citizen

Hopefully BTS has already asked the article writers to correct the link in the 1st paragraph written as Command Mission, that tries to take them to www.commandmission.com which goes nowhere. Think of all the lost sales because of that little flub! Ok, not really. citizen [ February 28, 2002, 02:35 AM: Message edited by: citizen ]

We've heard a few tidbits of info on the new Extreme Fog of War setting for CMBB, but I'm hoping for a couple more things in the future to make it even more extreme: 1. Right now, when you lose sight of a unit and then see it again somewhere else, the "last seen at" marker disappears, so you are 100% sure that the unit is the same one you saw before. I'd like to see a 10% chance for the old marker to NOT go away. That way, I cannot be absolutely sure that this is the same unit I saw before. At just a 10% chance, it wouldn't lead to gamey tactics of popping a unit back and forth in and out of sight as it won't happen enough to make it worth the time or trouble. 2. Invisible "Enemy Exit" zone. Right now, from the start of a battle, I know with 100% certainty whether or not the enemy is planning on exiting the map. Not good. Nuff said. Thanks, citizen

I wouldn't want to be in a battalion led by your average CM player. Far too often I see players willing to lose half their battalion if that's what it takes to capture a square kilometer of enemy territory. Citizen

First thing I'm gonna do with CMBB is set up a 400 point computer generated forces battle with full rarity options on. I will be amused to see my forces include one mortar team and a 375 point rare tank. I think this optional rarity system is fine, but instead of making battles more diverse, there will be some months (or years) of the war where you will see nothing but one type of tank as all others have inflated prices. Might be realistic. We'll see if it makes things too predictable. I too would like to see a rarity option that allows the computer to make certain items available unavailable and some items available in quantities of 1 or 2 max. The more options the better. Citizen

No word on the major building improvements that have been hinted at previously. Well, hopefully the features yet to be announced will include 3-D ruins. Thanks for the update! Citizen

The easiest way to implement it would be as follows: Whatever turn you want the reinforcements to arrive on is also the percentage cost reduction you get. Turn 10: -10% Turn 20: -20% Turn 22: -22% The argument that late reserves are better is bogus. If you leave yourself with little firepower at the start, your opponent is going to be able to concentrate his fire easily and wipe out your forces quickly. Plus, reinforcements come onto the field all disoriented and bunched up as if they've stumbled into a firefight. It is a risky endevour. Thanks, citizen

If only the interface didn't tell you what your opponent was doing. GOD I hate that I can see whether my opponent will be dug in or not before I even set up my guys. Please BTS, get rid of the Attacker/Defender tag at the bottom of the screen. As for your tournament, here are my suggestions: 1. Make them all Meeting Engagements. 2. Give each Allied and Axis player sketchy info on the opposition. 3. Ask each player if he is going to Attack or Defend. 4. Pair up the players so they are Attack versus Defend when possible; second choice being Defend vs Defend; and as a last resort, the rarest of occurances, Attack vs Attack. Or pair them randomly. Or tell them they are paired randomly, but use the above system anyway. 5. Now set up the scenario with some sort of Attacker bonus, but not too much as the Defenders aren't dug in. 6. Have them go at it. Tell the Defenders that they have just arrived in their positions, so digging in was not an option. This way, neither side knows what the other is up to. Defend vs Defend may sound boring, so a flag in the middle to get them moving a bit will be required for the sake of fun. Good Luck, Citizen PS: Oh yeah, responsiblities of a CM-Level commander... Don't consider the battle as a Coy level decision. To simulate some Coy level decision making: Tell each Defender that if he takes 25%+ casualties, he loses. Tell each Attacker that if he takes 33%+ casualties, he loses. [ 10-10-2001: Message edited by: citizen ]

Hey, maybe Steve G. will send you an email out of the blue like DeanCo got a while back to do a new interface. Lord knows we could SURE use an endgame randomizer in CM2:B2B I suspect one is in the works, but anything to save a few days of programming is a good thing. Good job, fellas. citizen

Let's hope that rounds will still be incoming when spotters are suppressed in CM:B2B. Well, at least for the Russians. Currently, we are to believe that the spotters are in second by second contact with their batteries. The shells stop when that constant chatter stops (spotter suppressed or killed). The batteries wouldn't want a few shells landing on friendlies, after all. We know that Russian communications were not this good and there is some evidence that the Russians weren't above shooting at their own troops. Please BTS, let the Russian shells fall at least for the remainder of the 60 seconds. Citizen

Thanks, MrSpkr, for the compliments and for passing on the info. MrSpkr wrote: That's a deal. I've just sent you Scenario #2 of my "Recon By" series. It's called 'Recon By Riverboat' so you can guess it'll be a doozy. As usual, it features a new method of recon and a unique system for receiving reinforcements. And no, it's not the same way as in Recon By Stealth. I'll send it to Last Defense tomorrow, so the rest of you can look for it by the weekend. Matt

Showing readers how to survive against 155VT is interesting. Making a comeback would've been even more interesting. Don't make the effort to post anything on it. It's obvious that neither of them had their heart in it. After 3 months of inaction they aren't going to remember anything... or care. At least that's what the above quote says to me. Matt

Brigadier General Gavin: "What's the best way to take a bridge?" Major Julian Cook: "Both ends at once." -A Bridge Too Far- Can't say I personally recommend a river crossing in assault boats, however. Matt

Hands down the best recon units in CM are Sharpshooters with No Ammo. They can sneak like the dickens and won't give away their position by firing. You'll be surprised at what you can get away with using these little suckers. If you're interested in a scenario that utilizes these recon troops, I designed a scenario called Recon By Stealth I'd be happy to send you. It was designed specifically to be played against the AI. It's good practice and you'll learn a thing or two about recon. Thanks, Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com

