The Competition & Teaser Thread

[Strela]

The Soviets now have ~10 vehicle units as the smallest maneuver element or also ~5 tank units? I half expected that the Soviets would still be able to use ~20 tank battalions, as for mobile units a Soviet battalion is a Western company in effective strength in most cases. I guess it makes sense in this case though, as otherwise they'd automatically suffer more losses due to the new 50%> stacking limit penalties (which might not by itself be a problem, maybe it would add an interesting dimension to Soviet tank tactics: your losses are higher, but single units are bigger).

All units, no matter the nationality are built on either a platoon or a section structure. A Soviet tank company is usually three platoons of three vehicles plus a combat HQ of one vehicle. The combat HQ does not function like an HQ, it is there to get the vehicle strengths right.

Here is an example of a typical German Tank Company. It contains PzKw IVg's & PzKw IVh's.



Here is a mixed PzKw III & PzKw IV company. Left to right they are IIIm, IIIn & IVf2 types

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Something i need ask, the defensive works (IP, trenches, bunkers, pillboxes) in PzB unlike in PzC increase the armored units defensive bonus??? i think in the soviet dug-in tanks in Kursk (is only an example i dont say the game is going to cover Kursk ) or how in defensive works a tank can find a hull down position in a "clear" hex with no other terrain defensive bonus, if i dont remember bad tanks have a "hull down" status or something similar, but you can see this when they enter in defensive works???

My idea is that tanks in owned defensive positions have a defensive bonus but when they enter in non controled defensive works (enemy hexes or neutral hexes abandoned by any of the sides) until they control the hex they have hull down bonus that i think is inferior to hull down (hull down doesnt cover flanks and tanks are vulnerable to splash from arty).

OOOO is hard create an IP or trench??? or you only have the defensive works that start with scen??? if you need 2 hours to have a defensive work... and this is the very very very best situation in PzC using full btl units.

From the FAQ;
Vehicles will only get ½ the defensive benefit of the terrain in a hex and ½ the Improved Position and Trench fortifications benefit.
This value will be 1/4 for Improved Position or Trench if it is either enemy or previously unoccupied.

Both digging of IP & Trenches is controlled by a percentage in the Parameter Data File, essentially the same process as PzC.

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There's also the problem of IGOUGO when simulating more or less tactical battles using a more operational system: if units can get 3 opportunity fire chances per turn, it's possible to draw fire at a certain range and then simply move up and hit the unit without it being able to defend itself. In a tactical wargame, the unit will keep firing back as the distance closes until ammunition runs out (if the target is spotted and can be hit).

I'm actually sort of afraid of that at the 250m scale: the Soviets driving some weak low value units in front of the German tanks to draw their fire a couple of times and then moving the T-34's in to kill the helpless German armour.

Panzer Battles has taken the unlimited Defensive Fire feature from Squad Battles. No more 'soaking up' the three defensive fire shots as per PzC.

We have also removed an anomaly where small units could block line of sight (LOS) to a large unit and allow it have its own moving 'meat shield'. This was particularly effective using vehicles that could not be shot at except at close range by infantry due to their low Hard Attack values. At one point players could move a small vehicle unit and completely 'hide' a large company behind it. This has been fixed by having LOS only blocked by units that are 50% or more than the stacking limit. Lower than that limit and you can see and fire at those larger units trying to move forward - through the screening unit.

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So I have been reading thru the thread and I am still trying to figure out a few things. Granted I don't have PB (yet) and I am not a vet with PzC, but I will try to ask these in a writable format.

One:
Say I have 3 platoons with this many men each, 10,25,55 and combine them into a company and then break them back into platoons.
Will each have 30 men and have the lowest fatigue rating of the worse platoon at the time they formed into a company?

Two:
Isn't PzC setup so that if your HQ is destroyed during your turn, it will
come back at the start of your next turn?

Thanks in advance for bearing with my noob questions

Here is an example of combining and breaking up Platoon/Companies within the game.

On the left you can see three different strength/fatigue platoons. in the middle graphic the three platoons are now combined into a company equivalent. Please note the FATIGUE level. Unlike PzC's it averages based on both fatigue & strength. It does not take on the highest value. On the right, whenever you break a company down to its constituent platoons it will always average across the strength and fatigue. This is not configurable - sorry!




As far as HQ's, they do regenerate. It takes a random amount of time for them to return and their strength is less, they are fatigued and usually disrupted. Please remember that HQ's are normally only at Battalion or higher level and they are administrative HQ's for all intents and purposes.

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Strela, I'm not sure about this new series yet, although as usual I'm sorely tempted.

I'm sure the FAQ will be all well and good, but will the manual also be available for download before buying the game? I can usually get a much better feel about whether I'll like a game from a quick perusal of the manual than a couple of FAQs...

76mm,

The manuals are being worked on and I expect that they will be available for free download / review at the time the game is released. My Designer notes / FAQ will definitely be available as it was for both Kharkov '43 & Moscow '42. The Getting Started notes will also definitely be available.

As far as a demo. It hasn't been mentioned to me (yet). If there is one, it will come after this initial title is released.

David