Which difficulty level are you playing on.

WabeWalker · Post by **WabeWalker** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:19 am

This was a day one purchase for me - unfortunately, work got in the way, preventing me from getting too far in the campaign.

The default setting seemed a tad too easy, and I'm wondering if I should step it all the way up now that I have some time to play this thing (I've decided to restart the campaign - from 1939 of course). I'm a Panzer General veteran, but that was way back in the day when I was at university. Somehow, I seemed to be much smarter/sharper back then?

Thoughts or opinions on the difficulty settings?

WabeWalker · Post by **WabeWalker** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:39 am

LOL!

Okay, let me rephrase the question then. Developers, which difficulty level would you recommend for a person who spent hundreds of hours playing PG back in 94 and 95?

(By the way, I realize you guys don't always like 'thank you' threads - but, seriously, thanks so much for this game... it's everything I had hoped it would be. You were just so respectful of the original title. I tip my hat to you.)

Grotius · Post by **Grotius** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:48 am

I threw caution to the wind and settled on "General" for my first campaign, after I finished the tutorial missions. Like you, I played PG back in the day, and like you, I'm not as big a gamer as I was back then.

So far I don't regret the decision. I've had Decisive victories on most maps, but not on all -- I had to settle for marginal wins on two or three maps so far. The AI seems competent, but it's mostly playing defense. The issue at this level may be more the amount of Prestige you get, I don't know. For me, I'm doing fine on Prestige. Even if I don't "win" this campaign in the USA, I probably will replay on Field Marshall.

At the very least, I'd suggest Colonel for you. If it's too hard, you can always drop back. Have you done the tutorial campaign yet?

DreadWing · Post by **DreadWing** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:50 am

I wasn't a fan of Panzer General (played it, liked it, but didn't spent time with it).
I started Panzer Corps on Lieutenant difficulty an it seems easy, especially after a few Decisive Victories that give you more than enough prestige. This allows me to use elite replacements, overstrengthen all my units and upgrade to the latest equipment.
So if you played PG to the death, I would recommend playing on Colonel for warm-up and see if you can go for Field Marshall. From what I know, completing the campaign on the hardest setting, unlocks even greater difficulty settings, like Manstein (all enemy units have 15 strength). Check Kerensky's The Low Countries Video AAR.

edahl1980 · Post by **edahl1980** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:53 am

WabeWalker wrote:This was a day one purchase for me - unfortunately, work got in the way, preventing me from getting too far in the campaign.

The default setting seemed a tad too easy, and I'm wondering if I should step it all the way up now that I have some time to play this thing (I've decided to restart the campaign - from 1939 of course). I'm a Panzer General veteran, but that was way back in the day when I was at university. Somehow, I seemed to be much smarter/sharper back then?

Thoughts or opinions on the difficulty settings?

Go for the hardest difficulty. That is where you will end up eventually anyways.

WabeWalker · Post by **WabeWalker** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:15 pm

I used to play Panzer General on the hardest difficulty, but I notched it down because the AI was too aggressive, and could be exploited.

I think maybe I will try this Field Marshal setting. As long as it's not impossible.

Grotius · Post by **Grotius** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:35 pm

Field Marshal ("FM") is the highest difficulty level (until you unlock Manstein, etc.). If you want the second-highest, go with General, the one I chose. Both General and FM use the highest-level AI; the difference is that you don't earn as much Prestige on FM.

aschindler · Post by **aschindler** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:46 pm

General has been a good choice for me. I just finished my third marginal victory in Norway and am determined to get a decisive. First time I tried a balanced force, then a flood of Wehrmacht, then lots of Cavalry. Now I'm going to try emphasizing air power to more easily win the naval battle and more quickly un-entrench the far north Norwegians.

General is tough enough to be challenging but not so much as to be frustrating.

Longasc · Post by **Longasc** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:44 pm

I play Colonel for campaigns. Might play General as this level has a better AI level.
Read what Kerensky wrote and it should be mentioned if you complete the Campaign at Field Marshal level you can unlock 3 extra FM level difficulties named after famous German Generals that have interesting extra modifiers. I personally deem "Guderian" to be harder than "Manstein". Not sure about "Rommel".

viewtopic.php?t=25960

Kerensky · Post by **Kerensky** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:31 pm

Guderian creates harder decisive victory conditions, Manstein creates harder battles.
I personally get the most fun from fighting the hardest battles, not the shortest clock.

Grotius · Post by **Grotius** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:56 am

To unlock the bonus levels, you have to win the USA battles on Field Marshall with Decisive Victories, right? I assume it's not enough just to get through the campaign or to finish the USA with marginal wins?

Kerensky · Post by **Kerensky** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:35 am

Just USA West Coast. You can get by with a marginal in Mid West, and a decisive victory in East Coast is impossible on the higher difficulty levels (amount of turns is not configured properly).

Korrigan · Post by **Korrigan** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:49 am

Kerensky wrote:and a decisive victory in East Coast is impossible on the higher difficulty levels (amount of turns is not configured properly).

