AlexUK

Alright, I hope you follow my analogy. No disrespect, I am not a Catholic - but I respect a good organization with a clear chain of command! I think we got this CMAutoEditor training running like the Roman Catholic Church. Nico Butschi Herr Doktor Herr OberCodenFuhrer is like God and maybe then I am the Pope? 🙂 And Sorry Jacob, @Aragorn2002 you are just a Cardinal. I will send you a red hat and cloak.
Best wishes for 2023 to all forumites
~Phil

First off thanks to all those who have supported the Battlepack by purchasing it, and a shout out to those who have provided their support in the creation of this project – and a huge shout out to those who have freely given their feedback and additional support publicly via various means – online streaming vids, DARs, AARs and various forum posts etc, Its truly heartening to read and see these. 

It’s just as well, being Scottish, that we are renowned for being slow to anger and not prone to unprovoked outbursts. On a personal note a mahhoosive amount of work went into the battle pack, at my end. Work of which I am truly proud off. The lion’s share of research, mapmaking and AI plan stuff was devoted to the two campaigns and the Rakow and the Dying Sun scenario. These all involved painstakingly creating huge new maps from primary sources. Research turned up several ‘loose’ ends regarding accepted historical narrative and I’m as chuffed with these as the scenarios!

I digress… In short this sucked up a huge amount of time and I was also involved in several other projects (which I was keen to be involved in including CMFR and CMCW). Creating new content, AI plans etc for the Battlepack was a significant endeavour. So yup I used bits of various previous maps (which were my own creations and made available publicly) which I then significantly tweaked – mainly because I could not positively ID RL locations, or the fact is I thought the map – like Der Ring (which by the way took nearly a year to produce) to have a new life after some major tweaking. I’ve done this on previous game families with other maps. A few astute observers might have spotted them. 

But, and I should stress this, in the case of Der Ring it was heavily reworked and I created brand new AI plans (I had to as I’d chopped and reused bits) etc. So yes whilst some stuff is based on sections of der Ring they are more the offspring – rather than the map wearing a false wig and a pair of dodgy specs…

Re the rather offensive swipes about scamming, well,  re the master maps it’s pretty clear that as stated on the BFC website that they are “New maps based on maps from the Battle Pack missions”. 

Years back I used to be with a punk band – another life another story…. One of the bands (way more successful than we were) we did some gigs with, had their singer on one of their records state this quote, it was along the lines of – “Whatever you do they’ll slate you off and criticise you to the ground…” It’s stood me in good stead through life.
So aye happy to take the constructive knocks, but I’m less inclined to give credence tae whingers.
 

I'll add this very roughly-formed scenario (attached) for people that want something to entertain them on a cold winter's night.
This would have been a branch off of Broken Shields (off of the 6th scenario), but it just didn't work with the overall flow. I also have another one set in Seregelyes that I may get around to posting here that's in the same state.
There's no briefing nor briefing graphic, and can only be played from the German side (no German AI).
The gist- defend the occupied positions and town, and use any infantry and armor that may arrive to stage local counter-attacks to regain the town.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, ya cast of characters.


 
AT Positions!.btt

Right, I've done the mod for the M4A2 75mm and the PzIVG (Late):
Lend Lease M4A2 75mm
Pz IVG (Late)
Sadly the Pz IVG (Latest) model is really in a bad way - internally there's an unspecified texture attached to a material used in the model which means it can't be exported from Blender without extra tweaking. No matter what extra tweaking I tried all efforts failed to get a result that wasn't bust - throwing it's wheels in the air when moving for eg. This is a limitation of our tool kit that I can't overcome, and without some help from BF there's really no way I can see of correcting this one. Good luck to others who might want to give it a try.
There is a slightly different version of the IVG (Latest) available in CMFI which could be ported to RT but that has other issues - no side skirts armour but all the shadows for them being but one. The TC does sit in the correct position but otherwise it's a buggy model at best. The other existing versions in FB and BN are the same as our RT model so don't waste your time with them.
Anyway here's the finished M4A2 that you were originally concerned about ...

and the PzIVG (Late) to fight against him:

If anyone is feeling adventurous there are a slew of other models that could do with some TLC WRT TC positions ... just from the German armour in RT ...

Hetzer guy looks stuck ...

... get down man FFS!

... another stuck TC

... start digging your grave son

... you're supposed to sit on your seat not stand on it!

... it's called a shield for a reason.

