Hawk

Yes of course. I was specifically refering to "cheap" support weapons vs crews.

When using the internal PSP5 screen-grabber I would only manage to capture whatever was "behind" the CM screen (i.e. the desktop if nothing else was running). Could it be due to me using non-standard mouse drivers (more specifically Logitech's drivers for their wheel-mouse)? Did you run the game in hardware or software mode, Jason? Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

But the points lost will not be as high as loosing the crew, right? Replacing a 60 mm (or whatever) mortar is easy, replacing an experienced crew is not, I guess. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Things to get used to in CM 1) Camera views: Some fumbling in my first game, but after that I think it worked like a dream. Could have liked the arrow-buttons to move the camera faster though. 3) LOS Very intuitivly most of the time, but sometimes I disagree with the programs findings (much good that does me, of course ) 3) Figures No problem. 4) Terrain No problem. 5) Orders No problem. In fact, I think it works just excellent for CM's purpose. 6) C3 (3C?) Again, no problem and well suited for CM. 7) Targeting I only seldom disagree with the programs targeting routines. 8) Other things * Unit experience - keeps forgetting to check it before I order that charge across the open field. * Off-map artillery ammo - I spot a lot of impacts, but the 105 mm battery only used three points of ammo (what does it represents, # of shots per gun in the battery?) * Vehicle movement - "Give me one good reason why you can't drive a Sherman between that house and those trees!" All in all, I just love CM and I don't think the learning curve will be too steep. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Jason, I tried it, but for some reason I only manage to capture whatever screen is "behind" CM (i.e. the desktop if CM is the only program I'm running). Perhaps this is because I'm running CM on an old Voodoo 1 card (Diamond Monster 3D). Anyway, thanks again. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

I played americans in LD as my very first try at CM. Using default American setup, I hid all the units (I thought), placed an ambush on the road near the wall and ran the turn. I quickly found out that I had forgotten to hide the MGs in the village and they happily engaged the germans as soon as they spotted them. For some reason the germans deployed their forces north of the stone wall (south being the village) and started pumping HE and MG fire into the houses. This continued for a few turns and then some inf started coming through the woods in the east. I started using the mortars but othervise remained hidden. Then I retreated on MG and lost another one when the house he sat in disintegrated. Enemy inf came slowly forward in the east and my troops in/near the victory location in the northeast engaged them. Then came the Hellcats and two turns later I had lost two while killing the three german panzers. The rest was basically a mop-up operation. The only excitement where in the east where the enemy inf tried storming the building time after time and almost succeeded before I got some reinforcements there. So I disagree that the US default setup is downright dumb. Against a human opponent, I would have had greater difficulties of course. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die! [This message has been edited by Hawk (edited 11-10-99).]

So the key mentioned in step 2 is the "print screen" key? And yes, it sure takes a lot of re-runs and pausing the get that special shot (like when Hr. Fritz gets a 75mm HE right between the eyes ) Thanks Jason! Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

While reading through the new preveiw at thegamers.net (excellent work Fionn!) I suddenly remembered something I now find quite funny. Early last year (February the 18th, 1998 to be exact) I posted this in a forum on Computer Games Online where we discussed what we wanted to see in Steel Panthers IV: "Regarding 3D: you could remove the game map completely (only using a small overview map) and see/do everything (as well as planning moves and attacks) through the "eyes" of the units." There where several others hwo suggested similar things, but many where dead set against it. I seems we had to get another game to get our will... I've even spotted at least one from this forum there. Ok, my question: What tool(s) can be used to grab screenshots from CM? I've tried Paintshop Pro 5, but it can't handle it. What did you use Fionn and Martin? Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Scott: Yes, I'm aware of that. There are however a few designers I trust more than others. Mark L: Most battles where definitly NOT balanced (which is a big problem in game-designing). All commanders would try their very best to get every advantage they could over their enemies before attacking. I'm currently playing in a miniature campaign from Barbarossa on the russian side, and believe me, it gets tiresome to be on the receiving end all the time (we're still in the first month). The only balanced battles so far has been when the Germans have overextended themselves, or fumbeled their orders. So I agree with you, historically based battles will probably be my cup of tea. There are a lot of old German defence positions around my hometown Bodo (one of the most important airfields and harbours in northen Norway during WW2), and it could have been fun trying to figure out what would happen if say, some commandos where going to raid the flak batteries guarding the airfield before a bombing mission. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Perhaps all you mention here could be included in en electronic manual to keep the cost of printing down? Adding some files to the CD makes no difference. Adding, say 50 pages to a printed manual is sending the printing costs through the roof, I guess. As to tactical advice, perhaps we could use a forum like this? Not to mention the fact that after you have tried to overun a battery of 88's with Shermans, you won't do it again... I.e, learn by doing. CM is also one of the few (the only one?) games where it's almost intuitive what must be done! "Now, putting those guns behind that building is perhaps a good ambush, but I won't be able to use them unless the enemy comes down that road. Better to hide them on that hill yonder." Oh my, I can't wait till the game is released!!! Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Wouldn't it be possible to recreate battles using boardgames? The Gamers (www.tgamers.com) has a system called Tactical Combat Series which I think contains some great battles. The rules sometimes describes key actions quite well, even on squad level. Then you have other computer games, which might also be a source for info. But I guess people will want to create their very own, this-has-never-been-done-before battles With all the hard-core grognards out there, I think I'll stick to create what-if scenarios. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

If the graphics in the final version is like it is in the demo, you can always edit the BMP-files to create your own buildings 'n such. I am looking so forward to test the editor! A friend of my set ut a pbem game which he ran for us over several years using various systems. We used 6mm miniature for the grand finale. If you want to take a look I have started on a description of the battle at home.sol.no/~paaar/battlefield/battlefield.htm and go to "Kampfgruppe Wilk". NB! I've just started so it's very unfinished, but I'll try to tell the story of the battle with text, maps and pictures. That game will make an excellent campaign in CM, and we have allready started talking on how we want to create it. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Oh no! I hope they never do the Starship Troopers version. That film is an atrocity against Heinlein (those of you who have read the book will know what I am talking about, I hope). Avalon Hill made a very good boardgame from the book, so let's keep it at that! But I do hope they make Eastern Front first pri after CM1 is out. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

P2/400 - 64 RAM - Voodoo 1 Plays like a dream, but my Sirrius Logic onboard soundcard is crap, so the sound is not good! ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

Unless the entire mission was to get the bridge up and secure the bridgehead... I see you point, though. Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

This may have been discussed in a previous posting and if so, I appologize (but I couldn't find any using search). Will it be possbile to bridge rivers using bridgelayers, engineers etc? Acording to the vehicle list in the FAQ it doesn't seem like it, but it's an old list, so perhaps... How about assault boats, zodiacs and such? Hawk ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!

- You know you are addicted when... you watch the cars go by and starts calculating how much lead the bazooka is going to need - You know you are addicted when... you see a flock of birds in formation and wonders what the effect would be if they dropped their bombs now - You know you are addicted when... your fligh is approaching the runway and you start wondering how much damage you could have inflicted on the buildings below with a .50 HMG. - You know you are addicted when... you can't see a map without plotting lines of advance, killzones and minefields - You know you are addicted when... you look at a building and starts guessing on how many squads you'd need to clear it out and how quick they'd do it Oh God, it's only monday and I'm utterly bored! ------------------ Our's is not to reason "why", our's is but to do and die!