L4Pilot

We've got commitments from allied sub-commanders and need a few more. Help Liberate Europe! Blow up those pesky Krauts! Hot and cold running mademoiselles. Join up now!

Did it. Interestingly the review asks how many hours have you have played the game. While I'm not sure I really want to know I estimated, conservatively, 250 counting both demo and release. I'm sure that's not a record by ANY means, but would be curious what other people would estimate for their "Hours spent playing CM?" [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 08-01-2000).]

Gotta Agree with this one. (I typed some more stuff in favor of this idea, but realised that it was just a rehash of whats been said. So it's gone.)

Second that here re: posting desire to play. I'll definately be happy to share some of the appropriately sized battles with subordinates as appropriate. Pillar, One other suggestion for an "operational" map is the game PanzerCampaigns:Normandy which I purchased, and think highly of (with a few small exceptions). It covers an area about 100 miles x 50 miles (IIRC) around the landing zones in 1km hexes. I could send you a snippet to see if it would be appropriate. Not exactly the area you had in mind but... I'm also racking my brains for some board games with the right sized maps that might be appropriate. Anybody got any ideas?

Pillar, Is this the sort of map you were thinking of with a grid. Or were you thinking of something historical. You can even get neat "recon photos" of the town in the map above Oviously all done with the CM scenario engine. But looking at your last message, I guess you want something that covers a larger area. I'' be looking on the net. [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 07-30-2000).]

I'll tackle "Supreme Commander." If it's too much, then we'll just have a short round "accidently" impact Battalion HQ I'm working on some neat map stuff, to be posted in a seperate thread in a little while. Any idea what area you want to set this in? Any thoughts on size of units. Am I a company CO? Battalion? Regiment?

My how quickly things change. I left late last night and it was quiet as a church. Come back today and all h*** breaks loose. I definately like the idea of multiple players. I've got not need to be the big boss, and in fact feel that something like a company commander might be MORE interesting (especially having recently read MacDonalds "Company Commander"). Pillar, I'd be happy to create an operational map or two. Very importat though to know where this little encounter is going to occur. Normandy (bocage), Middle of France (low rolling hills), Eastern France? (higher hills) etc. Any ideas? Let me reread the threads and I'll have some more comments shortly.

I'd really be up for something like this, especially if I could play Ami's. Got quite a bit of RPG experience under my (ever increasing) belt and can do quick turnarounds of turns most days and evenings. Just a thought - we could and should each mail the CM (Combat Master) our movies with passwords so you could watch the action as it unfolds. Let me know.

Don't have an answer to your question... But one of my favorite headlines from the book "Our Dumb Century" (one of the few books that has ever made me LOL) is: "Cold War Over!! Nuclear Weapons Now Safely in Hands of Small Rogue Nations!"

I recently sent the following to the computer games editor at the Los ANgeles Times. Perhaps it will inspire similar efforts. "I read your recent article about computer games that go "where PC games have gone before." Here's one that is different in several respects. It's "Combat Mission" and it's described at www.battlefront.com. It's set on the Western Front in the months after the Normandy invasion, the same period and locale represented in "Saving Private Ryan." It's a step forward in PC gaming in several ways. It's certainly one of the most historically accurate simulations to be produced. Beyond that, it uses the increasing processing power available in today's computers to provide a graphic interface like none I've seen. After each side (Allies and Germans) tells their units what to do, the computer generates a three dimensional movie of the results. On a minute by minute basis, each player can watch the action in movie form as many times as desired. From high overhead to the individual soldiers viewpoint, you can tilt, pan and dolly the camera in any direction. The word that has been used most frequently by the small but growing group of enthusiasts is "immersion." With the shouts of men, flickering tracer fire and the roar and shake of artillery it's as close as I'll ever want to be to combat. Another distinguishing feature is the company that produced it. In this day of overhyped games that come out buggy and quickly end up in the bargain bin, this game is the vision and love child of two individuals in Maine. They are marketing it exclusively on the Internet, consciously avoiding the classic channels of distribution, mass merchandising and retail that have resulted in a "lowest common denominator" approach to many computer games. And they seem to be succeeding. Aaron, I'm not a member of their company, or have any connection to their company. I paid full price for the copy I received. But I can tell you that I got more "play value" from the FREE Demo available at the Battlefront website, that any game I ever paid for. Your readers might be interested in this game. With the popularity of the History Channel and recent movies like "Saving Private Ryan" and the recent D-Day commemorations, many people would probably like to know about a game that lets them understand and experience the combat of that time better than any other. And It's available for Mac and Windows."

What number .wav file is the fart sound?

Good thought, Kman, but not it. The full, enhanced graphic, ultra-neat, v1.01 explosions are clearly visible - just no sound. Should have added to my original report - other sounds audible - MG's, tank engines, guys shouting, and ambiant when selected. In fact I think I will add it!! Got smoke popping on another part of the battle field - just like you say - small explosion, small crater, etc. So no joy there... Hep me! HEP ME!!

Symptom: No explosion sound or ground shake with 81mm mortar barrage in PBEM quick game. "Incoming" sound okay. Other sounds audible - MG's, tank engines, guys shouting, and ambiant when selected. Using 1.01 Tried: Made sure sound and ground shake was toggled on. Rebooted. Reloaded original wav files (was using Madmatts). Reloaded original wav files from CD. No joy. Then set up new Quick Battle with 81mm and 105mm spotters. - Everything OK! Explosions, ground shake, everything. Went back to PBEM Quick battle - Same problem - no Explosions sounds, no ground shake Weird. Any Ideas? [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 07-18-2000).]

