The best way to simulate elite divisions

[kristoff]

Another alternative is to role-play slightly and use existing game mechanics.

-Arguably the qualities of an elite division are high experience and good equipment and access to support.

Experience comes from fighting. Thus a unit that has fought many battles might be renamed to a 'guards' division (I believe the soviets did this). To reflect its new status it can be given priority for upgrades, and could have some sort of brigade added to make it more potent.

Modification wise very little is required with this approach for a human player. An 'elite brigade' might be a way of adding the 'difference', and would be not be especially intrusive. However it is not possible to then add normal brigades.

The problem with adding elite units is that the designation of SS did not always imply quality, there were top quality SS and regular units, but there were also poor quality units of both.

What Antiochus V said - the best way is to role-play a bit. Create division, name it Waffen SS, upgrade it in the first row, before other units (to represent superior equipment), use it in important battles, so it can earn experience faster, reinforce it with top priority, give it the best brigades. And, basically, you'll achieve your goal.
In case of Soviets, it's a bit different. "Guards" were not created from the scratch. This name was given to battle-hardened divisions, which distinguished themselves more than others. So if you have a division that fought especially well or achieved something great, rename it "Guards" and then give it priority over the rest in upgrading, reinforcing ect.

 

[Van Diemen]

What Antiochus V said - the best way is to role-play a bit. Create division, name it Waffen SS, upgrade it in the first row, before other units (to represent superior equipment), use it in important battles, so it can earn experience faster, reinforce it with top priority, give it the best brigades. And, basically, you'll achieve your goal.
In case of Soviets, it's a bit different. "Guards" were not created from the scratch. This name was given to battle-hardened divisions, which distinguished themselves more than others. So if you have a division that fought especially well or achieved something great, rename it "Guards" and then give it priority over the rest in upgrading, reinforcing ect.

One problem for the AI: It cannot role play! Therefore by event released division (with an elite attachment) is the only way to get same flavor. As for the extra brigades that cannot be attached to the unit once you have an elite attachment: you can always make the attachment at least as effective as the most common used brigades in ww2 by elite divisions (heavy tanks etc.)

Furthermore I made an elite brigade named: "Elite training". This means that the divisions with this attachment have been extra trained (one year) and are therefore more effective(hard attack/soft attack etc.) , have more morale and ORG. The brigade only becomes available trough event, as I made a "secret weapon" like event to activate the attachment after certain technologies have been researched. The upgrades become available too on this base. Upgrading pays off (since the upgrade cost is 0.1 in time and 0.2 in IC), but building them from scratch doesn't (6IC for 360 days). They, as I stated earlier, can only be attached to armor, mechanized, motorized, airborne, mountain and marine troops. Furthermore the division itself will not get extra experience. They will obtain it trough battle, which may make these divisions truly key to success.

 

[Gormadoc]

Well, perhaps not the best example, but the Waffen SS did receive a harder training than the regular army. Furthermore there was a selection on who could and who couldn't be trained. It was only later in the war that the Waffen SS began to show some cracks, but so was the regular army.

Yes you are correct, Selection and therefore the concentration of the best suited manpower did also contribute to the "Elite" status. Also true for the Japanese Imperial Guards division. Where as the soviet guards where mostly seasoned units that had shown good performance in battle. as mentioned above.

 

[kristoff]

One problem for the AI: It cannot role play! Therefore by event released division (with an elite attachment) is the only way to get same flavor. As for the extra brigades that cannot be attached to the unit once you have an elite attachment: you can always make the attachment at least as effective as the most common used brigades in ww2 by elite divisions (heavy tanks etc.)

Furthermore I made an elite brigade named: "Elite training". This means that the divisions with this attachment have been extra trained (one year) and are therefore more effective(hard attack/soft attack etc.) , have more morale and ORG. The brigade only becomes available trough event, as I made a "secret weapon" like event to activate the attachment after certain technologies have been researched. The upgrades become available too on this base. Upgrading pays off (since the upgrade cost is 0.1 in time and 0.2 in IC), but building them from scratch doesn't (6IC for 360 days). They, as I stated earlier, can only be attached to armor, mechanized, motorized, airborne, mountain and marine troops. Furthermore the division itself will not get extra experience. They will obtain it trough battle, which may make these divisions truly key to success.

Hmm, right. Then maybe a special brigade is a way to go indeed. However, the problem with messing with brigades or new models is avoiding unbalancing the game. Unless you'll see one time AI running with these brigades all over then it might be a good solution.

 

[Van Diemen]

Hmm, right. Then maybe a special brigade is a way to go indeed. However, the problem with messing with brigades or new models is avoiding unbalancing the game. Unless you'll see one time AI running with these brigades all over then it might be a good solution.

Well, since the AI has certain production aims set and the original super heavy tank brigade only comes in late into the game I guess it is pretty safe to say that the AI will not run you over with these "brigades". Furthermore it would not be very smart to aim a lot of your IC towards building these brigades. I believe that the AI will sooner become weaker than stronger, if they begin building these brigades. Release by event should be the only way to go even for the AI.