guachi

Thanks for clarifying. You guys did spotting *exactly* the way I was hoping. Even going so far as to give an extra chance to identify German armor as Tiger. With the German player likely to be massively outgunned, he needs every advantage he can get... And Steve, just keep popping the ephedrine, that'll keep you awake. Jason

We actually have only sold a few copies. I think we are installed in 6 hospitals. But 100K is nothing. The competition sells their stuff for about 500K at least. Jason

Given my limited understanding of WWII recon, I'll agree with Martin. You don't really need to use recon units to see if an enemy is there. It wouldn't be much of a scenario if he wasn't. For any CM scenario I'm likely to play, I'll just assume the enemy is out there on the map somewhere. Although I assume a sneaky scenario designer could have every enemy unit arrive as a reinforcement or something. Jason

Brush. Of course. That was added within the last few weeks. I am really impressed with your customer service. With some companies it's hard enough to get them to add something AFTER the game is out but you guys add it before. Sure it may delay the game a bit, but I think it is worth it. Your company reminds me of the one I work for, a small computer software company. It's just me, my mom, and my stepfather. Except we write software for hospital laboratories. And the software costs 100K dollars. But, like you, we try to go the extra mile for the customer. This is basically why I preordered. Great customer service. I can't really lose. If there is something wrong with the game, BTS will fix it. I get a free poster. And, even after seeing the demo, I can cancel if I don't like what I see. Jason

Thanks. Don't you ever sleep??? The reason I asked is because the AARs from Fionn and Martin, while showing spotting in action, don't exactly show HOW it is done. Of course, I assume all of this would be in the manual. But the more we know now, the faster we will be able to start playing. Anyway, now that I know the basics, I am wondering about the variability of what is being identified. Here is an example: Germans spotting an M4A3 If I am not mistaken, there are various levels of spotting accuracy. For the M4A3 the spotting sequence would be (assuming the Germans don't misidentify) something like Med tank, M4, M4A3. I'm guessing that there is a possibility of spotting wrong. We see in the AAR that Fionn's (now dead) Puma was identified as a halftrack for 21 turns! In the Sherman's case, is there a possibility that it would be identified as a Light tank? Assuming yes, could it then be further misidentified as a M3 Stuart? If it is identified (correctly) as an M4, could it be incorrectly identified as an M4/105 or an M4 with a 76mm gun? I think it would be neat if you were never absolutely certain of an identification. Like if American units constantly identified German armor as Panthers or Tigers rather than just Med Tank? or Hvy Tank? I doubt that most American soldiers could identify the latest oddball German tank destroyer. But then again, maybe this detailed of spotting rules would be a lot of effort for little gain. I program in RPG/IV for the AS/400 so I don't know jack squat about game programming. Jason

I was wondering what variables are accounted for when spotting units. I can think of a bunch of general rules and situation specific rules, but I was wondering which made the final cut. Thanks, Jason

I have only been reading this board for about two weeks of so. I waded through every message on the board for the last 3 months or so and I was wondering what features or corrections have been added because of suggestions and discussions on this board. I can think of two off the top of my head: Shadows Fanaticism The shadows for the vehicles was added even though Steve repeatedly said 'No' I like them, even if they are just rectangles. And I think the addition of Fanaticism was a really good idea. Certainly more useful for an Eastern Front CM, but it works great for the times when a designer needs to simulate poorly trained troops that will fight to the death. Are there any other features that have been added? Jason

Thanks, Either I read the one-tenth number somewhere or it is just an informed guess. If one copy sold is equivalent to 10 at retail, then I think I should get ten copies sent to me Ok, maybe not. But I do expect my one pre-order copy to be here in a few months. <Keeps fingers crossed> Jason

Just do what I did. I printed them out. The damn thing is huge - over 200 pages. I only printed the battle from one side, though. On hig quality print setting, even the small pictures look decent. And now that Fionn is posting higher quality pics, the full screen shots look incredible. Jason

I know that you can't give out actual numbers. But since you get so much more money per sale over the internet than in a retail chain, I was wondering if you could tell us how much less you have to sell over the internet to do well. I am sure you went over the numbers very carefully before you even started. I'm looking for something general like, 'We could sell one-tenth as much as we do at the retail level and we would be happy' Jason The reason I ask is I'm a finance major. It's the kind of thing I am interested in.

