The final version of Panzer Commander will include:
Three German and three Russian campaigns (24-36 scenarios each, over 150 total)
40 Single Scenarios
12 Multiplayer Scenarios
Scenario Editor
Over 24 Drivable Vehicles
Over 24 other Armored Fighting Vehicles
Airstrikes and Artillery Bombardment
Demo Hardware Configuration NotesL:
Panzer Commander requires DirectX 5.0 or later, and supports 3D hardware acceleration using Direct3D. If you have a hardware accelerator, be sure that it supports Direct3D and that you have the latest drivers.
If you have an accelerator based on a different chip set, we can't guarantee compatibility or good performance with Panzer Commander. However, the program will attempt to use any Direct3D-compatible hardware that you have. If you have problems launching the program, you can disable hardware acceleration by using the Notepad program to edit the file PANZER.INI, located in the folder where Panzer Commander was installed. Change the line which reads:
Accel = TRUE
to read:
Accel = FALSE
Panzer Commander will then use its built-in software renderer. You can also enable or disable 3D acceleration using the Game Options screen.
DRIVING AND BASIC NAVIGATION
The tank can be driven from any position using the arrow keys. The left and right arrow keys steer the tank and the up and down arrow keys increase and decrease the throttle respectively. The down arrow will also put the tank into reverse. A bar graph indicator in the center of the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows the current throttle position. Use the Delete key to engage the brakes. This will also reduce the throttle setting and place the transmission in neutral. To bring the tank to a complete stop, you may have to hold the Delete key down for a time.
You can also use the joystick to drive the tank. Pull the stick left and right to steer the tank. Push forward on the stick to increase the throttle and pull back on the stick to reverse the throttle. Joystick button 2 will engage the brakes in the same way as the Delete key.
Hitting the F5 key will bring up the driver information display, which incorporates a number of useful gauges grouped around the driver's vision slit, which provides you with a view from the "driver's seat" of your tank. Among the gauges are:
Speedometer. This tells you how fast the tank is currently moving.
Fuel gauge. This tells you how much fuel you have left. If you run out the scenario ends. In general, the faster you are driving the less efficiently the tank is using fuel. Depending on how far you must travel and how much fuel you have you may have to drive more slowly to complete an operation.
Temperature gauge. This tells you how hot the engine is running. Most WWII tanks were not designed to be run flat out for long periods of time. If you do so, your engine may overheat ΓÇô especially in desert scenarios. If this happens your engine will shutdown and the scenario will end.
Oil pressure gauge. This tells you the engine's current oil pressure. This can be used to gauge the general condition of your engine. When an engine is running too hot or if it's suffered damage, the oil pressure will be low. If you run the engine too long under low oil pressure conditions, it will fail and the scenario will end.
Navigation and Way Points
Most of the single player and campaign missions in Panzer Commander include a set of way points for your units to follow. At the beginning of the demo scenarios, the Driver automatically begins to follow these waypoints unless you take over. Generally these will be designed to take you to your mission objectives. However, you're perfectly free to deviate from this suggested course and many times you will have to in order to gain some tactical advantage.
The status bar shown at the bottom of the screen will show you which way to turn to reach the next way point. A < symbol to the left of the compass heading is telling you to turn left, while a > symbol to the right of the compass heading is telling you to turn right. When the compass heading is bracketed by >< symbols, like this: ">122<" it means that you are exactly on course for the next way point.
In addition, the commander's map, which is available in the commander's cupola internal view will display the next way point as a bright yellow diamond.
You can switch to subsequent way points using the W key. Each time you hit the W key will change the active way point to the next one in the list. If you reach the end of the way point list, hitting W again will take you to the beginning of the list. Each time you hit the W key, the way point data indicator will change to show you the way point you selected and the distance to that way point.
Tips for Successfully Driving Your Tank
WWII tanks varied widely in their performance capabilities. British infantry tanks like the Matilda II could achieve a mere 24 kph while the American M18 tank destroyer could reach 80 kph. Many of the mission scenarios in Panzer Commander will require you to achieve your objectives within a certain amount of time. You will have to balance the tank's performance capabilities, fuel usage and the likelihood of an engine failure against this.
You can generally climb an incline of 45 degrees or less ΓÇô albeit, very slowly. In addtion, if the tank is rolled too far to the left or right due to its position on an incline, it will topple, leaving you stranded and ending the scenario.
