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Can one of the supplied scenarios be 'Take this town and hold it until the picture of the Madonna with the big boobies is smuggled out'. Obviously we wouldn't want the picture to be abstracted in CM. Preferably using any spare polygons and the 'depth' feature as much as possible. Seriously though... Can you say to Infantry, for example, don't move until, or unless, another unit has reached point 'D'? This would make 'bounding' easier to co-ordinate.

Sure this has been asked before but I can't find it. How would I co-ordinate an attack such as... Tank is moving from A to B to C. When it gets to 'B' I want some Infantry to move to 'D'. So, 60 seconds starts. After 30 seconds Tank reaches 'B'. How would I get the Infantry to move? Cheers Tony

Paper, scissors, stone anybody??? I'm still shaking with trepidation on what the AI is going to do to me as I have zero (real) wargaming experience. Was it Hamburger Hill when the bloke couldn't sleep 'cos he was worried about all the things he had to remember? Is there a Ladybird book of WWII tactics anywhere? Cheers Tony

Can you give me some idea what should happen in this level of gameplay. Most of my wargaming has revolved around squad level (i.e. individual) where the point man would move back whether he was seen or unseen (just at a different pace I'd suspect) while the rest of the squad provide cover. Would/should the infantry engage or retreat? I realise it'll depend on cover and number of enemy. I just get the feeling a 12 man rifle squad would be cut to ribbons within seconds against an MG42 and pinned. I could be wrong. This is another reason why I'm looking forward to CM. I'm not a grog but love wargames. I'm expecting CM to make it a pleasure to lose while I get to learn something. Cheers Tony

Is it possible to order a unit (probably infantry) not to engage? Imagine I'm proceeding along a road. Infantry on both sides checking the woods in front of the armour. A rifle squad notices an enemy MG and Bazooka team (maybe more) hidden in the woods. The opponent is waiting for the armour and has been told not to open up until they have a good target. The infantry could engage or retreat Could they be ordered to 'pretend' they've not seen anything. The armour could be stopped (if they haven't wandered into the Ambush within the 60 seconds) and the infantry asked to flank the ambush while other units are positioned from the main column. Other than 'is it possible', is it a tactic ever used? Is it sound or am I likely to get pasted? Obviously the infantry will be a little 'cut-off' and could run in to more trouble. Cheers Tony (P.S. this is another reason why I can't wait for CM. If it is as accurate as predicted then 'what ifs?' become 'aahhh that's what happens')

Ahhhhh!!! I understand now thanks to the explanations from yourself and Ben. I have seen, heard and read enough to convince myself of the game's pedigree. Personally, the demo(s) will be the clincher how accurately the 3D perspective works for me. I suppose it's all a personal thing. Good Luck Tony

Hi Oscar, I'd guess you and the BTS chaps are quite familiar with each other. However, I've been trying to follow your arguments in this thread and must be missing something. As I'm certain there's an interesting point about 3D vs 2D gaming worlds can you explain the problem a little bit more? If we take the LOS article as an example, I believe you're saying "It doesn't matter how accurate the 3D world shows LOS if the underlying code doesn't model it accurately". I apologise if I am wrong. I can't believe that BTS are going to supply any code to support their argument. However, the movies and screenshots have convinced me the game will look good. The LOS and AI articles have 70% convinced me that the coding is good. The 'sound effects' threads have convinced me it'll sound good. The AARs have convinced me the game is atmospheric and involving. I'm now waiting for the Beta Demo to convince me the game is stable and give the other 30% LOS and AI (plus FOW) coding confidence. Then all I need is the gold demo for an insight to the final product and, for Xmas, the game. If I get all these things in a product and it's seems to play accurately for ME then I'm not fussed what the engine is doing. Cheers Tony P.s. I'm not sure it matters but I support CAD packages. Forgetting 2D drawings, the modelling is all 3D. The clash and interference detection is all within the maths engine but the Design Engineers still use the 3D model to visualise. ------------------

Unfortunately, I've thrown the original packaging away and...errr.. there's a box shortage here in the UK at the moment due to BSE. But really Steve... there is directional rather than stereo sound? I'm not sure what controls this (Sound card or Software) but it has added so much to my gaming that it'll knock my socks off in a 3d wargame.

