Why the Germans?
 

I love playing the Germans, not that I am some Nazi Freakazoid but its just the variety of thing you get to do.

I mean, what other nation plays against so many different opponents? Has anyone actually played a German campaign where you fought against every possible nation there was to fight against?

Ad to that that the Germans have a very diverse and large number of really cool machines, tanks, APCs, infantry types, ect to play with....

I know you can create a pretend campaign against 3 opponents...but I always though it would be cool if there was at least one other nation that was able to fight the campaign the Germans fight...Starting Poland, Norway, Belgium, France, Brits, Yugo, Greece, USSR, ect....

I mean it would be neat to see how well the USA or Brit arsenal would stand up to the same challenge the Germans have.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

I suppose someone could create a campaign using the US or UK instead of the Germans. It would be a chore to do, but could be done. Are you volunteering? :D

Re: Why the Germans?
 

Errr, nope I wouldnt know where to begin. Would it be hard to just take the german campaigne and some how script in the US or Brit or even USSR or Japan? So you would still get the same foe choices that the Germans have but your using a different nation.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

Good post, I too love playing as the Germans. I think the fascination with playing the Germans is due to a phenomenon that has been noted on the Avalanche Press website: 'Gamers love toys'. Especially in the later years of the war, and in hypothetical 1946 scenarios, the Germans get some very cool and very powerful weapons to play with, more so than most other nations. As well as this, the Germans are usually out numbered and often out-gunned, so a player has to rely on superior quality and superior tactics to score a victory. And as you say, the Germans fought a large number of enemies in almost all terrain except jungle. Otherwise, only the British and American forces can really claim such a diversity of theatres to fight in, so the Germans offer some unique gaming challenges.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

Playing as the Germans,you always have to upgrade as they were trying to stay one step ahead.
Is the PZIVM so much better the PZIVj? I mean really? not by much.

I found waiting for the later prototypes instead of upgrading immediately to the next marginally better tank(which loses experience value)worth the wait.
But i don't play as Germans too much any more as the uncontrolable tendancy to upgrade.
As myself i'd rather play as any, than the germans.

Just my little 2 cents worth;)

Re: Why the Germans?
 

I grew up on Pazer Generals I and II by SSI. Playing the Germans was just what you did. SSI's Allied Generals and Pacific Generals were alright games, but I didn't think they were as good, so I never really had much chance to play as the allieds.

When I got back into winSPWW2, I fired up a campaine as the Germans and started playing and my wife asked, "Why are you playing the Nazis?" I was a bit taken off guard. I finally said, "Because they have the best equipment and I like to win."

Now, I have played battles as the allies and other forces, but my roots are in the panzer divisions. Not that the best equipment always allows me to win. No equipment advantage can compensate for bad strategie, bad leadership and flat out bad luck.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

You can't get too hung up on the Nazis and their history when playing the game. Nazism is a political ideology that I don't think is represented in the game in any way, shape or form.

As far as best equipment, yes at times it's better and at times it's worse. In 1940, I'm not that happy taking any German tank up against a French Char B1. That lovely sound of my rounds banging off of Russian KV-1s in 1941 also comes to mind.

Ultimately, when the battle ends, it's strategy and tactics that win the day.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

Been there, done that. I just recently made the change from PzKw IIIj/1 tanks to PzKw IVf2 tanks. That gave up some armor for a better gun with improved penetration, fire control and anti-personnel capability. The point values were roughly the same, so which one was really better?

Think about it this way, when you make a change to suit your needs/desires and your experience goes down, the pool of points the AI has to choose from also goes down. It balances out in the end. If that equipment upgrade ultimately increases the survivability of your crews with respect to your preferred tactics, their experience will go back up.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

I like playing the Germans, but I think it gives our brain more of a challenge when you play a country like poland, which obviously the germans had better equipement.

Re: Why the Germans?
 

That would work in 1939. After that, you might as well be playing with the British or Americans, since the Poles pretty much use their equipment.