Rick

Referring way back to Fionn's comment immediately following my last one. I hope there isn't too much of a delay between the finish of this game and the demo release.

I'm still enjoying reading the AARs. However, I do admit that they were more exciting at first. Still, keep them coming, they're still one of the things I look forward to the most every day even if they're not as exciting as the first few.

I thought the US was not so unique in this regard. However, I was totally aware that our Army was like this from JROTC experience, I just expected that so are most of the armies in the world. I couldn't believe how many times I heard NCOs say things like "Don't call me sir, boy, I work for a living." Not that I made the mistake more than once but one is usually able to hear someone else make the mistake a few times too. Does any of this have any bearing on CM? Is the Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Leader modeled separately and will there be any difference between them.

I'm currently reading Clancy's Into the Storm. I am really enjoying the book, but it made me think of a question that is a bit off topic, but this is the only place that I am currently aware of that I can get answers that I will trust. The book makes two points about NCOs: 1) NCOs are the backbone of the US Army. 2) The US Army puts more reliance on their NCOs than any other army in the world. I was informed in JROTC and at the Merchant Marine Academy that point 1 is absolutely true, more times than I care to remember in fact. However, what about point two, is that one true?

I'm not so sure about the release bombs separately issue, but I know that a P-47 could carry 2000lb of bombs. A 500lb bomb under each wing would've been no problem. I'm pretty sure they could even carry a 1000lb bomb under each wing. Problem was a full bomb loadout would preclude them from carrying extra fuel.

Sounds like this aircraft was supposed to represent a P-47 from Steve's description. Fionn, I know it wasn't a good moment for you, but from our perspective the CAS knocking out your Panther was pretty neat - the coolest screen shots so far.

Charles, That scenario would look like Armageddon. All, It's great to see this feature in the game. Should add quite a bit of interest. Like Mike said, let's hope it's not abused by scenario designers.

Steve, I don't think that any of us would want to command two divisions on a squad by squad tank by tank basis. The order phase would take something like three hours, wouldn't it? A PBEM game might take a year and a half. I think somewhere around 1 1/2 battalions would probably be the largest that would still be very playable. Hard, inflexible limits are a real pain in scenario design, most definitely.

Pixman, Funny post. My take on this issue is that the replayability features would add something. However, I seriously doubt that they could be implemented in the time frame that we would want them to be. Plus the variable setups goes a long way towards making up for it. Besides if there are lots of scenarios and it takes me awhile to get back to one I like really well, I'll probably forget enough about it to make the FoW work again.

I think it's a good thing that Steve and Charles resist some. This causes the ideas to get kicked around a lot and by the time they decide to put them in, they've heard many view points and much data. Therefore, the feature is at a highly refined state when they put it in.

Even with the ambiguity (spelling?) of what Pershings did or did not do in WWII, I feel it is a good call to include them. There could have been a substantial number of them if the Ordnance Department had chosen to deal with the situation differently. The most surprising thing to me is that the Pershing hadn't more thoroughly replaced the Sherman by Korea.

Kevin, The data I could look up in a hurry confirms yours except for the Remagen part. It doesn't say specifically what action the twenty tanks of Zebra Mission saw.

If the Luftwaffe already air superiority, it might not have been such a stupid idea. I imagine not many AAA mounts could track something that fast back then. Under the circumstances though, it was a waste of some amazing machinery.

Weren't there a few cases of German close air support in this time frame? I seem to remember that at the Remagen (Spelling?) bridge the Germans used ME 262s and AR 234s. It's a popular subject for aviation art.

I seem to remember reading that the Pershing did take part in several minor actions close to the end of the war. However, I believe it never took part in any major actions. I'm sure others here will give a better answer to this question.

Great article. It has some of the coolest screenshots that I've yet seen. Can't hardly wait to play a game with some anti-tank ambushes.

Oh yes, I'll play the AI thousands of time I'm sure. Especially if I keep getting these unpaid weeks off. My PBEM games don't use up enough of my free time then.

Sounds good. I'm ready to start playing this game and test my abilities against some of these guys here.

Will the TGN opponents registry start when the demo is released or only when the final product is shipped?

Showing my ignorance here but; why do AT guns fire faster than similar tank guns?

"They look better in person" I have gotten the feeling that the JPEG compression has been hurting your screenshots.

I want a cable modem! Dumb company won't finish putting the line in.

Glad to hear he's so good at estimating. Gee is there anything bad you can say about Charles? Just a joke, no need to answer.

Thanks for the answer. When Charles starts work on a different part of the program, does he have any idea how long it will take, or does it just take as long as it takes?

When Charles codes in new things into the game is that getting incorporated into the game they are playing? Or, do they have to wait until this game is finished to see the new features? Pretty sure this post doesn't give away any info.