Beer and pretzel game for less than the price of the beer or PG2 for $3

[lord of the mark]

Just picked up Panzer General 2 for $3 US at my local bargain bin.

I was in the mood for a wargame and the pickings were slim (Divided Ground doesnt like my drivers, and im not in the mood to play "try to fix the PC and see if its just that the game is buggy") Panzer General is just about at the unhistorical end for "realistic" wargame - no morale or supply rules, and Ive heard its a little foggy on time scale. Still, its historical weapons systems with essentially accurate stats, if I understand, and a straightforward combat system. Promises good fun, and its worthwhile just to explore this end of the wargaming spectrum. (and this is a wargame that folks on this site may have actually played, so i can discuss it here)

I only played the tutorial scenario last night, and havent finished learning the interface. More discussion to come.


More discussions

[Urban Ranger]

I have never played PG 2, though it looked like a good game.

[bipolarbear]

I personally prefer the old DOS games. Those were unrealistic! Did you ever try the game with the two cannons on opposite hilltops, and they have to shoot each other?

[Urban Ranger]

The old artillery game Played it all the time on some very obscure microcomputers.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by bipolarbear
I personally prefer the old DOS games. Those were unrealistic! Did you ever try the game with the two cannons on opposite hilltops, and they have to shoot each other?

that doesnt sound like a historical wargame. Im quite sure there were historical wargames in the DOS era, though IIUC they retained the board game convention of counters for units, rather than the unit images that I believe the original Panzer General introduced (and which later became standard, even for such hyper realistic games as TOAW.)

[Master Zen]

PG2 was fun but IMHO the originals (PG and Allied Gen.) were far better. My main gripe with PG2 was that the scope of the game was vastly reduced. In PG or AG, you felt like you were commander of an entire front. In PG2 you were merely an army or corps commander.

Plus, most of the scenarios in PG have a direct parallel in PG2, and you can see just by the name how the scale was toned down tremendously:

Norway (one of the best scenarios in PG) -> Lillehammer in PG
Low Countries -> Sedan
France -> Dunkirk
Kursk -> Provkhorovka

you get the picture... Instead of PG2, it should have been called Panzer General Subordiante.

Still, it is a VERY FUN game regardless, and for $3 was more than worth it

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
...rather than the unit images that I believe the original Panzer General introduced (and which later became standard, even for such hyper realistic games as TOAW.)

I believe that some DOS wargames (or even earlier ones) used unit images. A lot of the old SSI ones did, I know that much.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Master Zen
PG2 was fun but IMHO the originals (PG and Allied Gen.) were far better. My main gripe with PG2 was that the scope of the game was vastly reduced. In PG or AG, you felt like you were commander of an entire front. In PG2 you were merely an army or corps commander.

Plus, most of the scenarios in PG have a direct parallel in PG2, and you can see just by the name how the scale was toned down tremendously:

Norway (one of the best scenarios in PG) -> Lillehammer in PG
Low Countries -> Sedan
France -> Dunkirk
Kursk -> Provkhorovka

you get the picture... Instead of PG2, it should have been called Panzer General Subordiante.

Still, it is a VERY FUN game regardless, and for $3 was more than worth it

Well it seems like they tried to make the scale more realistic then. the units seem to be homogeneous - ie a tank unit is all tanks, an infantry unit all infantry etc. Artillery has range effects. IE its a tactical game, and units are platoons or companies or battalions.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


I believe that some DOS wargames (or even earlier ones) used unit images. A lot of the old SSI ones did, I know that much.

I didnt know that. Thanks.