aka_tom_w

Yes. those .50 cal HMG's are the reason I prefer the Yanks when I play the Allies. It is ALMOST a good equalizer to all damn fausts those German infantry squads are ALWAYS packing. The British have rock solid tanks, but the .50 cal is REALLY a HUGE bonus for the Yanks because it can make short work of Axis HT's and some light skinned AFV's with flank shot. The best kill I ever had was a Marder at 600-700 meters. If you get three or Four HT's with .50 cal HMGs lined up in GOOD crossfiring positions they can really scare the heck out any advancing german infantry. In One game (Foggy Bottom I think) I had four .50 cal HT.s in Defensive positions in the fog and my opponent slowly advanced 2 platoons of some kind of infantry in the open in the fog into the range of these 4 HT's those .50 cal ALL opened up and stopped them COLD!. They were all routed, broken, paniced or eliminated inside of two minutes. Praise to the Ma Deuce! -tom w [ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ] [ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

how about this: Posted by James Junior Member Member # 5559 posted 04-19-2001 09:13 AM Here are some tips on senario design which give better AI performance from the infantry and more unpredicatble better fought meeting engagements. Here are the three steps. First: In map preview split all squads. This may seem strange but what happens is the split squads behave with more caution, a more sensitive TacAI - they react more sensibily without needless sacrifice. Also the global moral of both sides drops to 55-70% making the overall AI more cautious and less prone to giving you a turkey shoot. The infantryman in CM is abstrated into squads, by splitting the squads that abstraction is also half as less. Second: Remove all victory flags. What!? I hear you say! The trouble with VLs is that you know where the enemy will head for, even with dynamic ones, and all you have to do is get there first into cover to let the AI force his men relentlessly into your incoming until their all casulties or broken. Third: Place exit zones for each side opposite each other. ie Allies start in the west advance to exit zone in the east and the opposite for Axis. What it actually does is give the Strat AI a fine balence between attack and defence. It will utilse both strategies with flexibility according to the situation and use any part of the map. It even withdraws in a hot spot to a better position. Actual exiting by the AI hardly ever happens, and there is no need for you to exit if you are concentrating on defeating the enemy. The exit zones are there not there as an objective but as a modification to the behavior of the AI. These 3 steps may seem a bit strange but try designing a senario useing them all. Even an experienced CM player can actully be given a real challenge and be beaten by the AI without it having superior weight of numbers! I use forces of approximatly equal point strength all the time and the AI really gives as good as it gets. I have had some excellent battles and lost a number of times, drawn most times, won sometime. Not only does it feel more realistic it is a better game for useing these 3 steps. PS:Use an existing hand made map from another senario Maybe Rune or somebody can make up a few of these. IT would be REALLY nice to specify a QB (hint for CM2) with NO flags in a TCP/IP match even if ONLY one player had to exit his units out the exit zone it would be a great scenario. This is a tricky question because when we all sit down to play we ALL want a "fair" chance to win. This is wholey unrealistic to begin with, because in WWII and virtually any armed conflict the attacker (and there is ususally an agressor) does not want to commit to the battle until he has some sort of odds advantage. We try to simulate this with Probes and assualts and attacks. But the ME is widely considered the most even way to engage the opponent. Maybe QB's without flags for TCP/ip purposes is the way to go. Premade Scenarios by Rune are also REALLY fun. -tom w

the weekend is almost here BUMP ! -tom w

more fog of war in CM2 has been requested by more than a few people. I think it has been refered to as an "Extreme FOW" or "Ultra Realistic FOW" I really hope it is being considered. -tom w

of course like EVERY other great game EXCEPT CM (NOTE the ON topic sentence "except CMBO" ) this game is not available for the Mac yet! I can't wait for the MAC version soon hopefully! Tell us more about the game? Who is playing it? (who here I mean) is it fun? is it easy or hard to grow and expand the population on your island? I have read all about this game, it Looks like a great of fun to be a dictator what is the biggest magable population you have expanded to so far? just curious? thanks -tom w [ 04-26-2001: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