I'd be praying as well!
There are of course all sorts of strange positions especially in HTs and other open-topped vehicles. 
Ultimately I guess it may not matter if the engine is calculating risk based on a look-up table - is the crew man standing or sitting, hatch open or closed - so long as that is the same across the board. If other factors like gun shields and hit boxes are coming into play then perhaps some rebalancing is in order. If the model does have an impact on the risk assessment then some of these fellas don't stand a chance.
 

oh dang, I wish I was NOT scratching my head. Hair is gone. Scalp skin gone. Cranium bone almost gone. I better stop before I hit brain tissue...or a hollow void? 😄
 
 

We need some actual news, or the new game.....Maybe a tiny bone fragment about the new game?

LETS ROCK! 😎

My goal for today is to try and create a step by step written guide for SUCCESSFULLY taking Google Earth data and ending up with the proper CVS format to feed into CMAutoEditor!
This COULD be a big flop. We'll have to see. 🙂
Step 1 is the CM scenario/map creator opening Google Earth Pro (GEP) to find his area of interest (AOI) for the scenario.
I use a few things I have stumbled upon. Sometimes I use only part of their process and then have to take a detour.
The below video does cover the use of Google Earth Pro to get points in the AOI using the path tool. This set of points is saved as a *.kml file
Here is a link to the one tool that he uses to convert/expand *.kml to *.gpx
https://www.gpsvisualizer.com/elevation
But the points dataset obtained by the GEP path tool method needs interpolation to figure the elevation for missing points in a proper grid.
I will now try to harness QGIS freeware (versus paying for ARCGIS) for the interpolation. 
Finally here is a GPX to CSV converter https://mygeodata.cloud/converter/gpx-to-csv
That is my rough plan for today. I will report back.
 

Wow, looks like this has the potential to be an amazing tool!

Destroyed T34/85. From Battle of Berlin V2... Coming Soon

Almost at the end of Broken Shields, only one mission left. It's been one hell of a slog.

Progress on the Brandenburg Gate ...

Tested the roofless side temples and making the whole thing into a multi flavor object build - virtual lego! Works well, need to do some wall thickening around the roof supports and gables, as well as some slight repositioning of stuff so it's actually attached, not floating - there are small hidden gaps in the original model.

What's nice about this approach is that the model doesn't flick in and out of view so much since more of the mdr origins stay in frame for more of the time. Note also how the guard houses in the front temples can be properly enclosed with this method of building ...

The two guard house temples at the front will probably be the same FO repeated, the two rear ones will be two unique FOs because it's obvious from archive photos how they were quite differently damaged from bombing. The main central support columns and walls, except for two, will all be one FO that can be repeated, the remaining two, which will be attached to the portico, will hopefully have some unique modelling for variety. If you want to start on some textures Nigel you could make the faces for the guard houses - I have used a part destroyed 5 storey modular single block for those.
On a different note and moving ahead a couple of decades ... this could go into CMCW ... anyone planning a Berlin Wall scenario set in the Cold War - bit of Harry Palmer action ... Checkpoint Charley and all that ... 

Should I make the model now or wait for the call from BF? 😉

"BUG" but just missing/incorrect textures. It seems that the normal maps for German senior officer greatcoats are incorrect and show y-straps.
This is for CMFB and CMRT AND CMFI. CMFI seems to not even have normal maps for the base module nor for Gustav Line  module but then finally they shipped with Rome to Victory. But shipped still incorrect. 3 strikes and you're out.
I have never been invited to be on the BFC BETA test team but I recommend that each guy get some "specialty area" to be in charge of. I THINK from grape vine and forum comments, that they all get a loosey-goosey "play the game and report stuff that seems wonky". Put a guy in charge of uniforms. Put a guy in charge of vehicle models. etc etc All the piddly stuff we see that slips on through. MAYBE it does get diligently reported and MAYBE gets diligently fixed but SOME-EFFING-HOW it gets right back in the folders? That is a QA issue somewhere.  eggshells in the omelette. 

I had to keep radio silence for a while to be able to concentrate - my girlfriend noted recently that by now I have coded enough stuff for a decent bachelor thesis at least. Well, I did rewrite parts of the code at least three times and some of the algorithms were intriguingly finicky, at least if you have wood shavings for a brain as I sometimes seem to have. 😄
There is still metric tons of things to do and to tweak. But sometimes I have to remind myself why this is fun, so I had to indulge in some screenshots and I guess it is only fair to share a few (shamelessly cherry-picked, mind you!). 😉





Enjoy!

Just upgraded (M1 Air). First time I launched CMBN I got the spinning wheel. Force quit. Second time seemed to launch fine. 

