Panzer Command: Ostfront is the latest in a new series of 3D turn-based tactical wargames which include single battles, multi-battle operations and full war campaigns with realistic units, tactics and terrain and an informative and practical interface. Including a full Map Editor, 60+ Scenarios, 10 Campaigns and a very long list of improvements, this is the ultimate Panzer Command release for the Eastern Front!
The idea (which some CM players are obsessed with, by the way) is to write another program on top of PC which would drive it and generate PC scenarios transparently and behind the scenes. Players shouldn't even know the details of the generated scenarios.
This can be used for several things such as playing a long battle on a map which would be unplayable in a single PC map .....
While I haven't tried this, I think with the existing RCG and RBG, you could specify 1, 2, 3, or some arbitrary set of maps and then generate a random campaign based only on those maps. At least I think so. Actually, I'm sure you could.
That all sounds promising. [8D] I never seriously tried building a campaign (well..an operation) in CMx1 vor various reasons. First, it´s very hard to work with the ingame map editor, particualry when trying to build the required large maps from historical sources. Although two tools can be used to workaround some (Mapping Mission & Map Converter), I never got it working for maps larger than 1x1 km square. The minimum I need is 3x2 or even 3x4km size maps, to get a battalion size force operation working.
Secondly, if making an operation to be played vs the AI, the second battle will have the AI forces to be totally messed up, due to the inability of the engine to deploy AI forces in a reasoable manner. This also generates a situation, that from battle to battle, you always need to start again from a "lost enemy contact" situation, which is highly unrealistic.
So my vision for a PCO campaign (1-2 day operation actually), would be the first battle to focus on reconnaisance with appropiate forces (platoon size vs full enemy forces maybe), the second battle (on same map) playing full forces based on reccon made in first battle. This could be followed by subsequent battles on different maps, but looks like this by now is not possible, without branching and scripting features. The "Steel Panthers: WaW" scripted campaign system is a good example for what I mean.
Another issue would be the victory conditions system, which needs to be more flexible. A good example again, is the various victory flag types (including invisible ones) in "Steel Panthers: WaW". Personally most important to me, is a goals/victory locations system, that allows the goals of the enemy (and vice versa) to be "unknown", or at least partly unknown. On small maps, there is not much choice about what is "decisive" locations, but the larger the maps, the more options should be freely selectable by a player. With the simplified "take that flag" game system, you know right from the start, where the enmy is, or will bunch up at last. The enemy player does also. Beside the unavoidable predictability of a battle, the player is denied to choose his own decisive terrain for his chosen tactics.
I´ve seen hundreds of scenarios (some of my own included) which have victory locations placed in a manner, that leads to unrealistic game play. In example victory flags placed on hills, that are neither commanding features, nor otherwise important to win or loose a particular battle. Another nice example is the "take/defend a bridgehead" situation, where a player is forced to simply take a victory flag placed at one or the other end of a bridge. The real thing requires a player to deny the enemy observation and fire on the crossing site. This is something left to be found out by the players and not the scenario makers to enable a halfway realistic game play.
Off course this would be difficult (or impossible) for the AI engine to be understood and used, but features like that could be implemented for H2H only games. [:)]
The thing to keep in mind is that what we are talking about here is a FREE UPGRADE for PCK. This is not a new game, well it is, but it's not.
All these major types of changes to the system are all scheduled to be looked at in PC4. As it was there were changes of some sort made to more than half the code.
Good Hunting.
MR
The most expensive thing in the world is free time.
Founder of HSG scenario design group for Combat Mission.
Panzer Command Ostfront Development Team.
Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm Development Team.
Yes, I was actually about to push discussion more into the future of PC4 developments. I´m already convinced about the capabilities of PCO and its editors, so it´s definitely on my purchase list for 2011 (after buying a new computer). [8D]
I always wanted to create a large campaign representing the drive towards Moscow in 41' where set battles are placed by historic locations such as Smolensk, Klin, Tula, Solnechnogorsk, Moscow-Volga Canal and Krasnaya Polyana . I think one user on here (can't remember his sig) was creating one in the mods section for PC Kharkov but I would like to have this put in motion and now that will be possible in MM.
"Our strategy is to destroy the enemy from within, to conquer him through himself."
I always wanted to create a large campaign representing the drive towards Moscow in 41' where set battles are placed by historic locations such as Smolensk, Klin, Tula, Solnechnogorsk, Moscow-Volga Canal and Krasnaya Polyana . I think one user on here (can't remember his sig) was creating one in the mods section for PC Kharkov but I would like to have this put in motion and now that will be possible in MM.
One of the new campaigns that will in the release is Barbarossa - 3rd Pz Div. This is a short campaign of 4 battles that took place during the first month of operations.
The system of a campaign with a core unit trying to survive through a series of battles is great. I recall that someone tried to put together this sort of thing for CM, which involved a dice-driven matrix to determine the details of the next battle, and kept track of units through spread sheets. I simply didn't have the time to attempt it, but it was a slick idea.
The system of a campaign with a core unit trying to survive through a series of battles is great. I recall that someone tried to put together this sort of thing for CM, which involved a dice-driven matrix to determine the details of the next battle, and kept track of units through spread sheets. I simply didn't have the time to attempt it, but it was a slick idea.
'Rob O' put together a CM system that used a spreadsheet, with macros. I used it for a while with CM. It genned up the battle parameters, and after you played a scenario you put in your results and it genned up the next battle - it was actually pretty slick, but it still took a bit of effort on the players part to manage.
Are there going to be in any SS are Guard unit campaigns in PCO? It would be great if there were! I for one would like to see at least the possibility to use the RCG with Core SS & Guards in a Long Campaign going into '45. Also would like to see a bit more flexibility in the RCG in so far as Core unit selections and such?
Are there going to be in any SS are Guard unit campaigns in PCO? It would be great if there were! I for one would like to see at least the possibility to use the RCG with Core SS & Guards in a Long Campaign going into '45. Also would like to see a bit more flexibility in the RCG in so far as Core unit selections and such?
Looking forward to this release coming out soon!
So far we haven't added any random campaigns. But after relelase I would be glad to help you create one. Random campaigns can be created by users.
Rick,
Yes, Rob O deserved a lot of credit for his system. I just couldn't recall his name. Thanks for reminding me.
It is great that PCO will do all that for us. You tend to get attached to your virtual soldiers after a battle or two. I'd find myself trying to take care of units in single scenarios. It was always a sad moment in my CM games when a particularly successful HQ or squad was killed, or a tank commander's tank brewed up. I like that immersion part of the game a lot.