of course like EVERY other great game EXCEPT CM (NOTE the ON topic sentence "except CMBO" ) this game is not available for the Mac yet! I can't wait for the MAC version soon hopefully! Tell us more about the game? Who is playing it? (who here I mean) is it fun? is it easy or hard to grow and expand the population on your island? I have read all about this game, it Looks like a great of fun to be a dictator what is the biggest magable population you have expanded to so far? just curious? thanks -tom w [ 04-26-2001: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dunnee: the phrase "gamey" is BS.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> WHY?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nedlam: I use to button my tanks up at the 1st sign of trouble. Now I keep them unbuttoned until the computer does it by itself. I figure my little digital TC knows better than me what the situation is. Once I feel like the threat has passed I usually have them unbutton again until the computer closes it up. Nedlam<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I agree with this... I would say that is the best practice, they will button themselves when things get hot, but they won't automatically unbutton. So when things quiet down you have to unbutton them and then they will "auto-button" by them selves if they need to. -tom w

Sounds good I have not played any regualr ladder games, but i will start out my "ladder" gaming with new battles in CAL. Thanks -tom w

What?? this thread is not dead yet? How about letting it rest in peace? -tom w

Two words IF Mail order via the web is the only way to go and I assume it will be the same as CMBO. Then they REALLY really ought to give us..... ORDER TRACKING!!!!! Via UPS or FEDEX or something that is automated so we can see the status of our order. This "when will I get it, how long will it take?" question constantly comes up and it is perhaps the single weakest element of their game and their entire sales and marketing strategy. Many folks here will GALDLY pay extra for over night air and like any other business shippements want and expect to be able to track the progress of the package. Its NOT that much to ask really. -tom w [ 04-25-2001: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

Its EASY! If the Mac player sends the files from Outlook, that MicroSoft Product, will "encode" the attachment in a way that ALL other PC's running monopolistic Microsoft products, will be HAPPY to recieve them. No stuffing or zipping or anything, just attach and send pbem files in Outlook express, the software is FREE and it it works fine. Easy easy solution. -tom w

Penetration without result (no damage) is modeled. Its fluky but it does sometimes happen that a round will penetrate an AFV and there will be no damage (VERY lucky). I would say the size or diameter of the round is not taken into account in this penetration result. BUT when a burst of German 20 mm or 37 mm hit and penetrate an AFV I have never seen a penetration without result due to the "burst" nature of these weapons. -tom w [ 04-25-2001: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ParaBellum: Though muzzle velocity is very important for a gun's performance, there are other factors, too. Crew experience, quality of optics, design of turret and many more. Don't know how or if BTS modelled all these factors.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I can tell you with absolute certainty the very high quality of the German gunnery optics are NOT modeled in this game. (its a LONG story). Crew Quality is modeled and better crews are more accurate. Allies Gryro Stabilizers are modeled and those allied tanks that have them are not penalized while firing and targeting on the move. THERE is a VERY detailed set of targer aquistion algorythms that determine the likelyhood a a chance to hit. Factors that are modeled are time of day (lighting condtions), hull down/not hull down, either tank (target, or shooter) moving , crew experience, velocity of the weapon, and there is an quisition bonus that means the chance to hit an aquired target goes up after every missed shot fired. To Blades: THERE are some VERY long and detailed old threads on this board that cover jsut about every point you have mentioned. Many of us here have been playing the game since the beta demo and have seen the targeting algorythms evolve to the state they are now. There used to be a GREAT deal of moaning and bitching about how incorrect the targeting and chance to hit percentages were modeled and most here now believe they are VERY realistic and accurate. In the last two patches the chance to hit probabilites were bumped up a bit for some weapons I believe. I shoudl not be so lazy and quote a few of the threads here, but the search is too slow. Anyway, the CMBO game will not be tweaked fixed or patched anymore so it is the way it is. But I asure you most here will tell you it is NEAR perfection the way it is now, given what we started with, in the beta Demo. -tom w

