[Spoiler Alert] My thoughts about AO

[UncleAi]

Just finished AO1942 and I have some thoughts.

1. I didn't feel we are winning the war. In the west we lost Kriegsmarine. We lose Battle of Britain. We reached London and then retreat. In the east we didn't take Leningrad. We seized Moscow but then retreat. We seized Stalingrad but then retreat. We wasted the precious 1942. Soviets will have more and more tanks and veterans. And Luftwaffe will lost it's dominance. Compared to the real world we just saved part of the Sixth Army. Maybe 200,000 soldiers who lost all of their equipment and morale. My Panzer Corp made great performance in every single operation we participated. We just like firefighters but I didn't feel I'm changing overall situation. In the original campaign Alone the Volga I know I'm flanking the main force of the Red Army and winning the war. So far in AO I didn't feel it. It is kind of frustrating.

2. I hope we can have a good explanation about Wagner's back. Why we thought he died? Where have he been between AO1941 and AO1942? I know he deserve it but a Hauptmann jumped to Colonel?

3. Based on what Wagner said after Rzhev, will he became Claus von Stauffenberg? Colonel-matched. Lost one eye-matched. Wagner-Operation Valkyrie matched. Doubt the war-matched. Don't tell me the future will be (1)We made a decisive victory in frontline but not enough to win the war (2)Hitler became lunatic and ordered to coninue the war (3)Wagner assassinated Hitler (4) I made a military coup with my Panzer Corp and the Sixth Army soldiers I saved. Rommel, maybe with Manstein and Galland, helped me with the coup (5) Germany signed a peace treaty with the world (6) We eliminated the Nazis and everyone lives happily forever.

4. I suggest add voice for AO. I really like Habermann's voice in original campaign. I can feel his excitement and worry. If AO's characters have voice that will be great.

5. I suggest we have a honor system. I can get medals and rank promotions with my campaign progress. Like EK II and Major general for Poland; EK I and Narvik Shield for Scandinavia; Ritterkreuz and Lieutenant general for France; Oak Leaves and General der Panzertruppe for Africa; Oak Leaves and Swords and Colonel General for Balkan; Diamonds and Golden Diamonds and Field marshal for USSR; Grand Cross for Britain; Star of the Grand Cross for USA. It can help us remember the missions we played and bring us sense of achievement. We can have many Shield medals. Maybe even other country's medal like Italy or Bulgaria.

6. Can we have a fictional medium tank like E50 or Panther II ? We have E75 already so I think E50 is good.

7. Btw anyone can read the sign when you get a hero? It is not readable for me.

[BaronVonKrieg]

Just finished AO1942 and I have some thoughts.

1. I didn't feel we are winning the war. In the west we lost Kriegsmarine. We lose Battle of Britain. We reached London and then retreat. In the east we didn't take Leningrad. We seized Moscow but then retreat. We seized Stalingrad but then retreat. We wasted the precious 1942. Soviets will have more and more tanks and veterans. And Luftwaffe will lost it's dominance. Compared to the real world we just saved part of the Sixth Army. Maybe 200,000 soldiers who lost all of their equipment and morale. My Panzer Corp made great performance in every single operation we participated. We just like firefighters but I didn't feel I'm changing overall situation. In the original campaign Alone the Volga I know I'm flanking the main force of the Red Army and winning the war. So far in AO I didn't feel it. It is kind of frustrating.

2. I hope we can have a good explanation about Wagner's back. Why we thought he died? Where have he been between AO1941 and AO1942? I know he deserve it but a Hauptmann jumped to Colonel?

3. Based on what Wagner said after Rzhev, will he became Claus von Stauffenberg? Colonel-matched. Lost one eye-matched. Wagner-Operation Valkyrie matched. Doubt the war-matched. Don't tell me the future will be (1)We made a decisive victory in frontline but not enough to win the war (2)Hitler became lunatic and ordered to coninue the war (3)Wagner assassinated Hitler (4) I made a military coup with my Panzer Corp and the Sixth Army soldiers I saved. Rommel, maybe with Manstein and Galland, helped me with the coup (5) Germany signed a peace treaty with the world (6) We eliminated the Nazis and everyone lives happily forever.

4. I suggest add voice for AO. I really like Habermann's voice in original campaign. I can feel his excitement and worry. If AO's characters have voice that will be great.

