Will there be a tie-in with AK and the DLC campaigns?

[Zhivago]

Taking a step back for a moment, let's remember that not all players are created equal.

Some of our players enjoy the mega-campaign environment that the Grand Campaign DLC provides, but some also prefer smaller and shorter campaigns. This could be for monetary reasons (Zhivago mentioned buying a boxed copy of all existing content costs upwards of $200, though I do want to remind everyone that buying the full 7 DLC campaigns as DLCs only costs $35) or it could just be a play style preference where some people don't want to stick with the same CORE for scenario after scenario and campaign after campaign. They like to experience a particular design, play it out, and then try another, different campaign style and set up.

Point is, we have to do our best to make content for all of our players to enjoy(this includes multiplayer content BTW, which is a whole different story!). So some content is set up as a linked Mega-Campaign, and other content is set up to be short and sweet.
As El_Condoro has pointed out though, for anyone who really wants to put all content together (you can even set it up so that the tutorial campaign is a pre-campaign for the Vanilla game or DLC39 BTW) those tools are all freely available for our players to make use of at their pleasure.
All this requires is opening a few GUID and campaign.pzdat files with any text editor and syncing up the GUID parameters.

I think you missed the point of my campaign tree. For example, a person could buy PzC, and maybe only DLC 43 and DLC 44, and Panzer Corps AK. That person's game options for an "Ultimate Campaign" would be limited to the scenarios contained in the specific games he/she buys. If someone does not want to buy all of the content, they would not have to. However, a person, (like myself) who owns all of the content, would be rewarded with more options to pursue a larger, longer campaign.

[monkspider]

Personally, I hope that the West Front campaigns aren't linked to the East Front ones in any way.. The West Front should be, as Rudankort said, on a smaller scale with fewer units. If you try to force a West front core to be compatible with an East front core, it would end up making the West Front unrealistically big with too many armored units., or if you import a West front core to an East Front campaign, it will be too small with too many air units. If they are done properly, there is no way the two fronts should be compatible with each other.

I do think there should be '41 and '42 west Grand campaigns that would follow the Afrikan front' historical battles in more detail and on a smaller scale in the Grand Campaign style. I think the '40 campaign should be the only branching point however. You can import '41 West or '41 East but then you would be locked into that front for the rest of the war.

[Zhivago]

Personally, I hope that the West Front campaigns aren't linked to the East Front ones in any way.. The West Front should be, as Rudankort said, on a smaller scale with fewer units. If you try to force a West front core to be compatible with an East front core, it would end up making the West Front unrealistically big with too many armored units., or if you import a West front core to an East Front campaign, it will be too small with too many air units. If they are done properly, there is no way the two fronts should be compatible with each other.

I do think there should be '41 and '42 west Grand campaigns that would follow the Afrikan front' historical battles in more detail and on a smaller scale in the Grand Campaign style. I think the '40 campaign should be the only branching point however. You can import '41 West or '41 East but then you would be locked into that front for the rest of the war.

Again, at some pre-determined point, a player would be able to chose on a campaign tree whether to fight on the east or west front. If you don't want to use all of the programs you bought together in one ultimate campaign, that's fine. But I would like that option.

[monkspider]

Well, I agree, but the point has to be after the fall of France and that's it. Otherwise you are going to hurt the quality of the West Front campaign by trying to shoehorn it into some kind of compatibility with the East Front DLCs.

[MajVonRyan]

I spent $50 bucks on the original PzC game, and have bought all six DLCs (CD ROMs) at $15 bucks a crack. I'll be buying Afrika Corps CD ROM too. With close to $200 invested in this game, I would hope that there would be a way to play all of the scenarios together somehow in one campaign. You don't need to be Steve Jobs to figure this out.

I purchased the DLC's as they were released from Slitherineon-line for AUD $4.99 each. However, I would also like to play all scenarios together as a grand campaign including any future DLC releases.

[IainMcNeil]

Without wanting to be dismissive - ideas are cheap! We have thousands of ideas Making them happen is the bit that takes skill, time and a lot of hard work.

There are a huge number of issues to be taken in to account here and while you may want it, it doesn't mean it makes sense for us to do it. We have to make sure each project is commercially viable or we wont be here for very long.

[Chris10]

Without wanting to be dismissive - ideas are cheap! We have thousands of ideas Making them happen is the bit that takes skill, time and a lot of hard work.

There are a huge number of issues to be taken in to account here and while you may want it, it doesn't mean it makes sense for us to do it. We have to make sure each project is commercially viable or we wont be here for very long.

+1

I think you missed the point of my campaign tree.

I gave it some thought and found that You can just set the thing up yourself and interlink all vanilla scnearios with all dlc snenarios and all AK scenarios in one huge campaign tree in a linear but still branched form...all you have to do is make a new farily well thought out campaign tree and set up a new campaign.pzdat , throw all scenarios in the data folder and there you go...
Equipment might even switch to desert camo while playing some Africa scnearios since there is this new "theatre" parameter in the editor which calls the corresponding equipment...
Of course your units will be all 5 star by end 1940 so you would have to amend the parameter how fast the gain expericence and prestige and enemy units experience settings may be an issue too...well...as Ian said this is a big job

[MajVonRyan]

Without wanting to be dismissive - ideas are cheap! We have thousands of ideas Making them happen is the bit that takes skill, time and a lot of hard work.