Haven't you ever close assaulted a Mortar team and taken casualties even when they are still crewing their mortar? Try it sometime! Oh, and they do have a few pistols. As soon as they feel threatened enough, they'll ditch the tube and fire their pistols instead. By the way, buildings have interior walls despite the fact that they are not seen on screen. The game engine assumes that most troops cannot see through walls. No patch needed here. Matt

I found G Company's War to not be all that interesting. They barely did any fighting! I like personal accounts much more than operational ones, but this one didn't draw me in. Much of the "diary" of the two men was not written "the day of," but long afterward based on scribbled, incomplete diary entries. Best part of the book to me: The casualty reporting on Egger's Squad & Platoon. Whenever a man was injured, the editor (who contributes the operational background to the events of the day) reports on the fate of the injured man. I couldn't believe how much time some guys spent in the hospital... and then still returned to the unit. Or how quickly some of the replacements became casualties. Thanks, Matt

There is one sure-fire way to reproduce this. Let your Immobile 1 man .50 cal team get captured. Then rescue him from the Germans. Now he can run as he is tagged "Unarmed." They only abandon their equipment when captured. Thanks, Matt

CM2 won't really be able to simulate the effect of snipers or allow them to be employed as they usually were. Reason being, during a CM battle all troops on both sides are wide eyed and ready for battle. They know, with 100% accuracy, that there are enemies nearby. A sniper is at his or her best when the enemy is resting on his laurels, taking a shower , or generally relaxing... not realizing that there are enemies nearby. During a battle there are too many enemies around, too many pairs of eyes, for a sniper to work his magic. Here's how CM2 could simulate a sniper at work: After buying your units, the game engine chugs away for a few seconds, then your Company shows up on the field for Setup. Your Coy HQ is down to 3 men and your Heavy Weapon Platoon HQ is just missing altogether. The entire Coy starts the engagement "Alerted" That Heavy Weapons Platoon starts out "Shaken" The sniper your opponent bought either slips back through the sewers to friendly lines (NOT to the battle), or shows up as a casualty in the AAR. But this won't happen as it ain't much fun. Thanks, Matt

I've had a few questions sent to me by interested parties. I'll answer here instead of replying to each email I receive. Some have said that they don't play TCP/IP, but they do play PBEM at a rapid pace. Ok, that sounds reasonable. If you have a regular PBEM buddy/nemesis and want to try this out, please email me at: loyalcitizen@home.com Thanks, Matt

I'm up for it! I'll take a mixed Inf/Armored "various jobs" unit. Thanks, Matt loyalcitizen@home.com [This message has been edited by citizen (edited 03-17-2001).]

If you and your best CM buddy are rabid TCP/IP players and want to try out a new way to play operations, drop me a line. You know how operations draw that straight line at the end of every battle? Wanna play one that DOESN'T have that dang line? You know how at the end of an operation, every unit can freely and instantly move to the other end of the battlefield? Wanna play one where they can't? You know how you have no control over your reinforcements or supply in an operation? Wanna play in one where you control your own reinforcements and supply? You know how you can't buy your own forces in an operation? Wanna play in one where you can? I'm only looking for already established TCP/IP pairs and I ask that BOTH players email me (this will prove your dedication and coordination). Tell me who you are and who your TCP/IP buddy is. And tell me how often you play online against each other. Don't post here. Email me at: loyalcitizen@home.com Thanks, Matt Hyra

JoePrivate is right (and I'm glad you liked it ). I have designed a whole series of scenarios featuring REAL RECON and unique methods of bringing on reinforcements. They were designed to be played against the AI, but certainly could be played PBEM as long as both sides "played fair." Like no anticipatory retaliatory strikes. The scenario that JoePrivate refers to is called Recon By Stealth. This method of recon is achieved by giving the Brits 6 Crack Sharpshooters... each with NO AMMO. They scout ahead for 30 turns, find good avenues of attack, seek out enemy positions, but don't expose themselves by shooting. The reinforcement angle is unique in that, based on your recon, you "call back" for the reinforcements you need to beat the enemy. Each slot of reinforcements is slightly stronger than the previous, but the more stuff you "call back" for, the longer they take to show up. You then hide the 4 rein slots that you didn't choose. I had the scenario posted on the Depot, but that has gone away, so if anyone wants to give it a try, send me a direct email and I'll send it to you (don't ask for it here). It's a Coy sized engagement and takes an short evening at most. The 30 turns of recon go by quickly. Thanks, Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com

Shipmonkey, I work at Wizards of the Coast... makers of Magic, D&D, and Pokemon. The stacks of cards I had on my desk are now on the floor. And I didn't have to go to work on Thursday. More CM for me! Matt

I was at work in Renton, WA - about 20 miles north of the epicenter. I dove under my desk and a bunch of stuff fell onto the floor and a few windows broke. As soon as it stopped, someone on the intercom said to evacuate. Everyone headed out straight away, but I stopped to pop the CM disk out of the computer and grabbed a bottle of water. Good to know that I can keep my head even when there's a panic about. Matt

Please don't email James to enter the CMMC I am the CMMC Personnel Director and can tell you that indeed the sign up period has been over for 8 months. And we already have a substantial waiting list. No one who is not currently signed up will be able to get in this session. Sorry about that. Basically, if you don't get email from us, you aren't in. If you think you are in but haven't rec'd anything, then I'm afraid that you're on the waiting list at this point. Matt Hyra

I choose mine as an homage to one of my all-time favorite TV shows: "The Prisoner" ; and to one of my favorite roleplaying games: Paranoia. The other reason I like it is that it's hard to form an opinion about me based on the name. Matt