5. I suggest we have a honor system. I can get medals and rank promotions with my campaign progress. Like EK II and Major general for Poland; EK I and Narvik Shield for Scandinavia; Ritterkreuz and Lieutenant general for France; Oak Leaves and General der Panzertruppe for Africa; Oak Leaves and Swords and Colonel General for Balkan; Diamonds and Golden Diamonds and Field marshal for USSR; Grand Cross for Britain; Star of the Grand Cross for USA. It can help us remember the missions we played and bring us sense of achievement. We can have many Shield medals. Maybe even other country's medal like Italy or Bulgaria.

6. Can we have a fictional medium tank like E50 or Panther II ? We have E75 already so I think E50 is good.

7. Btw anyone can read the sign when you get a hero? It is not readable for me.

i really like that point 6 suggestion

[Bee1976]

Just finished AO1942 and I have some thoughts.

1. I didn't feel we are winning the war.

Well, that was expectable. The Wehrmacht didnt win the war But yes, AO42 is the first "unfun" DLC to me. Rush here, rush there, play your best game, happy losing
Maybe "Operation Blut" will have some impact, but i lost my faith. GC seems to follow the "normal" path. I even bet in AO43 i wont make a diffrence if i played "Blut" or "Winter-Storm", im afraid the game wont even remember my decision.

3. Based on what Wagner said after Rzhev, will he became Claus von Stauffenberg?

Hopefully not

As mentioned, wow this was the first unfun AO for me. It doenst feel like a campaign. More like the fire fighting mentioned above. Too many battles are a complete rush. Slower Units are useless in most scenarios.
And it felt real short. Remove the training and air only scenarios (last should be bonus...i mean its called PanzerCorps, not AircraftCorps) There are only a few (non contigious) battles.

Mechanic-wise, coreslots feel to short aswell. If you are unlucky with Zero slots and Reduced slots Heros and not playing panzer and/or infantry trait - wow. "Here is your cool Tiger, but you can't really deploy it if you want a healthy core-composition". And for a DLC so hard focussed on aircraft missions, in some battles there are way to few airfields...-.-

Heros are a thing,too. There is still no way to "exchange" them without cheating. And well, i got 5 (!!!!) double-attack heros in 42....but still no Vigilant, double-move or phased movement hero....

And my last point, this one feels "rushed-out". A lot of typos and bugs. I lost track of my commendation points. Counting-system seems to be completly broken at all.

So yes, i played over 600 hours, i made so many complete playthroughs with more challnge, more negatives, and so on. And i always enjoed them, even i had to call them due to failing. But i will touch AO42 exactly one more time, to play the scenarios i missed due to decisions. But i wont touch it again til 43 comes out. No more playthroughs for me, im really disappointed!

[brumleek]

Hello gents.

Strangely, I have an opposite feeling on the matter. I think devs are doing a really good job showing how WW2 pendulum swings.

By the end od 1941 Germany realize how difficult victory may become. Failed German attack on Moscow followed by semi-successful Soviet winter offensive. Combined Axis forces for the first time really struggle to maintain initiative while Russian bear is raising to pounce back, supported by western war material aid.

Vast, almost endless distances stretching millions of Axis forces thin and making them vulnerable. Quality difference between Germans and their allies begins to manifest at large and the best western front veterans (PC2 player core) are being burdened with almost impossible tasks beyond their strength.

Questionable decisions from high command often snatching the strategic defeats from the jaws of tactical victories, making months of progress pointless waste of time, lives, and material.

Single German army core may very well has spotless war record but it is just a single drop in a huge USSR boiling cauldron.

I just see everything I described above in AO 1942 and I like it that way. To do it differently would me major fictional twist and I believe historical vs. fictional preferences had been discussed in a different forum thread. Everyone has a different taste and... ... it is allright really .

Simple fact - Germans did not win the war and 1942 was the beginning of the end. Unfortunately, if anyone dislikes the mood of AO1942, next DLC years will get considerably more depressing.

Developers, my hat's off to you.

[adiekmann]

Just finished AO1942 and I have some thoughts.

1. I didn't feel we are winning the war.

Well, that was expectable. The Wehrmacht didnt win the war But yes, AO42 is the first "unfun" DLC to me. Rush here, rush there, play your best game, happy losing
Maybe "Operation Blut" will have some impact, but i lost my faith. GC seems to follow the "normal" path. I even bet in AO43 i wont make a diffrence if i played "Blut" or "Winter-Storm", im afraid the game wont even remember my decision.

