Perceptions: Zones of Control

[Dog Soldier]

That is an very interesting concept Mike. How would you factor in the one man in that hex with a radio connected to 4 batteries of artillery? Like all games every man in our armies carries a radio implanted in his head to call on air strikes and artillery.

Again I have to stress the concept of ZOC in PzC is an abstract, not a tactical absolute concept.

Mike's example of a small force still exerting the ZOC equal to a more powerful force can be explained, ( in some measure), by:

1. This is an operational game not a tactical one, even thought there are some tactical elements. Thus FOW theory would hold that our units do not know as much as we know. That area where the one man sits, could contain 72 Tigers concealed in ambush. (Or in the B44 game all German tanks were reported as Tigers by retreating and shocked American troops the first few days.)

2. In game terms a weak force could appear stronger than it is, but during your next turn this weak force will have It's ZOC quickly removed by your attacks.

3. Remember that a in a two hour turn the sequence of events should be considered blurred a little from the hard sequence we observe as a game mechanic. those reinforcements that arrived in the enemy's turn could have, (in reality) arrived during your attacks. If games could be more realistic, then a mechanism for both sides moving at the same time would be needed. Movement costs, ZOC etc. try to simulate the actual effect of movement being slowed by moves that do not occur until the next players turn. I could argue that a group of T-34's, and mech infantry would not sit still while a few German flak guns run through a breech in the line and surround them. Proper placement of units behind your main lines (when you have the units) will over come some of the negative effects of a turn based system. As players, we just have to compensate for those effects.

Dog Soldier