Is it known yet whether the AI can set-up an effective Ambush? If it is then I'm not sure I want to know how it does it (I usually want to forget there's a computer involved) but how effective is it?

Sure this must have been asked before but I can't find it. The FAQ states stereo sound. Will I benefit from 4 speaker surround sound?

I've come to realise that I was beginning to get blase about CM. When I first saw the Battlefront site, I thought WOW. Then I downloaded the movies and read the LOS article and nearly wet myself. After a few months of posts stating "This is in, this is out, this is how this works" etc I began taking it all for granted. Seeing the texture on those weapons has just blown me out of the water again. If I remember correctly the battlefield is a couple of miles square, in full 3D, with true LOS and FOW.... and the chaps are putting textures on each bloody gun???? Absolutely amazing. Oh yeah!!! that texture on the inside of the right thigh really needs to be tidied up........Do you chaps iron your underpants as well...

Waiting for... CM Veiled Threat The Sims Playing... Driver

In an earlier thread the guys at BTS said "CM carefully predetermines which sounds will be heard". Can somebody expand on this? Is it possible that the camera is right next to a firing HMG but there's no sound as it's not been selected?

Bit of a contentious question for those who have played CM and I hope not to start a slagging match. What isn't good about CM? I've yet to read anything derogatory or any queries that haven't been superbly answered by BTS. Surely there's something that's annoying. Does infantry still roller skate across the ground for instance? Again, if they do, it won't affect gameplay.

Ooooohhhh Titan, I'll no doubt be speaking to you after Saturday Tony, Warwick England "Swing low...." Currently playing Driver (which is pretty good) after JA2 bored me senseless. I'm looking forward to CM's use of the term elite/crack. I'm 100% sure it won't mean "can take 4 shots to the head rather than 2".

Steve... The votes for Fionn and Martin are very akin to their current morale figures within the game.... weird coincidance or a reflection on how 'human' the game can judge a situation? If so, then is morale REALLY settled by casualties or is there something, more scrarey, going on under the covers?

Is it possible to lower the morale of an opponent by scaring the poo out of them? Fionn seems to be trying it...

Martin/Fionn and any other lucky sod who's played the game... I'm going to have fun replaying anyway but what 'sequence' do you use to reply now you're used to it? Zoom out first? Important areas first?

Fionn, I agree that because an outcome seems strange it doesn't mean that it isn't correct. I was thinking of situations where your 'average' game player rather than Wargames player don't appreciate the realism involved. I would hate to see messages on newsgroups saying..."CM is crap because units don't respond to my orders". I'm sure BF are hoping for a wider audience than the people who have had the benefit of this message board.

I think a bigger problem may be 'strange' decisions or results in playtesting which the Charles/Steve and the like can explain to the Beta Testers. Those who buy the game and have not had the advantage of this message board might believe these 'strange' outcomes are bugs. I'm deperately trying to think of some examples from the current game but my brain's gone foggy.

Do they 'crackle' when you get near them?

I can understand what you mean. However, I still find the swing of battle fascinating (presume this is due to a well constructed scenario). What I am enjoying now is the change emotions going on with both players. I realise both Martin and Fionn are accomplished writers but you can tell they've made attachments to their forces. This is another reason why I wouldn't mind seeing the same soldier names cropping up from time to time with promotions and decorations.

It's obvious CM is going to be realistic. How will it cope with those of us who are au fait with battle tactics but not armchair generals?

How does selecting artillery work then? Is there a set amount of ammo or does the briefing state "You can use arty in 4 game rounds"?

Sorry I should have been clearer. It appears the rooms are empty so not much chance of using cover to give the defenders any advantage for getting there first (once the attackers are actually in the building of course).