3. Based on what Wagner said after Rzhev, will he became Claus von Stauffenberg?

Hopefully not

As mentioned, wow this was the first unfun AO for me. It doenst feel like a campaign. More like the fire fighting mentioned above. Too many battles are a complete rush. Slower Units are useless in most scenarios.
And it felt real short. Remove the training and air only scenarios (last should be bonus...i mean its called PanzerCorps, not AircraftCorps) There are only a few (non contigious) battles.
Yes, for me the biggest disappointment was its length. Maybe because I got spoiled by the ever-increasing length of the two previous DLCs. I liked the air only scenario in AO1940, but I was worried and said it then, that they shouldn't get carried away with it. 3 aircraft only scenarios? I think it was a bit much. IMO there shouldn't be more than 1, maybe 2 tops.
Mechanic-wise, coreslots feel to short aswell. If you are unlucky with Zero slots and Reduced slots Heros and not playing panzer and/or infantry trait - wow. "Here is your cool Tiger, but you can't really deploy it if you want a healthy core-composition". And for a DLC so hard focussed on aircraft missions, in some battles there are way to few airfields...-.-
Yes, a slot-saving hero poor core is very difficult and not just in this DLC. There were a few where I thought the number of slots given to the player were a bit tight for the scenario, even if you did have a few zero/reduced slots.


Heros are a thing,too. There is still no way to "exchange" them without cheating. And well, i got 5 (!!!!) double-attack heros in 42....but still no Vigilant, double-move or phased movement hero.... Try starting a DLC (like AO41/42) without importing a core! (Though there are a few benefits to it, but overall on balance, still more challenging.)

And my last point, this one feels "rushed-out". A lot of typos and bugs. I lost track of my commendation points. Counting-system seems to be completly broken at all.

This is known and was up front admitted to by the devs. Look for a major patch in the near future. They were up against a hard deadline. So submit any and all errors and suggestions here and hopefully it can be put into the next patch.

So yes, i played over 600 hours, i made so many complete playthroughs with more challnge, more negatives, and so on. And i always enjoed them, even i had to call them due to failing. But i will touch AO42 exactly one more time, to play the scenarios i missed due to decisions. But i wont touch it again til 43 comes out. No more playthroughs for me, im really disappointed!

I still like it and feel that some excellent scenarios/maps are in this DLC. I will hold out final judgment until the necessary and coming patches are implemented. I think I got spoiled where each new DLC seemed to be better than the last (at least that's how I felt with AO39 --> AO40 --> AO 41). So was it unrealistic to expect that to continue?

[Bee1976]

Try starting a DLC (like AO41/42) without importing a core! (Though there are a few benefits to it, but overall on balance, still more challenging.)

Well i got those 5 double attack bad boys all in ao42. I got some more from previous DLCs....thats kinda boring.
I know that starting a dlc without importing is more challenging, but i really really enjoy building up a good core force. So all my playthrough start from SCW I usually play on generalissimus and if i need more challenge i pick some unhealthy neg traits or challenges...sometimes to unhealthiy

I think I got spoiled where each new DLC seemed to be better than the last (at least that's how I felt with AO39 --> AO40 --> AO 41). So was it unrealistic to expect that to continue?

Same here. I like all previous DLCs (SCW is my fav to be honest) but all are great....but AO42 isnt for me. Patches will help, but they cant reduce the amount of aircraft only missions or add 2-3 missions at all. And i fear they cant add a "Campaign" feeling to that firefighting mission "hopping". So AO42 will stay the ugly kid for me

Thats ok, ofc i will buy 43, but all fun and interest in starting the next PT is gone, because i know "how t will end" so far -.-

[Resolute]

I did it enjoy the DLC. Some really cool and maps and finally a goood bunch of new units which made "slow modernization" even more interesting.

Things I did not like so much:

- I would have not minded maybe 2 more maps, overall it felt a bit short
- The air-missions were ok but since you have to reassign so many of your heroes, that just becomes a pita with the current hero UI (and then reassign them back)
- "Streets of Stalingrad" was a bit of a letdown. I was expecting a really furious city battle but the AI was super passive. I think the street fighting was way better captured in the base game.
- Changes to paratroopers but that has already been covered

I personally would rate it 6.5/10

[Snake97644]

Yes, a slot-saving hero poor core is very difficult and not just in this DLC. There were a few where I thought the number of slots given to the player were a bit tight for the scenario, even if you did have a few zero/reduced slots.

