History Main / VeteranUnit

* ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'': Veterancy ranges from one to five marks, which are gained when a certain number of kills are reached. The bonuses are increased HP and attack efficiency.

* ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' uses this but tends to be quite subtle with it. [[VideoGame/TotalAnnihilationKingdoms Kingdoms]] is more extreme with it and some units become much more powerful after some kills. ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'' also has them. The levels were tweaked to be faster in the Forged Alliance Expansion, and again under Forged Alliance Forever.
* ''VideoGame/TotalWar'': Units gain chevrons as they kill enemies in battle, to a maximum of nine. As a unit gains more chevrons, its stats -- including its attack, defense, reloading speed for missile units, and morale -- become higher and higher. This led to the infamous "Jedi generals" in the first ''Medieval'', as their high stats, paired with the high valor typically gained by a unit getting whittled down in battle, effectively lead to one-man armies.

A variant of [[CharacterLevel Character Levels]] for RealTimeStrategy games; after multiple kills a single unit "levels up" and becomes more powerful. It tends to be integrated into the backstory a little by suggesting they are more experienced (hence the "veteran" designation) or received a FieldPromotion to [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking a higher rank]].

* ''Wargame'' series ([[VideoGame/WargameEuropeanEscalation European Escalation]], [[WargameAirlandBattle AirLand Battle]] and [[VideoGame/WargameRedDragon Red Dragon]]): There are five levels of veterancy: Rookie, Trained, Hardened, Veteran, and Elite. Each level comes with some sizable but not game-breaking buffs to accuracy, rate of fire, and resistance to shock. Unlike in most games, however, you can often choose to buy higher-experienced units from the start: you'll just have less of them per card. (Would you prefer two rookie A-10s or one elite?)

* ''VideoGame/WargameRedDragon'': There are five levels of veterancy: Rookie, Trained, Hardened, Veteran, and Elite. Each level comes with some sizable but not game-breaking buffs to accuracy, rate of fire, and resistance to shock. Unlike in most games, however, you can often choose to buy higher-experienced units from the start: you'll just have less of them per card. (Would you prefer two rookie A-10s or one elite?)

* ''VideoGame/Godus'': Units in ''Godus Wars'' that survive long enough gain levels, making them stronger and changing their appearance.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' goes to the extreme. The requirement was lowered so that now a unit is promoted when it kills more than three times its value (for example, a Conscript costs $100 so it requires $301 for Veteran and $601 for Elite). Veterans (one chevron) gained stat boosts across the board, Elite (three chevrons) would gain RegeneratingHealth and a new weapon on top of their Veteran bonuses. Some Elite units became very near OneManArmy levels of power with things like Dreadnoughts firing mini-nukes ''capable of one-shotting Construction Yards'' (although there ''were'' also a few cases of oversights leading to units getting ''weakened'' in some respects at Elite[[note]]for example, Chrono Legionnaires lose the ability to fire over walls due to the Elite version of their weapon lacking the flag that allows it[[/note]]). It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at Veteran, respectively. Crates can also contain promotions that will promote all eligible units around it (it acts as a cash crate if the unit picking it up is ineligible or already Elite). Finally, killing a Veteran or Elite unit will give three or six times the unit value respectively in regards to the attacking unit's promotion. While this isn't possible in the original game, the Ares DLL (used by mods like ''VideoGame/MentalOmega'') allows mind-controlled and spawned units to transfer the experience they gain to the mind-controller or spawner.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' goes to the extreme. The requirement was lowered so that now a unit is promoted when it kills more than three times its value (for example, a Conscript costs $100 so it requires $301 for Veteran and $601 for Elite). Veterans (one chevron) gained stat boosts across the board, Elite (three chevrons) would gain RegeneratingHealth and a new weapon on top of their Veteran bonuses. Some Elite units became very near OneManArmy levels of power with things like Dreadnoughts firing mini-nukes ''capable of one-shotting Construction Yards'' (although there ''were'' also a few cases of oversights leading to units getting ''weakened'' in some respects at Elite[[note]]for example, Chrono Legionnaires lose the ability to fire over walls due to the Elite version of their weapon lacking the flag that allows it[[/note]]). It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at Veteran, respectively. While this isn't possible in the original game, the Ares DLL (used by mods like ''VideoGame/MentalOmega'') allows mind-controlled and spawned units to transfer the experience they gain to the mind-controller or spawner.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' goes to the extreme. Veterans (one chevron) gained stat boosts across the board, Elite (three chevrons) would gain RegeneratingHealth and a new weapon on top of their Veteran bonuses. Some Elite units became very near OneManArmy levels of power with things like Dreadnoughts firing mini-nukes ''capable of one-shotting Construction Yards'' (although there ''were'' also a few cases of oversights leading to units getting ''weakened'' in some respects at Elite[[note]]for example, Chrono Legionnaires lose the ability to fire over walls due to the Elite version of their weapon lacking the flag that allows it[[/note]]). It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at Veteran, respectively. While this isn't possible in the original game, the Ares DLL (used by mods like ''VideoGame/MentalOmega'') allows mind-controlled and spawned units to transfer the experience they gain to the mind-controller or spawner.

