Matrix Games Forums

So what are my thoughts on PCO?  I enjoyed my match with MR.  It brought back memories of playing CM for the first few years when it was all shiney and new.  In my opinion it has and is becoming more CM than CM is now.  While still missing a few of the little things that CM had, it more than makes up for them with some big things.
 
I was a somewhat reluctant beta tester for PCO.  I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  As anyone knows I was skeptical that PCO would ever replace CMBB as my CM fix.  There are little things like cover arcs and such I will miss as I am playing, but there enough new things in PCO that I always hoped CM would get that those pangs quickly subside.
 

• Is PCO a competitor for my time with CM?  Yes.
• Will it replace CM? No...at least not until they get to the western front.
• Will I still buy CM2?  Most likely.
• Will I still play CMBB?  Most likely not.

I know Eric and MR are freaking out with all my references to CM, but that is my frame of reference.  We were stuck with BFC's view of what a game like this should look like.  Now you can bring your huddled CM masses here for CM-like gaming.

ORIGINAL: thewood1

So what are my thoughts on PCO?  I enjoyed my match with MR.  It brought back memories of playing CM for the first few years when it was all shiney and new.  In my opinion it has and is becoming more CM than CM is now.  While still missing a few of the little things that CM had, it more than makes up for them with some big things.

I was a somewhat reluctant beta tester for PCO.  I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  As anyone knows I was skeptical that PCO would ever replace CMBB as my CM fix.  There are little things like cover arcs and such I will miss as I am playing, but there enough new things in PCO that I always hoped CM would get that those pangs quickly subside.

• Is PCO a competitor for my time with CM?  Yes.
• Will it replace CM? No...at least not until they get to the western front.
• Will I still buy CM2?  Most likely.
• Will I still play CMBB?  Most likely not.

I know Eric and MR are freaking out with all my references to CM, but that is my frame of reference.  We were stuck with BFC's view of what a game like this should look like.  Now you can bring your huddled CM masses here for CM-like gaming.

ROFL!!!! I've got entire threads where I compare CMBB to PCO. I'm not freaking out by those comparisons. They are a natural thing. Just as CMBN will be compared to the PC series.

This was for all intents and purposes our first extensive interaction and like you I had a good time. It's amazing how often when you first meet another gamer you get along really well. Not always but usually. It was good both talking with yo and gaming the battle as well.

Since this was my first random battle I'll throw my $.02 of it in here. The force mix for the Russians felt weak to me. Either in size or in quality by 1944. Yes, there were still many formations that were equipped with T-34/76's but there were LOTS of them!! And there were lots of forces equipped with T-34/85's as well. Those could have been/should have been in this time period as well.

Something for us to look at before release.

The game went so fast it felt like we were playing live at times. I really like that aspect of PCO now that it's had the PBEM sequence changed up.

Thanks again for a tense game. Great stuff.

Good Hunting.

MR

I would not feak out over the balance.  Despite the score, it was close.  There are two or three ifs that had they gone, my way, I would have wiped you out.  But some times player experience and luck play a role.  One thing to consider for play balance is lower the cost of T-34/76s in relation to Panthers and Tigers.  In early 1944, I would hope that I would encounter more PzIVs than Panthers, yet I see an awful lot of Panthers in my random battles.

I agree that it was very close. The costs are based on a formula that allows for multiple aspects of a unit to be considered.

What I would rather see is the Soviets having more points to buy. Same end result just a different road to get there.

I was surprised to find myself with Panther A's. First time I can remember playing with them. The second thing that surprised me was having PzIII's instead of PzIV's.

I know that J2D is continually tweaking the random selection %'s. J2D and Rick have especially worked long and hard to get the system where it is now. The rest of us basically provide maps and things that go boom for the 2 of them to play with.

Keeps them from getting bored.

I would agree. Less Panthers, more T-34/85's, about 1/3 more Soviet points for buying forces and I would think this time period is set.

Each time period get's it's own allotment though, so as you can tell this has been a tremendous amount of work that they've put into this already.

Good Hunting.

MR

O/T but I remember an ASL game when my opponent picked 5 Panther A's over 10 or 12 Pz III or IV s.
They all broke down . 1 or 2 even caught fire. Very short game.

Hehehe.