What's next for Panzer Command?

[Erik Rutins]

Still working on it, sorry, but progress is good. The scope of the update keeps growing, which is the cause for the delay, so when it's done it will be worth the wait. I should be able to post a partial update as a public beta fairly soon to keep you all entertained while we finish things up.

Regards,

- Erik

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins
Still working on it, sorry, but progress is good. The scope of the update keeps growing, which is the cause for the delay, so when it's done it will be worth the wait. I should be able to post a partial update as a public beta fairly soon to keep you all entertained while we finish things up.
Regards,
- Erik

Considering all the new modding going on two updates would be better than one just to collect all the new things.

[RyanCrierie]

Some key things to keep in mind:

1.) Compatibility, Compatibility, Compatibility. If you want to add new and awesome features; try to code them in a way that it doesn't break the previous content released for older versions of the engine. An excellent precautionary tale is Auran's Trainz series.

Since the first one was released in 2001, there have been about six versions or so since then.

Great you say?

Well, in between each release, Auran just kept on changing how the configuration files were defined, amongst other things, which broke a lot of content like locomotives, new engines, etc -- for example, an excellent Amtrak Acela high speed trainset works only up to about Trainz 2004, albeit incompletely in it; beyond that; it's a crapshoot.

We obviously want to avoid this in Panzer Command; to avoid fragmenting the series' fanbase.

2.) In each release in the series, try to update some older official content to the latest standard. This was a huge problem with Trainz; they just kept on adding one or two new official models with each release; and kept the older stuff in the game as is -- by Trainz 2009, you had one or two engines that looked great, while the rest of the official content was from 2002-06, etc.

A good example regarding updating Koios' content in the context of a Normandy release would be to take advantage of having to do the Panzer IVH and J models for Normandy with Schurzen to also update the earlier Panzer IVE, F1 and F2 models to the new higher poly, higher texturing standard.

Another good example of seeking "bonuses" would be to take advantage of the fact that on 6 June 1944, a bunch of Captured R-35 french tanks were used to counterattack the US airborne bridgeheads, to do them, allowing as a "bonus" 1940 scenarios with them and earlier German kit...

[madorosh]

Any news?

[jamespcrowley]

I'm sure I have asked this before but cannot find my enquiry now.

Is it feasible or, perhaps more importantly, desirable to have an AI controlled sub-command system in the next iteration of PC?

By that I mean having some, potentially all, of your units that are not in C&C under the temporary control of the AI, at least until C&C is re-established. In essence, those units would be operated and controlled in the same manner as your opponents units are.

IMO such a system would promote careful initial planning, sensible grouping of units and emphasise the need for some sort of reserve. It would also, coupled to already existing relative-spotting, add to uncertainty on the battlefield because not only would you be unable to give those units orders while out of C&C but you would have no access to their info and intell either.

I would be interested to hear other views on this.

[jamespcrowley]

ORIGINAL: Michael Dorosh

Any news?

What he said.

In fact has their been anything, beyond conjecture, to indicate possible content and features of PC3?

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: James Crowley

ORIGINAL: Michael Dorosh
Any news?

What he said.
In fact has their been anything, beyond conjecture, to indicate possible content and features of PC3?

No.
Not unless someone can produce a bar napkin with notes scribbled on it.[:D]

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: James Crowley

ORIGINAL: Michael Dorosh
Any news?

What he said.
In fact has their been anything, beyond conjecture, to indicate possible content and features of PC3?

No.
Not unless someone can produce a bar napkin with notes scribbled on it.[:D]

You had it...what'd you do with it?

Good Hunting.

MR

[RocketMan]

I know what I would like to see added to the game in the next patch:

1) Destroyable buildings.
2) Way points.
3) Ammunition display for units.

I seriously doubt any of these will be included though.

[sapper_astro]

Drive to the Channel: 1940 would be a brilliant game.

You could have a few different campaigns. The main German thrust to the channel of course. The attempted French counterattack from the south, and the British counter attack from the north.

There are other possibilities, but those stand out to me from that campaign.

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: sapper_astro
Drive to the Channel: 1940 would be a brilliant game.

I think Drive from the Channel:1944 would be more popular. I think most players are wanting something different than using the tanks of 1941-1942 for awhile. Though down the line the battles of 1940 and Western Desert would be fun to do.

[JMass]

ORIGINAL: Mobius
I think Drive from the Channel:1944 would be more popular.

I love french tanks, I love NA tank battles but also a "Battle of the Bulge" title could be interesting, more than the bocage... [;)]

[sapper_astro]

ORIGINAL: Mobius

ORIGINAL: sapper_astro
Drive to the Channel: 1940 would be a brilliant game.

I think Drive from the Channel:1944 would be more popular. I think most players are wanting something different than using the tanks of 1941-1942 for awhile. Though down the line the battles of 1940 and Western Desert would be fun to do.

I thought it would be the other way around. Game after game we have Normandy, Ardenne, Americans, Americans, Soviets and then some more Americans, maybe some Japanese and Americans. How many Campaigns of 1940 are there? Stuff all. And none that I know of that have hypothetical campaigns that have a what-if where you can go on after stopping the Germans as the WA's.

Naturally the Eastern front lends itself to the Armoured campaigns. There is little in the far East unfortunately that would lend itself to any "tank battles" that I know of. Maybe a few battles in Burma/India border, apart from that, nothing. There is the Desert campaign of course. Italy to a degree and the Western front. Since the WF 1944 has been done to death, I thought it would be enjoyable to have something different; Char B's, H35's, Somua's, Matilda 1 and 2', Cruiser tanks, the list goes on.

