What does Winter Expert "cold acclimatization gain factor" do, and is it worthwhile?

[eastcoastceojam]

Finland has starting generals that can pick the Winter Expert commander trait asap. In game, it tells me that trait boosts "cold acclimatization gain factor", but I don't understand what that means.

Winter Specialist trait is very useful, as it cuts Winter Attrition by 50%, and it's already there, so no decision needs to be made. But how big of a deal is the Cold Acclimatization factor, if that's the only climate you ever fight in?

It's not likely I will be shipping in troops from Brazil to help me take Murmansk and Moscow, so I assume my divisions will be mostly acclimatized already.

My guess is I would be better off reserving that trait slot for something more broadly applicable (FM traits, Infantry Expert, Adaptable, etc.), instead of grabbing Winter Expert. But that's just a guess, so let me know if you've found this trait useful in your games.

 

[Fulmen]

It boosts the speed at which troops get accustomed to the cold. In other words: it's steaming hot garbage that you'd be wise to stay far away from.

AFAIK it doesn't even buff the effects of acclimatization to cold weather.

 

[Supremeleaderpies]

ive never really had a situation where any of the weather bonuses actually made a difference.

From my understanding (someone correct me if im wrong please) your troops becoming acclimatized just helps negate the debuffs your troops normally take in that respective weather. So if its super cold, your troops will take less of a debuff.

 

[Harin]

Weather, according to the Wiki, can effect organizational regen and temperature can increase attrition. There have been posts about this before and many believe that the effect of weather is light enough that most people do not even notice if their units are in a blizzard.

Terrain, on the other hand greatly amplifies weather and other combat modifiers, to the point that attacks will fail.

Mud, a mix of weather and terrain is hard to notice on the map, but is a powerful debuff.

I would suggest that you do not waste a trait slot on weather effects. You hardly notice them. Save those slots for things that help you with rivers and terrain, while making sure you have one leader with the fort trait, if you think that is going to be an issue later. Remember, each additional trait is harder to get, so do not waste those first traits on low hanging fruit that may be rotten.

 

[eastcoastceojam]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm glad I asked the question instead of just assuming Winter Expert was useful to burn a scarce trait slot on.


And @Harin - I love your poetic quote.

Remember, each additional trait is harder to get, so do not waste those first traits on low hanging fruit that may be rotten.

 

[Voigt]

The trait is somewhat useful for Germany. After campaigns in temperate France/Yugo and hot Africa, park you Tank division in the alps in winter to get cold acclimatisation so you then can attack Soviet in spring.

In one winter you won't get full cold acclimatisation, but it already helps a bit as soon as you hit winter again. Getting more acclimatisation in this one winter before Barbrossa is somewhat useful therefor.

But for Finland all your divisions already are in cold territory in all winters, so they all already have 100% acclimatisation before the winter war starts either way.

 

[Orbs]

There have been posts about this before and many believe that the effect of weather is light enough that most people do not even notice if their units are in a blizzard.

This.

Although I have noticed extremely hot weather wrecking my attack abilities, but I’ve only noticed it in when roaming through India and Burma, on several occasions in different games. Had to wait until “winter” when temps were more normal to proceed again. Otherwise my org literally melted (excuse the pun) and my crack troops who were far superior to the defenders couldn’t do anything but wave fans at each other and share parasols.