Help a Noob!!!

[JohnyCat]

Hi Guys, I am new to Panzer Corps so please don't flame me. I have been reading the archives for some time now and I think that I have got to grips with the game. I am playing on Colnel difficulty in the main game. At least I think I am. Is there anyway to check? The narator keeps calling me General.

I love the game. I do not have a background in Panzer General so I accept that I am a noob but I am finding the game rock hard.

In the main game I have just completed Barbarossa. All my wins have been marginal and Barbarossa for example went right down to the wire. Whilst this makes the game really exciting I am wondering where I am struggling strategy wise.

I have scoured the forum and read all the AAR'S and I am pretty certain my approach is correct. I know most of the posts on here regarding the core campaign are pre 1.05 patch. Has the patch made it any harder? Is the AI any more resiliant?

I can tell you, with the exact same troops (or better) in the exact same hexes as in the AAR'S i am taking some real damage and losses. Whilst in the AAR,S they are steam rollering the opposition.

My general approach is - Air attack (Strat bomber or tactical) then lots of Artillery and Mass attack from ground forces.
I understand terrain benefits/negatives.

Enemy air defense Flak weapons seem over strength to me. Any Aircraft including high level bombers seem to be getting a -2 hit every time. Never consider attacking flak its self without taking -4

Considering the game has Panzer in the title, tanks seem pretty week to me. I have read so many books where infantry tremble just at the sound of a tank approaching never mind fighting them.

But hey, I love the game and the fact that it is tough. I will get all the DLC once i have finished the Vanilla.

On the plus side it has made my current replay of Comany of Hero's a real walk in the park in comparison.

Please tell me the Patch has made the vanilla harder than it originally was. I cant be that rubish. I am a tactical genius for christ sake!

[robman]

Couple of thoughts: (1) Suppression is (or should be) the name of the game. Air attack does not necessarily come before artillery attack, especially if the objective is defended by AA. If you can suppress AA with artillery before air attack, you will do more damage and suffer less. (2) In the vanilla game (though less so in the DLCs), speed is essential. It is often necessary to tackle several objectives simultaneously. If you wait too long to approach the farthest objectives (because you are still working on the nearer ones), it will be too late. (3) Tanks are devastating (and increasingly so) against soft objectives in the clear, but less so against targets in rough terrain. Tanks also do not perform as well when firing from rough terrain. (Think of Kelly's Heroes, and the troubles the Tigers had in the town.) Try to keep them in the open, and attack units in close terrain only after they have suffered suppression and/or losses. (4) Beware of rushing out piecemeal into new territory, even with recon. The AI will swoop in and destroy your forces one by one.

[JohnyCat]

Hi Robman.

Thanks for your advice. I think I have got much of what you say down, although your advice about tackling the farthest objectives earlier is certainly something I need to work on.

Also I am wondering, if I start a new campaign in Vanilla mode will I loose my current one?

I have come across games in the past that do this.

Also I think I need to pick up the courage and play multiplayer. See how other guys play.

Thanks again Robman

[VPaulus]

Also I am wondering, if I start a new campaign in Vanilla mode will I loose my current one?

As long you use different save names there's no problem.

[JohnyCat]

Thanks VPaulus. Thats good. I was thinking about checking out different difficulty levels,

[brettz123]

A couple of things for you to think about.

1. A lot depends exactly on the makeup of your CORE. For instance in a certain scenario you might have 4 artillery and 6 might really be needed. It is just one of those things you need to really think about.

2. As pointed out above, time is a serious factor in the Vanilla campaign. I would suggest playing each scenario over until you achieve DVs. You will learn more and quicker that way.

3. Always use artillery first as it suppresses. It should always be the first thing you shoot.

4. German tanks are very bad against other tanks until the Pz-IV f2 comes out in 1942. Tanks are never really very good against infantry that is anywhere other than open ground. The exception to this is if you have suppressed the infantry with artillery completely (or almost completely anyway).

5. Make sure you have lots of artillery as this is what wins battles in real life and in Panzer Corps. Dropping rounds on the enemy gives you kills and suppression all at the same time.

6. Target priority is very important in this game. When you roll up on a prepared position you will almost always find some combination of anti-aircraft, artillery, infantry, and anti-tank guns supported by a small number of tanks. You need to deal with the AA first then work on the artillery. This means you need the firepower (artillery and aircraft) to neutralize these assets before you launch your ground assault. This will reduce your casualties. The reason you are not getting DVs is because you are going to slow. This is important because every time you have to reinforce a unit it costs you a turn with that unit!

7. Probably the most important point. The forums are really friendly so don't be afraid to ask questions. People just don't flame around here which is very pleasant. We might get a little snarky but that is about it.

[JohnyCat]

Brettz,

Thank you for taking the time for such a comprehensive post. That is all really useful, and I clearly do have a lot to learn.
I will add more artillery to my core. I currently run with 4 artillery units, I might even double that now!

I think I will also take your advice and keep trying one scenario untill I work out how to get a DV and how to speed up. Maybe i need smaller battle groups because alot of the time I am finding my units are getting in each others way and some infantry units end up doing nothing on multiple turns.

Thanks again Brettz (and to all that have helped me)

[JohnyCat]

Anyone gone back to the vanilla since the patch 1.05 and noticed any differences?
Ai stronger?
Or am I just looking for excuses

Thanks

[brettz123]

Anyone gone back to the vanilla since the patch 1.05 and noticed any differences?
Ai stronger?
Or am I just looking for excuses

Thanks

I did and thought it was pretty much the same. But I played on Field Marshal so it could be different on Colonel.

[lucke689]

I think the Russian air force is stronger in patch 1.5. I would check the release notes of that patch they might have all the changes listed.

[JohnyCat]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. I cant seem to find the details on the patches.
Anyway. It is what it is, and i really enjoy it.

Cheers

John