Leader Traits
Generals can have distinct traits that offer various benefits on the units he commands.
The bitvalue is used for modding and is contained in the leaders\country.csv file. It used used to flag which traits a leader has. If a leader has multiple traits, simply add the bitvalues together. For example, if a leader has both winter specialist and panzer leader traits, the value would be 136 (8+128).
It is possible to modify leaders names to include details of their traits so a sort on names brings all of a type together. Here a sample file for the Soviets with an explanation on how to do it.
Land Unit Leader Traits
Logistics Wizard
Reduces fuel and supply consumption of non-moving units commanded by a leader with this trait (by -25%).
Bitvalue: 1
Defensive Doctrine
Increases defensive effectiveness of units commanded by a leader with this trait (by +10%).
Bitvalue: 2
Offensive Doctrine
Increases offensive effectiveness of units commanded by a leader with this trait (by +10%).
Bitvalue: 4
Winter Specialist
Increases the effectiveness of troops fighting in snow by +25% and Frozen terrain by +20%.
Bitvalue: 8
Trickster
The effects of this trait are, well... somewhat tricky: It increases the chance that the combat event Surprise will occur, on offense as well as on defense. This chance is further influenced by how advanced your own industrial research of Encryption and Decryption (E&D) technologies is relative to your opponent. Exact figures, however, apparently are unknown (at least for HoI2 version 1.2). I also do not know whether Skill Level of the Trickster leader is having an influence on the probability of a Surprise occurring.
When a successful Surprise has occured, combat efficiency of the opposing forces is reduced by 20% and it will read "Surprise" in their combat details pane. From gaming experience it has been my observation that Surprise is a rare event (in HoI2 version 1.2), probably not more than once in 20 battles, even with E&D fully researched.
A Trickster will also hide the exact division strength of his formation. In practical terms this means that when playing with counters on, the opponent will keep guessing whether there are 2 or 3 divisions in a "XXX" formation, and will never know how many there are in a "XXXX" formation (although four divisions is the minimum for "XXXX", while "XX" obviously is always one division only).
Bitvalue: 16
(last edited by Thomas Haegin on 20.09.2005, based on discussion in the HoI2 forums)
Engineer
Reduces river-crossing penalties during attacks by -20% for all units in the formation under a leader with this trait. The standard penalty for an infantry division is reduced from -50% to -30%, for an armored division (e.g. tanks) from -66% to -46% (in HoI version 1.2)
Bitvalue: 32
Fortress Buster
Reduces penalty inflicted by fortifications (by 25%).
Bitvalue: 64
Panzer Leader
Increases combat effectiveness of armoured and mechanized infantry divisions commanded by leader with this trait (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 128
Commando
Increases combat effectiveness of commando troops (mountaineers, marines and paratroopers) commanded by a leader with this trait by 10%. Effectiveness of any non -commando troops under a commando leader is reduced by 5%.
Bitvalue: 256
Old Guard
Leader gains experience at 1/3 of normal rate, units are not affected by this reduction
Bitvalue: 512
Sea Wolf
Increases combat effectiveness of submarines (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 1024
Blockade-Runner
Decreases chance of being detected by enemy vessels.
Bitvalue: 2048
Superior Tactician
Increases combat effectiveness (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 4096
Spotter
Increases chance of detecting enemy vessels.
Bitvalue: 8192
Old Guard
Leader gains experience at 1/3 of normal rate, units are not affected by this reduction
Air Unit Leader Traits
Superior Tactician
Increases combat effectiveness in airborne fights (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 4096
Spotter
Increases chance of detecting enemy planes.
Bitvalue: 8192
Tank Buster
Increases combat effectiveness of tactical bombing missions (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 16384
Carpet Bomber
Increases combat effectiveness of strategic bombing missions (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 32768
Night Flyer
Reduces penalties when flying at night. +20 during night combat.
Bitvalue: 65536
Fleet Destroyer
Increases combat effectiveness of naval bombing missions (by 10%).
Bitvalue: 131072
Old Guard
Leader gains experience at 1/3 of normal rate, units are not affected by this reduction
Hearts Of Iron II - Doomsday
There are some differences. The terrain traits add 10% efficiency to that type of terrain which also results in a speed bonus for that terrain. You need to contrast the same kind of units under leaders with or with the trait to see the differences. Inf under a normal leader might have 93% efficiency in a battle in hill terrain, but the same units under a hills fighter could have 102% efficiency.
Another major difference to Hears of Iron II is that leader traits are ignored if land/air/naval units are over their leader's command limit. Thus a land unit with two Infantry divisions commanded by a Major General with Logistic Wizard and Offensive Doctrine as trait will not see a reduction in oil/supply consumption nor will it receive a combat bonus if in combat.
New Land Unit Leader Traits
Traits with bonus in certain terrains
Desert Fox
Bonus in Desert
Bitvalue: 262144
Jungle Rat
Bonus in Jungle
Bitvalue: 524288
Urban Warfare Specialist
Bonus in Urban Areas
Bitvalue: 1048576
Ranger
Bonus in Forests
Bitvalue: 2097152
Mountaineer
Bonus in Mountains
Bitvalue: 4194304
Hills Fighter
Bonus in Hills
Bitvalue: 8388608
Traits with increased chance for combat events
Counter Attacker
Increased Chance for Counter Attack combat event
Bitvalue: 16777216
Assaulter
Increased Chance for Assault combat event
Bitvalue: 33554432
Encircler
Increased Chance for Encirclement combat event
Bitvalue: 67108864
Ambusher
Increased Chance for Ambush combat event
Bitvalue: 134217728
Disciplined
Increased Chance for Delay combat event
Bitvalue: 268435456
Elastic Defence Specialist
Increased Chance for Tactical Withdrawal combat event
Bitvalue: 536870912
Blitzer
Increased Chance for Breakthrough combat event
Bitvalue: 1073741824