Hello gentlmen, I'm thinking of dipping my toe into the PZC pool, which game do I need to get started? are there different versions? best place to get them? any help will be appreciated

Hi Jim;

    You can buy any one of the 15 game sin the PzC series and it will play the same in terms of rules, that is because HPS updates all of their previous titles when they release a new game.  So for example, when game 15 (Stalingrad) was released, all of the existing titles from 1 to 14 get a patch that brings them in line with the new rules.  So, you don't need to start with game 1.  Therefore the standing recommendation is always to pick a title that interests you.  If fast wide open action on the eastern front is your action, don't buy Bulge or Normandy.  Other than that type of advice, theres not much to pick from.

    As for where to buy them, you can only get them online.  The vendors website is http://www.hpssims.com and they have all the titles for $50, or $40 if you buy them when they are first released.  There are some other websites that sell them for a discount ($35 to $40) but I can't recall them, surely some other folks will wander in and post the URLs, or you can google for Panzer Campaigns.

    Once you pick a title and install it, go to the HPS website and download the latest patch for the game.  

    If you have other questions just ask, you'll get plenty of help.

Regards;  Paul

Here is about the cheapest place I've found to buy them.

http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/

Hi

Steel God said "Don't buy Bulge".  Any particuler reason ?

Many thanks

He was just saying, as an example of advice that is commonly given, that if a player likes the more open eastern front combat, then Bulge and Normandy are not going to fit that player, so don't buy it.  Taken in context, he didn't say not to buy it as a general recommendation, just don't buy it if a faster moving game is desired.

Rick

The oft repeated advice is buy something that interests you initially, get a couple of PBEM players to show you the ropes and you are hooked.  IMO, if you are buying the games to play against the AI, then you will not get everything out of the game you want.  I think if you watch the progression of most players, they start off with one or two titles, play against the AI until they can beat it without trying (This is not a condemnation of the AI, but without having IBM's Big Blue running the AI, it can only stand up against the test of re-play only so many times.), start a couple of PBEM games, and made to feel like a rookie again.  PBEM is whole new dimension and once you start playing it regularly, you will not likely fire up another AI game again.  Also, in parallel, you will buy all of the other titles as well.  

Lastly, I don't believe Steel God was telling you not to buy Normandy or Bulge as they are excellent titles.  I generally put the games into 4 buckets:  I will not get all of them and everyone has their own opinions, but as a general idea.

1. Large, slug fest - Normandy, Bulge, Kursk, Korsun
2. Fast paced, manuever - El Al, Smolensk
3. Small and agile - Market Garden, Salerno, Sicily
4. Large, slug fest with manuever - France, Stalingrad, Moscow, Kharkov

There is a large pool of available players here and on other sites as well.  As for a place to purchase the games, I have always had very good luck, good prices and service at the NWS Online store:  http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/


Good luck,

Dave

    Thanks for the advice guys, I know what you mean about playing against the AI I found that to be true with SPWAW I haven't played against the AI since I started playing PBEM games