PANZER GENERAL (DOS) PBEM RESEARCH CENTRE
ARTICLE 011

THE AI MODULE IS JUST NOT FLEXIBLE ENOUGH......

Panzer General (PG), as it comes "out of the box", is not just a game but rather a game FRAMEWORK !! Moreover, technical modifications to the game open up a "universe" of possibilities. But what is the difference between a game and a game framework ? Briefly, a game is supposed to be played in accordance to ONE well defined set of rules and practices. A game framework, on the other hand, allows players to easily and readily adopt ANY ONE out of MANY possible sets of rules and practices and have some fun with their choice !! It is PRECISELY here that the AI module (programmed opponent) chokes as it CANNOT learn to "voluntarily" abstain from doing certain agreed upon things.....

FRAMWORK.TXT is an enhancement of SSI's PG (DOS) user guide.... The emphasis here is on highlighting the levers that are readily available to enthusiasts with inquisitive minds to experiment with WITHOUT necessarily resorting to any technical modifications.....!! It is important to note that, contrary to what "PBEM club types" generally believe and the AI module (programmed opponent) can "comprehend", there are MANY ways that one can engage in PBEM PG (DOS) and quite a few of them do not necessarily constitute..."cheating" (oh, that dreaded word !).

FRAMWORK.TXT meticulously highlights the various components of PG (DOS) (yes, that once readily available, off the shelf computer wargame title....), as they relate to the larger PG (DOS) framework !! As one would expect, a game framework is an integral part of a computer-assisted PBEM boardgame.....!

The purpose of the PG (DOS) framework documentation is twofold. First, it shows one how much can be done with the computer programme WITHOUT effecting ANY technical modifications. Secondly, it will hopefully provide hobbyists with a permanent agenda listing the levers that are at any player's disposal (but NOT necessarily at the disposal of the AI module !!) and some hints and thoughts as to their proper use.

Should something be done about the "anarchic" way of PBEM PG (DOS) so prevalent "out there" ? Those of you who will bother reading through FRAMWORK.TXT will fully realise that PBEM PG (DOS) is INHERENTLY AMBIGUOUS even in instances were no technical alterations whatsoever have been effected to game files..... E-mail disinformation, game save file reloading and systematic recon are just a few examples of asymmetrical ways that two players can play the game without even realising that, in effect, they are not playing the same game....!! Tinkering with programme files certainly makes things more.....interesting, albeit, at the price of inadvertedly enhancing the potential for even more play asymmetry !!

As far as this author is concerned, there are NO classic PG (DOS) scenaria, period !! There is only a CLASSIC PG (DOS) "UNIVERSE". Hence, all these 38 scenaria that are native to the programme are just that, 38 scenaria. Similarly, any additional PG (DOS) custom scenaria are just that, additional scenaria. Fidelity to the original SSI release(s) is not of paramount importance...!! In some respect, PG (DOS) is viewed somewhat like SSI's Steel Panthers family of programmes which is characterised by quite a proliferation of diverse scenaria....... Instead of seeking to impose some, by necessity, narrow PG (DOS) orthodoxy on the PBEM circuit, this author hopes to provide PG (DOS) enthusiasts with the ideas and technical means to effect whatever alterations to this CLASSIC game "Universe" they see fit and experiment to their hearts' content with them !! It is just too bad that the AI module (programmed opponent) CANNOT learn......new tricks !

To conclude, when PG (DOS) enthusiasts play a PBEM game, they STILL play some particular scenario.......BUT,

a) There are a zillion and one ways to play the aforesaid scenario without even touching any game files (FRAMWORK.TXT).

b) There are many technical alterations that one could effect to game files that would further affect playing the aforesaid scenario.

The author, Panos Stoucas, is a long time Panzer General (DOS) PBEM enthusiast and is currently the "Facilitator" of the PG (DOS) PBEM RESEARCH CENTRE. He can be reached at pstoucas@istar.ca