There are a huge number of issues to be taken in to account here and while you may want it, it doesn't mean it makes sense for us to do it. We have to make sure each project is commercially viable or we wont be here for very long.

As I said "I would also like to play all scenarios together as a grand campaign including any future DLC releases," this does not mean that it would be possible, my expression of interest in playing all the scenarios together should not taken to mean I do not appreciate the skill, time and hard work taken to release a great game as Panzer Corps and its DLC's, but rather my ongoing support of the development of the game, or as you say a commerically viable game. I have always supported Slitherine games and will continue to and I would like to believe that I can express a option or support a concept. Keep up the good work and pass on my thanks to all at Slitherine games.

[Zhivago]

Without wanting to be dismissive - ideas are cheap! We have thousands of ideas Making them happen is the bit that takes skill, time and a lot of hard work.

There are a huge number of issues to be taken in to account here and while you may want it, it doesn't mean it makes sense for us to do it. We have to make sure each project is commercially viable or we wont be here for very long.

+1

I think you missed the point of my campaign tree.

I gave it some thought and found that You can just set the thing up yourself and interlink all vanilla scnearios with all dlc snenarios and all AK scenarios in one huge campaign tree in a linear but still branched form...all you have to do is make a new farily well thought out campaign tree and set up a new campaign.pzdat , throw all scenarios in the data folder and there you go...
Equipment might even switch to desert camo while playing some Africa scnearios since there is this new "theatre" parameter in the editor which calls the corresponding equipment...
Of course your units will be all 5 star by end 1940 so you would have to amend the parameter how fast the gain expericence and prestige and enemy units experience settings may be an issue too...well...as Ian said this is a big job

Well, it is possible then. I have a feeling the wider public playing this game is going to be asking this same question after AK is released.

[Zhivago]

Without wanting to be dismissive - ideas are cheap! We have thousands of ideas Making them happen is the bit that takes skill, time and a lot of hard work.

There are a huge number of issues to be taken in to account here and while you may want it, it doesn't mean it makes sense for us to do it. We have to make sure each project is commercially viable or we wont be here for very long.

Well, as a beta tester you do ask us for our input--and I gave you mine. I don't see how it "does not make sense" or is "not commercially viable" for someone who owns all of the Panzer Corps/DLC/AK content (and hopefully future West DLC content) to be able to play some kind of grand/ultimate campaign. After all, Panzer General (and Panzer Corps) have as one of their strengths the concept of the campaign tree where a player that is successful in early battles can skip to later, more decisive battles and change the outcome of the war. I guess what I had in mind was what is already in place in some of the DLC and AK scenarios where a player can choose at some point in the game to fight on a specific campaign path, but on a larger scale. Examples of this in the DLC is the Germans choosing to fight north to Leningrad or south in Kiev, or to face the British in France in 1940 instead of the French, or to go for Malta instead of staying on the African mainland.

One of the downers about the DLC games, in my opinion, is that you can win all of the battles and still lose the war. At least in the original Panzer Corps game, someone playing Germany can win the game after defeating the Axis powers. The only problem with the "vanilla" campaign in Panzer Corps is that it does not have enough scenarios to accurately represent the scope of WW2. The DLCs and AK scenarios "flesh out" the game and give it more depth and perspective.

I know, opinions are like a-holes--everyone's got one. But I'm sincerely trying to offer what would be an important "upgrade" in the game.

[VPaulus]

I'm sure that some people will ask for this. And as usual we'll going to hear mostly those who are for, not those who don't care.
Personally, I think this would be a waste of resources. I rather prefer to see an Allied and Pacific campaign than replaying all these scenarios tied in.
The developers already told that this was possible, but it would require some work. Panzer Corps developing team is small, so the resources are limited.
So between doing this and postponing all the other projects, I say go to the other projects.
In my opinion, of course.

[MajVonRyan]

You are right, we all have ideas of what we like and want to see developed but there are others who are waiting for their preferred PanzerCorp theature of operations to be developed such as the Pacific and Allied campaign.

Having said that - I do like the look of Chris10's project - Panzer Corps East - The struggle for Russia "Grand Strategy" (Great work Chris)
viewtopic.php?f=147&t=33244

[Chris10]

But I'm sincerely trying to offer what would be an important "upgrade" in the game.

You want the/a game work YOUR way...YOUR concept ? You think others share your view ?
Then hitch up your knickers and start making the mod and then you find out how great your idea is.
Dont know how to mod ?..Well..learning is cheap and quick with this engine cause all you need is
textediting and the rest is done with the editor. You dont need any special skills for what your asking for
When poeple approve they come along naturally...if not...well...the obvious is the obvious.

