Slitherine

Okay, so I know that Panzer Corps is a bit of a niche game, but I'm surprised by how little tactical explanation support there is out there online. I consider myself still a newb and learning the basics of the game, and this is because while I'm on Kursk now in the campaign, I still don't quite "get it" in regards to what works best against basic units or why something does good damage, but another unit doesn't.

There doesn't seem to be many YouTube options either unfortunately, nor is there too much in the means of teaching guides online or in the forums at first glance. So I ask you all, especially those who are truly good at this game, how did you learn the intricacies, or better yet, how did you approach/method learning them and what tools did you use?

Thanks all

Basically practice, read this forum, and ask if you aren't sure. There is a lot more depth to the game than the manual lets on. I'm not aware of any good comprehensive guide. It's a shame, because sometimes you figure stuff out after years that would have helped a lot earlier.

Emoni wrote:Okay, so I know that Panzer Corps is a bit of a niche game, but I'm surprised by how little tactical explanation support there is out there online. I consider myself still a newb and learning the basics of the game, and this is because while I'm on Kursk now in the campaign, I still don't quite "get it" in regards to what works best against basic units or why something does good damage, but another unit doesn't.

There doesn't seem to be many YouTube options either unfortunately, nor is there too much in the means of teaching guides online or in the forums at first glance. So I ask you all, especially those who are truly good at this game, how did you learn the intricacies, or better yet, how did you approach/method learning them and what tools did you use?

Thanks all

After combat press L to see the details of the combat results. This will help you to understand what affect combat results and the math behind those. You can get a prediction before attacking by selecting the unit you want attack with and then shit+left click on your target.
That way for example you learn that attacking a target on a river hex gives your attacking unit a +4 bonus to attack and +4 to defense, or that an ambush reduces your initiative to 0.

About the concept of initiative is a bit complicated but important for success, especially later when the russian steel wave tries to steam roll you.
It will teach you how to reduce or avoid casualties all together, and why units like the assault guns Stug',s despite of having high hard attack and ground attack valves always take losses when attack but not defending, where a Panzer IV/G would not. Or how a 2star 88 Flak in AT mode can one shot a full stack of enemy tanks but take not a single loss in return despite having only 5 ground defense.

You can read up on initiative on this thread I post below, especially the post from Rood and Rudankort are helpful.
viewtopic.php?t=34568

Edit: in the in-game library is a table that shows max initiavite vales of various terrain and what terrain use close defense instead of ground defense value.
For example notice that hill as an initiative cap of 5. The same many early Stug variants or at guns have. Defendeding a hill or attacking a target on such a hill would completely negate a superior range advantage an more adavanged tank have without penalizing yours against lesser enemies. Then again hils are bad places for normal infantry to defend except ,experienced heavy infantry or paratroopers. Some allied paratroopers have by default a whooping 5 initiative. They may not shoot last but always first.

Emoni wrote:So I ask you all, especially those who are truly good at this game, how did you learn the intricacies, or better yet, how did you approach/method learning them and what tools did you use?

Thanks all

First off, as a qualifier, I'm not sure that I'm truly good at this game, but, I am sure that I spend a ridiculous amount of time on it. I've learned in part by trial & error and also quite a bit from this forum. You'll have to do some searching & reading though. I don't know of anywhere else to go for game info. If you run across any other places or sites, let me know.

Hope you'll enjoy the game as much as I do & good luck.

Thanks all!

Dragoon, I'm on the iPad version so I don't know if it shows those numbers... Does it? I know it gives the estimated results, but not the modifiers ?

Emoni wrote:Thanks all!

Dragoon, I'm on the iPad version so I don't know if it shows those numbers... Does it? I know it gives the estimated results, but not the modifiers ?

Unfortunately I don't have the iPade version, so I don't know if the combat details made it into the iOS port, and if which method is used to call the window with the detailed combat results.

But on the link above are several screenshots that shows how the detail combat results looks like. So you know what to look for.

Emoni wrote:Thanks all!

Dragoon, I'm on the iPad version so I don't know if it shows those numbers... Does it? I know it gives the estimated results, but not the modifiers ?

It's not there on the iPad... yet.

Will it ever be? It's been out a long time, and I can't imagine it is super complex to add... Seems really important to understanding the game actually.

The key to helping you do very well and put you in the great players when playing this game, is remembering the 3 S's
Surround units, Suppress units, force units to Surrender
Master that and that will put you in the elite category of players.
Artillery is the key.
Cheap and easy to build up in experience, and they make force surrender possible which is a great way to get much needed and coveted prestige.
You're welcome!

Don't forget about youtube. There are some skilled players out there that you can learn from.

I think it is also possible to load someone else's battle history and watch the re-play, isn't it?

tenshin111 wrote:Don't forget about youtube. There are some skilled players out there that you can learn from.

I think it is also possible to load someone else's battle history and watch the re-play, isn't it?

Braccada and Lt_Joker on youtube have some excellent series that explain a lot of what you are looking for.

Really? I'll check them out! Thanks!

goose_2 wrote:The key to helping you do very well and put you in the great players when playing this game, is remembering the 3 S's
Surround units, Suppress units, force units to Surrender
Master that and that will put you in the elite category of players.
Artillery is the key.
Cheap and easy to build up in experience, and they make force surrender possible which is a great way to get much needed and coveted prestige.
You're welcome!

Thanks! I have started to notice how useful surrender is, but not quite sure how to lower their morale to that point yet...

A unit retreats if the survivors are fully suppressed and have not more than 1 entrenchment level.

Thanks for the clarification, but how do I view this on the iPad version unfortunately?

I'm on a stretch here but I think the iOS version shows long term suppression if you select an enemy unit.
From the PC version:

The blue number shows how many strength points are suppressed. You cause long term suppression artillery and level bomber attacks which additional also destroy a unit ammo and fuel supply.

So one way to ensure a unit retreat is to cause enough long term suppression, that when attacking enough of the unit dies, so only those which are suppressed are left, and they will run away.

I think a lot of people grew up on the earlier Panzer General which made for a smoother transition than a complete newcomer.

You might find this discussion interesting. Was just looking at it yesterday

viewtopic.php?f=121&t=51331&p=482657&hi ... rs#p482657

Thanks! I have started to notice how useful surrender is, but not quite sure how to lower their morale to that point yet...

Gotta use those strategic bombers. I love using overstrength Do-217's in the early years. They'll cause a good amount of suppression & have the added bonus of stripping fuel & ammo. Once you get your target unit's entrenchment down to zero, ensure it is surrounded with units or impassable terrain (note, the units don't have to entirely be yours - they can be some allied units & some of yours). Then attack away - a fully suppressed unit which is forced to retreat but has nowhere to retreat to will instead surrender. You'll see a small bump in your prestige after this happens. Try to fine tune your attack if possible to focus on suppression and not destruction. The amount of prestige you receive will be in part determined by the remaining strength of the surrendering unit. Good luck!

Be aware the AI can waltz through its own minefields. Found that out the hard way.

Baku42 wrote:Be aware the AI can waltz through its own minefields. Found that out the hard way.

I honestly hadn't seen that. Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure not to hide an artillery unit behind one.