Agree, this was the first time since SCW that I used the auxiliary trait. I enjoyed the Op Cerberus mission, but the other air only ones not as much. I like the alternate path diversion, but as you said I am not sure how it will translate in '43, will there be split line from the start? On another thread some said that the game placed a token to mark which path you took.

I would like to see the bonus objectives have an impact on the subsequent missions, but I recall the devs mentioning that this is unpopular.

[VirgilInTheSKY]

Hello gents.

Strangely, I have an opposite feeling on the matter. I think devs are doing a really good job showing how WW2 pendulum swings.

By the end od 1941 Germany realize how difficult victory may become. Failed German attack on Moscow followed by semi-successful Soviet winter offensive. Combined Axis forces for the first time really struggle to maintain initiative while Russian bear is raising to pounce back, supported by western war material aid.

Vast, almost endless distances stretching millions of Axis forces thin and making them vulnerable. Quality difference between Germans and their allies begins to manifest at large and the best western front veterans (PC2 player core) are being burdened with almost impossible tasks beyond their strength.

Questionable decisions from high command often snatching the strategic defeats from the jaws of tactical victories, making months of progress pointless waste of time, lives, and material.

Single German army core may very well has spotless war record but it is just a single drop in a huge USSR boiling cauldron.

I just see everything I described above in AO 1942 and I like it that way. To do it differently would me major fictional twist and I believe historical vs. fictional preferences had been discussed in a different forum thread. Everyone has a different taste and... ... it is allright really .

Simple fact - Germans did not win the war and 1942 was the beginning of the end. Unfortunately, if anyone dislikes the mood of AO1942, next DLC years will get considerably more depressing.

Developers, my hat's off to you.

My salute for you. This is exactly what I felt after I finished AO 42. The mood is fantastic for what happened this year, and they still managed to work out an approach that allows you to follow the path of most important operations.

[adiekmann]

Try starting a DLC (like AO41/42) without importing a core! (Though there are a few benefits to it, but overall on balance, still more challenging.)

Well i got those 5 double attack bad boys all in ao42. I got some more from previous DLCs....thats kinda boring.

I usually check what heroes I am going to get before I start playing. I don't want to spend hours playing half of a DLC before I find out that my collection of heroes will be utter crap, or on the other side of the spectrum, super cheesy.

Look for instance one time (for my "since SCW" core) what I discovered I was going to get (starting '42):

4x Overwhelming Attack
3x AT Support
2x Entrenchment Killer 3x

Now, I didn't get any Envelopment/Shock Tactics heroes, but I already had 4 of them and 1 Overwhelming Attack hero from previous DLCs. So 9/17 of all the "normally awarded" heroes in this DLC would have been of only three kinds! Needless to say, I did not use it and rerolled...

[PaxusZero]

Try starting a DLC (like AO41/42) without importing a core! (Though there are a few benefits to it, but overall on balance, still more challenging.)

Well i got those 5 double attack bad boys all in ao42. I got some more from previous DLCs....thats kinda boring.

I usually check what heroes I am going to get before I start playing.

Oooh! How do you check that?

[adiekmann]

Well i got those 5 double attack bad boys all in ao42. I got some more from previous DLCs....thats kinda boring.

I usually check what heroes I am going to get before I start playing.

Oooh! How do you check that?

Warning: It is still a pain in the ass, but not nearly as bad as playing half-way through a DLC and finding that your group of heroes is unacceptable.

1. Start a DLC with Killer Team (but not required).
2. Check out which 4 heroes you got
3. If you like them, SAVE THE GAME!!
4. Then open the cheat/dialogue window (F1 or ENTER), and type "runany Victory 0" and hit enter. (I copy and paste it hereafter.)
5. End the next scenario's opening debrief and see what you got and record it somewhere (optional).
6. Then repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get to the final scenario.

If you see you already don't like it, then restart from the beginning (step 1). If you are happy with the group, LOAD your save file so you can start at the beginning and you'll know what you'll be getting at the start of each map.

Something to keep in mind is that in my experience you can roll an okay first 4, but then find that the real gems are found later on. Likewise, of course, you can roll a awesome first 4 and then get total crap thereafter too. So it really comes down to how much patience you have and how much you really care.

There may be another (checking game files or code) method, but if so that's beyond my understanding or knowledge.

[impossible]

i agree you should play on generalissimus without importing core. it is definitely the most difficult dlc so far though i think for this reason is the best after the spanish civil war.

and i have an envelopment+overhelming attack+scavenger t34, a consolidator-reduced slots fighter at 20 and an overrunner machine tank that one shots mostly anyone.

