After A Month

[canuckgamer]

We've been playing PZ Corps 2 for a month now and have played 5 multiplayer scenarios. Specifically, Ardennes, Gazala, Steel vs. Steamroller, Balaton and currently in the middle of Cobra.
The game is fun to play and although the mechanics are not that complicated there are some tactics. Anyone looking for a game with any semblance of historical accuracy is going to be disappointed. Using Cobra as an example, unlike the historical situation, the Americans do not have total air superiority. I looked at the production slots and the Germans actually have more air unit slots, 12 to the American's 10. The carpet bombing is nowhere to be found.
In addition, tracked units such as tanks and recon move through bocage with ease whereas the reality was the bocage limited not only visibility but also restricted movement and advances to the narrow lanes. These were two of the factors that bogged down the American advance. The Americans came up with the idea of the Rhino tank which could cut through hedgerows.
As the Germans could hide in the hedgerows most of the combat was at close quarters since visibility was very limited. One suggestion I have for PZ Corps 2 is reducing the recon spotting for units in terrain such as bocage and forest.
What we are finding is that no matter what scenario we played the tactics pretty well were the same. First move your recon unit forward to reveal enemy units. When attacking, hit the defending unit with air and artillery before attacking with your ground units. Tanks stay in open terrain and should always have an AT unit adjacent to it and so on.
I saw one comment from someone who was comparing PZ Corps 2 to Order of Battle WW2 and although they are similar he referred to both as "casual gaming" which I think is a very accurate description.

[Retributarr]

We've been playing PZ Corps 2 for a month now and have played 5 multiplayer scenarios. Specifically, Ardennes, Gazala, Steel vs. Steamroller, Balaton and currently in the middle of Cobra.
The game is fun to play and although the mechanics are not that complicated there are some tactics. Anyone looking for a game with any semblance of historical accuracy is going to be disappointed.

I firmly AGREE!!!: You tell them "Obi-Wan-Canookie!"... get them to get their "Big-Boy-Pants-On"... and get SERIOUS about doing these Games with the environmental-topographical-and Force Composition situations in a "Correct Manner!".

[rubyjuno]

Thanks for your insights, canuckgamer, always interesting to read other player's experiences. I'm mainly a Panzer Corps (the original) player, but did buy PzC2 in a sale and have played a little. It sounds like the tactics for both games are similar, although to be fair, this combined arms tactic was also used in reality. Find your enemy, suppress your enemy with air and artillery, and then ground assault. Some have said that Panzer Corps is as much a puzzle game as a wargame, and I'm inclined to agree. However, with almost 1500 hours on Steam alone (I also play non-Steam and on my iPad), it's a game I love as much as any I've played in almost 40 years of computer gaming.

[canuckgamer]

rubyjuno, thanks for your reply. As I indicated the game is fun to play plus it doesn't take long to complete a scenario. My friend and I recently completed the 1939 Campaign scenario in War Plan which is a great game but it took us 10 months!

You might be interested to know that we have started Cobra again with a house rule. The Germans can only use their recon air units but they can disband their other air units to get prestige points and build other types of units. Conversely, the Americans can disband their AA units. It should be interesting to see how it plays out.

[rubyjuno]

It's good that games such as Panzer Corps have the flexibility for individuals to make their own house rules in an attempt to increase realism, or historical accuracy. I have seen similar ideas in mods for the original Panzer Corps. It will be interesting to see how Cobra plays out with these new house rules compared to your original game.