aka_tom_w

Spoiler ALERT...... But Last night my friend and I played "Night at Cheneux" and won with 71% (Allied Major Victory) as the Allies, it was our first time on that scenario so it was Blind. Don't read any further if you don't want to know spoiler info.. Anyway... A little AAR In the final two minutes of the the scenario we ordered an Elite full strength, (happy and healthy) Paratroop squad to close assault the one remaining Panther that our Jackson's did not get. We ended up with one imbolized Jackson and One Mobile without a main gun and having ko'd one Panther we were in a stand off with his remaining Panther. We fired rifles at it and it buttoned up then in the fog and in the dark the Elite Paratroops single handidly (without even taking a casuality) presumably crawled all over it (there were 10 of them) and in the final minute with only rifles and a BAR kept hammering at it until it came up as KO'd! (We aren't stupid, we did order them to sneak up on it and attack it from the rear and it did not have any other german infantry supporting it) None of them were injured and my friend and I couldn't beleive it but we were thrilled! Headline Reads: U.S. Para's Knock Out German Monster Tank (Panther) in the Fog at night in Cheneux! (Moral of the story, watch out for Elite Paratroops at night in the FOG, they can be VERY deadly) Now that was FUN! -tom w [This message has been edited by aka_tom_w (edited 07-28-2000).]

I'm not sure about this and I have no personal experience of WW II but I think the way BTS has modeled the crews and their bail outs and what they can do have the the bail out (especially with the brittleness and low spotting ability in v1.03) makes the game and the way it plays SEEM very realistic to me and it is STILL very fun and adictive. The armour penentration modeling is in my opninion EXCELLENT as the aspect of the tank that is hit always seems to be correctly modeled and flank shots and rear shot always seem to have a greater chance of penetration to KO the vehicle. I think this game is every wargamers dream come true. Great Work Steve and Charles. Of Topic I know... Spoiler ALERT...... But Last nigh tmy friend and I played "Night at Cheneux" and won with 71% (Allied Major Victory) as the Allies, it was our first time on that scenario so it was Blind. Don't read any further if you don't want to know spoiler info.. Anyway... A little AAR In the final two minutes of the the scenario we ordered an Elite full strength, (happy and healthy) Paratroop squad to close assault a the one remaining Panther that our Jackson's did not get. We ended up with one imbolized Jackson and One Mobile without a main gun and having ko'd one Panther we were in a stand off with his remaining Panther. We fired rifles at it and it buttoned up then in the fog and in the dark the Elite Paratroops single handidly (without even taking a casuality) presumably crawled all over it (there were 10 of them) and in the final minute with only rifles and a BAR kept hammering at it until it came up as KO'd! (We aren't stupid, we did order them to sneak up on it and attack it from the rear and it did not have any other german infantry supporting it) None of them were injured and my friend and I couldn't beleive it but we were thrilled! Headline Reads: U.S. Para's Knock Out German Monster Tank (Panther) in the Fog at night in Cheneux! (Moral of the story, watch out for Elite Paratroops at night in the FOG, they can be VERY deadly) Now that was FUN! -tom w

it may have simply been an over sight I don't think very many people here knew that you could save a quick battle (unmoved) and open in the scenario editor. Maybe that feature (undocumented as it seemed to be) was perceived as a bug and it was "fixed" Just my opinion I could be all wrong. -tom

Hi Thanks for your informed replies From what I had read I thought others here were using 2 computers for LAN hotseat head to head play with CM on PC's. I thought this was only possible when the TCP/IP patch comes out. I'm happy with head to head, hotseat play on one computer I just thought that others here had perfected the now nonexistant "hotseat via LAN" connection which is now (I think) known to be mythical. I'm not interested in any Timbuktu solution (too messy) I guess like EVERY one else what I really want is the TCP/IP patch with the timer and then Lets get on with it. Thanks for your replies. -tom w

I have never seen a damaged gun repaired. I'm quite certian that a damaged main weapon in a tank is in fact DEAD for the rest of the scenario. -tom w

Yes I think that now that all the little things that could be tweaked in the v1.03 patch have been fixed there should be a new effort to go full steam ahead with the TCP/IP patch, I would say it should be the next priority. I CAN'T wait for TCP/IP but I'm VERY VERY happy with all the little tweaks in the v1.03 patch that will make the game even better than it was. Count me in to TCP/IP as soon as it is available for download. My guess is that we still looking like mid to late Sept. for that one as it appears require a SUBSTANTIAL coding effort on Charles' part. Good Luck Charles. Hopefully there will be some vacation time in there some where too! We all know you truly deserve it. -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Great Thanks for the update guys. I will ge the current Mac Mods from Mad Matt's web site. -tom w