I'd love to help, but my computer skills aren't quite suited. I program in RPG/IV for the AS/400. My skills are more on the technical, information analysis side. I can thake a pile of numbers and information and sort it any which way you like. But I couldn't create a nice bit of artwork to save my life. Although I am tempted to get some fabric paint and paint some kind of waffenfarbe on my new 12" Ultimate Soldier WWII German guys. Jason

Here is my stab at things. God, I hope the formatting works. The info came from the great Handbook on German Military Forces and German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945 by Brian L. Davis OK, the formatting worked, but it didn't read well. Here is another try. I know some of these ranks don't actually exist, but the books I got these from added the closest equivalent for comparisons sake. Wehrmacht SS American British Schutze/ - - - - - -/ Private, Rifleman/ Private, Infantry Grenadier/ - - - - - / Private, Infantry/ Private, Infantry Fusilier/ - - - - - / Private, Infantry/ Private, Infantry Muskitier/ - - - - - / Private, Infantry/ Private, Infantry Jager/ - - - - - / Private, Lt. Mt. Infantry/ Private, Mountain Rgt Reiter/ - - - - - / Private, Cavalry/ Trooper, Cavalry Kanonier/ - - - - - / Private, Artillery/ Gunner Panzerschutze/ - - - - - / Private, Tank/ Member, Tank Crew Panzergrenadier/ SS-Mann/ Private, Armored Infantry/ Private, Infantry, Armd Unit Pionier/ - - - - - / Private, Engineers/ Sapper Oberschutze/ - - - - - / Senior Private, Rifleman/ Senior Private Oberreiter/ - - - - - / Senior Private, Cavalry/ Senior Trooper Oberkanonier/ - - - - - / Senior Private, Artillery/ Senior Gunner Panzeroberschutze/ - - - - - / Senior Private, Tank/ Senior Tank Crew Oberpanzergrenadier/ Sturmmann/ Senior Private, Armd Inf/ Senior Inf Soldier, Armd Unit Oberpionier/ - - - - - / Senior Private, Engineer/ Senior Sapper Gefreiter/ Rottenfuhrer/ Private First Class/ Lance-Corporal Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter/ - - - - - / - - - - -/ Cadet Lance-Corporal Obergefreiter/ - - - - - / PFC, Acting Corporal/ Corporal Stabsgefreiter/ - - - - - / PFC, Administrative/ Senior Staff Corporal Unteroffizier/ Unterscharfuhrer/ Corporal/ Lance-Sergeant Oberjager/ - - - - - / Corporal, Lt. & Mt. Infantry/ Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier/ - - - - - / Officer Candidate/ Cadet Lance-Sergeant Unterfeldwebel/ Scharfuhrer/ Sergeant/ Sergeant, Inf, Sappers, Armd Units Unterwachtmeister/ - - - - - / Sergeant, Arty, Cav, AA/ Sergeant, Cavalry, Artillery Feldwebel/ Oberscharfuhrer/ Staff Sergeant/ Company Sergeant-Major Wachtmeister/ - - - - / Staff Sgt, Arty, Cavalry, AA/ Sergeant-Major, Cavalry Fahnjunker-Feldwebel/ - - - - - / Advanced Officer Candidate/ Oberfeldwebel/ Hauptscharfuhrer/ Technical Sergeant/ Battalion Sergeant-Major Oberwachtmeister/ - - - - - / Technical Sgt, Arty, Cav, AA/ Squadron Sergeant-Major Oberfahnrich/ - - - - - / Senior Officer Candidate/ Hauptfeldwebel/ - - - - - / - - - - - / Regimental Sergeant-Major Hauptwachtmeister/ - - - - - / - - - - - / Regimental Sergeant-Major, Cavalry Stabsfeldwebel/ Sturnscharfuhrer/ Master Sergeant/ Staff Sergeant-Major Stabswachtmeister/ - - - - - / Master Sgt, Arty, Cavy, AA/ Staff Sergeant-Major, Cavalry Leutante/ Untersturmfuhrer/ Second Lieutenant/ Second Lieutenant Oberleutnant/ Obersturmfuhrer/ First Lieutenant/ Lieutenant Hauptmann/ Hauptsturmfuhrer/ Captain/ Captain, Infantry Rittmeister/ - - - - - / Captain, Cavalry/ Captain, Cavalry Major./ Sturmbannfuhrer/ Major/ Major Oberstleutnant/ Obersturmbannfuhrer/ Lieutenant Colonel/ Lieutenant-Colonel Oberst/ Standartenfuhrer/ Colonel/ Colonel Generalrmajor/ Brigadefuhrer/ Brigadier General/ Major-General Generalleutnant/ Gruppenfuhrer/ Major General/ Lieutenant-General General/ Obergruppenfuhrer/ Lieutenant General/ Generaloberst/ Oberstgruppenfuhrer/ General/ Colonel-General Generfeldmarschall/ Reichsfuhrer-SS/ General of the Army/ General Field-Marshal [This message has been edited by guachi (edited 09-12-99).] [This message has been edited by guachi (edited 09-12-99).]