Slitherine

Which one to buy ?

The way I see it; PC streches throughout the whole war, due to that it has much more different units and generally it has a lot of theaters.

AK has mostly desertlike terrain, but it has roughly around the same amount of scenarios. Also it has a better AI than PC.

Which one should I buy (I would just like an opinion) ?
I also plan to play multiplayer games, so can you tell me which one is better in that field (which game has more scenarios that are played in multiplayer) ?

Thanks.

Either one and then get the DLC's (Grand Campaign) that is the real meat (for me at least) for PzC.
The AI is the same for all editions of PzC, only some of the later scenarios may have better scripts.

I think, but I'm not sure since I don't own AK (never was that much interested in the desert campaigns) that all MP maps are available for either version.

My advice would be to start with PzC 'vanilla' maybe try the first DLC ('39) and go from there, I'm sure you will have fun!

Once you get hold of DLCs '42-45 you won't go back to play PC though new players do gain experience in PC useful for the DLCs. Get very experienced before tougher AK.

I prefer the Wehrmacht campaign (Gazala in Afrika is ), as the scenarios are more varied (Afrika only has desert or Jungle), and it has a better campaign.

AK Campaign: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 -(6/7)-8 - 9 - 10
Wehr Campaign: 1-(2 if DV)- 3 - (4/5)- If 5:6, If4:7- 8 if MV - 9 - 10 or 11 (in effect a lot more variation from the same number of scns.

Plus, conquering America and Russia is fun.

- BNC

If you haven't played Panzer General or Panzer Corps at all, I would recommend you to start with the basic game (Panzer Corps with the "vanilla campaign"). Don't worry about quality and length, it's plenty.

However, if you consider yourself an experienced wargamer, here's my input on your decision as well as my commentary on previous posts:
- The basic campaign does start earlier and ends later than Afrika Korps, that is true. And that does make for a slightly more interesting campaign start, since you get more crappy hardware to agonize over (and make interesting upgrade decisions over). But really it isn't such a big deal you might think - after all, PzIIIs are available already in 1939. The difference is mainly how your starting PzII in Afrika Corps is achingly obsolete already when you get it (as opposed to borderline useless but still not an immediate death trap as in Poland '39 ) Do note that there is no Spanish Civil War start in Panzer Corps (unlike the old Panzer General, which was a nice touch).
- After playing Afrika Korps you will look at "regular" maps with disdain. Those grassy green hexes and their bountiful supply, pah! (Desert hexes truly teach you to become a better commander; their reduced supply really does have an impact on the game) Desert terrain never becomes a chore, only a challenge.
- Like said above, the core game engine is the same for both PC and AK, including the AI. The reason you might perceive the Afrika AI as better is because the campaign was developed later, and it does take advantage of the massive scripting improvements of the scenario editor (introduced in patch 1.10 I believe). So while the AI isn't actually better, the scenario design sure is. (Again, this should only factor into your decision if you have prior experience with this sort of game).
- Multiplayer wise I think it is a wash in terms of number of scenarios.
- Do note that you cannot play AK scenarios using PC, and you cannot play PC scenarios using AK. All scenarios are delivered in both games and can be examined in the scenario editor, but each scenario is hardcoded to a particular game and cannot be played with the other: you get a "Cannot start game because content package missing" error message. (Meaning, for instance, that the Crusader scenario is only for Allied Corps even though it features pretty much the same desert terrain as Dash to the Wire, the corresponding Afrika Korps scenario).
- For multiplayer I believe most if not all popular maps are duplicated in AK. Meaning that the Hylan Valley scenario is accompanied by a Hylan Oasis scenario. AK won't load the first one, but it will load the second. I don't know if you can play Hylan Valley against a MP opponent if he or she has PC and you AK.
- Obviously more people have Panzer Corps, so if MP is a major concern, that game is definitely the one to get unless Single Player restrictions (including hot seat) are not present in MP...
- For some people, getting to face the Soviet one day and the US the next is a plus. For others, it's a jarring experience. Depending on your views, facing mostly the British in Afrika Corps is then either a positive or a negative. (Obviously, the Grand Campaign DLCs solve this for the vanilla campaign, but still)
- For some people, being handed Italian units is a major irritant. For others, it is an interesting challenge! Let me just say that you don't have to use Italians any more than you want to - this fact alone should not deter you from choosing Afrika Korps.

Hope that helps...

Thanks for your opinon, that is exactly what was interesting me.

So for MP you recommend Panzer Corps. Are there a lot of players in MP, is the game popular ?

I personally don't really bother with multiplayer, but I know that a lot of people do. As well as multiplayer, it is also possible to download many great mods and scenarios made by other users (such as myself - if interested look out for my WWI campaign), and these can be played using either PC or AK (or AC).

- BNC

As far i know for multiplayer it doesn't matter which version of the game (PC Wehrmacht, Afrika Korps or Allied Corps). You can play with all people having any other version.

I am not 100% sure about this but i think it is the case: You can even play multiplayer missions from other expansions you don't have if you accept a challenge issued by someone else. You only can issue challenges tho with the maps from expansions you own.

Tarrak wrote:I am not 100% sure about this but i think it is the case: You can even play multiplayer missions from other expansions you don't have if you accept a challenge issued by someone else. You only can issue challenges tho with the maps from expansions you own.

Good description, and to add a few percent more: A friend of mine only has the base game + GC's but was able to accept my challenges with Afrika Korps multiplayer maps.