Its not impossible; I did it. But it takes a large amount of saving/loading (you need average results - bad luck in important fights makes it impossible)

Linai · Post by **Linai** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:04 am

I walked to the Moon yesterday, it was really cold but the view is extraordinary.
I can say whatever I want too, who needs documentation or proof.

Korrigan · Post by **Korrigan** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:08 am

Linai wrote:I walked to the Moon yesterday, it was really cold but the view is extraordinary.
I can say whatever I want too, who needs documentation or proof.

What kind of documentation would you like? Screenshot of "View Battlefield" after decisive? Savegame at the point where you only have to end the turn and see the victory? Youtube video?
You name it and I will provide.

Storyteller · Post by **Storyteller** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:30 am

I played on General and won all of the european scenarios and US Midwest as decisive battles in the second run. US East and West Coast I only managed to achieve marginal victories.

I think General is a good choice for a PG Veteran who wants to get used to PC. I tried a Field Marshal scenario once and found it very challenging. Colonel and below are just for starters.

My two cents,
Storyteller

Kerensky · Post by **Kerensky** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:47 am

Korrigan wrote:What kind of documentation would you like? Screenshot of "View Battlefield" after decisive? Savegame at the point where you only have to end the turn and see the victory? Youtube video?
You name it and I will provide.

Well I said it was impossible, so sure I'd like to see some documentation.
I am talking about Field Marshal and the 3 bonus difficulty settings though.

Korrigan · Post by **Korrigan** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:43 am

How can I even show that it's FM with weather, supply and FoW?

PS: I still dont know you would see that its FM with weather, but that supply and FoW is on is clearly visible:
Video @ Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8UM802aLw
Savegame @ Multiupload: http://www.multiupload.com/BSXI6VSLVD (just load and end the turn)
I obviously used save/load to find some enemy positions (like fighters/bombers) and knew the fixed coastal gun placements and stuff like the destroyer in the top right corner and I also used save/load to reduce bad luck on important fights.
The general strategy was to land with very few troops, mainly some infantry, some arty, some recons and a lot of fighters/bombers. Take the coastal cities in the north as fast as possible (I used my navy to support those attacks on the cities and lost most of the ships soon after taking those cities) and send the infantry and recons out to capture cities close to your objectives. Fighters kill enemy fighters/bombers and your bombers soften up the defenses. Spawn tanks and some more arty in the newly captured cties that are close to your objectives asap... and win.

Longasc · Post by **Longasc** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:01 pm

Well, the final US West Coast scenario on Guderian... 5 or 7 turns less makes this for sure VERY HARD if not impossible, at least a "decisive" victory.

I played "Lake Balaton" in the 1943 West Campaign a few days ago and I thought I was on the offensive and in the end I was glad that the Russians didn't destroy more of my core tanks.

"Guderian" would have the advantage that the pain is over earlier...

"Manstein" ... the thought of a 15 STR IS-2 tank is terrifying
"Rommel" ... less Prestige is maybe not that dangerous compared to Manstein, but it is for sure somewhat annoying!

Anyways, I am now in Berlin East and too scared to start the scenario. I read that "Bagration" is even bloodier than "Lake Balaton".
Don't get me wrong, I kinda like that!

That's an improvement over Panzer General. People lost intentionally to get a "historical" campaign and then it was just piss easy AI slaughter. It is really awesome that PC has some challenging scenarios in the campaign(s). And that at Colonel level.

Cheating by reloading till a favorable result is achieved is quite possible and the cheat codes are also public here in the forum.
I wonder if a "HEROIC MODE" that saves every move/battle to a file and protocols the game replay-style would be a nice addition?
Nevertheless, people will always find a wait to cheat if they want.

So instead of showing victories, be knowledgeable about game mechanics and give people good advice on the forums.
That is not only good for the community but also a good way to earn some recognition and reputation while just posting or claiming victories always cries for being suspected of bragging or cheating, unfortunately.

Korrigan · Post by **Korrigan** » Wed Aug 10, 2011 7:26 pm

Longasc wrote:Cheating by reloading till a favorable result is achieved is quite possible and the cheat codes are also public here in the forum.
I wonder if a "HEROIC MODE" that saves every move/battle to a file and protocols the game replay-style would be a nice addition?
Nevertheless, people will always find a wait to cheat if they want.

So instead of showing victories, be knowledgeable about game mechanics and give people good advice on the forums.
That is not only good for the community but also a good way to earn some recognition and reputation while just posting or claiming victories always cries for being suspected of bragging or cheating, unfortunately.

Sounds like you are calling me a cheater and/or bragger. I was just replying to the statement that it was impossible. Also "cheating" by reloading does not work like you describe. If you save, attack, get an unfavorable result, load and attack again you will get the exact same result. But you can shift your good/bad luck to other units by changing the order in which you attacked with your units. Your still going to get bad outcomes - but not in fights that cost you the victory if you lose. I was very open about what I did and did not do in order to win that fight.
And I am posting advice and trying to be helpful in other threads.

Which difficulty level are you playing on.

Which difficulty level are you playing on.

Re: Which difficulty level are you playing on.