Some info about the game

[raz_atoth]

Greetings gentlemen,
Please allow me to introduce myself.I'm raz_atoth,webmaster of www.theblitz.org .We're in the process of setting up a ladder for PCO at theblitz and perhaps you can help me with some info about the game.I will use Combat Mission[CM] as a comparison base,because i'm familiar with it and there are big chances some of you might be as well...

1) What are the victory levels of the game?For example in CM they are:Minor/Tactical/Major/Total Victories/Defeats,Draws.
2)Does PCO have something comparable to CM's quick battles?
3)What's the scale of PCO compared to CM?Take for example a medium battle in pco and a medium battle in CM.Is the medium battle in PCO larger/smaller/the same as the medium battle in CM?Can you give me a rough order of magnitude if it's larger/smaller?
4)I assume there is a certain cost/points level associated with each unit.Take for example a huge battle in PCO.What would you roughly estimate to be the total cost/number of points of units involved in such a battle?

Thank you.

[junk2drive]

From the manual, Victory Conditions

The game ends once either player’s Victory Point gauge reaches the top. On each game map,
a flag indicates a Victory Objective; the flag color and symbol (Soviet or German) indicates
current ownership. Each of these locations is worth Victory Points, the exact number can be
found by clicking on the flag in the main view window.
Victory Points Awarded:
Objective Flag Captured = Flag Value
Unit Destroyed = Unit Point Value
Unit Damaged = ½ Unit Point Value
Defenders generally start each scenario with a significant VP advantage, since they own all of
the Victory Objectives. In some scenarios, an attacker will want to capture one of the objectives
quickly to ward off a quick defeat due to his losses. The defender’s victory points can quickly
mount if the attacker is being destroyed or damaged without taking a single objective away
from the defender.
In some scenarios, the defender can earn bonus victory points each turn after a certain time
limit is reached. While slow, methodical attacks may be the safest option, they are not always
the most successful if the scenario victory conditions call for speed on the attacker’s part.
Ownership of a Victory Objective is based on the total forces within 100 meters of the objective;
you need 20% more points within this area than your enemy to capture the objective. Contested
flags – those where neither side has 20% more points than the other within the 100m objective
zone – do not generate victory points.
At the beginning of a Multiplayer game, each side will see the flags as their own. This will not
change until after one full turn and the game can recalculate the disposition of the flags. To
win you need to get to reach the 75% mark and be 10% ahead of your opponent. If after 20
turns, one side gets to 90% of the points total for their pool and is not 10% ahead, then the
game will end as a draw. In a campaign, a draw is treated as a victory to allow you to advance
to the next battle.
Based on your victory point ratio vs. your opponent, the quality of your victory (or defeat) will
be determined. This can range from a Marginal up to a Legendary rating. Your performance in
each campaign scenario is tracked and stored. At the end of the campaign, a campaign rating
and rank is assigned to you based on your performance.

[junk2drive]

I think it is Marginal/Major/Decisive/Legendary but someone can chime in.

[junk2drive]

Battle sizes are somewhat comparable to CMx1 but it has been a while. You will probably need to adjust this as time goes on and people comment.

Infantry squads are roughly less than 10 points. Russians are as little as 2 points. AFVs around 30 and Tanks 50-60.

Best would be to take a popular CMBB medium battle and try to recreate the force in PCO then compare the totals.

Our Random Battle Generator is similar to QBs but since we don't generate maps there are a lot of criteria in QB that are not used in PCO. You almost have to have the game and try the RBG to see what it does.

PCO and CMBN seem to be such different games than CMx1 that trying to adapt a current system may not work. You may need to create them specific to each game.

[junk2drive]

Also we added a percent score in the end game screen to eliminate the description of a win/loss. Getting a Legendary vs the AI is flattering but I wouldn't use it to score a ladder.

[raz_atoth]

ORIGINAL: junk2drive
I think it is Marginal/Major/Decisive/Legendary but someone can chime in.

Can someone confirm it,please?I assume Draw is also an possible ending?

ORIGINAL: junk2drive
Infantry squads are roughly less than 10 points. Russians are as little as 2 points. AFVs around 30 and Tanks 50-60.

