citizen

I would also say to start without the topo maps. A suggestion: While customizing Company Commander abilities sounds like fun, it is actually a pain in the butt. Leave it random. Keep it simple for the first run. Complicate it later... Matt

Ok, I warned you all a week ago about a new and unique scenario I created. Several of you kind folks tested it. Now it's up on the CMHQ Scenario Depot. Here's the write-up for it: This scenario is the 1st in a set of 5 exploring different methods of recon. Each scenario also features never before seen methods for receiving reinforcements. You'll just have to play each of them to see what I mean. This is a very unique scenario. Not only will you be performing actual recon (scouting enemy positions WITHOUT firing at them), but you will also get to make real command decisions regarding the forces you need to accomplish your mission. If this doesn't make sense or seem possible, you will understand after you read the briefings. Recon By Stealth is meant to be played as Allies versus the Axis AI ONLY! You need not give the AI any advantage in experience or force size. The scenario has been tested by several people already and has received high marks and praise for originality. The first 30 or so turns go by quickly, so you should be able to finish it in an evening. So if you have the patience and stomach for some real recon, download Recon By Stealth today! Look for a new "Recon By" scenario each week for the next month. Thanks, Matt Hyra

Very cool. I hadn't seen any hints about the pillbox tweaks here on the Forum, but I like 'em! Matt

(I posted this in the General Forum first, but this seems the more appropriate place for this kind of discussion. Sorry for the double post.) I am working on themed scenarios at the moment. I call it my "Recon By" series. They are all meant to be played versus the AI and are roughly Company sized engagements, taking an evening at most to play. Each scenario utilizes a different method of reconnaissance (yes, actual recon; not just moving to contact) and a unique reinforcement system. I won't explain it here (the briefings explain everything)... you'll just have to play 'em and see. Here are the titles: Recon By Stealth Recon By Boat Recon By Air Recon By Fire Aufklärung Bei Nacht (Recon By Night) I've been working on them for 2 months and have had playtesters come back with good things to say every time. I was going to release them all at the same time, but now I think that it'd be best to release them once a week so that people can have a new one to play each week for a month or two. Look for Recon By Stealth this week. If you like to perform real recon you won't want to miss these. Matt

I am working on themed scenarios at the moment. I call it my "Recon By" series. They are all meant to be played versus the AI and are roughly Company sized engagements, taking an evening at most to play. Each scenario utilizes a different method of reconnaissance (yes, actual recon; not just moving to contact) and a unique reinforcement system. I won't explain it here (the briefings explain everything)... you'll just have to play 'em and see. Here are the titles: Recon By Stealth Recon By Boat Recon By Air Recon By Fire Aufklärung Bei Nacht (Recon By Night) I've been working on them for 2 months and have had playtesters come back with good things to say every time. I was going to release them all at the same time, but now I think that it'd be best to release them once a week so that people can have a new one to play each week for a month or two. Look for Recon By Stealth this week. If you like to perform real recon you won't want to miss these. Matt

The screenshot at that first site makes it look like each member of the squad is portrayed. That'll probably drive a few more Close Combat players this-a-way... Matt

I agree that there should be variation on when the final turn comes. I have a simple idea on how many turns could be added or subtracted from the set number of turns. Make the range of variance coincide with the number of turns the scenario was designed for at the rate of 1 for every 10 turns. So it would look like this: 1-19 turns: +/-1 20-29 turns: +/-2 30-39 turns: +/-3 and so on... Matt

I've designed a scenario called "Recon By Fire." The Allies ammo is maxed out, but they have to fire 90% of it off before they can exit the map for points. The tactic was used mainly when moving through suspected enemy positions, especially when either the Allies were on the move or the Axis had just (supposedly) pulled out of a position. I feel that an "exit the map" scenario is the right sort of place for the tactic. The troops don't have time to search every building or clump of trees, so shooting everything up saves time. Email me at loyalcitizen@home.com if you'd like to test the scenario for me. It was designed specifically to be played against the AI. Matt

I make them by enclosing a field with a stone wall and using hedges as the vines. I decided against using bocage as I didn't want to restrict LOS that severely. Also, I didn't want to restrict vehicular movement. Matt

Thanks! Good to know that I needn't worry about crew assaults anymore. Hopefully crew can bluff the prisoners they guard into thinking that their M1911 has more than one in the pipe. Great job! Take a week off. Matt

I have created a very unique scenario that involves a good deal of recon and some real decision making by the player. It was designed specifically to be played against the AI. It should be a challenge and like nothing else you've played. If you are interested in testing it for me, all I ask is that you do me the courtesy of writing back to me when you are done and let me know how it went. Send me an email if you are interested. Thanks, Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com

Hi there, I have created a very unique scenario that involves a good deal of recon and some real decision making by the player. It should be a challenge and like nothing else you've played. And it was designed specifically to be played against the AI (now updated to 1.1b22). I am looking for a couple of playtesters. If anyone is interested in testing it for me, all I ask is that you do me the courtesy of writing back to me when you are done and let me know how it went. Send me an email if you are interested. Thanks, Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com

Does anyone know someone at Gamespy? If so, enlighten them quickly. The Sims needs to have its own category. Give it special mention or something, but don't compare it to (cough inserted here for C&C2) wargames. Matt [This message has been edited by citizen (edited 12-15-2000).]

