Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:14 am
Essentially most infantry unit elements you receive at start or raise during play start at conscript level. Over time they will upgrade. Different types of infantry have different icons/images. You won't always notice the upgrade via images as the image shown for a unit is iirc that of the largest number of elements of the same type...
For instance: a fictional brigade when raised is composed of 3 conscript infantry elements, 1 veteran infantry, 1 conscript cavalry and one light artillery, in this case the unit's image would be that of conscript infantry (3 elements), if one element of conscript infantry were to upgrade nothing would change concerning the image (2 conscript 2 veteran means equal numbers but the old is simply retained), as soon as the next conscript upgrades your unit will start showing the veteran infantry image, note that this can also be effected by casualties (lost elements), so for instance a combination of losing 1 conscript and having another upgraded would lead to the change of image. In some cases a unit can adopt the image of an element clearly in the minority (sometimes an artillery battery), I think this is more of a minor glitch than by design.
Note, obviously upgrades are not just graphic but mainly lead to improved quality and capabilities of those elements. Also not all element types can upgrade, sometimes upgrades are also limited by date etc. In AACW what you will see most is militia upgrading to conscript infantry, conscript to veteran (iirc) and 6lb to 12lb artillery...
Marc aka Caran...