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' varies this trope quite a lot. In some of the games it isn't there or makes barely any difference, while in other games keeping veterans alive can vastly increase the strength of an army.
** The first two games (''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn Tiberian Dawn]]'' & ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert Red Alert]]'') did not feature any type of veterancy. ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSun Tiberian Sun]]'' was the first in the series to feature veterancy, but gaining veterancy took ''a lot'' of kills and the bonuses weren't noticeable.
** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' goes to the extreme. Veterans (one chevron) gained stat boosts across the board, Elite (three chevrons) would gain RegeneratingHealth and a new weapon on top of their Veteran bonuses. Some Elite units became very near OneManArmy levels of power with things like Dreadnoughts firing mini-nukes ''capable of one-shotting Construction Yards'' (although there ''were'' also a few cases of oversights leading to units getting ''weakened'' in some respects at Elite[[note]]for example, Chrono Legionnaires lose the ability to fire over walls due to the Elite version of their weapon lacking the flag that allows it[[/note]]). It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at Veteran, respectively.

** The ''[=OpenRA=]'' source ports of the earlier games before ''Tiberian Sun'' adds veterancy to units along with other modern mechanics.

** ''VideoGame/DawnOfTheTiberiumAge'', a mod, has combat units gain experience by killing enemies and get promoted once the total cost of their kills reach three (for Veteran ranks) and six (for Elite rank) times their own.

* ''VideoGame/MentalOmega'': Combat units can gain experience by killing foes and get promoted once the total cost of their kills exceed four and a half (for Veteran rank) and nine (for Elite rank) times their own. When a mind-controlled or spawned unit kills an enemy, three quarters of the gained experience is given to the the mind-controller or spawner.

* ''VideoGame/RedResurrection'': Most combat units can gain experience by killing foes and get promoted once the total cost of their kills exceed three (for Veteran rank) and six (for Elite rank) times their own.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' goes to the extreme. At first veterancy there was only a minor increase in abilities, but at elite status units universally got GradualRegeneration and ''far'' more powerful. Some top veteran units became very near OneManArmy levels of power (although there ''were'' also a few cases of oversights leading to units getting ''weakened'' in some respects at top veterancy[[note]]for example, Chrono Legionnaires lose the ability to fire over walls due to the Elite version of their weapon lacking the flag that allows it[[/note]]). It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at first veterancy.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'' sees the veterancy system dialed down a bit more, but given that it has not fluctuated much in ''Red Alert 3'' or ''Tiberium Twilight'', it seems that the developers have found their desired balance.
** ''Kane's Wrath'': In the Global Conquest mode for the PC version, units within a strike force will maintain their promotions which, in conjunction with the ability to upgrade them, can make even small regiments into an unstoppable assault force.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRenegade'' uses the veteran system for each player, offering overall boosts to their stats as they rank up (health, armor, speed, firepower, magazine size and even repair speed with a HealingFactor once you reach Elite and Heroic) and it will apply to vehicles when you drive them. Destruction of enemy structures and harvesters will award veterancy points to the whole team and, much like in the RTS games, crates can also contain random promotions. Finally, players joining the game during the later stages can start as high as Elite depending on how the match is going.

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' varies this trope quite a lot, in some of the games it isn't there or makes barely any difference, in other games keeping veterans alive can vastly increase the strength of an army.

