Dar

Hmm... That would be nice, although I think I'd rather learn by trial-and-error. What I really would want to clamor for, though, is another scenario or two! I've got the two existing maps and OOBs practically memorized by now. Dar

Good tip about the setup, Madmatt--Thanks! I find myself having to use these "Ambush" markers a lot more than I would like, simply because units ordered to "hide" open fire much earlier than I think is practical. I don't much like having "hidden" bazooka and Panzerschreck teams open up at 200m at moving vehicles. All they do is blow their cover and tell the world, "Here I am! Please shoot me!" Dar

Fionn: Believe me, I don't think there's anything that justifies delaying CM's release given the state of the Beta demo! It seems incredibly stable for a Beta, and, as I mentioned in another thread, I'd settle for the Beta release and a scenario editor right now. However, I do think this is an improvement, and I would love to see it in a future release if it's feasible. It'd sure be easier on those who game across multiple time zones. Dar

Boy, I hope the "real" demo comes with at least four scenarios... If the two scenarios that came with the Beta demo were shoes, I think most people would have worn them out by now! Could we have a "Four Seasons" theme with the demo? I'm just dying to see the fall and winter landscapes! They look spectacular in the screenshots. Dar

Okay, well, now I've generated the results file for turn 2 and sent it to Mattias, so I realize that we are using the 3 emails/turn completion routine. I would really appreciate a comment from Steve/Charles on whether or not the 2 emails/turn completion method is feasible. I still believe the cheating preventions you're currently using could continue to be enforced this way, and it would lead to quicker game resolution with one less email requirement per turn. If I'm way off my rocker here, please let me know. It just seems to me that returning the results file right back to the player who generated it without appending orders for the next turn is a missed opportunity. Dar [This message has been edited by Dar (edited 11-01-99).]

I am loving this game! Hell, just give me a scenario editor and I'll take the demo right now as is! There are a couple of minor things I'd like to see modified or added. However, I still have to rank this among the top 5 games I've every played, even if it's only a demo! Dar

I don't understand what you mean here, unless you think I'm talking about generating both a results (film) file and then an orders file, physically independent of each other. I'm talking about generating one file which contains both results and orders. Since the program interprets both types of files, appending one to the other and programmatically interpreting them can't be that much of a stretch. Here's the scenario: o Player A on host computer completes setup. Emails file to Player B. o Player B on guest computer completes setup, issues orders for turn 1. Emails *one* file containing setup and orders to A. o Host generates results file for turn 1. Player A can not view it. Sends file to B. o B watches results film for turn 1 and issues orders for turn 2. Sends *one* file containing turn 1 results and turn 2 orders to A. o Player A watches results film for turn 1, issues turn 2 orders. Host computer generates results file for turn 2, which A again can not view. Player A sends results file to B. And the cycle continues. What this means is each turn is completed in two emails. I've only played turn one of this scenario with Mattias, so I'm not fully aware of how many emails the current CM system requires. I assume that each player's computer generates turn results alternately, requiring three emails to complete a turn, as having only one host computer generate results would require four emails per turn. If I'm missing something here, please point it out to me. However, I think the system as is could be streamlined a bit. Dar [This message has been edited by Dar (edited 11-01-99).]

Fionn, Now I understand the logic. You're right--I'm too trusting and haven't played PBEM games that much to realize what pitfalls there are... It's a shame that this is necessary. However, it seems to me that if *he* generates the results (for turn 1) without seeing them on his computer, and sends me those results, that I could view those results, issue my turn 2 orders and send them. He could then view the turn 1 results, issue his turn 2 orders, resolve turn 2 without seeing it, and we could repeat the process. Am I explaining this well enough? This essence of it is that one player's computer processes all turn results, but that player does not see the results until the other player has viewed them and issued his own. That still accomplishes the same thing, I believe, with one less step. Swapping the movie files may seem quick to you, however it's an extra step that requires a response from both players. When I live in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and my current opponent Mattias lives in Sweden (I assume from the ".se" suffix), we may only be able to send one email a day to each other due to the time difference and the requirement of an acknowledgment each time. Dar

PC Users: You can paste your screenshot into any graphics program or any program that supports graphics (MS Word, etc.) by opening that program after you've taken the screenshot and hitting CTRL+V, or selecting Edit|Paste from the menu. Once you take a screenshot, it's in the "Clipboard" memory--the same memory used when you highlight a sentence and hit CTRL+C or select Edit|Copy. Dar

