Hi
@HOA_KSOP are you able to expand on how C&C is handled better in PCO?
I am not so sure it's better, just different. I have never played CMBN or later, but I did look at the manual and it's definitely different.
I can tell you PCO is WEGO and has 60 second turns. You can play it with or without a reaction phase. The reaction phase allows you some limited "reaction" type orders, like change targets or move a little differently. You issue orders to your platoon and this order goes to the various platoon squads/vehicles. This is a base order. So a command like "Advance" or "Defend" is called a base order. You can then tweak what each sub unit does with a sub-order. So, for example, you issue a "Defend" order to a platoon leader and he issues the base order to his platoon. Say two of your squads have good cover but a third squad is hanging in the wind and needs to get back to a better defensible position. So, you Issue a "Defend" command to the platoon commander, the two units in good cover you can "sub-order" them to "Defend-Hold" and the third squad you want under cover you can issue a "Defend-Move" command, then plot their move to cover. So you can issue granular sub-orders under a base order. You can also set your unit's "SOP", which is how they will react. They can be Aggressive, cautious or one setting in between. You move three different ways, shortest, fastest and under cover, which translates to slowest for the most part as the unit will try stay under cover while moving , move down gullies, etc.
One aspect of the C & C is that generally Soviet units react to orders slower than German units. There is the usual delay when calling off map arty or indirect fire. You can pre-target areas and set the barrage patterns of indirect fire.
One of the gripes with the game people had was that they felt that the game fell somewhere in between CMBB and CMBN, I think some folks referred to it as CMBB 1.5. I am pretty sure it was due to the graphics, which are better than the original CM series but not up to the CMBN or later standard. I think you get a ton of game for the money, but little eye candy.
You do get a map editor and a campaign editor as well.
The PBEM on larger games can be tedious with the WEGO system, there is a lot of back and forth, but for a total Eastern Front tactical experience there are battles and campaigns starting with Barbarossa and ending with Gotterdammerung.