On the moment that, Lucky and Harry are working hard, (Greeting guys), I am on holliday, so I cannot work on CM, but happy, I have some crazy moments for now.
 
We have all a capacity !
 
@sbobovyc Created a key on github and very kind, give it to us, but on the moment, nobody find the door that can be open.
@Aquila-SmartWargames Turn the key in the door and let us discover a treasor.
@Mord The guy with thousend faces, let us always with open mouth,... hope to see his, one day again.
@umlaut Go and back but never let us without a big welcome job.
@Lucky_Strike Made us the nature better as the Nature itself.
@RockinHarry Destroy buildings and put things, to block us the way.
@Falaise Working with his wonderful time machine, and Seasons.
@Frenchy56 Find always something, that ours eyes never saw.
@kohlenklau Oncle Koh, open his history book and created us in scenars, with a touch mods, we have only one Phil.
@Erwin Is drowned in megabytes, but, comments very kind and answer to everybodys all the time. 
@Kieme(ITA) Build and build buildings of every sauce.
@Warts 'n' all Come and go from another galaxy, but give us very welcome comments... when we understand it...
@NPye Was probably present himself in Berlin, I doubt...and let us some pictures from his past.
@Aragorn2002 Dream to created a master map, something that he has really in his heart.
@LongLeftFlank Prepare us sometimes something from his magic potion.
@chuckdyke @waffelmann @Bubba883XL talk about all and everywhere.
@Bulletpoint Share his time always between us on the forum, and the Fgm.
@benpark Let us always with a knowledge more day by day very appreciated every time.
@Bootie Check with his open eyes all what we are doing, and be happy to keep all in his pocket.
@Artkin Like to created and grab and grab... always today.
@JM Stuff Try to find something that nobody were thinking about, but not always with a good result... 
@37mm Think about all what we are doing, created himself and make a collage with all, to let us a smile.
@Combatintman @Phantom Captain@The_Capt Are always happy and impatients and smiling already to tests new things on the forum.
@Baneman Go and back, but his presence is always welcome.
@Bud Backer Let us stop to play a CM game, to watching his books.

@Haiduk @kraze and more... Talk about a better Russian Ukrainian moment.
 
@Battlefront.com And Steve is happy to have all his little members, that can make his game, living for a long long long time...
 
Sorry to all members that I could forgot to let a presentation.
I want to added that, my text is in no way a form of criticism, and hope to don t have hurt anyone, is not my art to be, but let only a smile on the forum.
 
JM

Cool! Do like a PaK 40 mounted on something entirely inappropriate - still waiting for the Raupenschlepper Ost PaK 40 ... maybe in a vehicle pack.
Speaking of wonderful adaptations. I was browsing through PanzerWrecks' book Panzers in Berlin 1945 (highly recommended by the way) and noticed quite a few Panzer IV hulks being used a makeshift bunkers similar to the commonly depicted Pantherturm.

Basically an older Panzer IV minus wheels etc concreted into the ground or hastily buried in concrete and rubble, so ... with a couple of 1m deep ditchlocked squares and some tinkering in Blender ...




Has to be immobilised for obvious reasons - can't have this driving around trashing the roads ...


Still quite a few issues to resolve - shadows from missing/invisible skirts persist, quite a few gaps at the back of her rubble skirt, play testing ...

At some point in the future you and The_Capt need to write a book about Afghanistan. Between the two of you there is is just too much knowledge, history, and lessons learned not to get it all on paper. We will do a kickstarter if needed to get you off the ground on the project. I realize it might be five years from now, depending on who knows what, but it needs doing.

LET US DO THIS AGAIN? I give everybody more time. I want to see those cherries raise their hands. Make a scenario for the community.
Alright, 110 days until X-mas. (Julian 359-249=110). The gauntlet is down for you guys, especially you "cherries", to make a scenario, your first scenario...?, before Christmas. Let us swamp the community with some scenarios. Use or modify an existing map if you need to (and give polite credit in your briefing or designers notes to prevent accusations of being a dreaded parasite!). Make your own simple map! No Rembrandts are required! Dial it down to 208 x 208, if needed, the teeniest tiniest map you can make. BUT ANY SIZE MAP IS GOOD! Playable from only one side is AOK. Just make sure to say that guidance in the main cover description. Use just a tiny force. Put the AI on defence and the AI plan is very rudy..rudo..ruddimuntary..it is EASIER! Use just a small timeframe of 10 minutes!  I (and a butt ton of others) am here to lend a hand to answer questions or go now and read the famous JonS scenario guide pdf in your main install folder. All these different titles can use some new juices. I got a couple coming down. I will edit this and state how many scenarios we got from last time. Standby, EDIT: I think it was between 16 and 20. I did release many but had a few hit a creative wall so maybe this year, they get done.
**NEW IDEA: Maybe do some QB maps with simple AI plans?
I am not a CMCW, CMSF2, CMBS modern war bubba but please use this as a reason to make a scenario for those games. This is not just for WW2 games. 
 
