available HQ and max out logistics to build 5 more. (But then my victory conditions are play the AI at easy and control every hex on the map before taking the last capital, so YMMV.)

Yes, I do. It is worth usually, as you get substantial increases in efficiency of your attached units.

Yes, Gort -> Monty is a huge increase.

It's also a neat way to get Experience pips immediately on a better General (e.g. after Poland)

It's a way to get an improvement once you've maxed out (barring logistics research improvements) on the number of HQs you can have too.

Timing and determining best use of funds is judgmental and situational.
With the probable exception of Gort -> Monty, I would say you are better off getting C&C research chit(s) over upgrading individual HQs. Each C&C level increases all your HQs' rating by 1, increases the number of units they can command by 1 and I believe also increases the range they can command them by 1. The icing on the cake is that at C&C level 2 the HQs also get an additional Action Point (i.e. movement point).

If you swap to Manstein before Poland invasion you will see the effect it has. Going from 6-9 is a huge increase. If you swap to Manstein before Poland by the end of France you will have a vet 3 Manstein HQ that will be rated 10. C&C will finish up around August so (each level of exp is worth about 1 level on the HQ) so you will have a level 13 HQ to basically spearhead wherever - very useful for Battle of Britain for air control or for moving to N/A. Coupled with Rommel the Africa Corps will smash any Allies Resistance.

HQ rating and XP have a big influence on your units readiness and therefore performance, so upgrading your guys is something I'd definitely recommend (eventually).

2 technical aspects:

XP is tied to the HQ unit, not the General. So you can for example use the low end HQs of Germany for Poland/France/early Barbarossa and only upgrade to Manstein and Kesselring shortly before the difficult fights start. The XP will be transfered.

The cost of upgrading depends solely on the rating of the new guy, not the difference between old and new.


And of course this has (like almost everything in the game) the usual snowball effect. Better HQ -> better combat results -> more XP for units and HQ -> better combat results....
The only reason I hold off upgrading HQs in the WW2 games is that the early phases are so onesided, Manstein in Poland is just overkill imho. In the WW1 game where the early game fighting is somewhat less lopsided and has a big influence on the further course of the match, I usually upgrade my HQs BEFORE I do any research!

IIRC the experience didn't used to be transferrable, tho I could be wrong.

it is now

Yes upgrading generals is key to a competent defense for the Brits in Egypt. I don't usually upgrade the SU HQs that are given because I max out all the higher rated HQs prior to the Siberian troops. Once I max out the HQs and get the Siberian ones the remaining SU HQs given are the highest rated available.

Yes. Replace v.Bock and Kuchler with Manstein and Kesselring. Not immediately, but sometime around the fall of France. Nothing else needed.

I send Manstein & AF to take Malta, Kesselring off to Africa early with a tank, an army, and a corps. What you do is up to you. But getting M & K into it early is worth the added expense, esp as they get the experience from their HQs.