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fuse: That sounds like a reasonable request. I remember reading somewhere, not particularly sure but possibly on the BTS CM FAQ (hmmm, 3 acronym's...NICE!) that although dead soldiers bodies were not left where they had fallen, that AFV would be because of the fact that they blocked line of sight and provided cover. I might have been drawing false conclusions out of this statement, but I think not.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hi It has been made VERY clear that only vehicles burning and belching smoke will block LOS. For that matter knocked out pillboxes and bunkers also do NOT block LOS as they are treated as vehicles. This has been dicussed to death here. But for now, everyone who plays this game, should just know that unless it is a smoking wreck you are trying to hide behind, it won't provide ANY cover and it won't block LOS. Steve and Charles know all about it and have commented sufficiently that it is not really feasible (technically) to fix or and it is not a small tweak that can be patched at this time. -tom w

I have built in the editor a VERY large map with a large-ish WALLED city in the center of it. It is ALMOST ready for Prime time. for those of you (and I am off of you) waiting to see a good battle where an easily defended, European Style walled city sits in the middle of the map, (with VITAL strategic bridges in the middle of it), well your wait is almost over. I hope to finish my master piece "Balanced Bridges at Dawn" this weekend and release it Sunday or Monday. I used steep cliffs with the same "side walk" texture that Mad Matt used for the Dam he built for city walls and put high 15-16 level elevation tiles all around the top with garden varity stone walls tiles for cover on the tops of the tiles that drop off down to a level 4 or 5 to cause a large dry moat like rim around the base of the city. There are no actual gates but there are tall bridges over the only two road entrances to the city. It should be VERY easy (maybe TOO easy) to defend with just a hand full of infantry troops. It will be hellish to Attack. I hope you are all excited -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Folks Now I'm Curious Help me out here I read here that others here are playing head to head hot seat games on two computers connected via a LAN How can you set up two MAC computer to play hot seat across a LAN (I'm a MAc System Admin so I should be able to figure this out but I have not tried because I thought the TCP/IP patch was required first and it is not out yet) Is only one CD required? How to you (in exact techno weenie detail) connet two Macs for Lan Hotseat Play? I would be delighted to set this up. how does it work? Thanks again -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Folks Now I'm Curious Help me out here I read here that others here are playing head to head hot seat games on two computers connected via a LAN How can you set up two MAC computer to play hot seat across a LAN (I'm a MAc System Admin so I should be able to figure this out but I have not tried because I thought the TCP/IP patch was required first and it is not out yet) Is only one CD required? How to you (in exact techno weenie detail) connet two Macs for Lan Hotseat Play? I would be delighted to set this up. how does it work? Thanks again -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by thomasj: We thought about it, but both us of being prior military and still working for the Department of Defense are what you may call paraniod bastards and didn't even begin to go into the issues of trust and not looking while one was making thier turn (Note: Old military saying: I'll trust you with my life, but not my money or my wife/CM game!"). So we both took seperate machines and hammered away at one another in the confines of our privacy. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> OK Now I'm Curious Help me out here How can you set up two computer to play hot seat across a Lan Is only one CD required? How to you (in exact techno weenie detail) connet two Macs for Lan Hotseat Play? I would be delighted to set this up. how does it work? -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by robo: Is the download the actual patch or a front-end app that downloads the patch over the net when you run it? What I got is only 1.66 MB, is that it?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I think thats IT! 1.66 Megs of the Finest Code and WW II Wargaming CRT (Combat Result Table simulator) Algorythyms (and lets not forget those Patented CM Mind Control Algorthyms, CM -MCA's) you will hever find all in one need 1.66 Meg download -tom P.S. for what its worth, I hope Steve and Charles both enjoyed what ever vacation they could get away with. And welcome back if they have indeed been away. This patch Rocks!! ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Folks I was just wondering where I can get the latests Mac Mods and do they work well with System 9.04 on the Newly released v1.03 patch? Thanks any info would be greatly appreciated. -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is it... the v1.03 patch has this "tweak" to deal with bailed crews. and I quote: "* Bailed crews now have poor visual spotting ability." I really think that's all that was needed to curb this so called "gamey" play style. So now they bail out and they can't see more than (it has been suggested here) 25-50 meters then will be both "brittle" (see the ! in there status window) and now they are mostly BLIND too. Perfect! Lets move on. -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is what Charles Says about this in the v1.03 patch simple and direct..... here it is: " * Bailed crews now have poor visual spotting ability." I think that should do it. -tom w

WOW the list of fixes is TRULY amazing an really worthy of the HIGHEST praise and accomendation! thanks Charles Great WORK! I'm blown away Thanks especially for the poorer spotting for the balied out crews I think that is the BEST way to handle the "gamey" use of crew problem. Should be interesting to see how this affects so called "gamey" play. Here is.. Charles says: "* Bailed crews now have poor visual spotting ability." I think that should do the trick. -tom w ------------------ <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> "Have you thanked BTS by buying your SECOND copy of CM yet?" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

