George MC

I'll join the club as well! Drop me an email and I'll send you a clutch over - all semi-historical/historical stuff

I've seen several photos of panzer crewmen on patrol (in their black uniform) with infantry. Alos there are a lot of references in training documents stressing the importance of recces (on foot) of possible attack areas. Re A/C crews Panzertaktik has a few photos of crewmen dismounted and standing on roofs of houses/barns etc spying out the terrain ahead. The Osprey book Armoured Cars and Reconnaissance Half tracks has some very good eyewitness accounts of recce missions by A/C crews. Personally I would love to see recce vehicle crews have the ability to dismount (at least one of the crew anyways) and go have a wee look around the next corner. Save the recce by explosion bit. A wish for CMX2! Cheers fur noo George Mc

Cheers fur that Gpig! That's a tie so far

Lol By my reckoning that is three for differant versions and two against. I guess I have just started doing both as I do enoy playing against the AI, but since starting to play PBEM I love being cuffed, er playing other humans (Uhm - does that sound odd?!). Since I pretty much design scenarios I am interested in I like the option of playing it either against the AI or playing against one of my PBEM mates. Hans wrote "Smaller scenario are very difficult to balance for H2H play. One bit of bad luck or a skilled gunner and the scenario is labelled "unbalanced" !" That's why I like BIG scenarios, although I have done a few, but you are right with smaller scenarios one bit of bad luck and it's all over. As long as having two scenarios is not confusing then you can take your pick - I'm happy to do both if I feel the action is a challenging one to balance both either perspective. Thanks for the comments guys - be interesting to see what others think. Cheers fur noo George

Hi I've been desiging a few scenarios (battles and operations) lately. Given the limitations of the AI and the need to 'tweak' the game parameters it sometimes means the game is not that well balanced for H2H. So I also make a version,same scenario, balanced for H2H play (this process also works the other way round ). I was curious as to whether 1) Players found this confusing (they are clearly marked as AI or H2H in the title)? 2)Did most people play against the AI or play H2H? Personally I do both and like the option of playing the same scenario against either. I'm curious as to what others think? Cheers for your anticipated response. George Mc

Edit: sorry wrong forum George Mc [ March 23, 2005, 06:41 AM: Message edited by: George Mc ]

Check out this http://mapy.mk.cvut.cz/data/Ukrajina-Ukraine The scale is 1mm = 100m large for CM stuff but still useable. You might also want to visit The Proving Grounds - loads of info re designing scenarios there, research info and a great bunch of willing playtesters! Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi Bannon Cheers for that - I picked your post up vua the link that Junk2Drive put up. Tooz and myself are using a slightly abridged version of the ones you suggested for an op we are playing. They sound grand by the way. Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi Junk2drive Hey many thanks for the link - not quite what I was after but it took me to what I was after! Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi! Can anyone help. Some time agao I picked up alink whihc detailed some rules governing setting up the subsequent battles in operations e.g. leaving units at last position, only move those out of LOS etc. Now I can't find it. Any chance anyone knows what I'm rambling about and can point me in the right direction? Any help would be much appreciated Thanks in advance! Cheers fur noo George Mc

GaJ said - "Do you think it's fair to call a scenario "Meeting Engagement" when the setup zones don't match that though?" Hhmm... I suppose if the briefing makes it clear as to what you are tasked to do, then does it make any odds what the CM scenario descriptor says? I'm usually that in that much of a fedding frenzy to play the scenario I don't take much notice of what the box at the bottom left says! I think for scenarios where you are playing against the AI the designer might have to be 'tricksy' to fool the AI into patterns of behaviour it might not otherwise adopt. Be interseting to hear what others have to say?

Hi GAJ! I've played this a few times - excellent scenario (now did I post some feedback on this...) ****************SPOILER COMING UP**************** First time I played it I move in cautiously, with some Panzergrenadiers on foot, clearing the woods - that's where they found some hidden T34s. I thne brought up some armour to torch them. I still lost some armour further down the road to other hidden stuff. But my real trial and tribulations came latter - now not sure if you want to hear that now.. I had'nt twigged that this was an assault - just I had'nt been as canny as you and worked out where the enemy might be based on the scenario description of 'meeting engagement'. Overall though it is a top scenario!

Half tracks on the CM quick battle/small scenarios arena don't seem to have much of a half life. However once you get into playing large scale actions e.g. maps several Km across then H/Ts come into their own. For sure you have to provide very good support for them, tanks they ain't but when the enemy infantry and A/T defences have been suppressed/smoked you can move infantry into place very quickly for an assault, finish of that group of enemy, mount up and move on. Thats where I have had most success. On small scale battles, as has been said best to dismount infantry in cover then assault on foot. As a side note in Patrick Agte's biography about Jochaim peiper and the Blowtorch battalion there are several passages where SPW tactics are discussed - you'll all like this next bit quote Peiper himself -"...The SPW battalion used to attack Russian villages like a cavalry unit: From all sides at full speed, firing evrything we had..." I would assume that A/T defences, tanks and what have you are not in the picture

Hi Just uploaded this operation to the Proving Grounds - it is a two person version of an earlier operation titled 'Kampfgruppe Langkeit AI' which was purely for play as Germans Vs AI - since uploaded to The Scenario Depot. As always any feedback etc would be most welcome. http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/scenario_details_link.html?sku=708 Cheers fur noo George Mc

