How much of a scenario do you ought to know (when you start playing it)?

[Mr Grumpy]

We have had a whole host of views on this topic when it was discussed at various points in the past, just reading the scenario description does not give nearly enough detail especially when the opposing forces depicted in the scenario have been in contact over a period of time and opening the scenario and having a detailed look at the opposition side provides way too much information, unfortunately there is no middle ground to default to!

So unless agreed by players before the scenario is started you should assume your opponent has a level of knowledge of your forces greater than what can be gleaned from the scenario description and is not playing "blind".

The situation in the WW1 titles in slightly improved as for many scenarios Ed has comprehensive notes that add more "flesh" to the description, as I don't have many PzC titles I can't comment if the situation is similar in this regard but I suspect a percentage of players do not take the time to read the additional scenarios notes contained in the designer notes where they do exist.

One last comment I would add is that it viewing your opponents units prior to the start of a scenario has never been considered cheating provided there was no agreement between opponents not to do so.