RockinHarry

... maybe he isn´t that great of a cook after all? It´s likely he just wanted seeing Wagner corpse fields himself, estimating how many salaries are not to be paid anymore.

IMO BFC attempts dancing on one party too much. Get rid of RT or externalize it (seperate game), then optimize! Fix those things that were left alone for way too long, just in order to keep RT running with decent frame rates. Release some required info so that modders can be helped tackling things that were proved doable! Enough talents, passion and will around here. So WTF? Maybe releasing a new game engine would be another option, before most of us die of old age. Well... at least there´s wargaming alternatives (...believe it or rather not) and time doesn´t stand still either. I don´t have another 50 bucks to spare for half hearted efforts.

Well... "played" 2 tutorial missions and figured out UI and moving/shooting things fairly easily. Without reading the manual or else. Good. When units are shooting each other, results seem very random. Don´t see much relation between (infantry) weapon systems, terrain and fire effects. On map navigation is okay, but I miss panning with the middle mouse wheel/button and other things adding to my comfort usually. Might try some the armor (tutorial) missions next, but I don´t expect seeing anything better than infantry "combat". (3D) Graphics... okay the looks don´t disturb me as much as I thought. It does the purpose and I could easily tolerate it if combat results and some other behaviors (routing) would resemble something "realistic". Should´ve waited for sale (as intended initially), but spending ~30$ didn´t hurt me thaaat much. I´ll leave Second Front on my HD. It´s just 4 GB and I don´t need the space elsewhere ATM. I´ll let Steam update it automatically when it wants to. If any upcoming patches/updates indicate that the game gets considerable improvements or changes, I might try again. Well... at least from checking this out my interest in Lock´n Load Tactical Digital revived again. It´s much nicer (although "just" 2D), has an apparently way better combat system, many more features and is way more realistic overally. I already have 7 DLC, but never tried playing (and learning) in seriousness. lol But no doubt it´s a far better investment than SF. Edit: "Nations at War Digital" ain´t bad as well IMO.

Hehe... yes. Not a lazy @ss for sure. Erm... Mius and tunisia is 2 different games, bud! I just have Mius and 10x DLC. It´s not that hard to learn IMO. Once you know where things are and what they do you´ll love it. At least the tac game. Haven´t tried any the operations and operation mode yet. I need a second life or 48 hours day I guess. Yep, southern Ukraine initially but with all currently available DLC there´s some diversity. I just´ve bought WW2 related content. So there´s battles ranging from near Leningrad 1941 to near Kharkov 1943 IIRC. Among the things I don´t like much in the game is a number of "sounds" (now replaced with a couple mods), stiff infantry poses/animations and the usual AI path finding issues. But otherwise.... I love what I tried already. Maps are partly boring and repetitive as well. No urban combat (yet). No idea about Mark. Saw him last time around here late last year. Hope he´s going well too! Erm... I doubt I´ll have time for checking stuff in Blender right now. But you could start writing up details related to your particular issues, then post at BFC as we did before! cheers!

Aaah.... Tank Crew. Have it on my wishlist for long time, but same here. Would have no time for it. I´ll likely buy the non steam version since it runs without any the theater packs ( at less cost as well). Edit: you can find me at steam with "HarryZ" (german para avatar pic)

Sorry guys. Just´ve launched it once, had a look around in that "armory" (sort of ), then started 1st tutorial mission. After barely 5 minutes I´s out again. Simply lacked time. But as soon as I got some real impression I start posting here. As said, it´s a spontaneous buy. I´ve also seen it supports steam workshop, the currently existing player reviews sound promising (lots of comparing with ASL) and then thinking to myself that it´s just at the beginning and lots of improvements are yet to come for sure. (It´s Microprose!) Less than 30$.... small HD footprint... *click*... purchase. Edit: will be surely interesting to compare with Lock´n Load Digital Tactical which I own for a year or so, but as well had barely time playing and learning.

Hey Jm! Well, busy at multiple "fronts" as usual. Too many interests, too little time for everything. Aaargh... Hehe.... GT is great and every place is a good place to mention them, even BFC. Whether they take it or not, it´s among their more serious competitors, the more if comparing to RT play mode. Aargh... still have at least half a dozen unplayed GT (Mius) DLC. Hm... without having a look at it, your problem might be "solved" easily if just carrying over or preserving appropriate META data? Didn´t we have that Blender META/Copy plugin for that?

Who needs tyres if you´ve anti gravity drive.

Hahaha.... said he and then hardly 24 hours later he pushed the "purchase" button. Damn curiosity.

Haven´t looked closer yet. Just´ve seen ist´s now 4.04 and that was sufficient actually. Of course I´m always ready for "surprises".

Installed and works like a charm. Okay...Juju´s UI seems f....d up, but otherwise no other issues (yet).

Interesting. Still might grab it in half a year or so and when on sale. Gotta look for a manual (steam?) and read some on the games capabilities. Who knows.... Yep, a 106 page GM can be downloaded from steam and I just did do.

Hmm... a 250 in reverse is fairly slow and if the T-34 does not have to make a full swing and ground is fairly level, then such a snapshot can be fairly successfull IMO. Also a buttoned T-34 has the gunner/commander in place already, so can spot and react fairly quickly. All IMO.

