Prestige Question - New War Gamer

[GulfCoastTiger]

Hey guys!

I played a pc wargame called "Unity of Command" at my friends place the other night. I was really fascinated by it and it seemed to be a lot of fun, though both of us are completely new to wargames. In Unity of Command, they use Prestige points just like this game does and in a similar fashion. In Unity of Command they seem to stress to use them sparingly, mainly for scoring purposes. This leads me to my question. Right now I am on the 5th tutorial mission on the demo of Panzer Corps (which I am LOVING btw) and I have a good amount of Prestige points. Can someone answer why I shouldn't spend them like crazy on each mission? Should I try my hardest not to touch my Prestige for the sake of scenerio scoring? Or are my prestige points intended as solely currency to upgrade and purchase units to better my odds in each mission? I ask because we were left to believe that in Unity of Command you should never touch your prestige points unless you're horrible and obviously need backup or reinforcements to actually push you to victory... I don't know if I am making any bit of sense, but if someone could shed some light on this concept it would help me understand!

Thank you so much guys. Very excited about this game, and im definitely going to read the manual before I go to sleep tonight.

[Wildthing]

I dont know "unity of command" but in the PanzerGerneral Series and now in PanzerCorps you need in every Scenario some prestige left to reinforce your troops in combat (beware of the elite-reinforcment, it melts your prestige quickly, use only between Scenarios in deployment-phase). The upgrade of all troops follows a line of development and is mostly cheap, if you stay within the Panzer IV -line from Type D to type H , but later in war you need to switch the model and this is expensive (saves some experience for the unit). If you want to switch your airfleet from Me109 to Fw190, you have to pay more than 500per Fighter, or if you need Tigers and Panthers, they will cost more than 700 each. Do not switch a Tank III to IV and back to III, only because of newer versions of the other type.
Use your prestige wisely, you will need it. Later in War it is best, if you start a scenario with 1000 Prestige or more (much more)
To have the best equipment on board helps to save prestige, because you can minimize the losses ( a Elefant AT is expensive but take very low losses).

I hope this helps.
Greets, Wildthing

[GulfCoastTiger]

Thanks for your response Wildthing!

From your answer it seems that treating prestige as both currency AND a scoring method is not how PanzerCorps works. From what I got from your response, it's a currency only and to be used sparingly to spread across your campaign.

I have two more questions:

1.) Why do you say save it for inbetween scenarios in the deployment-phase? Are there benefits to using this during that phase compared to during the scenario?

2.) How is prestige gained? I haven't really payed attention to how I have accrued it so far?

Thanks again!

*EDIT*

Subquestion:

3.) How exactly do I use my bridge units? The tutorial told me about how they're helpful for battles near rivers. Do I just leave that unit on the river tile and my following units can then cross over without penalty? Kinda confused on how to use them properly.

[Wildthing]

There are important differences in payment for reinforcemnts! between scenarios: free (green) and "cheap" (elite); in battle "cheap (green) and expensive (elite).
The "normal, aka green" reinforments between szenarios is for free but reduces the precious experience, costs are low during battle, the important "elite"-reinforcements costs some prestige in the deplyment-phase, but in battle its very expensive. Avoid to do this within a scenario and hide the weakend unit behind the lines, if possible.
And overstrength a unit is much more expensive than all others (150% per point)

What i do:
Unit has 8 strength and 3 Stars experince: refit to strength 10 with "green" and overstrength to max left.
Unit has 1 to 9 strength and no stars: only green
Try to save as much experience as possible, but its better to have a 10-strength Tiger with 1 Star in battle than a 7 strength with 2 Stars.

But: Fighters, Level-Bombers and Artillery should be reinforced with elite and overpowered in most cases to help them survive and to add power. Later in War you need well trained troops of all types. If a precious veteran-tank with 4 Stars down to 1 Point and you saved him, you will give full elite-reinforcements if possible, i am sure.

You gain prestige for conquered cities and airfields and at the end of a scenario. Sometimes its better to achieve only a minor victory, you will get less prestige for that, but you won more turns to win the scenario with much lower casualities. For e.g: you get 500 prestige more for an Dv in "non-important" szenario but you need to exhaust your troops to achieve that. Why not playing smooth and carefull, when a MV is good to follow the Campaign ? To reinforce some veterans and re-buy lost units is much more expensive than dealing with a DV/MV.

Last: you can dispose troops, you dont need. BUT: In the deplyoment-phase between scenarios you will get the complete prestige for a unit of this type back. For example: If you check, you have too much tanks (some players have) and you have a woudend obsolete older model of a Tank IV with low experience, sell it! You will get the prestige for a full strength unit back, even if its damaged.
This does not work in battle, within sceanrios you can disband troops, but you will get no money.

Greets, Wildting

[GulfCoastTiger]

Thank you! That explains everything clearly.

Also, can anyone answer my question about bridge units and how to use them properly? I don't exactly understand how to use them.

[Wildthing]

Thats easy, the bridging engineers works like a bridge
small-river-hexes ca be entered, if any unit ends his move in turn before adjected to the hex. You can not start your move 2 or more hexes away from the river and enter the hex in one turn. But if you placed BridgeEng. in the same turn (they must be adjected one turn earlier too) , the unit crosses the river via the Engineers with no limit.
Big rivers (like Dnjepror what ever) can never be crossed without BridgeEngs!
Its very important to have one in your Corps, they make some scenarios much easier, because you are able to outflank strong defences, this will save a lot of prestige! After the job is done, they are not usefull to fight, but finishing wrecked enemies and occupy empty cities is possible. I dont give them elite reinforcments, because they have almost no contact with enemies.
Be carefull, if the AI uses Bridging Engineers, they show you, where the AI sets its focus!

[GulfCoastTiger]

Ahhhh I see! Thank you sir!

[Wildthing]

No Problem tiger. Some features are obvious and some are hard to find out. To post a question can simply save a lot of time.
Have fun!

Greets, Wildthing