mike_in_texas

Yeah, it's pretty strange. I saw it in the demo, too. I'll update my drivers. Thanks, Mike

Ok, thanks. Then, is the mouse zoom in / zoom out under camera settings just how quickly the mouse scroll button changes your elevation?

The sky is all kinds of funky, psychedelic colors along with the water and tree trunks. Is this possibly a graphics card drivers problem? Thanks again, Mike

I have a scroll button on my mouse, but it doesn't appear to be able to zoom in/out with it. Is this something that getting update drivers should fix? Thanks, Mike

Wow, that was quick! Even for you, Matt. Thanks, Mike

I have an XPS 710 w/ Intel quad core processor at 3.2 GHz, 2.75 GB RAM, and dual GeForce 8800 GTX graphics cards. Will it work on my system?

Well, since all the old schoolers are showing up, I might as well jump in, too. Looking forward to both CMSF and Theatre of War! Mike

I just saw the latest bone Matt through out, and had a few questions about the dust/sand clouds. 1. Does the speed of the vehicle affect the size of the cloud? (i.e., I assume a faster moving vehicle would kick up more dust than a slower one.) 2. Are clouds affected by the weather/ground conditions? (i.e., rainy conditions would preclude clouds versus dry conditions.) Thanks in advance, Mike

Actually, in my CMBB and CMBO experiences, I'm fairly certin that when a tank stumbles onto an unexpected armored target after firing HE shells at soft targets, sometimes they fire the already-chambered HE shell at the armored target before reloading to an AP shell. Mike

All I can say is wow! This is why BFC will always have a loyal customer in me. Thank you and Happy Holidays! Mike

Having read through most of the guide, I concur with Coffin 'Enry's comments about it being applicable to CMBO as well. The basic attack/defense concepts such as recon, reverse slope defense, bounding overwatch, combined arms, etc. are mentioned, and are useful tactics for either CM game. Mike

Wow! I was happy with a draw against the AI (I was the Germans). I lost all but three KTs by the end of the battle, with my last mobile tank controlling the flag. I managed to speed him past the AT guns, while they were preoccupied perforating my remaining panzers. How did some of you loose only a few KTs? I tried smoke covered arcs, overwatch and overlapping fields of fire, but the Russians still were able to take out the bulk of my forces with just their IS-2s. Thanks for any helpful tips, Mike

Thanks, Charles & co., for a wonderful game! Mike

Schrullenhaft, Thank you! The mirror site worked perfectly! I am a little curious as to why one site didn't work and the other did, though. Thanks again, Mike

I'm having trouble just getting the patch (or anything from the net) to download to my computer. I have a new Compaq P4, Windows 2000, and am using AOL v7.0. When I right-click on the patch and Save Target As ..., I get the following: Internet Explorer cannot download CMBB_v101_patch.exe from ftp.battlefront.com. A connection with the server cannot be established. Help would be very much appreciated. Mike

Like most here, I enjoyed this scenario. I also approached it pretty much the same way most others did: default setup for the MGs 81mm mortars, and used the woods on the left to flank the enemy hill. I ran into the enemy platoon in the woods, and got past them with few casualties. I think playing another person as the Russians will, in most cases, result in the Germans loosing the better part of a platoon to an ambush in those woods, whereas the AI is a little less dangerous. However, I did need that lost platoon when it came time to assault the hill! Ended up with a major victory. Mike

Agua, I checked out this operation, and it's apparently unplayable on my system with the amount of time it takes for the AI to move and process the turn. Do things speed up as the battle progresses, or do you have a supercomputer? Thanks, Mike

Sitting Duck, I've recently experienced this 'phenomenon', too. I was playing a CD scenario, Balkovzy Surprise, and had one of my German platoon HQs captured. I clicked on a non-captured, subordinate squad and saw the command line (black) extending to where I last had my HQ, but no HQ. Unfortunately, I didn't save the game. Nothing big, but just wanted to let you know you're not the only ones to experience this. Mike

