Ghost Division, hello.... with spoilers

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I have started my first run through Ghost Division. I'm playing with a nice stack of leader traits including Killer Team, as it's my first run and I want it to be easy, even on Generalissimus LOL.

I enjoyed the first scenario quite a bit. Also, I like the concept of Elite Units. I think an SAS/LRDG/SBS campaign would be awesome, and will continue to mention this even though I'm starting to sound like Cato saying "and Carthage must be destroyed." Hey, it worked for Cato.

***** spoiler alert *****

I'm delighted that moving the 4th's vehicles to the rally point gets me a custom hero. (Double attack? Vigilant? superhero!) I also enjoyed that once they hit the rally point, 4th's units could be pressed back into combat. Later when I do another run I may try it with them parked, but it's difficult enough to be interesting and fun even with th full stack of leader traits.

Another spoiler: don't be reckless, there are nasty surprises waiting for the reckless. You have plenty of time to collect all the bling. Better to do so without excessive casualties or losing core units.

*****end spoiler alert ******

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I didn't notice any typos or awkward turns of phrase, but If I see any I'll mention them here. Even if they never get updated it makes *me* feel better LOL

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2nd scenario is eerily familiar... I quite enjoyed chasing Rommel in AO.

Fraulein Schulz is kinda hot, but the Oberst won't be wooing her unless the script insists. 2 of my exes are journos I've had enough of that type LOL

I like this model, wherein prestige is earned in battle by taking objectives rather than acquired through continuing to exist and failing to lose.

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It's a bit weird playing a campaign focusing on an armored division and being able to add airpower.

Maybe in future Elite campaigns airpower could be auxiliary units?

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****** spoiler alert *****

Not going full spoiler but really cool to find hidden rewards. Still on scenario 2.

Purchased units start out with zero experience, but the core in scenario 1 starts out with one star. I chose "battle academy" as one of my traits (only 9 scenarios, and I want my elite unit to be elite) I don't think that is why but i'd be interested if someone without battle academy also starts with 1 star for all core.

[Tassadar]

****** spoiler alert *****

Not going full spoiler but really cool to find hidden rewards. Still on scenario 2.

Purchased units start out with zero experience, but the core in scenario 1 starts out with one star. I chose "battle academy" as one of my traits (only 9 scenarios, and I want my elite unit to be elite) I don't think that is why but i'd be interested if someone without battle academy also starts with 1 star for all core.

Yes, you start with 1 star regardless of traits.

It's a bit weird playing a campaign focusing on an armored division and being able to add airpower.

Maybe in future Elite campaigns airpower could be auxiliary units?

War Stories: Fall of Poland experimented with air units not being normally available, only in limited stock based on some specific conditions and that worked well in the setting. However, I don't think that cutting off a player from air force in an entire campaign forcefully would be a good idea. Flexibility of approach is one of the big things that make Panzer Corps 2 great, so while you can just take Denied Air Force if you want to have no planes (which I did and the scenarios were perfectly beatable and the gameplay quite uniquely enjoyable), there should be nothing that forces the player into this approach.

[Trenchard]

Combined arms... Sweeping maneuvers... I very much enjoyed this scenario. I like the wide open stuff. That said, 9 scenarios is seeming a bit rushed, like watching match highlights instead of the entire match.

I would like it if this series continues... and fleshes out the unit's history with more scenarios.

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It will be interesting to see if the bling unit, Wachtruppe, will grow into something if I don't upgrade it. In real life, the Grossdueutschsland division was formed from the Berlin Wachtregiment so even if it's only a historical easter egg it's an interesting one.

[Trenchard]

****** spoiler alert *****

Not going full spoiler but really cool to find hidden rewards. Still on scenario 2.

Purchased units start out with zero experience, but the core in scenario 1 starts out with one star. I chose "battle academy" as one of my traits (only 9 scenarios, and I want my elite unit to be elite) I don't think that is why but i'd be interested if someone without battle academy also starts with 1 star for all core.

Yes, you start with 1 star regardless of traits.

It's a bit weird playing a campaign focusing on an armored division and being able to add airpower.

Maybe in future Elite campaigns airpower could be auxiliary units?