Check out my scenarios (shameless plug!!)TBP No1 Attack Against PAK at The Scenario Depot and TBP No2 Point Platoon at The Proving Grounds they are both based on scenarios detailed in The German Tank Platoon its training and employment in battle. Or email me via gmcewan@totalise.co.uk Cheers fur noo George Mc

I've just uploaded two new scenarios over at The Proving Grounds for playtesting. Both are at opposite ends of the size spectrum -Panzerkeil weighs in at 16000 points :eek: , TBP No2 at 1000 . Panzerkeil Auf Dem Mius 23rd Panzer Division’s armoured attack to retake Hill 213.9 during the fighting around the Mius River in July 1943. Semi – Historical with approx 16000 points combined. Map size 3040m X 2480m http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/scenario_details_link.html?sku=677 TBP No2 Point Platoon In this scenario the player, as the panzer platoon commander of the point platoon of a panzer company, encounters a blocking position based around a village defended by enemy forces equipped with anti-tank guns, machine guns and some light armour. http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/scenario_details_link.html?sku=678 As always feedback most welcome - and Enjoy! Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi All After playtesting I have modified Vorhut Panzer! This version, link below, is only for play as Germans Vs Soviet AI (this version has map changes, German OOB changes, and random reinforcements for AI). I will shortly be uploading another version at The Proving Grounds for play as H2H. Many thanks to Ken Fedoroff, Kent Holt, and Mad Russian for their help and feedback with the development of this scenario. Enjoy! http://www.the-proving-grounds.com/scenario_details_link.html?sku=629

Hi JC_Hare Nae bother neebs! I'll get around to taking the photos tomorrow. By the way, is the resolution they are taken at OK for you? If so i will just do the same. The rather dirty map of Alamein has lost of notes re type of ground. If you find you cannot make them out let me know and I can do close up shots of the sections. Glad they are of use. Cheers fur noo George Mc

I have a British Army issue 1:100000 map of the El Alamein area as was used during the actual British attack. It was issued to my Grandfather a Staff sergeant in the RAMC attached to 51st Highland Div. I also have abetter condition 1:100000 map of the same area. I don't have a scanner that is large enough but could take some jpeg photos and email them to you. The British Army map is not in A1 condition, and may not turn out all that well. Let me know, you can email me via gmcewan@totalise.co.uk Cheers fur noo George Mc e-mail already sent. El Alamein is an area I want to tackle, especially the early July battles and Alam Halfa ridge. </font>

started using Uosu thanks to GJK's suggestion. It's excellent. makes taking screenshots dead easy, plus you do not have to exit the game to sort out where you want to place your shot. Thansk for the top tip GJK! Cheers fur noo George Mc

I have a British Army issue 1:100000 map of the El Alamein area as was used during the actual British attack. It was issued to my Grandfather a Staff sergeant in the RAMC attached to 51st Highland Div. I also have abetter condition 1:100000 map of the same area. I don't have a scanner that is large enough but could take some jpeg photos and email them to you. The British Army map is not in A1 condition, and may not turn out all that well. Let me know, you can email me via gmcewan@totalise.co.uk Cheers fur noo George Mc

Hi GSX My apologies for the delay in responding I've been away in Norway for week. Both my Dad and Grandad are called George - must be the Campbell/hanovarian influence! My only claim to any Jacobitism is my Granny on my Mum's side was a Stewart. Not related to Charlie though! Just drove up though Drumochter Pass this evening. Any advancing German forces taking one look at the weather would have just turned right back I'm sure! Still the idea of playing a CMBB game attempting to hold back advancing German panzers sounds appealing J2D? Hey J2D a Norwegian/Scottish wife eh? A winning combination mate

I agree. The Highlands have never figured strongly in any British governments thinking, so it would unlikely if the Nazi germany would have cared Let's face it the Hanovarians very quickly pacified the Highlands at a time when the road links were far poorer, and they had no air support Do you mind if I ask whereabouts in the Highlands you stay? I'm near Aviemore - a grand place!! Cheers fur noo George

Assuming that Britain would still have naval superiority, troops, weapons, fuel etc could be shipped over to the North of Scotland where a resistance could be mounted. Given the road netwrok that existed then a mechnaised force attempting to move into the Highlands could be easily checked (basically they would have to move up through narrow glens which would be easily defended). Given the generally poor weather in the Highlands air support for any offensive actions in the Highlands would be patchy at best. Where I stay was used as a major troop training area so there were units based here (anti-tank/mountain warfare etc). Cheers fur noo George

Aye but the Germans would have never made it through Drumochter Pass and into the heart of the Highlands. they would have taken one look at the weather and midgies, thought (in German of course) "F**k that!" and headed back down south. BUT... I am intregued. The age old invasion route for the North tended to go up through the east coast e.g. South Berwick. Carlisle was important but only as a venue for hanging miscreants! Arguably the Germans forces may have chosen to go up the east coast (has the advantage that this advance route could be supported by sea/possibly even air). Land ground forces at Gullane beach near Edinburgh - then it is a hop skip and a jump to Rosyth naval base, where the British Home fleet sailed out from.... As for forces... the Highlands were/are used as a training venuse by the Army. Hard place to control given the state of the road netwrok at that time (in fact the main road from Inverness onwards up until the late seventies/early eighties was single track. Like the cut of yer jib J2D!! Cheers fur noo George Mc