Panzer Corps 2: War Stories — Fall of Poland brings the battle to you

With my sometimes, generally incorrect judgments about things (that’s why I don’t play poker), I had thought that the new Panzer Corps 2: War Stories – Fall of Poland expansion was a one-off scenario just thrown into Slitherine’s hearty mix of multiple scenarios and campaigns. Newp. Wrong! 

In fact, Panzer Corps 2: War Stories – Fall of Poland is an entire campaign within itself. containing multiple scenarios. Plus, from what little information I have gathered, not from any kind of ‘official’ source, this ‘seems to be’ an entirely different campaign set.

From the front page:

As Wehrmacht Panzers from Germany and East Prussia violate Polish borders, Polish Plan West Protocols are enacted to defend the country’s industries and populations. But the Axis Powers have Poland flanked on three sides, and the assault comes from all these directions simultaneously.
Scramble what forces that can be mobilized, and prepare to meet the Wehrmacht head on as you fight to defend Poland from invasion. This campaign will not only be a struggle for Poland, it will be your story. Your War Story. 

In all of my 389 reviews I’ve done for B3, I’ve never done this:

I took a serpentine scroll through the entire map. *I* wanted to see what I was in for, as well as wanting you to see what you’re in for. Here we go (as I’ve mentioned before) into an unknown, new campaign approach.

This first part obviously has to be the Fall of Poland… starting with Kronaty. No problems, right? Except: Germans on three sides! When you start, then you have to defend your part of your homeland. But, hey… you have almost a whole quarter of your map (“OoooOOoooooh”) in which to maneuver around, right? That all seems fair, m’kay? 

My two cents: There’s a difference between being outnumbered and overwhelmed. 

Knowing what the odds were and the unit counts, at least on my side, I went after it anyway. What else could I do? Punt? Roll over? Or, my favorite – fight tooth and nail until my (seemingly) ultimate demise.

Part of the briefing was the “escape route”. Not that I’ve ever used one, but it didn’t matter because the Germans knew where and what that hex was extremely quickly… and they took it. Actually, they had most of the map, even some of the Victory Points I started with, not that I ever knew what was going to come out of the ‘fog’ next.

By Turn 7… I’m not saying you have to retreat or anything. But, shit, man. I’m not fond of getting donkey-stomped either, which alludes back to the “tooth and nail” strategy earlier.

The ebb and flow of this scenario is absolutely mind-boggling. About Three Turns in, I was ready to give up and try with a new setup (as I tend to use 1 leader point for getting AUX units – which, in the long run, probably saves my ass). Also, I can’t stand the term “roller coaster” — which implies you ending up where you started. However, Kronaty? was really a roller coaster, due to the ups and downs, with an end… (but when you got on board, the conductor yells, “Nobody leaves the endless train”. 

By Turns 25-29, I just kept pressing… wounded and out of money! BUT, I got this funky, out of the box idea. What I decided to do was… (newp, you’ll have to get there on your own) 🙂

Yes, I pulled out a victory… no, I’ve never told spoilers before and don’t intend to start that ‘new trend’ now. 

It’s simply, while playing as Poland, I held out against the Nazi’s advance… It’s why I love Panzer Corps 2. It’s ahistorical… as that term has come in heavily among wargame players’ nomenclature the past few years. 

It’s like any wargame that includes Europe. A lot of people choose to play as Germany, knowing what the ‘real’ outcome was, but seeing what they can do differently – to achieve a German victory. This War Stories is a lot like that. “What can I do to produce an ahistorical outcome… for a Polish victory?” We all know how it’s supposed to end, but can we change it enough to turn the tide?

Panzer Corps 2: War Stories — Fall of Poland is available now on PC.