[Now that we're all getting excited about TCP/IP...]

Now that we're all getting excited about TCP/IP, it would be nice to have some really good QB's to play with.

However, I find the QB random map generator to be, well, um...[gulp] a little lacking in variety, interest, and realism (eg. no rivers or bridges). The random map generator is quite clever, but nothing can replace the human touch.

With the excellent historical and fictional maps that came with the game, along with all those maps developed by WBW and others, wouldn't it be fantastic to use these maps in combination with the QB generator?

Then the players would agree on number of points per side, to be deployed in zones along the north/south or east/west sides of the maps.

I've seen this suggestion posted in the past, but I have never seen it seriously addressed.

Is this something BTS has considered in the past, or is considering for future patches or game versions?

[Play Tester(s) Needed]

I'm bumping this one because I could handle two or three more playtesters, so I can finish tweaking this one.

E-mail me if your interested, and I'll send you the scenario.

[What would you play if CM didn't exist ?]

I used to play Rogue Spear /Rainbow 6, until about a year ago. I would probably keep playing them if CM hadn't taken up all of my 1 hour per day of free time.

I've been tempted to return to Air Warrior 3, but just haven't got the time to justify the monthly charge.

[TCP/IP release update]

Maybe I missed the answer to my question, but where will players usually meet to find an opponent? Battlefront? CMHQ? Zone ?

[TCP/IP release update]

Well done BTS!!!

Just curious though -

Where will players meet opponents for TCP/IP matches? At this forum? CMHQ? The Zone ?

[To My e-mail Opponents: rogers@home SNAFU]

My ISP is regurgitating e-mails again, as of late.

Sorry for the recent delays.

Chris

[Play Tester(s) Needed]

I have developed a new fictional scenario titled "The Island", and I would like to start a few PBEM games with it to check play balance and get some feedback.

Please e-mail me if you're interested in playing this one, and I'll send you the

scenario, and you can pick your side.

Here are some scenario parameters:

Battle Type: Meeting Engagement - 1 flag

Map Size: 1050x1050

Force Size: About 1500 pts each

Force Type: 2 Companies plus a small armor squad each

Unit Quality: Regular

Date: November '44

Hundminen

[Scenario Play Tester(s) Needed]

I have developed a new fictional scenario titled "The Island", and I would like to start a few PBEM games with it to check play balance and get some feedback.

Please e-mail me if you're interested in playing this one, and I'll send you the scenario, and you can pick your side.

Here are some scenario parameters:

Battle Type: Meeting Engagement - 1 flag

Map Size: 1050x1050

Force Size: About 1500 pts each

Force Type: 2 Companies plus a small armor squad each

Unit Quality: Regular

Date: November '44

Hundminen

[Interesting New Book]

I visited my local Chapters Bookstore today, and found a new book called "HISTORICAL MAPS OF WWII - EUROPE", by Swift and Sharpe, ISBN 1 85648 573 0, published by PRC (2000).

In it there are over 100 maps of various battlegrounds from North Africa to Western Europe and a handful of the Russian front, many with some sort of OOB, and most maps are land battles, although a few air and naval maps are thrown in.

All maps are copies of the original documents, taken from the Public Record Office (England). There are various scales, and detail, many are strategic level only showing large areas such as all of Normandy or Siciliy, but many are also detailed showing individual buildings and streets around 1" = 1/8 mile or so. A few of these have elevation contour lines. The Normandy landing beach maps (all 5 beaches) are incredible. Omaha has contour lines, and Utah has flooded areas shown.

There are probably around 20 maps in the book that may be a useful reference for CM1 and CM2 map making.

Not perfect, but the best part is the book is in the bargain section for only $17 Canadian (that's about $12 in real money).

[Daughter used disk as frisbee]

What was it doing outside your CD Drive?

[Attention: Hundminen's PBEM Opponents]

It seems that a recent arty barrage has severed my communication cable connected to my Battalion HQ Rogers@home, e-mail service.

I've sent a couple of runners out to try and find the break.

Until then, we will have to hold off lobbing PBEM shells at each other.

Over and out.

[History of WWII book]

I agree the Times Atlas of WWII is definitely worth picking up if you can find it.

Probably the most interesting and readable book on the big picture I have read (and I have read quite a few including Keegan's), was Richard Overy's "How the Allies Won".

[Is TCP/IP Patch Coming Soon Or Should I Get CC5 For Internet Play?]

Well?