Not saying I wouldn't enjoy another swing in the Ardenne or the WF in general, but something different would be very nice for a change.

[Lieste]

COTA covers early war Commonwealth/Greeks vs Italians/Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe.

Ok, so it is 1941, but precious little had changed really...

[sapper_astro]

ORIGINAL: Lieste

COTA covers early war Commonwealth/Greeks vs Italians/Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe.

Ok, so it is 1941, but precious little had changed really...

Seriously?

I guess you could say the battles on the western front in '44 and Kursk are really not that different. They are only a year apart after all.

Or Stalingrad and Tunisia. Less than a year apart, and hundreds of thousands of Axis forces captured in both battles. Quite similar.

Let us look at the two situations:

France 1940: Two massive armies, both well provisioned, plenty of men, armour and aircraft on both sides. Masses of possibilities. If the Allies had better doctrine and some higher commanders with guts, drive and thoughts past 1918, the west may have been a much different story. There was every possibility the German drive to the coast could have been cut in half, and the history books contain a chapter on how most of the German Panzer divisions were cut off and destroyed in a pocket on the French coast.

The Allied tanks, especially those of the French, and the British heavy tanks, were far superior in many ways to the Panzers of the day. The allied air forces were inferior, but not to the point that they would not have been able to turn about their bad fortunes so long as the ground battle did not turn into a fiasco.

Greece/Crete 1941: A few Commonwealth Infantry divisions, an Armoured brigade mainly consisting of junk, and the tired, ill equipped Greek army, with hardly anything that could be called an air force. Up against this, the cream of the German army, with overwhelming force in both armour and infantry, along with a massive air fleet (and supporting Italians...).

Crete: A shambles of Commonwealth units just arrived in packets from Greece and bereft of arms, along with one fresh New Zealand Infantry division, 2 or 3 tanks, and some second rate Greek troops. No air force worth the name. Against this, Crack German paratroop divisions, German glider troops and a Mountain division, supported by an overwhelming air fleet (again).

As you can see, there are just a few differences between the campaigns, even with differing equipment and tactics.[;)]

[Lieste]

Nothing stops you using the Estab elements to represent another scenario though... Not much had been changed in the available equipment. The best armoured UK tank was still the Matilda 2, and most of the 1941 'junk' was top(ish) of the line in 1940. The Western Desert Estabs should give almost all needed forces for the BEF. The French may be a problem, as some important elements are missing.

I was assuming that PC being an extensively modded game that you may have been open to at least helping the creation of a scenario or two for a theatre you pined for. The engine is convincing (few plays of COTA and extensive use of the earlier RDOA) and the scope (operational - Brigade to Corps), is manageable.

[Mad Russian]

I for one don't want to see the 21st Army Group left out if there is fighting to be done in NWE.

There are lots of situations besides Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Lots of other nationalities besides just Americans.

Those that have played any of my CM scenarios know that I look for and model unusual combat situations/battles/operations/campaigns. I look forward to doing that very same thing in PC.

If Matrix will just put the units in the game we will all do the rest. While I can see that not every single tank ever used in WWII is included in the next release modding what is missing for this series doesn't seem that hard.....of course I'm saying that never having modded anything tougher than a ham sandwich....[X(]

But for you modding genius' the rest of us are waiting.....[&o]

Good Hunting.

MR

[Alan Sharif]

Got so say I agree with Sapper-Astro.  

[sapper_astro]

ORIGINAL: Lieste

Nothing stops you using the Estab elements to represent another scenario though... Not much had been changed in the available equipment. The best armoured UK tank was still the Matilda 2, and most of the 1941 'junk' was top(ish) of the line in 1940. The Western Desert Estabs should give almost all needed forces for the BEF. The French may be a problem, as some important elements are missing.

I was assuming that PC being an extensively modded game that you may have been open to at least helping the creation of a scenario or two for a theatre you pined for. The engine is convincing (few plays of COTA and extensive use of the earlier RDOA) and the scope (operational - Brigade to Corps), is manageable.

The estabs are currently woefully short of the necessary equipment. I have already looked into modding it. And as for Matilda 2's, there were only a few of them present in the campaign. Amongst the other "best" available to the British were Whippets, A13's, and mark VI light tanks. Against the German machines employed by the SS and first rate panzer divisions, they indeed were junk. Hardly a Matilda in sight. Even a mark 1 variant.

I had no idea that campaigns could be modded in PC. Have you done any yourself? Perhaps you could create the French 3D models for me? No? Then I must confess I would prefer a professionally done game by the developers. And I think you would be surprised how fun it would be to play a campaign that is outside what is usually played to death by grognards, over and over again.

I have never really understood the mentality behind the fact that many insist on replaying the same battles/operations over and over again, but when someone suggests a battle that has had little to no coverage, and when it has, only as a speedbump for the German player to get to the "good" bits...these grogs will not hear of it! Reminds me of the French Generals in 1940 actually[;)].

Fact is, the early western front is neglected in wargaming, and even when it is covered, there is very little scope for anything outside the norm apart from perhaps "winning" a single scenario. There are other theatres and battles equally, if not more so, neglected, but I think I will stay on tune and not muddy the waters.

It doesn't matter, at the end of the day, they will release the game they want. I just wanted to throw my own 2 cents into the pool.

[rickier65]

Sapper -

I also enjoy the earlier period of war - both East and West Front -

The Invasion of Poland probably get more attention than the West Front in the early war, but both tend to get neglected. So I'm with you, some West Front 1940 (along with Greece maybe). (and to be really nice, Poland, 1939.

Thanks
Rick