Trains in PanzerCorps

[flatsix518]

I have a bit of an issue with trains in PanzerCorps. It is possible to entrain units in PanzerCorps and run all over the map, including into and through enemy and white flagged cities. I don't think this should be possible. Trains should stop when they hit a non-friendly city.

I've know of two abuses possible because of how trains presently work.

1) A friend was playing Stalingrad. His opponent (playing Germany) unfortunately left a train track unblocked. My friend, being the evil person he is, entrained a unit and took a shot at running it deep into the the german's rear areas. It pretty rapidly began running around, seizing cities and then "spawning more troops" until the whole german rear area was getting overrun by conscripts, recon, and runaway trains.

2) I developed a custom scenario based on the old AH Blitzkrieg game. The same friend overran all the minor countries by invading them by train-based troops. His invasion was essentially based mostly on trains. It worked incredibly well.

'nuff said…

John

[ThvN]

1) A friend was playing Stalingrad. His opponent (playing Germany) unfortunately left a train track unblocked. My friend, being the evil person he is, entrained a unit and took a shot at running it deep into the the german's rear areas. It pretty rapidly began running around, seizing cities and then "spawning more troops" until the whole german rear area was getting overrun by conscripts, recon, and runaway trains.

I did this exact thing as well... and I also embarked some infantry on ships to land them behind the frontlines as well. And yes, it is evil, but it is so much fun to see a couple of airplanes try to follow your train that can move at triple their speed! Meep meep. But this was while playing against a personal friend who has a good sense of humour.

[Egge]

I like it the way it is. What exactly would a train preven from entering a city that has previously been captured by the enemy? Some hidden units? You might just as well argue that units should suffer strength loses every time they occupy an enemy hex because they had to fight hidden units.

Trains are weak and easy to destroy. If you fail to garrison your cities it's your fault really.

[sn0wball]

I´d also say that this is a good feature. If the map allows for devious train maneuvers, than there is an incentive to spread out your troops instead of clustering them all in one place.

[El_Jairo]

Trains are weak and easy to destroy. If you fail to garrison your cities it's your fault really.

This certainly true but trains should be limited in the total hexes it can move in a turn. Maybe something like 25 or 30 but certainly limited.

[Razz1]

They do have a range. It is 30 hexes.

Most of the maps are small. In fact they are smaller than the original PC

[El_Jairo]

They do have a range. It is 30 hexes.

Most of the maps are small. In fact they are smaller than the original PC

Thanks for this info. This explains why this doesn't feel right to some players
Maybe it should be reduced to 25? If I remember this correct, than fighters can track down a train in 2 turns.

I do agree most that trains are fragile as you can only follow the tracks. So it is easy to block and units can only disembark in a city hex. It does sound strange that you can invade by train, but that is maybe because no-one allowed for this scenario to unfold or nobody was brave enough to do it in history.

At least it seems to me that you can know about the possibilty and that you can avoid it. I would say you could even lure an enemy to try to pull the train thing to ambush him

[sn0wball]

As far as trains are concerned, their speed is pretty absurd, when compared to planes.