Wild Bill Wilder

Just wanted you to know that new pages for the Raiders, Field of Fire (campaign Series), BootsN'Tracks (Combat Mission), and Steel Chariots (Steel Panthers) are up and running. You'll find new scenarios, new ideas for gaming and a lot more. Please join us. It all begins on the Main Raider Page and then go to the site you like best. http://wbr.thegamers.net Thank you Frank Donati, for your help as always. We could not do it without you....Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

The whole Hurtgen Operation in hindsight was a disaster. Apparently it could have been bypassed or so say some historians. It was lost somewhere in the hoopla of Market Garden and the Bulge, but it was a time as dark as those menacing forests for the unfortunates who found themselves there. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Thanks Sniper. It should be there by now. I appreciate it.. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Yes, I have that one, Shep and it is a great book for small unit actions, ideal for CM. In fact, I think one of the scenarios on the CD was done by Terry Simo on one of these battles. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Oh, no, these are the Poles of Polish, like fight with a vengeance type. Some mean folks with a desire to get some "payback" ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

My pleasure. I just wish I could have been of more help to you... ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Use 'em both everyday I'm one of the few who can brush his teeth and carry on a conversation at the same time ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Play it as you would any scenario. Just look for problems (for some that is the only way to play ) Seriously, I'll send you a guide sheet. On the way in a sec. Thanks, Mike! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Thanks. I'll check on these, Mike. I can send it. I don't feel its quite ready yet. Needs some more testing. Want to give it a test drive? Let me know, please ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Actually two should be enough for the even slope, or that has been my finding. But three works well too. There should be some uneven spots here and there, dips, rises, much like real ground. Careful with slopes that are too steep. Tanks have a hard time with them. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Hey SS, are those Schiffer books? (Ouch!) Probably... ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

No I have not had the privilege, SSP. But I have the titles written down and am going to look for them. Thanks for the headsup. Steve, I think Madmatt is going to post that series on the scenario, its called, "Cornered". If not, I'll send 'em to you. I know other folks might not be interested, but I'll make sure you get 'em. Pretty cool..================ ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

I would much prefer that, Martyr. I would like for the designer to be able to designate at least a zone where new units in the next battle would enter from. Not really knowing is a problem sometimes... ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Here is a list to get you going, Steve. These are some good source books for battles with CM. Books for Ideas for Scenarios – Combat Mission - Beyond Overlord The US Army in World War II Series, publisher: US Govt Printing Office Cross Channel Attack Breakout and Pursuit Siegfried Line Riviera to the Rhine Lorraine Campaign Battle of the Bulge The Last Offensive GENERAL There’s a War to be Won, Perret Delivered from Evil, Leckie Heroes of World War II, Murphy Battles and Battlescenes from WW2 Daring to Win, Eshel Bravery in Battle, Eshel Tank Aces, Zumbro Tank Aces, Forty Iron Cavalry, Zumbro Tank Commanders, Forty Clash of Chariots, Donnely and Naylor D-Day Operation Overlord Series (4), Order of Battle, Christopher Chant, editor Swords and Plowshares, Maxwell D. Taylor The 101st Airborne at Normandy, Bando Band of Brothers, Ambrose Overlord, Hastings D-Day, Ambrose NORMANDY Panzertruppen II, Jentz Churchill’s Desert Rats-Normandy to Berlin, Delaforce Invasion! They’re Coming, Carell Panzers in Normandy, Then and Now, Lefevre Normandy, Essame Death Traps, Cooper Beyond the Beachhead, Balkoski Six Armies in Normandy, Keegan Steel Inferno, Reynolds The 12th SS Panzer Division, Walther The Blood Soaked Soil, Williamson Hell on Wheels, Houston Strike Swiftly, Jensen FRANCE The View from the Turret, Folkestad St. Lo, Us Army Historical Division The Clay Pigeons of St. Lo, Johns Against the Panzers, Karamales MARKET GARDEN-WEST WALL Operation Dragoon, Bruer Death of a Nazi Army, Bruer August, 1944, Miller A Bridge too Far, Ryan Division Commander, Miller THE ARDENNES A Dark and Bloody Ground, Miller Battle of the Bulge, Parker Bastogne, the First Eight Days, Marshall Hitler’s Last Gamble, Dupuy The Devil’s Adjutant, Reynolds A Time for Trumpets, MacDonald A Blood Dimmed Tide, Astor Bastogne and the Ardennes Offensive, Arend FINAL BATTLES Battle of the Ruhr Pocket, Whiting One More River, Allen These have all proven to be a big help to me. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

I can promise you the Poles will be in that one. They were in a lot of battles in that campaign. As to being a module or a separate game, that would be something BTS would have to address. As I understand it, it is the same game, but with different OOBs. Would it not be great if you could just add in each new publication and have one monster CM game of all theaters? You could interchange units, and other features, but I'm dreaming ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Sorry Dan. I didn't mean to do that to you. Let me go look again. I might have been in a "heartless" mood that day. No, all of mine are not "easy" I do have a mean streak too. In the meantime, try lowering the German's capabilities a bit and see if that helps. You gotta break those lines, Dan I'll be back... ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

