Panzer Campaigns compared to the Operational Art of War (TOAW) I've been asked by many people to compare Panzer Campaigns to Norm Kroger's "The Art of War"(TOAW). Despite the shared operational scale, there are many aspects of a Panzer Campaigns title, detailed in its treatment of a particular campaign that go way beyond the scope of TOAW. For example, Panzer Campaigns Normandy '44 has several special rules like: Likewise, there were goals Norm Kroger set out for TOAW that go beyond what we do in Panzer Campaigns as well. Such as create any operational battle, anywhere, with the time period defined by the game. TOAW is "operational" and on a variable and larger scale than the Panzer Campaigns. We use 2 hour turns and 1 km hexes, while TOAW scale can vary from half day to 1 week turns with a ground scale of 2.5 up to 50 kms per hex. Much of TOAW its popularity comes from the scenario builder aspect, despite the fact that a number of well-researched scenarios come with the game (the number depends upon which of the various boxed editions you purchase). Many people created their own scenarios by making their map with tools in the game and whatever information they may have available. Panzer Campaigns does not have a map editor, rather we provide a very accurate map of the campaign area being depicted. Our Campaign maps are created from period source maps that are scanned and scaled and then drawn into game format. A single Panzer Campaigns map represents months of work by the designers. Click on the thumb map at the right to view a Panzer Campaigns source map. To illustrate this point on the map, I received a message from Bob Jervis who said: "The researchers at HPS have really done a superb job with "Panzer Campaigns: Kharkov '42". The map is obviously drawn from military-grade maps of the time. Checking against my best maps of the area, just where HPS has a 220 meter hill, there is a height marker of 225.3 meters. You can't get any better with 20 meter contours." Click on the thumb map at the left to see a larger image of the area shown in the source map above. The two map covers roughly the same area to give you an idea of the detail level the Panzer Campaigns research goes to. A Panzer Campaign OOB is researched in detail from a number of detailed sources including captured German records on micro film at the Nation Archive whereas TOAW contains a database that players draw on to create their orders-of-battle (OOBs). This prompted another observation Bob Jervis who said: "The OOB of the German forces reflect hours poring through captured German archives. After months of desperate defensive fighting, the German divisions had been scattered up and down the front, a regiment here and a battalion there. Only the archives can give you the detail that shows up in this game." In essence, a TOAW scenario on the same topic as a Panzer Campaigns game has a far lower level of detail with respect to map and order of battle. Other points about Panzer Campaigns vs. TOAW were added by a well known wargamer (veteran of many forums) who asked to remain anonymous. He who pointed out to me: Furthermore, the Panzer Campaigns system is completely opened to the player (within the map area depicted). Players can create their own new units, or they can alter game values such as Morale, Defense or Combat Strength or just about anything else if they disagree with the Game\Scenario designers point-of-view. I've tested and wrote tutorial for for both Panzer Campaigns and TOAW. In fact, my TOAW Tutorial write up was part of the original release manual but was not included in later games making it much more difficult to understand where to even start with the TOAW titles "War Game of the Year" and "A Century of Warfare". Panzer Campaigns is far easier with help file in introductor Scenario provided with each title in the Series. I feel confident in recommending the Panzer Campaigns Series to anyone who has enjoyed TOAW. The game is easy to learn and does not lack the attention to details that TOAW fans will surely demand in a Wargame. [Home || Articles || What is Panzer Campaigns ||... compared to the Campaign Series || PzC Testimonials]
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TOAW only provided one level of command (the "formation") while PzC provides a command hierarchy. Furthermore, the effect of HQ's in TOAW are reflected mainly in whether or not the HQ unit was adjacent to a subordinate units, which I always considered "artificial" to apply for the range of available ground scales. Panzer Campaigns in turn utilizes command radii, and the option exists to reassign a Division from one Corps to another.
In TOAW, supply level doesn't sufficiently preclude a unit's ability to move while in Panzer Campaigns, units can be Low-in-Ammo or Low-in-Fuel, each with appropriate effects. A Low-fuels motorized units has appropriately constrained in movement capability for example. Panzer Campaigns has Low Ammo, but also "Ammo Stockpiling" for artillery which reflects more keenly if one side or the other has a relative supply advantage.
I've always regarded this a nice grand-tactical feature of Panzer Campaigns, where it cost some of your movement points to change between modes. In real life, it always takes a chunk of time to shake out a battalion/brigade from road column into a deployed status for attack/defense. The provision of transport/deployed modes presents the Panzer Campaigns gamer with an "operational" decision option.
In Panzer Campaigns, some direct fire weapons can reach out with opportunity fire during the non-phasing players turn. So care is needed in Panzer Campaigns when moving a unit up that MIGHT be attacked by direct fire. The ability of recon units to spend activity points to "scout" allows better direct control by the Panzer Campaigns gamer to perform the operational recon mission. Also, Panzer Campaigns provides the tactical choices between direct fire or assault within an operational-level game system.