Slitherine

Re-visiting this topic.

Playing through GC39 again (this time using prestige for elite reinforcements) got a 8.8 and find ridiculous that switching from AA to AT allows for city capture.
Even better, a towed ready-to-fire AA 8.8 doesnt capture cities, a 8.8 in AT mode inside a truck captures cities.
Makes no sense.

I played many SSI games but still voted yes, let em capture - because

• it is a simpler rule to understand

• exceptions in the current situation are not coherent

• realism is in no big conflict here

• weaker AAs & artilleries get a little upgrade that way

-> seriously. has anyone ever kept a small flak in his core? they are pretty much senseless. players would mostly use AAs and artillery to capture liberated/secured cities anyway to safe their front combat units a turn for reinforcements and this improves the gameplay experience, even if it makes things slightly easier

PzC is a pretty abstract game. I've always been under the assumption that every unit on the field has at least a few infantry, an artillery piece and tank or two to support that unit's primary purpose.

I guess they should be able to take cities if it doesn't cause game balance issues.

If we want to keep the current system of AA and Art not being able to capture cities, I would extend that to AT units (which also solves the switching problem), and should not impact balance greatly. I think Recon should still be able to, it does fit their misison if they come across an empty city behind enemy lines, they could certainly hold it until the front line units caught up.

Justus2,

I think you hit the nail on the head. It doesn't make sense for a 37mm AT can take over a city, but a 122mm AA gun cannot. The switching units are confusing at best as well.
If we wanted SOME semblance of realism, how about neutral flags can be taken by anyone. Flipping a flag owned by the opponent will require at least a small fight as that was "enemy" ground and there would be some resistance to an occupying force. This would cause more damage to all units other than infantry that try to gain control because of the close combat.

I agree with the general sentiment here; allowing any ground unit to capture a flag is a good idea!
-The rule is not KISS as it is
-Hard to understand the reason for, as evidenced by some posts in this thread
-provides little or no gameplay value.

It is similar in a way to Magic the Gathering nixing the manaburn rule. It was annoying (overhead to playing the game) and provided no interesting play.