War Stories: Fall of Poland experimented with air units not being normally available, only in limited stock based on some specific conditions and that worked well in the setting. However, I don't think that cutting off a player from air force in an entire campaign forcefully would be a good idea. Flexibility of approach is one of the big things that make Panzer Corps 2 great, so while you can just take Denied Air Force if you want to have no planes (which I did and the scenarios were perfectly beatable and the gameplay quite uniquely enjoyable), there should be nothing that forces the player into this approach.

I haven't made it through War Stories yet. I found it quite difficult so I figured I'd make at least one run through everything else first LOL.

One of the best things about PC/PC2 has always been the way you, the player, control doctrine. Even Cyrenaica, as the Italians, you can create a highly mechanized, combined arms force. That's extremely ahistorical, "we don't even have trucks" probably contributed a lot to the Italian collapse. So i'm not at all advocating a no-airpower approach. Just wondering if they should be auxiliaries and purchasable only as auxiliaries, especially at division and smaller levels.

That said, I really LIKE airpower and air heroes. Historically I believe the 88s were Luftwaffe. I bought my own. So I guess one can make the case that control of doctrine means you can attach air units to your core and closely cooperate as if they're under your command.

[Trenchard]

3rd scenario, another big map for aggressive, sweeping maneuvers, as one would expect working for Rommel. Very much in my wheelhouse.

Another thought on doctrine: compared to simulation in exacting detail, control of doctrine is one of the things that makes PC2 unique. Real life has shown repeatedly since Monash that closely coordinated combined arms is the most effective philosophy on which to base doctrine. so THERE lol

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I just spent an entire turn driving. Do I like wide open spaces for maneuver? Yes... BUT... careful what you wish for LOL

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Still scenario 3. I wonder if there is any reward attached to satisfying Fraulein Schulz' requests. So far i'ts looking like she's only there for narrative purposes. Maybe the Oberst gets a date later LOL

The actual main objective is very lightly guarded. This suggests that if you're doing the minimum in this campaign you're not doing it right. Makes sense, doing the minimum is not how legends are born.

[Trenchard]

Case in point regarding the ease of the main objective: while my main force rumbles on toward Cherbourg, I left my best artillery (double attack, 21cm, overstrength at 15), a recon car, and the Stuka. I cleaned out these objectives in 15 turns. I'll leave the recon car there to close the scenario when I finish everything else, to save a road trip.

[Trenchard]

3 was the easiest so far but I enjoyed it in spite of the long drive times. It's t kind of scenario where studying the map tells you exactly how to play it.

Another special objective, another chance for a custom hero whom you can stack with TWO a-list traits. Love this. Love bling and love customizing stuff to suit my doctrine.

[Trenchard]

The post-debriefing interstitial narrative mentions that our division went on to drive "as far south as Bordeaux." That should have been a scenario IMO. I'm 1/3 done already, this feels more like a highlight reel than a campaign (my only complaint so far LOL)

[Trenchard]

Scenario 4. Barbarossa time. Fraulein Schulz continues to stalk The Oberst.

7 turns in and I've reached the middle of the map, the Niemen RIver... and the 5th Tank division. Here's where it gets interesting.

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Scenario 5. Snowtime! Still wondering about the Fraulein and her slightly menacing stare. Shorter scenario, slightly smaller map.

My genius plan for crossing the Moscow Canal involved leaving the bridging unit in reserve. I'd assumed that everything was frozen over and i could just drive over it. Nope.

If you try to get all the bling, be cautious. Nasty surprises await.

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Scenario 5 is aptly named: Blood and Snow.

Admittedly I was a bit reckless, but took a beating and was lucky not to lose any core units. The bling from the special objective was well worth it though.

This is the first scenario where I didn't clean up the entire map. While you should have plenty of prestige at this point, once you have the heroes all you'll be doing by stomping out the remaining enemies is creating more need for replacements. They're tough enemies, it's not worth it.

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Barbarossa, again, could be fleshed out with at least 2 more scenarios. Elite campaigns ideally should have around 15 scenarios so as not to feel like a highlight reel IMO.

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Scenario 6, Case Anton, is pretty easy. That's most welcome after Blood and Snow.