Some highlights (or TLTR)
For starters, one must recognize that Squad Leader, more than most wargames, is a combination of abstractions and compromises. Not every German soldier (or squad) was superior to every American soldier; or every Polish or Italian one, either, for that matter. The game system makes generalizations and then compounds and exaggerates those findings to generate values that give a feel for nationality differences. While admittedly unfair to judge men by their nationality in this way, it is nonetheless a major factor in why the game has so much flavor. Ask yourself if the basic Squad Leader would have been as much fun if all the units had been rated 4-6-7.
Having already accepted this premise in the original Squad Leader game, which gave American units a base morale of 6 (as opposed to the European’s 7) so as to allow them an increased firepower capability, I had to find the single most commonplace trait which would accentuate their differences from those of the Europeans. There were two obvious differences: experience and individuality. The Germans had been tested by nearly three years of combat before G.I.s met them on the battlefield. Every unit had cadre which had seen action, whereas the G.I., who was far less responsive to discipline anyway, was often led by an NCO with no more combat experience than himself. Naturally, as the war progressed, the Americans gained experience and their counterparts continued to be bled white by years of protracted battle. This is reflected in the game by introducing a German Experience Level Rating as ersatz units and Volksgrenadiere began to provide more and more of the opposition.
Amongst others...
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