** For ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2 Red Alert 2]]'', they went to the extreme. At first veterancy there was only a minor increase in abilities, but at elite status units universally got GradualRegeneration and ''far'' more powerful. Some top veteran units became very near OneManArmy levels of power (although there ''were'' also a few cases of oversights leading to units getting ''weakened'' in some respects at top veterancy[[note]]for example, Chrono Legionnaires lose the ability to fire over walls due to the Elite version of their weapon lacking the flag that allows it[[/note]]). It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at first veterancy.
** This was dialed down some in ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals Generals]]'', but veterancy could still handily make or break a battlefield clash. Most notably, US pilots gained the ability to use an EjectionSeat, allowing their veterancy to be transferred to whatever ground or air vehicle you assigned the downed pilot to (though getting them into helicopters was a little tricky). The second rank-up also added RegeneratingHealth, which was less useful than it sounds. Third (also last) rank-up gave units red effects for muzzle flashes and explosions and increased health and firepower to the maximum, in a few cases even giving the unit in question a new weapon (for example, Toxin Tractors got blue anthrax sprayers even without the proper global upgrade), and gave a noticable boost to the RegeneratingHealth, making some units ''very'' hard to kill.
** ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars Tiberium Wars]]'' saw the veterancy system dialed down a bit more, but given that it has not fluctuated much in ''Red Alert 3'' or ''Tiberium Twilight'', it seems that the developers have found their desired balance.
** In the Global Conquest mode for the PC version of ''Kane's Wrath'', units within a strike force will maintain their promotions which, in conjunction with the ability to upgrade them, can make even small regiments into an unstoppable assault force.
** Also present in C&C sister saga ''Videogame/DuneII'' (probably the Ur-example), where it usually adds a HealingFactor to units.
** The ''[=OpenRA=]'' source ports of the earlier games before ''Tiberian Sun'' also adds veterancy to units along with other modern mechanics.
** ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRenegade Renegade X]]'' also uses the veteran system for each player, offering overall boosts to their stats as they rank up (health, armor, speed, firepower, magazine size and even repair speed with a HealingFactor once you reach Elite and Heroic) and it will apply to vehicles when you drive them. Destruction of enemy structures and harvesters will award veterancy points to the whole team and, much like in the RTS games, crates can also contain random promotions. Finally, players joining the game during the later stages can start as high as Elite depending on how the match is going.
* ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' uses this but tends to be quite subtle with it. [[VideoGame/TotalAnnihilationKingdoms Kingdoms]] is more extreme with it and some units become much more powerful after some kills.
** SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'' also has them. The levels were tweaked to be faster in the Forged Alliance Expansion, and again under Forged Alliance Forever.
* ''VideoGame/{{Warzone 2100}}'' is one of the most extreme examples. There are ''many'' ranks (although the differences are subtle). In the single-player campaign, veterans are persistent (along with everything else) and can be transferred to new vehicles if they stay alive. Keeping veterans alive throughout is almost essential to keep up with the technologically superior enemies later on in the game.
* ''VideoGame/TheBattleForMiddleEarth'': Both games have this mechanic. One of the possible purchased upgrades for a unit allows it to instantly jump to the second level (out of possible ten in the first game, five in the sequel).
* In ''VideoGame/StarCraft'', each unit has a counter that keeps track of how many enemies it has killed, but this doesn't improve stats in any way. ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'' increases a unit's stated rank as it racks up kills, but again this does not improve stats and is just cosmetic.
** At one point in ''Starcraft II'''s development, a protoss unit (known variously as the Vindicator or Soul Hunter) was planned that would grow in power as it killed enemies. However, it had a lot of problems; it was difficult to communicate the mechanic to the unit's controller or other players, it was difficult to balance, and its slanted effectiveness (it was ''way'' more effective against swarms of enemies than single heavy ones, to a much greater degree than other units). This led it to be cut before the game entered open beta.
* ''VideoGame/{{Myth}}'': Every time a soldier makes a kill, it gets a little more deadly, and survivors carry over to the next level. It is critical on some levels to have veterans from the previous levels.
* Some games in the ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' series do this.
** In ''Days of Ruin'' (PAL: ''Dark Conflict''), each unit can level up three times; once for each unit it defeats. If a CO boards a unit then it will instantly reach Veteran status along with the CO zone bonus.
* Any troop that lives long enough to learn how to shoot straight in ''{{VideoGame/XCOM}}'' becomes a veteran, [[VideogameCaringPotential and you do become attached to them]].
** In ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'', all soldiers start as rookies, then slowly rise through the ranks from a lowly squaddie to the deadly [[ColonelBadass Colonel]]. Every rank unlocks a new skill.
* The valor stat in ''VideoGame/TotalWar'' arguably counts, as the unit's stats and morale increase with every point. This led to the infamous "Jedi generals" in the first Medieval as their high stats, paired with the high valor typically gained by a unit getting whittled down in battle, effectively led to one-man armies.
* ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' values experience to Stars that pop above a unit's health bar. These stars give a small boost to a unit's fire rate and DPS. Most units get up to three stars except for certain situations. Fully upgraded Spartans in a super-unit (Grizzly or Hawk) with full experience gives a whopping 14 stars! On Covenant leaders, their number of stars also increases their special ability's damage. A DLC game mode called ''Reinforcements'' can show the effects of an army with a lot of stars very well.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldInConflict'', individual units that survive long enough while killing enemy units and capturing points gain up to four levels. Leveled-up units (particularly the fourth-level "general" ones) gain considerable boosts to movement speed, rate of fire and special ability recharge times. However since ''World in Conflict'''s multiplayer largely consists of RocketTagGameplay, most ground units usually don't live long enough to be promoted very far...and even if they do, veteran units don't have increased hitpoints and are therefore just as fragile as newly bought ones. The exception to this is usually helicopters, as their high speed and mobility allows them to initiate combat on their own terms and quickly retreat if things get nasty. They're also much more likely to be able to dodge enemy off-map support powers that often obliterate scores of ground units.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' games, units that gain combat experience do not become more powerful, but their health bar becomes bigger, meaning they will last longer in battle. Within the game's dice roll combat system this means they get more chances to score a critical hit even against superior units.
** In Civ IV and V they do advance in level, obtaining promotions that make them stronger units.
** A curious example shows up in V's [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar American Civil War]] scenario. Infantry units start out as "green" troops with a combat penalty, but after their first battle, their commanding officer comes into his own and acquires a unique bonus... or penalty. [[ShownTheirWork All of the possible commanders]] are real Civil War generals, and their effects are in reference to particular battles those generals took part in or facets of their command.
* ''VideoGame/EndWar'': Units that survive enough battles become better and can be upgraded.
* In ''[[VideoGame/{{SWINE}} S.W.I.N.E.]]'', units gain experience from dealing damage to the enemies and can acquire "veteran", later "elite" status that improves their stats. It also changes their looks, adding more bling and kill markings while also making the unit look more used and worn-out.
* ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth'' has this feature in the extreme; although it is not an RPG, ''every'' unit can gain 1 to 3 levels, each one entailing a transformation into a new unit class. The effects vary from a simple increase in power, to the addition of new abilities, to a complete transformation of the unit's role. Building up veteran armies is critical in campaigns, and even in multiplayer games (which are much shorter), managing your xp well to gain level-ups can significantly impact a game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Earth 2150}}'' and ''Moon Project'' feature a veterancy system that slowly improves a unit's capabilities over time rather than having predefined veterancy levels. The bonus effects can be improved by adding a flag or banner to a nearby unit. This can make a substantial late game difference, especially since a meticulous player can carry the same units from mission to mission. It's also very clearly stated in every campaign's intro briefings that keeping ranked units alive is a worthwhile investment - though that doesn't work in the original game's campaign of the Eurasian Dynasty, mainly due to very bad balancing and the AI having far stronger weapons than the player for much of it. In ''Moon Project'' and ''Lost Souls'', it works for everyone, however.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Pharaoh}}'' your military units start as "Green" and gain experience and levels the more they fight, becoming more deadly and resilient. In some scenarios it's vital that you level-up your units as [[ArbitraryHeadCountLimit you can only field six regiments]] since the enemy comes in overwhelming odds and some units such as war chariots literally stomp normal units. "Green" units can also become "Regular" if they go through your [[MilitaryAcademy war academy]].
* In ''Videogame/WarhammerDarkOmen'' the regiments gain experience levels and become better warriors and wiser wizards by slaying foes.
* Same goes for ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite 2's'' army groups. Archer platoons, infantry platoons, and siege engines will gain experience as they defeat the other side's units, and will increase in damage and resilience. After a couple levels, archers and siege engines start to shoot [[KillItWithFire flaming projectiles]].
* Player units and enemy units in ''[[Videogame/BattleZone1998 BattleZone II]]'' will rank-up after each kill, becoming more accurate and reacting faster. However, there is no indication of what the rank of a unit is without using the game's editor.
* ''VideoGame/WarlordsBattlecry'' has every unit getting experience for defeating enemies. However, any levels beyond the first ones tend to need ridiculous amounts of exp (well in the thousands in the third game), but you can take some units with you into other maps during campaigns, to ameliorate that. Plus, it tends to pay off; a high level ''anything'' is ridiculously deadly.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Nectaris}}'', units' stats improve as they acquire stars for battle experience, finally attaining their full potential when they have one large star.
* ''[[VideoGame/HeartsOfIron Hearts Of Iron IV]]'' has veterancy levels for both units and commanders.