YES but.... I understand that the LACK of a radio is waht is being modeled after the crew bails out. They may be scouts and trained recon specialists but, assuming they bailed out without a radio they are as useless as ever other crew. I think it is fair to assume that ALL crews that bail out of vehicles do so with only pistols and NO radios or rifles or submachine guns or anything. So therefore even crews from recon vehicles would not be able to get the word back if they were out of the command radius of the nearest CO. That all makes sense to me. -tom w <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hakko Ichiu: What about crews of recon vehicles? Are they truck drivers first or scouts? I would think it less gamey to use the crew of an M8 for scouting (esp. if it was part of a recon unit). After all that is what they were trained to do. Of course it may be much more of a coding problem to differentiate between crew types. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good Question I have the v1.01 update but can only get a quick battle at 1000 points I did not knows others with the v1.02 CD could have 5000 point Quick battles. I thouhgt the v1.01 patch and the New CD with v1.02 on it were the SAME identical software apparently they are not. Seems like we are being punished for preordering. any comments? -tom w <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OsinO: Hey, I just figured out that ppl with 1.01 of CM cant make a QB over 1000 points, but the people with the later 1.02 CD's can make them upto 5000 points. What I was wondering is if the person with v1.02 CM makes the setup of a QB at 5000 points will the v1.01 CM allow him to play with 5000 points? (in the PBEM game) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OK I look at it this way.... "What does the AI do with its crews after they bail out?" I have read this and I wonder.. read this AAR account of the recent Heroism of a bailed crew under AI command: Red Dog Junior Member posted 06-28-2000 03:39 PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a quick battle I was commanding a small British force making a probe of a village. In the house to house fighting an entire rifle platoon was pinned down by a pair of MG42's in a heavy building at the end of the street, so I decided to move my Wasp up to clear the building. As soon as my Wasp came within range of the MG42's a Volksgrendier SMG squad popped out of hiding in a nearby building and fired a panzerfaust... it was a near miss, but the crew of the Wasp bailed out anyway. The three man crew then proceeded to charge the SMG squad and wiped them out! The next thing I knew the two MG42's in the building next door had surrendered to the Wasp crew... sadly one of the valiant crewmembers was taken out in the fighting. I'll definately be recommending the Victoria Cross for the whole crew. IP: Logged gaffertape replies: Member posted 06-28-2000 03:43 PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Red Dog: Did the AI make the call to charge the Germans, or did you call the shots? Either way, I second your VC recommendation. IP: Logged Red Dog replies: Junior Member posted 06-28-2000 03:49 PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was the AI; it all happened in one turn, the Wasp was fired on in the first few seconds of the turn. Took them about 30 seconds to take out the SMG squad, and then at the end of the turn I noticed that the MG42's had surrendered.I wish there was some way to record the turns." End Thread. Some people here are labeling this heroism as gamey. I find this difficult to understand when it is programed in the AI to act in this way. I like the game exactly the way it is now and find nothing wrong with using crews like soldiers for recon. I do however highly suspect the some programming change to this situation will be a MAJOR part of the v1.03 patch due out soon. those are my thoughts your flames and comments are welcome. -tom w

Check out the Gamey Recon Thread and the Crew Bail out Ability thread. there is plenty more dicsusion there. -tom w

Just sending this one back to the top as it has to do with the current post about crew bail out ability. -tom w

This topic has been discussed to DEATH here.. Check out the "Gamey Recon.." thread it has some GOOD insight from Steve and Charles in it and it discussed some proposed solutions. Maybe they will be in the v1.03 patch: http://www.battlefront.com/discuss/Forum1/HTML/006510.html Chalres says this at one point: " posted 06-27-2000 08:17 PM Bailed crew are also "fragile" morale-wise. Notice the red exclamation mark in the lower right of their info panel. They panic quickly when fired upon, so they're not really the best scouts. Charles" I encourage all of you to visit the discusion in this thread as some very good solutions and suggestions to deal with this problme were proposed. -tom w [This message has been edited by aka_tom_w (edited 07-26-2000).]

I could be wrong here but I am designing a scenario right now and last night try to place mines on a bridge, in the set up, maybe I did not do it right, but anti tank mines and antipersonal mines cannot be placed on a brige, maybe daisy chain mines can, that one I'm not sure of. I would say that the best and easiest way to blow a bridge is to use a tank with HE or Arty or mortars, The Tank with HE seems to be the quickest and most effective. -tom w <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mannheim Tanker: Here's an idea for designing a scenario where you want engineers to blow a bridge: When building the map, set a minefield (or several) on the bridge. Engineers will throw a satchel charge into a minefield on their own if you move them close enough to it (and let them sit there a turn or 2). Not sure if this will detroy the bridge - but it's worth a try. Could make for a cool scenario. On a side note: I've had engineers throw charges at tanks before and annhilate them so I guess they're good for something!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks MM, I'm still wondering if a victory flag placed on a bridge counts for points if the bridge is destroyed. I don't think it should count. If this has not been addressed I would like to see it on "the list" for the next patch. I think a bridge "should" only be worth the victory points for that location if it is still standing at the end of the battle. Does anyone know the answer to this question? thanks -tom w <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Miyamoto Musashi: I'm not sure as to the relationship between minor and major flags, \ I also don't know the answer to Tom's bridge question, although I'd suspect that if the bridge was destroyed, the AI would still try to capture the goal "area." <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>