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Echo: I've solved the great "when to open fire" debate. Drink a hell of alot of beer before you even think about playing, go to the chat and chalenge some poor unwitting schmuck. Open fire with ECERYTHING you've got as soon as you see the poor bastard. Overwhelming force, BEER, and ego win 90% of the battles. Half your opponents will cower and run if you show too much confidence. I've never seen my men shoot better than when I'm loaded. Further more... I swear, I've never seen so many panty wearing wussy's offended at a little foul language in a WAR game. Drink some beer, relax, and if I curse and yell 'cause I get excited, don't go skulking off to your mommy's about my foul language, or disrespect. You are my mortal enemy as long as the turn counter is rolling, and I will humiliate, defame, and yell "NUTTS" at you until the deed is done. Where the hell are the real men here???<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Please Please read this with a sense of humour! From: http://www.battlefront.com/cgi-bin/bbs/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=017641 You mean LIKE this: The_Capt Member Member # 4041 posted 03-23-2001 08:32 AM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I was contemplating a new topic for the discussion of the week (CM and 19th century existentialism, or however you spell it) when I noticed that the evil topic of gameyness has resurfaced. So in an attempt to dispel all doubt on what is right and wrong from the minds of the unwashed masses here is a re-print (and slightly re-edited) of my spin on the subject. For those who have already read it, I apologize, so go read something else. My spin on the greatest question of our generation: "When are you being gamey?" My opinion All of CM is "gamey", not unlike a fine free range North West Territory ptarmigan. For those who don't know what a ptarmigan is, it is like a partridge (not the dysfunctional 70s family but the bird, although you could shoot and eat the family but I have no idea how they would taste. Although the older sister...what was her name again...whoops, time to come back, this is not that kind of forum). CM is a game after all and not actual warfare(although if you've spent more than a few months here on the forum you may argue that point). The creators have kept this in mind by allowing players to do, whatever the hell they want(c'ept Fionn of course Hey easy now I joke cause I love). The only "rules" are those agreed upon by two opponents. In my opinion some members of this community wish to pursue CM as a historical simulator. I personally think this is an empty goal and unattainable. And I can sight dozens of problems between the game and reality, like the little men in CM are NOT REAL!!..BUT it doesn't make it any less fun nor negate their attempt (though somewhat sad in my simple mind) to try. So if you want to recreate a WWII battle down to "cap badges and weapons sights" go ahead. And try and find like minded players who are also willing to play in this frame. BUT you are not better or superior because you do and we are not lesser people undeserving of the "holy piece of software, sacred binary code upon whom all others look pale and pasty, that's right, put your hands together. Can I have an Amen! Praise Combat Mission!! Ahem, cough cough." You (and I am talking to mostly Grogs here) have only decided to play the GAME a certain way. The rest of us (and I group myself)look at CM as a game and will use everything we can in the game to win or (lose as has been the case lately). So if it is a coy of flamethowers lighting up everything in sight like a Mongolian barbecue chef gone postal, and your opponent is OK with it, PLAY ON! Problems and conflict arise when one camp bumps into the other. A die-in-the wool Grog meets a half-liquored Friday night CM Goon whose girlfriend/wife wants nothing to do with him (or her...well you know what I mean just switch the gender labels around for you girls...both of you). They fail to establish "ground rules" and charge into a doomed battle. The Grog, with his AFV posters and manuals is slaving over which Allied doctrine to try and modelling his unit purchases against WWII OOBs. "Now did Capt Johnson have a single or gold plated command rating? Well let's see how he fought at Anzio..." and so on. The Half-Baked Goon; "OK let's see what a map with nothin but Arty FOs and freakin TRPs will do..heh,heh. Oh ya I'll throw in 12 jeeps cause they burn good....man I am hungry....and thirsty. What is taking this guy so f#$4ing long." Now our two warriors meet. The Grog has a perfect Bn advance as per the "Closing of the Falaise Gap"..."Now which coy actually was forward left..." The Goon sits and giggles "C'mon you pansy assed Brit Sh$t eaters...come to Fritzy....atta boy" Boom! Arty starts dropping like bird crap at a beach wedding. The Grog "oh my now what was the allied drill...ah yes...very good..oh my he is using it all up at once...I think vonGoosestep tried that in Italy but this is France tsk, tsk." Goon " WOOOO-HOOO!!....(to sleeping boy/girlfriend)...you see that?! Now for the big stuff, 300mm and another beer...belch". BOOM, KA-F$#%ing-BOOM!!! Grog; "Oh my, well let me see an Axis SS Division has ###long range arty assets...oh my! That doesn't seem right. My opponent will very "red-faced" when he sees his mistake, tee-hee....Oh dear there goes Stanley's Coy.." Goon; "TAKE THAT!! AHHHH-HAHAHAHAHA. I love this freakin game, I swear I saw bodies flyin. Oh sorry dear.....And now for the jeeps." Jeep assault onto hill 130 is carried out. Grog; "Now I am afraid he has gone too far...time for a stern chat message.." Goon; "I wonder what's on Fox or wait I think that Arts channel has Euro-porn on at 11..." Chat message: GenAllisterMontegue: "Excuse me for saying but your force purchase seems a little excesive in the Artillery and Recon assets." JOhnnyRottAN: "What do yu meen?" GenAllisterMantegue: "Well if you consult "ALL THINGS AXIS" the 1998 edition, you will see that you simply do not have the amounts you are using here." JOhnnyRottAN: "Hey pal! If it works, it anin't broken...you callin me GAMEY?!!!:{" And we can all see hard feelings and anger which will result as the exchange degrades into....a forum thread. As an aside the freaks out there have a slightly different approach, they establish ground rules then quickly proceed to ignore them. ALL'S FAIR IN LUST AND WAR DICK_HEAD!!!!! I RULE!!! WASSSUPPP!!! So the only rules are ones you mutually decide on and in the long run it is only God you will have to answer to in the end (and yes I am sure He plays CM, big on Allies but he really hates the Sherman). So happy gaming and let's just be friends. And go our there and kill each other CM style! Authors Note: Now for any out there who feel that this is a cheap re-post of a former topic to avoid having to actually think this week, you are absolutely right. I figure I can get one more mile out of this piece of work and then will actually have to pump out something original and if you don't like it SCREW YOU DICK_HEAD!!! I RULE!!!! WASSSSAAAAAP!!! " THAT was the Post I was looking for!! -tom w