Having said that - I do like the look of Chris10's project - Panzer Corps East - The struggle for Russia "Grand Strategy" (Great work Chris)
viewtopic.php?f=147&t=33244

oh,hey...thnx,very kind of you ...

[Rudankort]

Guys, let us chill down a bit here. For me all feedback is important, and this topic is no exception. I can clearly see where Zhivago comes from, and I've already taken a mental note to consider what he suggests in future designs.

[Zhivago]

But I'm sincerely trying to offer what would be an important "upgrade" in the game.

You want the/a game work YOUR way...YOUR concept ? You think others share your view ?
Then hitch up your knickers and start making the mod and then you find out how great your idea is.
Dont know how to mod ?..Well..learning is cheap and quick with this engine cause all you need is
textediting and the rest is done with the editor. You dont need any special skills for what your asking for
When poeple approve they come along naturally...if not...well...the obvious is the obvious.

Having said that - I do like the look of Chris10's project - Panzer Corps East - The struggle for Russia "Grand Strategy" (Great work Chris)
viewtopic.php?f=147&t=33244

oh,hey...thnx,very kind of you ...

I'm 42 and have a full-time job as an attorney, and I am a full-time dad. I squeeze Panzer Corps in between the two. I'll leave the computer programming/modding to the youngsters or those more computer literate. I do have a master's degree in history and know my WW2 history probably as well as the best of them around here. I also know that I love strategy games, especially ones based on WW2. I also know that Panzer General was one of my favorite all-time games, and so I definitely have a soft-spot in my heart for this game. I can give you the big picture idea of what changes I think the game could benefit from, but I admit that I do not have a clue about how much time goes into the programming end of things. I had a disasterous experience with trying to program a war game at the tender age of 12 at a friend's house on his TI-99 computer that scarred me for life. After two hours of typing code into a computer, my friend's mom came home and turned a power-switch that shut off the computer, and all of the coding was lost. Since then, I have limited my participation in computer gaming to being a player, not a producer. However, I think I've played enough strategy games in my life to make a few suggestions once in a while. Like I said, opinions are like a-holes...everybody's got one. Ultimately, if someone wants to run with my ideas, I would be flattered. If not, I'll keep playing Panzer Corps, or looking for new games that satisfy my war-gaming desires.

I want to see the Panzer Corps engine expanded to include the Allies, as well as a Pacific Campaign too (complete with DLC's). I'd love to see the engine used in subsequent global conflicts like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I'd also like to see the engine used for battles from bygone eras....the Greeks...The Romans...The Huns...the Mongols....European wars...American Revolutionary Wars....Civil Wars...I would play them all. I can only hope that Panzer Corps sales can help the developers keep making better and better games.

[Zhivago]

Guys, let us chill down a bit here. For me all feedback is important, and this topic is no exception. I can clearly see where Zhivago comes from, and I've already taken a mental note to consider what he suggests in future designs.

Thanks Rudankort--I will always be indebted to you for bringing back to life one of my favorite games (Panzer General) in a new and improved form. I look forward to new chapters in this franchise you have re-awakened!

[VPaulus]

I want to see the Panzer Corps engine expanded to include the Allies, as well as a Pacific Campaign too (complete with DLC's). I'd love to see the engine used in subsequent global conflicts like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I'd also like to see the engine used for battles from bygone eras....the Greeks...The Romans...The Huns...the Mongols....European wars...American Revolutionary Wars....Civil Wars...I would play them all. I can only hope that Panzer Corps sales can help the developers keep making better and better games.

We're two.

[IainMcNeil]

All feedback & suggestions are welcome but we just want you to understand we have to try and satisfy a lot of different requirements and opinions and also stay true to Alex's vision for the game.

I got the impression some people were insisting on their ideas being implemented as we would be cheating them if we didn't and I was just saying that it doesn't really work like that

[Zhivago]

All feedback & suggestions are welcome but we just want you to understand we have to try and satisfy a lot of different requirements and opinions and also stay true to Alex's vision for the game.

I got the impression some people were insisting on their ideas being implemented as we would be cheating them if we didn't and I was just saying that it doesn't really work like that

Well, I still think it is odd that AK and the DLCs cannot be tied together somehow. I would not say that I am getting cheated. I just think that the more tie-ins a program has, the more accessible it is to users who want to play larger campaigns. Integration seems to be a standard part of every software and computer product manufacturer today. More integration was all I was suggesting. And realize that you have a great resource here with this Forum of people/fans willing to take the time to give you feedback on your work. I love the game, and that is why I take time to make suggestions. Don't take it personally. This is, after all, only a game

[IainMcNeil]

The ideal would be able to play all of them together and switch between them at any point but the issue is it means they all have to be the same size and scale and difficulty so really limits what we can do and also doesn't fit the history very well. The kind of force you build for an Eastern front is very different to what you would have on Western front as you have very different terrain and opponents and the scale is significantly different.

If we had planned for these from the start it might have been possible but this game has grown due to its success in ways we hadn't expected.