Steve? Charles? Madmatt?

[Close Combat 5 Demo out]

AI in CC2 never much mattered to me because I only ever played TCP/IP, which was always a real hoot.

Col. Deadmarsh is right about the comparison of CC3 to CC2. In CC2 infantry were more valuable because they were needed to flush out AT weapons or zooks, schrecks and fausts. German infantry usually carried fausts, and were lethal to allied armor at close range. A much more balanced game than CC3.

[Close Combat 5 Demo out]

Just downloaded demo and booted it up.

So far it looks very much like CC2, with excellent art.

TCP/IP is already running on the zone too!

Hmm...maybe I'll have to check it out...

[Hey Matt, will we members have a chance to get our names used in CM2?]

I don't think my name will work for a squad leader, but I sure hope I can find it as a Russian unit!

Hundminen

[TCP/IP Update Please?]

Any comment?

Steve?

Charles?

Madmatt?

KwazyDog?

[TCP/IP Update Please?]

BTS:

It's been a month since BTS said it would take at least a month to complete testing on the TCP/IP patch.

Just curious if we could get an update? Or the patch (even better)?

['Close Combat-Combat Mission' Rivalry?]

I've stated my opinion several times in the past in this forum on the CC series, and I'll say it again: CM is superior to CC (yes, even CC2).

Superior in all aspects, except one.

Internet play.

The thing I miss about CC2 was the fantastic 1 or 2 hour games on the Zone, which would often keep me up well past midnight (maybe it's just as well - I'm getting too old).

Although I have completed now about 100 PBEM games of CM, PBEM is just not the same (my memory is getting bad - I can't remember what happened day the before).

Once TCP/IP is patched, then I believe CM will finally ruin my sleeping habits, just as CC2 used to.

[OT-Spielberg's 'Band of Brothers']

Thanks for the photo MikeO.

I am reading Band of Brothers right now. Not a bad book.

I really, really enjoyed SPR, in spite of all the inaccuracies - sometimes it pays not to be a grognard . Any word on how this movie will compare?

[Will CM2 Be Just A Tank Slug-Fest?]

Compared to CC2, infantry in CC3 was simply canon fodder. Therefore many battles (on the zone) ended up as tank-heavy affairs with little or no skill involved in winning. Tank versus tank kills were often determined by seemingly arbritrary factors, unknown to many average players.

The great thing about CC2 was the German infantry carried panzerfausts and were often lethal to allied armour, which usually tried to keep well out of range (100m - 200m). This required both players to pick a balanced blend of infantry, armor, and arty, not just armor.

The result was CC2 was often a brilliant (although perhaps a little unrealistic) game of "rocks-paper-scissors", in which the player who developed the best strategy usually won.

I hope CM2 is more like CC2 than CC3.

[Fresh PBEM Replacements Needed]

I have experienced recent attrition due to completion of several campaigns. I need to build up my complement of PBEM troops by 2 or 3 good men.

E-mail me if you wish to fill in as a new replacement for small to medium sized PBEMs, blind sceanrios from CD or CMHQ, or QBs.

Hundminen out.

[Explosive growth! Battlefront.com doubles in size]

"Well done boys. Looks like the reinforcements have finally arrived. Now Dan, you take the east front, and Matt, you carry the bandoliers ..."

[Poll: Unit Preferences]

I'd like to know which units most players here prefer to pick to go into battle. For example:

INFANTRY

I prefer regular American GI's for no particular reason, but are veterans or elite worth the extra points? Are Canadians really superior troops ? How about Germans - are they better because they all come with panzerfausts like in CC2?

SUPPORT

Do mortars or howitzers give you a better blast? How do you like moving those howitzers around?

VEHICLES

Are those flamethrower carriers really hot?

ARMOR

M4, M4A1, M4A3? What's gives the best bang for thr buck?

ARTILLERY

Those heavy 155's knock'em dead, but you only get a few, and they cost a lot? Better to go with a couple of 81's instead? How about spotters versus mortars?

[Looking for a scenario to play next]

Why don't you try "3 bridges" which I posted to the scenario depot this week. I wouldn't mind getting some feedback on this one.

"3 bridges" is fictional, but it is inspired from by reading non-fictional accounts of GI company attacks (most recently Company Commander).

More importantly, I designed it to give both attacker and defender several completely different options for set up and strategy.

By the way, QB's won't generate maps with rivers and bridges. Try this one - it has 3 river crossings along deep river valley.