Spoilers + + + + + + + Coffin' FWIW, I just got done playing this one as the Russians, and managed a major victory (the AI surrendered on turn 30). My "tricks" were to split my tank forces (one behing the ridge with the road, and the other along the scattered tree line on the right side of the map), and to use the scoot and shoot command. My airplanes only manage to take out one StuG, so I had the rest of the German tanks to deal with (as well as both 88s, which were a nuisance). Like Rune said, preoccupy the Tigers with the tanks in the treeline on the right, and take them out with flank shots with the tanks behind the ridge. I managed to kill 3 this way, and the last one died while taking out one of my tanks. The last remaining StuG proved the most difficult to take out; took about 4 of my tanks about 3 minutes to finally score a hit while he stood still! One thing I learned the hard way (in a previous scenario) concerning the large-caliber Soviet tanks is that it takes them a lot longer to reload as compared to equilavent Germans tanks. So, with this in mind, make sure you use the pause command with the Russians when shootin' and scootin'. Mike

Spoilers!!! ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; So far, this is my favorite CM:BB scenario I've played (and not just because I pulled out a major victory as the Germans ). Basically, I advanced the bulk of my infantry up the left line (from the German perspective) of woods and middle with the halftrack and PzIVs in support. I moved one platoon along the strip of woods on the far right. My plan of attack was essentially to bear down as much firepower as possible upon any resistance when it presented itself, while hopping from one form of cover to the next (and using a lot of smoke). When the PzIIIs showed up, I used them to harass (using shoot and scoot) the T-34s from the break in the woods on the far right near the wall. Once I got my PzIVs into position on either side of the primate house behind the wall, I was able to take out the Russian armor. I employed my Pioneers to demo-charge an enemy strongpoint in the aviary. One lesson I learned here was that it takes about 90 seconds for my guys to set those charges; it's definitely not instantaneous! Once I secured the primate house and aviary, I assaulted the remaining flags from the road, hopping from house to house and patches of scattered trees. The AI surrendered on turn 26, I think. BTW, did anybody get the halftracks to fire their HC? Fun scenario! Mike

FWIW, I managed to pull off a tactical victory as the Soviets (lost 10 tanks, and captured all but the rearmost flag). It was also my first time at playing as the Russians. Let's just say I learned the hard way about the superior German optics as compared to the allied tanks'. And, as someone mentioned earlier in this thread, shoot and scoot is definitely the Soviet's friend, especially in this battle! Mike

First off, great work on a very impressive-looking patch! Now, at the risk of sounding nosey (I like to call it inquisitiveness ), can someone tell me what MadMatt edited out of his original post? Thanks, Mike

Wittman, we must share the same mindset -- I also used my flamethrowers to torch those houses in between the last two factories. One thing that initially took me off guard was seeing the AI moving troops through those houses after I set them on fire. Then, I realised that another new feature in CMBB is the gradual increase in fire spreading (i.e., it took about 5 turns for the houses to become fully engulfed in flames to the point of being a hazard to troops). Mike

Hmmm ... I've been hearing some "interesting" things about that Cemetery scenario. I think I'll check that one out next. BTW, I never did get to use the rocket spotter in Dzerhezinsky Tractor Works. From vondeath's experience, sounds like that was a good thing. Mike

This was my very first SL scenario I played, so I thought it appropriate to play this as my first CMBB game, too. I agree with Ron; I only saw the T-34s about three-quarters through the battle; and, like Ron's game, they were parked in the rear corner of the map. But, once they spotted my forces, they began advancing into battle. Unfortunately for me, they managed to take out both my panzers, and consequently, began laying waste to my infantry (those cannisters are definitely nasty - takes out entire squads with one shot!). Eventually, I did manage to take out the command tank with a grenade bundle. Like vondeath, I advanced with my main force, and assaulted the Russian's right flank with my recon. Very nasty, intense fighting in the factories. The game auto-ended around turn 30, with a total victory for the gerries. Overall, it was a fun scenario, but I was never overly concerned about the outcome. If anything caused me concernd, it was how quickly my ammo was depleted.