Best wishes and who wants to post a pledge to make a scenario?

New CMBS scenario:
Buran-30 Battalion Tactical Group (BTG).
Command a Russian BTR Battalion Tactical Group.                                                                                                             Russians vs AI only.                                                                                                                                                                      Three hours (tentatively).                                                                                                                                                              Map: 5104 meters x 2512 meters = appx 12.8 square kilometers.                                                                                                  Ground conditions: Wet.  Weather: Hazy.                                                                                                                                  Supply: Scarce.  Headcount: 70%.
SITUATION:  It is 1300hrs on March 30, 2022, in northeast Ukraine.  The Russian Federation is conducting a withdrawal in order to redeploy units to the south.  The withdrawal is under pressure from Ukrainian Army units and partisans.  Many of the Russian units suffer from low morale, low supplies and have lost many vehicles and infantry.  The muddy conditions of the rasputitsa confine vehicles to roads limiting maneuver and increases the danger of ambushes.  
MISSION:  Your call sign is Buran 30.  Your mission is to withdraw your Battalion Tactical Group (BTG) to the east in order to refit and prepare for a future offensive.  It is important to preserve your BTG along with an attached air assault unit (V markings).  A related mission is to destroy Ukrainian units.  Exit all friendly units off the east edge of the Area of Operation (AO) by 1600hrs.
FRIENDLY FORCES:  Your BTG has been in the field for several weeks with inadequate logistics.  Supply is scarce with the headcount at about 70%.  The soldiers are in a weakened state with low morale.  Many vehicles have been lost.  Artillery and artillery shells are generally in good supply. 
Elements of the BTG are arriving in the AO from the west.  A platoon of 120mm heavy mortars is positioned at Derusova Farm and ready to support.  One battery of 152mm and one Orlan drone are also in support.  Lead elements of the BTG have arrived in the northwest and southwest and are standing by for orders.
Status:  Map completed. TOE completed.  One of at least three AI plans completed. 
Map looking northeast from Sonyashnk village.  Eight villages, one river, one powerplant (Ukrainian preserve objective) and one cell tower (Ukrainian preserve objective). 

Random screenshots from testing.




I'll probably eventually start a separate thread in CMBS Maps and Mods forum.  

I’m older than dirt, and you’re all a bunch of young punks who know more about everything. Bought CMBO when it came out. Don’t remember the year but it was after the Civil War. And of course all the rest follows, as we all know.  My first memory of CM still recalled is emotionally still strong. It may have been the demo, I wish I knew. The briefing described a small detachment waiting at a checkpoint for advancing German armor. After loading the mission I just hit Go and found myself standing next to a light vehicle just off the road leading into of town. The view had defaulted to near eye level and I felt as if I was there. Waiting. Knowing something bad was going to happen. The other guys were nervously standing nearby, all facing towards town, waiting. And then I heard it. In the distance, the sound of big engines. Tanks? I still remember that moment between the growing tension - fear really - waiting for the inevitable but unknown very bad thing (I’d never played a game like *this* before), and that sound of approaching but unseen engines. And then the ? Icon hanging beside a distant building. “What the heck is that?!” But I knew it wasn’t good.
So I was hooked good from then on to this day in the next millennium. What’s new though is seeing all of you guys, and realizing that an incredibly long lived excellent community existed without imploding like so many other sim related sites over the years. Grateful for your wisdom and good humor, all of you. 
, 

I'm not going to hold it too much against them, but they said WE would come first. I am all good with giving them a few years to satisfy the immediate demands of whatever organization, but as you said times are reaallly slow.

Well, BFC has not done a bug fixing patch (aside from PBEM++ issues) in a long time, so we can write reports until our fingers bleed and it doesn't matter until they do. As someone who also plays the game for fun I share your frustration, but I have faith it will happen. Eventually 😉

The bug report did note that "all" M2 .50 machine guns in the game were affected. So the issue was accurately reported even if not every affected unit was listed by name.
Then you'll be happy to know that aside from getting a free copy of the game to test we are not paid anything for finding/reporting bugs.