L4Pilot

Bullethead -- You are correct - L4's (and L3's and L5's, etc.) were attached directly to the FA although I don't remember whether at the divsion or corps level (or both). The pilots were FA officers (and noncoms, IIRC) because the army found it easier to train artillerymen to fly a Cub, than to teach pilots to spot artillery. I don't remember what quantities the liason aircraft were alloted to the units and my book "Fighting Grasshoppers" (very good but apparently OOP) is in eternal storage. As you can tell from my CM monniker, this is an area of interest for me - and I owned the civilian version of the L-4 for over a decade (just flew it again Thursday), so I've picked up some of the exploits of the L birds (like the proverbial dogfights between Grasshoppers and Messerschmidts (sp?,)with the spotter plane coming out on top, or the L-4 pilot that attached 8 bazookas to his struts and went "tank busting" - popping over hedgerows, firing a bazooka or two and then gone before anyone could react. A little risky for my taste, but ya gotta admire the instinct

Okay, try this one on for size. For CM 1.1: I know there was a suggestion(s) to limit the views to No. 1 and No. 5 centered on your units. I like that idea as a toggle. But for that side lucky enough to have air superiority and the spotter plane available (L-4, Storch, Auster...) then you are "permitted" views No. 3 and 4 and the freedom to move around at those view levels. And you have the option to place a FO in the spotter plane, which could be very handy. Unless of course, your viewpoint strays too close to your opponent's AAA assets. At which point there's a chance you'll lose your spotter and be limited to views 1 and 5 again. When you really think about, views 3 and 4 show just how useful the spotter plane was in the battlefield environment. Okay, okay, I know. Too much time on my hands. Must have Combat Mission! NEED COMBAT MISSION!!! [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 02-18-2000).]

Ah, yes, the memories! "Sniper," "Patrol," "Computer Ambush," (for the Apple and the Atari, IIRC) and more recently "Firepower" from AH and "Close Assault" from Yaquinto. Wouldn't any of those be great with a CM style graphics engine? I've looked into some commercially available 3D graphics engines to see if that capability is available in a appropriate programming and cost level for me. Apparently not. But I keep wishing. And looking.

Maybe the title of the POTD should be: "We'll always have Riesberg"

I want one of each. Except #27. Thank you.

I really appreciate the update and the other info posted by BTS on the recent threads. Between these and the really excellant new screenshots at CMHQ I get a much better sense of where things are. It's reduced the urge (so far successfully resisted) to inquire about the release date and thereby garner negative cool points. I hope the updates can be periodic (or even aperiodic) and I think the time spent on them by BTS is well invested in keeping the noise of the waiting masses to a dull roar. And if these updates are trickled out to us, I sure hope we reciprocate and let the BTS folks maximize their improving, programming, tweaking, and making even more insanely great efforts. (There's a sentence in there somewhere) Thank you again, BTS. [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 02-11-2000).]

Thank you very very much! This was the one thing I really was hoping for and will definitely increase the level of immersion to the point where we're all ducking under the computer desk. Now if we could just have spotter planes. Actually I have some ideas there, but won't bug you guys until the game is out. Thanks again.

'He Flamed Me first! WaaaaaH!" More like: "It all started when he flamed me back!! Waaaahhh"

Pretty f****** amazing, sir.

Share it, brother... (I like the message just before mine) <The worst part of this habit--er, addiction, is that I have knowingly tried to convince my friends, family, co-workers, even strangers to give it a try. I guess that would make me a CM pusher. > You're not a "pusher", you're a "Combat Missionary" bringing truth and enlightenment to the heathen (hehehe) [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 01-20-2000).]

Wait a minute. Wait a minute! This board thinks that I (and more importantly Sgt Morgue, a frontline vet) are junior members and Capt_Manieri is a member? (No offense, Ben) Where I come from a man is judged by how few words go with each breath, not how many. Looks like I'm going to have to just grab my carbine, fire up the Grasshopper, and CALL IN SOME ARTILLERY! On second thought, maybe the board is as accurate a representation of WWII military as the game: people get promoted for the darndest reasons. [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 01-04-2000).] [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 01-04-2000).] [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 01-04-2000).]

I don't know about the rivers, or other "water hazards," but the gallery of screen shots at CM HQ definitely shows some steep slopes of the type you are describing. I think these were in the snow scenes section of the screenshots.

Not mentioned til now: PBEM explantion and instructions (and troubleshooting) It's the onlything that was confusing to me ast all in the demo.

It was mainly mortars and off board artillery that I had in mind. CM promises to be such a _visceral_ game - explosions, camera shake, etc. That it seems like the whine of incoming would add to that and not be very difficult to incorporate. And Zulu, I'm sure you're right about not hearing the "faster than sound" rounds before impact. IIRC, accounts said the V-2 was the same way - an explosion, followed by the shreik of the the descending missile. And thank you for the corroborating accounts from the guys who have been there - you've got my respect. [This message has been edited by L4Pilot (edited 01-02-100).]

Well, just to pass the time while waiting for CM's release: Does anyone know if there's been any addition to the artillery sounds incorporated since the demo? What about the whine/screech of incoming artillery that plays such a big part of Hollywood war movie scenes? And I seem to remember many mentions in first hand accounts talking about incoming shells sounding like freight trains, etc. Would that be too "sound intensive" and slow down execution rate? If there's camera shake and flying dirt from artillery impacts, why not the whistle of incoming rounds? I did research this on the board under "sound", "artillery sound", "artillery audio", and a couple of other tries and didn't find anything definitive. I guess the main reason for asking, other than wishful thinking and wasting some time waiting for the next Chance Encounter PBEM move to come in, is because it would save me having to wipe down my monitor and keyboard after every turn from making those sounds myself.

Perhaps they are wearing American uniforms, driving captured Jeeps and changing the road signs?

My order history: About 2 weeks ago - 8pm Local - Downloaded Demo 10pm Local - Finished 1st Scenario 10:01om Local - Sorted frantically through credit cards to find one with some available credit on it. 10:02pm Local - Ordered Game