Wild Bill Wilder

It sounds like a fine piece of work, David. Congratulations. Doing an Arnhem map alone merits applause. I'll be downloading it and giving it a try. Thank you. Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

A very simple matter, really, Kingfish. Just load the scenario into the editor, click on map and go to it. WHen you save, you may want to save it with a 01 on the end of the title so as to not overwrite the one that is there. Look forward to seeing your changes..Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

The original Saarburg scenario that came with the CD proved too difficult for a number of gamers. A revision is complete. We only await Madmatt's official approval for it to be entered into the Game Depot. This one is winnable. I won. Anyone should be able to now....Enjoy! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Saarburg is ready to go. We only await Madmatt's official approval for it to be entered into the Game Depot. This one is winnable. I won. Anyone should be able to now....Enjoy! Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Saarburg is ready to go. We only await Madmatt's official approval for it to be entered into the Game Depot. This one is winnable. I won. Anyone should be able to now....Enjoy! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Sounds like medals are in order for these gung ho killers, Emthon. Great feeling when imminent disaster becomes ultimate triumph, isn't it? Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Ever lived in a country with a dictatorship? I have...several of them in fact. No thank you. They don't complain? Of course they don't complain. Complain and you are dead meat. During the Somoza regime in Nicaragua when I lived there, no one talked about the Somoza family. I was close friends with many "pinoleros" (Nicaraguan nickname because of a unique beverage they have concocted), and in whispers something might be said, but always with a certain trepidation. But the terror, the uncertainty, the eroding fear that pervades a population always looking over its shoulder...can there be progress and initiative in such an environment? ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Mr T, you are correct. I think everyone has one of those epic moments, both of tragedy or triumph. It is what makes CM so special! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

You never know for sure till you try Nothing like personal experience to underline the truth, Pak . It leaves a bitter, yet savory taste in one's mouth as he says, "Well, looks like they were right." On the other hand, if you swallow everything that is told you, you could end up with a barracuda in your belly All this is in humor and no offense intended, in case someone is stoking a fire somewhere. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Thanks for being patient with me. I just had so much piled up for so long it took a while to get to it. I appreciate you mentioning it. In fact, the response of all of you offering helpful suggestions to improve scenarios and campaigns is excellent! Thank you all! The best testers are you guys who play all the time. That is where you test the metal. We don't change things arbitrarily, but when a sound argument is presented, it should be checked and verified, and if correction is needed, it should be done. What good is a scenario if it can't be played and enjoyed? I'll try to have it up before the weekend, Coralsaw, but I'm sending you a copy to your E-Mail today. In fact, it should already be there. Thanks to all of you for your positive critiques of these battles. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com [This message has been edited by Wild Bill Wilder (edited 09-28-2000).]

You did well, Panzer Man. Now if you want a real "gut grabber," play a human with this one and the race to the center of Vossenack is on...It can get VERY ugly Thank you...Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Okay, Dan, Markgame and Coralsaw, I finally had the time to rework Saarburg. It is now winnable. At least I won. If I can win, its probably too easy now I'll be posting it later this week either in CMHQ Depot or on the Boots N' Tracks page. I'll put up the notice here. Did not mean to be cruel and heartless. I'm trying to improve ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Nijmegen (you were close, Pathfinder ) is a toughie! I love the feeling you get as you take those old canvas boats across the Waal River. Chambois is bloody, just plain bloody, at best. Paderborn is another favorite of mine. The initial sight of those King Tigers is indeed "gut grabbing," and the fun is just beginning . Thanks fellas... ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Rifle butts and bayonets! Gotta love it! In hindsight, I think yes, this should be played from the Polish side more than the German one. Trying to work with the nebulous AI is a pain sometimes. It's predictable but unpredictable. Waypoints would be such a help set up for the computer to guide units in another way besides "over the hill." I had a Stuart commander simliar to your Stug III boss. In Desobry, he squeezed his little tank between two houses on the outskirts of the town and proved to be a brutal surprise for the oncoming German armor. Finally a PzIV commander figured it out, flanked the poor Stuart, and fried it. It was a sad moment for me. Thanks Michael and Emthon and all of those who offer kind words of encouragement. It is an incentive to try even harder! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com [This message has been edited by Wild Bill Wilder (edited 09-27-2000).]

Thank you so much, KL. I'm delighted to hear that! It was some god-awful weather during those days of Desobry. That sad thing is his final fate. After being badly wounded, he is captured by the Germans while in an ambulance headed to Bastogne. Quite a young hero of the war! Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Caballeros, Comprendo muy bien su punto de vista tocante al efecto de las municiiones de la artilleria contra los tanques. Cuando mencione' la reaccion de lost tanqueros, no me referi' al miedo, sino al peligro que las acompanaba. Mi duda viene a causa de la disparidad que a menudo viene entre lo que las pruebas indican and lo que la realidad demuestra. Pero no soy experto en el tema, de modo que me callo y sigo leyendo. (Perdonen la falta de tildes en esta nota) Guillermo el Salvaje ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

I checked. Its still there. Go here: http://combathq.thegamers.net/depot.html You'll have to wait a few minutes as this Depot is under constant use. Then either (1) scroll down till you find it or (2) scroll all the way down to top 10 scenarios, click on it and it will be the first in the list (small plug ) Or if I had your E-Mail address, I'd send it to you, but you did not include it in your info Let me know if you find it okay. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

I'll pass it along verbatim, Jeff. Many thanks... ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Nothing wrong with that, my friend. If you are proud of your work, let it be known. I have no problem with it....Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Either way, it's a good one...Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

I personally don't think so. I feel CM's rendition of artillery effectiveness is quite accurate. I've just read too many accounts in WW2 history, especially tank histories where artillery created havoc among tanks, even mortar rounds. Tankers had a healthy respect for artillery, especially barrages and sought to avoid them. Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

We are strongly lobbying for this and other modifying capabilities for infantry units, weapon choices, # of men in unit, solo squads without a platoon hq, being able to form your own company by choices,etc. Believe me, some of us on the beta team are urging the honchos that this be included. And some other good stuff too. The Pacific as a module (ARGH! Not again ) Objectives, reinforcements, and other changes in operations and a host of other ideas we think would improve the game. Of course, certain units can be deleted from a company and then other units added in. You just need to play around with the editor to see really what you can do. The "Edit" and "Delete" button can do some of this even now. Wild Bill Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Very nice David. You think those were ugly? Man, you oughta see Rune and me in real life For those interested, mine is #11 in that first stack of 12 at the top of the page. I told you I was old! I can't help it At least I made a good Volkstrum soldier ! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com [This message has been edited by Wild Bill Wilder (edited 09-25-2000).]

I remember well Steve and Charles telling me early on that this game (CM) is primarily an infantry game, with tanks and other units being in support of the infantry. Of course, we all love tanks, and the fast paced, explosive outcomes of encounters with the armored behemoths. I do too. Many of the scenarios (including mine ) are armor heavy because folks like them. So I think to a large degree it depends on the type of scenarios produced with the game and after it comes out as to how "tank heavy" CM2 will be. As you all know so well, more vehicles put more work on the program (and your computer . I also remember commenting once during the beta testing and scenario design for CMBO that the load time after starting a turn was taking too long. The advice Charles gave me was, "Get rid of some of those trucks." I did and the load time increased significantly. So I am sure there will be a lot of tank battles but I hope there will a focus and appreciation for the millions of groundpounders on boths sides that fought on the Eastern Front. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

If you haven't picked up the newest, its worth your time....Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com