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LimShady: Post the link if you find it. Chris<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'm looking STILL! I can' think of a key word or phrase that will specifically identify and dingle that one post out? Any hints? key words to serch for? Anybody? -tom w

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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Terence: the one where the kid takes 30 FOs and 100 jeep mgs as his force? that was funny.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yeah That one! where the hell is it? I'm searching now but the search is real SLOW! -tom w

Now where is that GREAT post in about the half tanked "viedo gamer" kid, with the REALLY gamey force selection playing the "grog old timer" with his completley accurate histrorical units and tactics?? They talk back in forth in the chat and it is hiliarious! I think that post needs to show up in this thread, the post is less than a month old. I'm searching for it now. -tom w

just a friendly bump -tom w

I'm not sure if this was the case here but using trucks for recon is one thing but using them ALSO to draw fire, from armour, while your other tanks sit back and watch for who to aim at next should be considered gamey. using a truck for recon, due to "borg like" intel is gamey IMHO. The game was tweaked to make all fast moving vehicles not able to spot very well. (what EXACTLY this means I'm not sure, but it seems to be effective). Any way, some people may choose to play the game that way. I myself use gamey tactics sometimes if we are playing no-holds barred, anything goes rules. But I would still say sending trucks on suicide recon runs is attempting to exploit the absolute spotting protocol and I would label it gamey (but this is not always a BAD thing , but it is ahistorical) -tom w

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wreck: Something I would like to see in the new ladder if it happens, is adding to the reporting who had which side/force. This would allow the collection of a convincing set of data regarding axis/allied balance.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> That is agreat idea It would be very interesting to have this "historical ladder" set up and track wins and losses and force type and nationality. "This would allow the collection of a convincing set of data regarding axis/allied balance" VERY good point. -tom w