From the source of all that is good http://strategy-gaming.com/features...ron/index.shtml
"Paradox: There will be no hard-coded national differences. Instead, we aim to represent this by differing technological and doctrinal prowess. For example, in 1936 Italy might have researched no advances in “land doctrine” at all whereas Germany might start with more than half of them already discovered. This would mean that Italian land units would have a maximum organizational value of around 50% compared to a considerably higher value (say 90%) for the Germans. Add to this a purely technological gap and an enormous qualitative difference in the available leader pool and you should end up with pretty historical relative strengths. Random combat values for divisions? Nope"
The key word here is the qualitive difference in the leaderpool. So leaders will effect combat for sure.
Additionally
"SGO: Will military leaders have more than one ‘tactical ability’? What about ministers?
Paradox: Military leaders at least will be able to gain more perks, but this should be quite rare and only happen under extraordinary circumstances. "
So leaders will also have abilities as well.
To simulate bad leaders we could give them low ratings and bad abilities.
"Paradox: There will be no hard-coded national differences. Instead, we aim to represent this by differing technological and doctrinal prowess. For example, in 1936 Italy might have researched no advances in “land doctrine” at all whereas Germany might start with more than half of them already discovered. This would mean that Italian land units would have a maximum organizational value of around 50% compared to a considerably higher value (say 90%) for the Germans. Add to this a purely technological gap and an enormous qualitative difference in the available leader pool and you should end up with pretty historical relative strengths. Random combat values for divisions? Nope"
The key word here is the qualitive difference in the leaderpool. So leaders will effect combat for sure.
Additionally
"SGO: Will military leaders have more than one ‘tactical ability’? What about ministers?
Paradox: Military leaders at least will be able to gain more perks, but this should be quite rare and only happen under extraordinary circumstances. "
So leaders will also have abilities as well.
To simulate bad leaders we could give them low ratings and bad abilities.