Noob getting into PzGren

[Nghanayem]

So I'm looking to get into wargaming, and a good number of the concepts in PG are familiar to me so learning the series' rules shouldn't too difficult for me. However I was wondering which PzGren game to start out with? Afrika Korps and Desert Rats interests me the most, with the large open terrain Italian units and early/mid war AFV's. However I was recommended Elsenborn and Invasion 44. What are the opinions of all my new grizzled Officers out there?  

[plloyd1010]

Hi Nicholas. Glad to see you made it over. I won't be voting here, since you already have my opinion from BGG. You hadn't mentioned before that you had an interest in Italian troops. With that kernel of information, I would add Conquest of Ethiopia to my suggestions. There isn't much armor, but the infantry arm is quite diverse.

Oh yeah, there is quite likely to be a Vassal module of Conquest of Ethiopia soon. And speaking of Vassal modules, have you gotten the Vassal module of the demo game? It could be quite useful for just pushing counters around.

[thomaso827]

First, if you can find the Africa games you enjoy, go with them, but I voted for Elsenborn since the pieces and boards are involved with so many other scenario books. My first game was Guadalcanal, which at the time was a huge interest, but after I bought a few more, I played the other areas first. Now I find that I have never actually played any of the Guadalcanal scenarios after several years of playing PG. If you think you will be looking for the out-of-production scenario books, you would need Elsenborn Ridge, and it has a lot of great scenarios in it's own right, so start there.

[Hugmenot]

As Peter mentioned, Conquest of Ethiopia may be an excellent choice but it's not currently in print. I believe it will be reprinted with die-cut counters at some point.

Another potential choice if you like open desert and Italian troops may be An Army at Dawn. Eleven of its scenarios involve Italian troops and there are a good variety of small, medium, and large scenarios. It's by the same designer as Elsenborn Ridge.

[leonard]

I agree: try An Army at Dawn (even with the French supplement !) first. 

[Hugmenot]

Philippe Leonard designed "La Campagne de Tunisie" supplement for "An Anrmy at Dawn" and that supplement would give you an additional twelve small to medium size scenarios to draw from.

[Schoenwulf]

Philippe Leonard designed "La Campagne de Tunisie" supplement for "An Anrmy at Dawn" and that supplement would give you an additional twelve small to medium size scenarios to draw from.

I also voted for other, thinking "An Army at Dawn" and its supplement. As somewhat of a noob since I just started playing all of those AP games that I've picked up over the years, I began with the download mod a year or so ago. Based on my enjoyment of Rick Atkinson's trilogy, I switched pretty quickly to AAaD and then interspersed the scenarios of LCdT on a chronological basis. I agree with the others that mentioned the diversity of both units and scenarios in AAaD that have made it really fun. With the throes of winter here in the Midwest, I interrupted the time in the desert with Lions of Finland, but spring (hopefully coming soon) will take me back to AAaD.

[Nghanayem]

Hi Nicholas. Glad to see you made it over. I won't be voting here, since you already have my opinion from BGG. You hadn't mentioned before that you had an interest in Italian troops. With that kernel of information, I would add Conquest of Ethiopia to my suggestions. There isn't much armor, but the infantry arm is quite diverse.

Oh yeah, there is quite likely to be a Vassal module of Conquest of Ethiopia soon. And speaking of Vassal modules, have you gotten the Vassal module of the demo game? It could be quite useful for just pushing counters around.

I never Thought of that. Thx will do sharg. 

[plloyd1010]

There are currently 4 Vassal modules and 2 extensions. The demo game, Elsenborn Ridge, Airborne:IE, and Kokoda Campaign. Only the first one has a scenario with it. The other 3 ostensibly require you to own the original game. The extensions are for Airborne and Kokoda.

Don't forget to obtain the rules and charts.

[Nghanayem]

There are currently 4 Vassal modules and 2 extensions. The demo game, Elsenborn Ridge, Airborne:IE, and Kokoda Campaign. Only the first one has a scenario with it. The other 3 ostensibly require you to own the original game. The extensions are for Airborne and Kokoda.

Don't forget to obtain the rules and charts.

So tell if what im reading is correct, elsenborn Ethiopia and aaat are good for learning due to many small scescenarios, and b/c elsenborn has a vassal modmodule. Ps why aren't there modules for some of the other popular pg games?