While tanks are designed to traverse all sorts of rough terrain, your tank will be able to move faster over a road with less wear and tear. However, roads are obvious places for ambushes and the enemy will take advantage of this fact. Your tanks will also frequently have to go off road in order to outflank an enemy holding a defensive position. Off road travel increases the risk that your tank will take damage to its wheels or treads. You will need to reduce your speed under such conditions or risk a catastrophic failure of one of your tanks.
Rivers will normally be difficult to ford. If you attempt to cross a river, the engine may get swamped and the treads get stuck, leaving you stranded and ending the scenario. To cross a river, you will usually need to find a bridge.
Finally, a note about evasion. A tank moving over open ground or at the top of a ridge line is a highly visible target. If you have to move over such terrain, do it as quickly as possible and try to dodge frequently. You may not know that an enemy has you in his sights until he fires, which by then will be too late for you to do anything about it.
It is much better to find routes down gullies, behind hills and well back from exposed ridge lines. The less chance the enemy has of spotting you, the more chance you have of spotting him first and destroying him.
Beating the Demo Scenarios
German Scenario
Mission Goals: You need 30 points to win; 5 points per tank killed and 5 points for reaching the town.
To accomplish your goals for this scenario, you must destroy six enemy tanks or destroy 5 enemy tanks and get to the victory objective.
Advance down the road to the north. When you first sight the Chaffees(M24), come to a complete stop. Target and destroy the two oncoming Chaffees. You do not want to spend too much time stopped. There are American Thunderbolts (P-47) in the area that will hit you hard if you hang around.
Continue down the road to your first waypoint. If you continue down the road to your next waypoint, there are American Shermans (M4A3E2) waiting in ambush. To surprise the ambushers, continue northwards after reaching the first waypoint. You want to come around the trees to your northwest. Continue until you spot one of the waiting tanks. Shoot at range and destroy the target. You want the enemy tank lined up on the vertical line. Since you are shooting at range, you must elevate your sights so that one of the short horizontal lines is even with your target. Fire and watch where the round falls. If the round falls short, elevate your barrel one more line. If the round goes long, lower your barrel one line. Once you destroy the tank, slowly move towards the destroyed tank. There are two more tanks waiting for you nearby. Engage and destroy these targets. Once all three Shermans are destroyed, continue towards the village northwestwards.
There are two Pershings (M26) waiting for you at the village. You should be able to shoot one of the Pershings at range to achieve a victory. If you feel daring, you can race for the village, hoping to slide under the barrels of the Pershings, and victory.
If you wish, try your own strategy, you may find a better way to achieve your objective. Remember to watch the clock!
MH
Russian Scenario
Mission Goals: You need 35 points to win; 10 points for reaching the factory complex, and 5 points per tank killed.
The first step to beating the Factory Assault scenario is to cross the bridge, and head for the point where the road widens. If you get hull down on the incline with your bow armor facing the advancing Pz38(t) Skoda's (they are on the other side of the hill), you can pick them off as they crest the hill.
Next, you must take care of the Pz IV J platoon (there are three of them) that should be advancing from behind the Pz38(t)'s. If you cross the road and head into the valley, there are two houses and some trees that make excellent cover for fighting the Pz IV J's. The best tactic to employ is to duck behind the house, wait for your Gunner to reload, and let the Pz IV's come into view. When they come into view, try and pick them off. Hit the lead tank if you can; this will cause consternation and hesitancy in the other members of the platoon.
Once the Pz IV J's are destroyed, head north towards the plateau with the two windmills on it. A Tiger I will advance to face you. If you can't hit him while he is advancing up the hill, then you can use the windmills for cover to avoid his fire. There are two more Tiger I tanks near the complex. One of them is a little way into the valley, and the factories should provide you enough cover that he cannot get any clean shots at you. The Tiger I tank that is across from the factory cul - de - sac can pick you off as you try and get to your waypoint (The victory objective). You have two options. If you charge the victory objective, you might be able to make it before the Tiger can get a bead on you. The safer way is to use the factories as cover while you engage the Tiger. If you take too long here, two Tiger II tanks will reinforce the Tiger I tank. If this happens, your best bet will be to make a mad dash for the victory objective.
Please note that this is a very difficult scenario, and it may take you many tries to master the skills necessary to complete it, as well as get a feel for the layout of the small industrial town.