Mr. Clark, Yes, Ryan's serious. It's supposed to be 12-13 episodes. Man, I hope those are hour-long episodes. The two most recognizable names (to me) in the cast are David Schwimmer as Herbert Sobel and Ron Livingston as Lewis Nixon. Other than that, most are relative unknowns (as it should be). Schwimmer is a bit thick in the torso for Sobel, but his face is right on. Livingston is perfect for Nixon. They are shooting right now and are hoping for snow soon. The series will make the wait for CM2 easier to bear next summer. Matt

Yup, I bring my CD to work every day and play during my lunch hour and usually for another hour or two as PBEMs come in. Playing during lunch is OK, but I always manage to fire it up at other times. There was a crackdown a while back on people playing games at work (a bunch of us were playing Shogun) so now I'm one of the few who dares to. My computer screen doesn't face a traffic area, so I can keep my CM habit under wraps. Matt

I'm with you. I'd be happy if there was an option for historical rarity in purchasing units. It's unfortunate that some players don't use the "lesser" armored vehicles. In all wargames I hate how the first few turns of every game is "Kill all Tanks." Then after one side has tank superiority, the opposing infantry gets chewed up and is hard pressed to deal with the tanks. Matt

Local gaming club "Metro Seattle Gamers" is holding a Combat Mission Game Day at their clubhouse on 14 Oct 00. There will be a bunch of people there playing all day long. We were hoping for TCP/IP, but will have to make due with PBEM file swapping on the network or hotseat. There will be a few computers there (Macs mostly), but bring your computer and CM disk if you can. The club is located at: 1139 Market St (Ballard area) Seattle, WA 206-781-0047 It's just $2 to play all day and into the night (11am to 11pm or later). Several restaurants a block away. Here's their website: http://www.dragonflight.org/msg/events.htm See you there, Matt

I have found the source of the Hampster Obsession. Look at the Main Screen when you start up the game... The painting of the Shermans on the road with the Tiger burning in the background. Now, look closely at the hatches on the lower deck of the lead Sherman. You will see a hamster on the left and a mouse on the right (driver's hatch). I'll leave it to the experts to post a picture of it here. But I get credit for spotting the subliminal suggestion first. Matt Hyra [This message has been edited by citizen (edited 09-26-2000).]

Seeing as how I had been working on that Operation without benefit of the ASL supplement, I would very much like to try it out. I gave up on it when I started GMing a micro campaign for two newbie wargamer friends. Send it! Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com

As a GM for the upcoming Combat Mission Meta Campaign, I'd like to suggest one additional feature be added to the Tournament Save option. Currently, when a game ends, both sides are able to see the map with zero Fog of War. This makes little difference in a single scenario, but in a campaign where probing attacks and low intensity shooting matches will be common, the ability to see EXACTLY what you were fighting is like having a spy satellite from the year 2144. Currently, if you don't want a unit to be seen in the end screen map, you must exit it from the field previous to the battle ending. Unfortunately, this causes a lot of edge hugging. Also, not everything can move off map. Undiscovered minefields, barbed wire, and roadblocks are suddenly discovered. I am requesting that under Tournament Save, Fog of War is left intact in the end game map. The Operation way (no end map) won't work for campaigns, as ammo levels need to be checked at the end of a battle. Anyone agree or have a better solution to this campaign spoiler? Hoping this can make it into 1.06 Thanks, Matt Hyra

Hope you get well soon, Fionn! And don't worry Lorak... I will make sure ole sniperscope doesn't get the Axis side... or maybe he will. Asking for it here doesn't ensure he will get a German command. Matt Hyra CMMC Personnel Coordinator

I had the same problem with McKinley's Battalion as well... that is, until I put the file in the Scenarios folder instead of the Saved Games folder. I can access scenarios I've made by leaving them in the Saved Games folder, but other user-mades have to go in the Scenario folder for some reason. At least that did the trick for me... Matt

Yippee! Got the game and poster today (27th). Now I get to play it for one night before I leave tomorrow for a week. Ordered 10/99 CC Charged 6/16 Shipped 6/21 Rec'd 6/27 Matt Seattle PS: OK, martiniman, I will say Hi to Mr. Joe Hauck on keyboards. I've been to several Dudley shows. They rule.

Not me. Ordered 10/99 a few days before the demo came out. Emailed BTS with a CC # change a month ago and got a confirm on it. 10 days ago I got an email alert saying my CC # was no good. Apparently the change didn't get processed. I was told to order again and that the order would be shipped ahead of newbie orders. Looks like that didn't happen. I leave for a business trip Wednesday. Won't get to play any CM until 3 July now. I can't complain. If I had CM I wouldn't have washed and waxed my car on Sunday. Matt Seattle, WA

WoW ! I thought it would be a while before we saw your mod pack. I'm not used to this treatment... the day it arrives I will be downloading a patch and mod pack. Absolutely no time "wasted" with unpatched CM. Seriously cool mod pack guys! Thanks. Now off to the mailbox... citizen