[UncleAi]

OK. In the best situation, we killed De Gaulle, sunk several capital ships of Royal Navy, saved part of Sixth Army. We don't know what is going on in Africa(Probably in AO1941&1942 West). I wonder what the "alternate" means. Winning the war or a peace with honor like GC1945West.

[Xenos]

I've purchased the DLC but not played it. If it's the start of a forced historical path ending in defeat I don't think I'll bother. Already played that in Panzer Corps I grand campaign and found it quite boring. Unless devs are planning a ahistorical branch I guess this is the end for me.

[CaesarCzech]

can AO team confirm or deny that there is branching in future dlcs ?

[adiekmann]

I've purchased the DLC but not played it. If it's the start of a forced historical path ending in defeat I don't think I'll bother. Already played that in Panzer Corps I grand campaign and found it quite boring. Unless devs are planning a ahistorical branch I guess this is the end for me.

They have already said, officially, that they are planning both historical and ahistorical pathways. It will be up to you to choose which way to go, starting in AO42, or replay the other at a later time. Now, what that ahistorical pathway will look like is anyone's guess. I mean, it's ahistorical, so whose to say for certain where and what would have happened? That is what will be most interesting to me. I loved the ahistorical part of Africa Corps where you push all the way to India while dealing with the Saudi peninsula, East Africa, and support the war against the Russians in the Caucasus region. There's nothing that I could have added to improve that, except I always wanted a semi-historical/ahistorical continuation of the Africa campaign in Sicily (where you ahistorically save your army and withdraw from Africa like Rommel historically wanted to do.)

[UncleAi]

I've purchased the DLC but not played it. If it's the start of a forced historical path ending in defeat I don't think I'll bother. Already played that in Panzer Corps I grand campaign and found it quite boring. Unless devs are planning a ahistorical branch I guess this is the end for me.

Technically GC has an alternate path. In GC 1945 West, the last scenario Sealion 45 DV end, you grab all the supplies and transports from the British and Americans then conquered Britain. The world became a USA-USSR-Germany cold war. https://panzercorps.fandom.com/wiki/Sealion_45

In AO there is an alternate path. I just wonder what it is. A total win or a peace with honor like GC1945.

[makoto14]

As a fan of the alternate path I dream of seeing next alt DLC (AO43) being either:

1) Head south and linked up with the Africa Corp in the middle east (remember we fought with Rommel in AO1940), secure all the oil, then head east to fight Raj and European Colonies and China and then meeting with with the Japanese. (Ties well to the Pacific DLC coming next) That would be slog. Not much flat ground for the panzers to roll in India and Southeast Asia but killing the British colonies in AO1943 might be the pre requisite to a easier Sea Lion in AO44 and then invasion of North America in AO45?

2) Go with sixth army and continue driving east towards Kazan, Chelyabinsk, and Ekaterinburg (i think I remember that alot of heavy industry was moved to these cities after Barbarossa started), while Von Kluge and Army Group center finish off Moscow ending the Soviet front then maybe back to a even more difficult Sealion 1943 with the ships we saved in Cerbrus? Imagine a bigger tank battle than Kursk or Bagration with Panthers on the Steppe to knock out the Soviets.

3) Back to Moscow 43. Multi scenario to take Moscow with Army group center. Not a fan since we just did it with Stalingrad but taking Moscow is par for the course in any WW2 game.

Looking forward to AO1943

[scott_mathieson]

good points

storyline mostly great ,really enjoyed that side of things (bit more of wagners 'somethings wrong' this was never explained
good mixture of maps

bad points

maybe bit early for real tigers
too many bugs, really poor that commendations/heroes etc were bugged
the big consequence at end was a bit flat, the war turning on escorting 6 trucks out of town.
still nothing to help sort heroes , not even listing them in alphabetical order, really need something with the maps almost forcing you to change heros around much more.

really bad

introducing 2 new challenge modes that are bugged, reduced stock is really poorly thought out which is a crying shame as it could have been awesome, no difference in levels so just picking a number out of the air seems lazy. It blocks you getting transport which is crazy and breaks early missions, try starting at 1939 with no infantry and you allowed 1 unit of each with only 5 reserves. good luck with your1 paratrooper unit when those missions come around.

think this really annoyed as i played through alot of dlc thinking cant wait to go back and try out the reduced supply mode