I've got to join the ranks here in the request for a "View 1 Only" FOW option. It would be amazing to play CM from the soldiers POV only. Two suggestions: 1) allow view 5 centered only on your units to represent the fact that each unit is (usually) more than one person, spread out slightly from the exact center location of the unit counter, and, 2) Allow views 3 and 4 if you purchase a "spotter plane" from the unit purchase list (this being my own particular obsession, as you might guess from my handle.) Please BTS? Pleeeaaaasssseeee????

I had the same thing happen with a Hellcat in a Bulge scenario. Panther drove directly over the ambush marker without triggering fire from the Hellcat. I suspect ADD (Ambush Deficit Disorder) Or else a good Glenn Miller tune was playing on the radio.... The target line diasppeared like yours did, too. If there is some probability that an ambush marker is going to be ignored by it's originator, then BTS should make that clear.

Attention Deficit Disorder. Or in this case maybe Ambush Deficit Disorder... I was pleased when the announcement was made that in the release versions teams and AFV's would be able to use the Ambush command. Seemed reasonable and would add to the tactics available to those units. But my first effort to use Ambush for one of my armored units was a disaster. Situation was an M18 sitting at the bottom of a gully in a Bulge scenario. Panther up at the top of the hill but not visible yet. I lay an ambush marker at the edge of the crest of the hill maybe 140 m. away, and make sure the Hellcat has it targeted. Hehehe, I think. All lined up and ranged and a good shot at the soft underbelly of the fearsome Panther. The turn starts and the Hellcat dutifully watches the ambush marker. For about 4 seconds. Then the M18 straightens out its turret, the target line to the marker disappears and it just sits there. Ah-hyuk, ah-hyuk. Not like there's a closer threat or anything. No other target lines, incoming or outgoing. Nothing. Maybe there was a good Glen Miller song coming in on the radio. The Panther breasts the hill, driving smack dab over the ambush marker and targets the Hellcat. First round misses. The Hellcat gets all excited, swings its turret back, raises the barrel and sends an AT round off into the next province. Whereupon the Panther corrects its aim and blows the Hellcat to the location described in its name. Mch, my esteemed opponent, you can confirm the outcome, if you can stop laughing so hard you can't click your mouse. So, ah, what I do wrong? Hunh?

Me too. Me too.

This has indeed been an interesting thread. I wish I had gotten involved a little earlier, but I was too busy playing CM. Having owned a Piper Cub for 13 years and having gotten to fly an L-4J in WWII markings on a 500 mile delivery trip, this is obviously an area of special interest for me. Some things come to mind - Charles, spotter planes being hit by their own sides artillery was unfortunately not a unique occurrence but happened multiple times in a given theater (several times in western Europe and several times in Italy) even though the pilots took pains to make sure they were not in the line of flight of the shells. Not common but definitely happened. Re: VT fuzes - America was so afraid about the shells falling into enemy hands that AAA use by the navy was originally restricted to deep water only, so that unexploded shells could not be recovered by the enemy and copied. RE: Counterbattery fire - I seem to remember that the American's at least had specific counterbattery direction units that were able to locate enemy firing arty units by triangulation and flash-sound timing methods. At least some of these units were composed of black soldiers in America's segregated WWII army. As for spotter planes in CM, there might be a way to simulate this relatively easily - just one more line on the force selection screen under artillery. Then the FO position for that unit might be restricted to the original allied set up area. (Not too many forays were made over enemy held territory in a 73 mph aircraft.) Then the line of sight could be drawn from that position to the potential target but with a starting height (of the line of sight) of 200 - 300 meters up. Good for seeing over woods and buildings but certainly not omniscient. Think about it, Steve and Charles. And would certainly represent a major strength of the American's in this campaign. The only text I'm aware of that covers spotter planes in depth is "Fighting Grasshoppers," authors name forgotten in an alcoholic haze. Excellent history and photos. [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 06-28-2000).]

John Keegan's book "Six Armies to Normandy" has a chapter on the Free French Armored Division, and a history of its origin, and usage.

Work? What's that? Actually, I'm very lucky, in that my situation at work gives me lots of 10 and 15 minute batchs of downtime - just right for catching up on CM Chat or turning around a PBEM turn. And I'm the boss, so get to divvy up time as needed. Any situation where I can make a modest living and play CM to my hearts content is pretty goo. Ooops, a customer... gotta go

Steve, The regular shipping updates are very much appreciated and help keep those of us at the far end of the country and the tail end of the pre order list from going nuts. Thank you. Now if we could just get the BBC to put out hourly CM bulletins on their shortwave stations.

Actually, I'd like to see this as one of the FOW options when you start a scenario. Currently there is None, Partial, and Full. How about an "Extreme" option that would limit both sides to view 1 locked to units. And view 7 and 8 with no units showing and no movies. And maybe view 5 locked to units. That would be intense, and realistic. Want view 3 or 4? Then purchase a spotter plane in DYO mode. Please, Steve and Charles, pretty please?

Count me in on the West Coast, too. But that still covers an awful lot of terrain.

Any chance of having a round cook off occasionally inside a brewed up and burning AFV? For a future version or patch, perhaps>

(Stealing liberally) 18. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take. 19. When both sides are convinced they're about to lose, they're both right.