New support units ready? Need help!

[Jemus]

Hi,

I am new to this game and I like it a lot. I've already read the tutorials and many threads in the forum here, but there is one thing I don't really understand.

Hopefully someone can help me.

Ok, so there are support units in the game. I can assign them directly to a unit or I can give them to a Headquarter. That's clear. But how can I find out if there are new support units ready to assign?

Example:
Playing as Germany, I assign the support units to a Hq or my best units. After several turns, I am pushing the assign button all the time since I don't want to miss a single support unit. Do I really have to check this manually over and over again or is there a way to find that out more easily?
Additionally, I don't really understand why it is possible to assign for example a pioneer battalion to a unit while it is impossible to do so to a unit, which is only 4 hexes away (both didn't have the maximum of 3 support battalions)...?

Thanks for your help + sorry for my bad English!

[heliodorus04]

ORIGINAL: Jemus

Hi,

I am new to this game and I like it a lot. I've already read the tutorials and many threads in the forum here, but there is one thing I don't really understand.

Hopefully someone can help me.

Ok, so there are support units in the game. I can assign them directly to a unit or I can give them to a Headquarter. That's clear. But how can I find out if there are new support units ready to assign?

Example:
Playing as Germany, I assign the support units to a Hq or my best units. After several turns, I am pushing the assign button all the time since I don't want to miss a single support unit. Do I really have to check this manually over and over again or is there a way to find that out more easily?
Additionally, I don't really understand why it is possible to assign for example a pioneer battalion to a unit while it is impossible to do so to a unit, which is only 4 hexes away (both didn't have the maximum of 3 support battalions)...?

Thanks for your help + sorry for my bad English!

New Support units can be recognized immediately in the Show Event Log button. This is found on the Info Screens page, last button on the right (above the F1-9 shortcut keys).

You should get in the habit of reading that each turn to check weather, commander status, new and withdrawn units, etc. Start your turn with a review of this screen.

Regarding SUs, while I assign a good deal to individual units, I more typically keep my Corps HQs kitted out this way:
2 Artillery pieces minimum, a 3rd if it's in heavy combat often.
1 Flak of some type.
1 Pioneer.

HQ support is critical in this game; SUs are not just for assignment (assignment is important too).

I tend to always assign 3 SU units to the following german units:
Motorized (especially SS). I like 1 Stug, 1 Pioneer, 1 Flak. Early game, the flamethrower tanks are wonderful too.
Panzer: Pioneer and flak
Important infantry (Siege of Leningrad specifically).
Stug, Pioneer, anything else. Again, flame tanks early game are great.

I tend to leave most of my unused SUs in the Army Groups so they can quickly be pulled down to armies and then individual units. Spending APs on SU re-assignment is a big inefficiency for Germany (where Admin Points are concerned).

[swkuh]

"Show Event Log button," a priceless tip for one who "doesn't know that he doesn't know." Thanks.

Helps to keep at least one construction Bn of some sort at corps HQs.

[Jemus]

Thank you! I think, I finally understood the whole system. I guess I'll better use the "Lock HQ Support" option now.

[mikelisby]

Thanks for the answers. Taught me something too, so thanks for asking the question as well!

I haven't yet quite come to grips with whether it's better to leave your SUs with the HQ so they can be assigned dynamically or handing them out to specified divisions so they're guaranteed to be available. Now I have a much better idea.

That's what I'm looking for: A routine for every turn, as in "what screens do I absolutely have to check first and and the end and which ones in between?" This game has so much detail, which I love, but what I love even more is that you can jump right into it and play without knowing much of it and let the AI take care of things. Sure, to become GOOD you have to learn it eventually, but you don't have to spend the first three weeks memorizing the manual before you're ready to even have fun.