These limitations are a source of constant pain to the designer and sometimes they cannot be helped, due to the limitations of the game. It makes the creative juices flow freely, along with a bit of frustration (G) ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

By all means, Jeff. I'd love to take a look. Also read my post in the other Arnhem thread about how to have attacks both north and south of the river. I don't know that it would work but it might. Either way, it would be a heck of an interesting fight, not knowing if the enemy was going to hit you north or south of the bridge. Send it to: billw@thegamers.net Once I get it, I'll send you a copy of this mean scenario to be posted soon and let you have an advance shot. Jeff Raider was very challenged by it. Ask him ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Cassino is Italian Campaign and would be done in a later module, Melloj. Chambois is a Polish-German scenario. I am finishing one now called "Meyer's Wrath," Polish forces vs German armor south of St Aignan during the push to Falaise. I think there another one on Driel on the CD. So that makes two in the game and one more to come. It will be ready very soon. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

I really wanted more attacks from the north side of the river. I just could not figure out a way to do it. Since completing the campaign and after publication, I have thought of a possibility. Jeff, you may want to try this. It might work. Do the Arnhem map diagonally, with river running southwest to northeast. Then that would allow the east side of the map to become available north and south of the river. That way you could have German attacks from both the north and the south side of the river. Kind of like this. East .............../ ............../ ............./ Arnhem.....--- (bridge) South .........../ ........../ West Now, with the east side of the map available both north and south side, it might work. Of course, you'll have to redo that very complicated map But it might work. Scenario coming, Jeff...WB ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com [This message has been edited by Wild Bill Wilder (edited 07-10-2000).] [This message has been edited by Wild Bill Wilder (edited 07-10-2000).] [This message has been edited by Wild Bill Wilder (edited 07-10-2000).]

Padlocking has a purpose, just as every other tool in the game. It can be abused, just as every other tool in this game (Is there an echo in here ?). A big part of the fun of CM is being able to set up your units as you want them to enter into battle, just as a real commander would. So it should be used sparingly. As Andreas and Martyr have so aptly noted, there should be good reason for this function to be utilized. Some legitimate reasons would be. (1) Fixed defenses, such as pillboxes, bunkers barbed wire and mines. Remember, if you don't padlock these and you give that side to the AI, it will move them around. You may have fields of fire that you want them to cover for the enemy advance. And that is essential to good game play. Case in point. The Stolberg campaign. Before I padlocked the forts, the AI was putting them in some very strange places, like across the river. They had good visibility for part of the map, but none for another. This made for an easy US win. (2) Historical accuracy, as DB mentions. Some history burdened designers feel that the only way to play this scenario is with every unit in more or less the spot it was in the battle (Wittmann scenario and Wittmann operation). Then you must use it. (3) Unit facings. I have a scenario where an attack is being conducted from both the east and the west. Now the units in the center, when under AI control, are always rotated by the AI to north-south. I had no other choice but to padlock them. Otherwise, these tanks are profiled when the scenario begins and while they are turning to face the enemy they are shredded. Other than these three reasons, I see no purpose in padlocking units. Did I miss one? ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Thanks, Manx. You are kind. It has been fun. This is the most in-city fighting I've seen in CM. It is a very different battle. As I test it, I have, in addition to the clautrophobic feel of buildings close in, the terrible dread of what I might find in the next one (building). The game shows this very well, in my opinion. You wouldn't want every scenario to be like this, but it is quite a change...and a challenge to boot. Hope to have a new one for your great CM site very soon...Nice job there, by the way! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

So this Dale H, is this the Dale H I know? Dale, is that you...here at CM? Well, I'll just be doggoned! There are still miracles ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

If you can still see well enough to find the computer (and the John) you ain't doin' too bad. With you Matt, its wear and tear A man ahead of his time, that is you Just getting everyone's blood going today Now to get mine going. That is no easy thing these days! ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com

Working on a new one, "A Second Job," US Combat Engineers and Panzer Grenadiers having a go at it with attacks from either end of the town at the same time. Vossenack is in the Hurtgen Forest area, near the Kall Gorge. This was quite a fight and so it is in the scenario. Of particular interest was the reinforcing German armor that charged down the street. With all US Armor creamed, it looked grim. It just so happened, however, in the fortunes of war, that the German armor went in without infantry support. They suddenly found themselves in a nest of American engineers. Guys, you gotta believe that satchel charges began flying. Boom! Panther knocked out, crew never had a chance. A StugIII slammed into reverse and began looking for a way out! The SdKfz 7 Flak gun quickly crossed the street to avoid the satchels. Hiding in a doorway was another squad of engineers, with even another in the building in front of the vehicle. The gun carriage began to rotate frantically, uncertain as to its target. Ah, another satchel charge...slides under the AFV. Another "BOOM" The engineers, like old CE, smile and say, C'mon, make my day" Gotta love this game! I sent old Madmatt some screen shots of this little encounter. Its pretty cool. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester/Designer Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com