* ''TabletopGame/StarFleetBattles'' supplement ''J1 Fighters'': Pilots started out at Green quality and gain points for certain accomplishments, including destroying enemy ships. A pilot with 10 points becomes Good, and one with 50 points is an Ace. Each higher rank gives bonuses in combat.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' Classic supplement Book 4 ''Mercenary'': Military personnel gain experience points for various events, such as passing basic training, number of terms served, being decorated and coming under fire during a mission. A character's morale rating is equal to his number of experience points.
* In Chess, a pawn can be promoted to become any other piece other than a king if it reaches the other end of the board.
* Similarly, TabletopGame/{{Shogi}} has a rule where a piece can be promoted by being moved to the farthest three rows on the board, upgrading it such that it almost becomes a new piece. As some variants of Shogi predate TabletopGame/{{chess}} (which has a somewhat similar rule), it is likely the TropeMaker (with ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' as the TropeCodifier for games).

[[AC:BoardGames]]

** For ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2 Red Alert 2]]'', they went to the extreme. At first veterancy there was only a minor increase in abilities, but at elite status units universally got GradualRegeneration and ''far'' more powerful. Some top veteran units became very near OneManArmy levels of power. It also allows you to skip a step in getting units to elite status by sending an Allied Spy into an opposing Barracks or War Factory, allowing you to train infantry or build vehicles already at first veterancy.

* ''VideoGame/{{Earth 2150}}'' and ''Moon Project'' feature a veterancy system that slowly improves a unit's capabilities over time rather than having predefined veterancy levels. The bonus effects can be improved by adding a flag or banner to a nearby unit. This can make a substantial late game difference, especially since a meticulous player can carry the same units from mission to mission. It's also very clearly stated in every campaign's into briefings that keeping ranked units alive is a worthwhile investment - though that doesn't work in the original game's campaign of the Eurasian Dynasty, mainly due to very bad balancing and the AI having far stronger weapons than the player for much of it. In ''Moon Project'' and ''Lost Souls'', it works for everyone, however.

** ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRenegade Renegade X]]'' also uses the veteran system for each player, offering overall boosts to their stats as they rank up (health, armor, speed, firepower, magazine size and even repair speed with a HealingFactor once you reach Elite and Heroic) and it will carry over to vehicles when you drive them. Destruction of enemy structures and harvesters will award veterancy points to the whole team and, much like in the RTS games, crates can also contain random promotions. Finally, players joining the game during the later stages can start as high as Elite depending on how the match is going.

** In Advance Wars Days of Ruin, each unit can level up three times; once for each unit it defeats.

* ''VideoGame/TotalAnnihilation'' uses this but tends to be quite subtle with it. [[TotalAnnihilationKingdoms Kingdoms]] is more extreme with it and some units become much more powerful after some kills.

** The first two games (''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn Tiberian Dawn]]'' & ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert Red Alert]]'') did not feature any type of veterancy. Tiberian Sun was the first in the series to feature veterancy, but gaining veterancy took ''a lot'' of kills and the bonuses weren't noticeable.
** For ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2 Red Alert 2]]'', they went to the extreme and units got ''far'' more powerful. Some top veteran units became very near OneManArmy levels of power.

** Commanders also gain skill levels when engaged in combat, with the addition that extended combat in certain conditions, such as using a specific unit type or fighting in certain kinds of terrain or weather, will grant the commander new condition-specific bonuses.