Does each turn require two emails from each player? I just started a PBEM game with Mattias in Sweden, and I was surprised this morning when I got his turn 1 orders. I played the turn 1 film, and when I hit the "Done" button, it automatically saved the PBEM file to send back without asking for my turn 2 orders. Is this right or did I miss something? It seems awfully unnecessary to require two emails from each player per turn. I had thought that I would be receiving the turn 1 results and his turn 2 orders, then I would process my turn 2 orders on my computer and send him the turn 2 results and my turn 3 orders. Upon receipt, he would view the turn 2 results, process turn 3 on his computer, and send me the turn 3 results and his turn 4 orders. Am I way off base here? Are all results processed on my computer this game and sent to him? Couldn't the PBEM file contain, if not all the turn results, the random number seed to generate the same results on both computers? I am loving this demo, and I have no other serious complaints. The only minor things I've seen were the occasional AI quirks (which could be credited to FoW) and I've wondered about the sound effects I hear during the AI processing (like the ripping of an MG42 or the hollow thunk of a vehicle getting knocked out, but neither event takes place in the film for that turn). However, this apparent requirement of two emails per player per turn means we could be playing this 30-turn scenario for almost two months at one email per player per day! Please tell me I missed something obvious. I hope I'm just being ignorant here. Dar

dsteckel@stargate.net

That's strange--I haven't had any problems at all getting infantry to disembark, regardless of what speeds the vehicles are travelling at. I normally put their disembarkation point relatively close to the vehicle's charted path and, even if it's ordered to move fast, the vehicle will slow down and allow the passengers to jump off before continuing its movement order. Too cool! Preacher--Yeah, I read that account on Singling just a month or so again after all the hype for CM rekindled my interest in WWII small unit actions. I think it'd make a terrific scenario, too! It's just the perfect scale for CM. Dar

No, I was talking about the AI handing me my butt on a plate! I've put in plenty o' hours at work this week, and I only have two cats at home. All I have to do is fend off my friends who might want to drag me out on the town tonight! Quality drinking time *or* quality playing time? Decisions, decisions! Dar

Good idea, Mike! I need to do that, too, so if I get my butt handed to me, I always have the beer as an excuse! Dar

I agree with Madmatt--that was my first impression when trying to cancel an order and hitting "ESC" which minimizes the app and puts me back at the desktop. I don't know what you Mac folks use for a "Cancel" key, but the ESC key is typically what we PC users use. Congrats, BTS! The demo is outstanding! I've only had a short time to play with it, but I am loving the graphics, the gameplay, and the AI! I also want to thank you profusely for its ability to run smoothly on my 2 year old Pentium Pro 200 MHz--I was so afraid I'd have to upgrade *just* for CM! (and, believe me, I was prepared to do it if necessary!) Dar

Hey, Sgt. Rock, I tried the same thing on MPlayer with Gettysburg, and hell if I know what more I need to do to get it to work. Downloaded every damn thing they threw at me, and seems that if you're a newbie on there, nobody's got the time of day for you. I'd sure love to try it, but the only way I ever got to play SMG against another human was through ICQ. Oh, and are there really that many popups on adult sites? I wouldn't know... Dar

That's even better. If it's not tomorrow, then it must be tonight! WOO-HOO!</FONT>

Herr Oberst and Mike: Just visited Cass yesterday, finally! Also stopped by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory on the way back. I posted the pictures to my Web site. Dar [This message has been edited by Dar (edited 10-17-99).]

Cornnuts! *sound of glass table breaking*

There had to have been some good reason to chose the PzkW IV turret over the Panther turret--More room to dedicate to radios and charts, perhaps? I doubt this could have been an easy modification, due to the difference in turret ring size. Some thought and planning were needed to do this, and I'd bet it took more than just dropping a turret into the hull. Dar Steckelberg

That is freakin' bizarre--like a chihuahua's head on the body of a St. Bernard. Dar Steckelberg

I had to go buy the board game "Empire Builder" after visiting Railfest in Altoona, PA, this weekend. Board games were my first love, and I haven't abandoned them completely! Besides, tanks or trains--they both satisfy my Metal Montrosity fetish! Got some pix from Railfest, by the way, posted at this site for anyone else who's a train buff. Dar Steckelberg

Is that even an 82nd AA patch I see on the MG gunner? Damn! You guys are going all out for the little stuff! However, you know that by doing this, you're opening yourself up to all kinds of flak from people that are going to want the 101st, or have their regular dogfaces show the Big Red One patch, etc. Dar Steckelberg

A quick search on Amazon produced this: <u>Thunderbolt : General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times</u>, by Lewis Sorley. It has only two reader reviews, but they're both five stars. Dar Steckelberg

Cricket reference--"Top Secret"? "Ist Ihre Tochter achtzehn?"