In that case,i would say the prices are about half for armor/afvs and 1/2.5 for infantry.

ORIGINAL: junk2drive
Also we added a percent score in the end game screen to eliminate the description of a win/loss. Getting a Legendary vs the AI is flattering but I wouldn't use it to score a ladder.

Now,i'm confused Does the game have a description of win/loss [Marginal/Major/Decisive/Legendary] or the percent score is the only one displayed?The blitz ladder supports only human vs human games,so a legendary victory might be quite flattering aftet all

Btw,thanks for the info junk2drive.Much appreciated

[Mad Russian]

1) You should be able to simply use the recorded score to use for ladder scoring. Or you could use something like:

Legendary - 4
Decisive - 3
Major - 2
Minor - 1
Draw - 0

and keep the scoring pretty simple.

2) PCO has random battles that would equate to PCO's quick battles pretty closely.

3) PCO and CMBB battle sizes are roughly comparable. PCO has a little smaller map sizes available but otherwise they are comparable in size and scope.

4) Neither side may have more than 5000 points worth of units.

See this thread for more information about battle/map sizes.

tm.asp?m=2819844

Good Hunting.

MR

[junk2drive]

Here is a typical end game screen. Note that you can show a victory in the text but have less than 50% score.

[junk2drive]

Next to the last paragraph in the manual text that I posted tells about Draw.

[raz_atoth]

Thank you,gentlemen.You've been the most helpful.
Cheers,
 Raz.

[raz_atoth]

Another two questions
a) In the below pic,in the scenario description from the right panel the Total Points:4475 are listed. These are the points for the side the player will choose to play with or are the total points as in Axis points+Allied points?
b)I assume the total points (Axis points+Allied points) of a scenario can be determined either by opening it in the scene editor/map maker or by it being specified in the briefings?
Btw,could-one of you-be so kind and post a screenshot of the Random Battle Generator options?

Regards,
 Raz.

[junk2drive]

This thread

tm.asp?m=2811163

Each underlined text can be clicked to change the graphic into a description.

The dropdowns give choices to battle type, force type, and map used.

[Mad Russian]

That's total points for that battle.

There are 2220 German points and 2255 Soviet points in the battle.

Good Hunting.

MR

[junk2drive]

If the setup is done for say 1000 points per side, the program will construct a TOE of 1000 +- and when you start your battle the units will be purchased for you because you want all the units.

To give the players flexibility in purchasing, the x2 battle plan can be used. This can be modded to higher than x2. So at x2, 2000 points of units would be on the TOE purchase screen with none of them purchased. The player then selects the units that he wants up to the 1000 point limit.

[raz_atoth]

Once again,thank you for the info.
One more question and i believe i'll have all the data i need.What are the various type of engagements?
In the link Mad Russian posted [tm.asp?m=2819844]  i could spot Meeting Engagement and Soviet Assault. Anything else?probes/attacks etc?

Regards,
 Raz.

[Mad Russian]

What are the various type of engagements?

PCO doesn't classify battle types. The scenario designer picks that by who is sitting on the objective locations.

Which would mean you get three basic types.

German assaulting Soviet positions.

Meeting Engagements.

Soviets assaulting  German positions.

Good Hunting.

MR

[spellir74]

There are kessel (encircled) types too that the RBG creates.

If being surrounded is a handicap, then those one-player-is-surrounded battles might offer unique scoring challenges. Meaning a legendary victory for surrounded player might be an even greater victory than a regular legendary victory. Scoring (per Mad Russian above) could reflect that.

_________________
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Also note positions can start from corner to corner or flat edge to flat edge.

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If one player is 'defending' he can have land mines. Not so for meeting engagements.

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Players can have their forces or just one force be green, vets, or elites.

Players can have both or one be full strength, middle, and under strength.

Those can add further 'handicaps' to one player. Scoring could reflect that.

[junk2drive]

I posted this in another thread about random battles. It shows the setups that spellir is talking about, that are available and the dice rolls for random setups.

[oldspec4]

I learn something new everytime I log onto this forum...

[Mad Russian]

That goes to show the depth and detail in PCO.

Good Hunting.

MR