Case Blue?

Thanks! Understand as well. I´d put my bets on your opponent was using "direct" fire (TacAI self applied) on your troops. If not he was maybe not using correct "leading the target" distance on them. "Ltt" of course can be and usually is different at various ranges (plunging fires), as well as if there´s height differences between both and few other factors. And I forgot mentioning that using a TRP near target area is of big help as well. Some the things I try applying in my games is using certain weapon systems historical combat techniques. In this case it´s german mass and surprise fire application. Means I try putting at least a platoon´s (2x HMG teams) fire on single target area, guided by its associated HQ team. Here the HMG pair is most effective usually. The more if good soft factors and abundance of ammo comes into play (loading extra ammo from kubels or ammo crates). Part of the tactic is planning for switch positions, in case the enemy does not play to your rules (attacking or moving elsewhere, using smoke etc.) I try keeping some kubels nearby, so I can shift the teams when needed. For that to get work I keep (german) HMG teams understrength (60-70%) by default so they fit into the kubels. Any other carrier of course is equally fine as long as the team fits into the vehicle.

Thanks! Let us know about your own findings with this method then please! Yeah, there´s cases when direct fire can still be superior (small target arcs and massed enemies that remain on the move for longer times.) The main issue to deal with for HMg34/42 (and other non german MG´s) is that the tripod´s stability and resulting accuracy even at longer ranges ain´t modeled in game at all. You´ll almost always overshoot 80-90% of a burst over the target. This is what the "leading the target/area" is meant for, bringing most of the burst into "target" (the area where the enemy is or moves into shortly later). Of course the targeted area is three AS wide with bits of random selection. But all of the bursts hit the same horizontal plane, with little overshooting (into depth and beyond the target). If a target is or remains in place, sooner or later a burst will hit the desired area with a good number of bullets (the actual strength of MG34/42). Lying prone won´t help the target much here (unless below the ground terrain mesh or behind hard cover). Best effect is still applied on a moving mass target and a single HMG can wreck havoc on it, even at long range. But the reality of course is, you rarely get such great opportunies with either the map not beeing large enough, the enemy attacking from unexpected directions or the HMG not having key holed positions available. So it´s not a swiss army knife for every situation. Constant feeding with ammo is another prerequisite for making the most of any these opportunities.

Had another look at steam, watching some videos and reading player reviews. Well, still a big NO, even considering it maybe has good mechanics underlying. Can´t get over these Airfix graphics. *shudder*

try an online image hoster like Imgur, etc. You can link stuff over here quite easily then.

Single player only. Never even attempted RT yet (and I won´t). I give the HMG gunners direct target vs. map area orders and adapt to circumstances if needed later. The nature of MG34/42 long range plunging fire and overshooting when letting the gunners do their own thing, requires to nail their fires on fixed positions on the map. Lead the fire 30-50m before any enemy moving or static targets and have fun! No overshooting or plunging way off the targets anymore. I experience no unusual delays with target area fire modes. Off course bits of depends on soft factors and I always keep the HMG team leader nearby, helping with spotting (binocs) and fire corrections etc. This method also gives no mercy for prone laying enemies. But as said it works best if at longer ranges (400- ~1200m). If placed in KH position they can be devastating and fear little from enemy return fires.

hey Bullet! I was mainly refering to mentioned target area fire and leading target method. As said I claim at least 2-3 times enemy losses with this one. Still big ammo expenditure but I get more enemies down per bullet. Direct fire still sucks in all circumstances.

Maybe, maybe not. Is it open for modding btw?

It´s said to be kind of ASL in 3D or so. Have it on my list, but not really time nor great interest for it though. I well remember my Microprose times in the late 80´ies and they were great. Unsure about this one, but seems they start anew with something "simple".

I´use them long range (800m and up) only and if available for say main infantry combat range (300m) almost always doing target area fire. It´s more effective than point fire anyway. Did I mention that BFC modelling of german tripod HMG s*cks long time? Oops...couple of times it seems. Oh well... best situation for german heavies is said longer ranges (up to 1200 - 1500m) then apply target area fire on "mass target". Cross and flanking fires are particularly effective. Key here is deflection, or leading the moving target with that area fire. Depending on range that could be between 30 to 50m. I deal the opponent 2x3 times the hits and losses as compared to point fire targeting, no matter if the TacAI decides on target selection or self applied. Every other usage of german HMG is a complete wastage of these things IMO.

Hehe.... okay, no prices this time then. Well, AFAIK there´s no definitive standard for UV map setup. So I could´ve been wrong nonetheless. Anyway... as long as you figure out and get it working for the poor guys lying face down in the dirt, then it´s all good. I got to admit my new year passed almost unnoticed. I´s busy with things I´s busy with anyway, new year or not. lol

Cool stuff! Kudos! It´s always great if you´ve a vision and can put it to practice, then working in the game nicely. It makes mission and map design so much more fun if you know what you can do and what rather not. Thus far only our imagination is the limit as proved by lots of creative CM fans during past few years.