Moriarty

Which one of them damned squires or snotbag serfs left the door open? ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

One way to avoid this and save time typing is to do a screenshot of the setup window and send the jpg to your opponent. Side note: I, too, have no problem with letting the AI do the unit selections. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).]

server burp. move along, nothing to see here. [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).]

Manta, personally I would have no problem with a game like that. I would just want to know the rules ... or in this case, the lack of them ... before I selected my units. A slugfest is great fun, too. And as far as the whining about SMG squads (or the top armor) and such, my basic point remains: You have no idea what you're going to come up against, so you just have to deal with it as best you can. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).]

Actually, I was experimenting with just buying less expensive stuff. As far as bringing in the SP arty, well sometimes that's just cuz I don't always know what's what with AFVs and OOBs and TO&Es. Which serves to illustrate another point. Sometimes what some attribute as "gamey" is simply a lack of knowledge on the part of the opponent. They may be using vehicles or units in a non-historical or "gamey" manner, but they may not know any better. Now, as to your accusation and chastisement and use of those infernal emoticons ... as a 'pooler who escaped for a turn about the board, how 'bout a game? If you're interested my e-mail's behind the first little thingy. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Aw, fer, cripes sake. Sir Stuka you never slap a Squire. It's unbecoming, unwarranted and thoroughly unmentionable to set your hand to the filth, the low, the swine. Use your foot. *kick* Or a nice big stick (sod off, Bauhaus). Ever see the "teamwork" scene from the movie "The Untouchables"? That's the ticket. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).]

your points are well taken, Yobobo. My view is that no matter whatever the other guy does, your job is to accomplish your mission with the resources you have available. In a nutshell, that's about as historical as you can get. In an unrestricted QB, my AFVs consist of 2 M-10s, 2 HMCs, 2 Priests, a Stuart and 3 HTs. Was I happy to see the KT roll down the road? Well, no. But it's part of the deal. But if my opponent trots that beast into open country, I have a chance. I have damp ground, slow turret rotation and two functional M-10s that are faster, lighter and hopefully will be firing at point-blank range at the flank or rear ... if all goes well. If not, c'est le guerre. It was my choice to buy nearly seven AFVs with various sizes of main guns for about what he paid for the KT. WWII commanders rarely, if ever, had the luxury of choosing what they would get to fight with and what support/armor they would have. I am a big fan of setting the ground rules before the game starts. That's the best way to deal with it. In many instances, the people who complain about edge-huggers are actually complaining about their own lack of flank security. Jeep-rush complaints often mean their MGs were out of position to shred the convertibles. In short, they're venting at their own bad tactics or plain bad luck. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).] [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).] [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-23-2001).]

I trust, Sir Stuka, you will not forget your mentor in all things (except winning). Be sure to pass on the sage exhortation: Go Forth and Kill ... Maim ... Dismember ... Disembowel. Now, have the little bugger pass the bucket ... me eyeballs are floating. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Infohawk, join both RD and TH. There are quality players/people on both who will give you good games. The likelihood of running into a gamey bastage is about the same on either. You pays your money, you takes your chances. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Bloody feckin' suckers, eh, beano? Well, at least you got that right, pot polisher. You talk the talk, but do you walk the walk? ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Ah, the clarity of vision shines forth. Well done, Meeks. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Outstanding work, David. But, Bauhaus needs to be MUCH taller ... unless, of course, he is still sittling down ... never was much for following direction, that one. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

There is a lot more that goes into the victory calculation than just who holds the VL. The big flags are worth 300; the little ones are 100. So, if you're holding a big and a small, you'll have more flag points than your opponent. You'll have to weigh the cost benefit of charging a held position. How strongly held is the remaining flag? How much will it cost you to take it? You also need to consider that the AI takes into consideration other factors in calculating who wins and by how much. If you get your specialized troops killed -- any mortar or AFV crews, sharpshooters, FOs, etc. -- the AI counts it against you. If you keep them alive, i.e. move them away from danger and off the map (presumably to fight another day) then they're not among the dead or captured and the AI likes that. The same concept applies to AFVs. If you lose all your vehicles, it counts more heavily against you than if you don't. There is even more involved, which others more knowledgeable can expound on at length. In short, if you're considering an end-game attack on a VL to take away the gimme, it may not be worth it. Know what your assets are and consider the cost vs. the gain. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

CM vs the AI can only do so much. It's the people that make the game great. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

No worries, there. Come back soon. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

If you work out the details with your opponent before setup, whether computer-purchase or human, it will eliminate problems in the vast majority of instances. It has been my experience that most of the people I have played did so honorably. As far as adding more switches, doo-dads and gizmos to the game or the ladders, it's not necessary. It is not the job of technology to replace old-fashioned communication. Just my opinion. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

The official word from BTS is that there has been no resolution to the issue of whether the deerA3E8 as two lugs on its starboard (right) aft (rear) haunch or whether, in fact, this is in reality a depiction of the deerA1E8, which, as we all know, was produced in limited numbers in 1941-42. Some rather grainy photographs from a Serbo-Croatian website that purport to represent the deerA3E8, circa 1944, show only 1 lug. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Marco did great work on the Stuarts, too. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

14 and getting 2 more going ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Has she caught you screaming "SHOOT, SHOOT" and then swearing at the computer screen, yet? ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

Welcome aboard. The CM Borg will be by shortly to make it official. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty

move along. nothing to see, here. just a server burp. [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-10-2001).]

MT brings up a very good point. There's a lot to be said for the camaraderie of playing a pbem game. Some people say nothing ... just trade turns ... that can get dull. I get as much enjoyment from trading barbs, jokes and whatnot with folks as I do playing the game. I've met a number of good people out there who play fair, play tough and make the game a good time. I've also run across a few doorknobs, but, hey, it goes with the territory. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-10-2001).]

Winning matters little to me. Of course, the rare victory is savored but it's not the be-all and end-all of playing. I enjoy the tactics and strategy, the fighting a good fight regardless of outcome and pulling a surprise move or two -- a well-executed ambush, for example -- that causes my opponent to step back and give a "well done." This, of course, is a good attitude to have when your record is something like 1-14-2 in the 'pool. But I also enjoy playing against top players. I am currently at or near the bottom of the RD and TH ladders because I generally don't post my victories but always offer it up to my opponent to post his (or hers) if they're into that sort of thing. Regarding the tactical retreat off the map, I don't necessarily consider it gamey. If all is lost and your forces are so depleted that there is nothing left to fight with, I'll consider moving them off the board for two reasons: first, even though these are digital people, I would opt to save as many lives as possible in a hopeless situation; second, it could possibly prevent me from claiming the ignominious title of being beaten by a score lower than 98-2. Now, disappearing from the game because you're being trounced most definitely is gamey and cheap and rotten. In truth, I most often will give my opponent the option of accepting my surrender or chasing my units around until the AI calls it quits. The only game I surrendered probably a couple turns prematurely was in a tank fight against Kitty. I had 3 M4s left (all 75mm and no AT capability in my infantry -- a recon platoon in jeeps) against a composite force of at least a dozen Panthers, Tigers, 2 KTs and a sprinkling of PzIVs. I think that still could be defined as hopeless. All that said, I will play out any game as long as possible. ------------------ "Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change." -- Oddball "Crap." -- Moriarty [This message has been edited by Moriarty (edited 03-10-2001).]