Seanachai
-
Posts
8,156 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Seanachai
-
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mark IV:
Seanachai:
Bygones, eh?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Sure, no problem, man! I dropped that whole other thread because I hadn't explained myself well originally, and then knee-jerked an angry reaction (don't post angry is usually a good rule, I've way too often found I was wrong later
)------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
What follows are excerpts from an upcoming article.
"England in Film: History's Greatest Monster"
Many will recall the day when then-President George Bush startled the international community by declaring that "Saddam Hussein is worse than England". Oddly enough, I was working at the time as a bootblack in the Baghdad airport (doing research for my forthcoming book "Iraq & Hollywood: the Undiscovered Country"), and was just finishing putting a high-gloss buff on Saddam Hussein's jackboots. I remember the big smile he got as he watched the speech on a nearby monitor, as Hussein was, as a rule, very proud of and concerned with his image as a Dictator. I could not let this pass, however, and told him: "I'm sorry, Mr. Hussein, but I've met England, and you, sir, are no England." I was immediately deported.
Now, anyone who has ever entered a theater and spent two hours watching a history book will understand why I had to say what I did. If Hollywood has taught us nothing else, and it certainly hasn't, it's taught us that most, if not all, of the world's woes can be laid at the door of England. Besides the fine film work of Mel Gibson, which has been discussed at length elsewhere, many Hollywood filmmakers have worked to enlighten the world about the menace that is England. Many, for example, do not realize that Oliver Stone has, in two of his works, illuminated England's role in the horrors of history. In "Born on the 4th of July", Stone's early footage elucidated the role England played in creating the war in Viet Nam through the competition France felt they had to enter into with England to colonize, which led them to Indochina, and, eventually, to our entry into the war. This footage, sadly, never made it into the final release, purportedly because the finished film would have required a full week of 8 hour days to view, and the Studio decided that that was too much, even for an Oliver Stone film.
In another Stone film, "JFK", the final footage of the movie revealed that Lee Harvey Oswald, as a rifleman, was merely providing 'suppressive' fire for England, who was running like a bastard for the crest of the grassy knoll with a German heavy machine gun, probably an MG42, although some vehement arguments have been made that it was, in fact, an MG34. Until the records are finally unsealed, we will probably never know which. One thing that history is currently certain of, and that is that England did not call in White Phosphorous rounds on Kennedy. Again, this footage never made it into the final product. Oliver Stone informed me, upon my assurance of complete anonymity as to the source, that "two guys dressed all in black showed up in the editing room one day. At first I thought it was Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, but they were actually government agents. They seized all the footage dealing with England's role in the assassination, and one of them told me: 'I don't give an (expletive deleted) what History or Oliver Stone have to say about the shooting, Castro and LBJ are going down for this one, and that's that. We're putting this film into a sealed vault in Washington, and the only one who's ever gone see it is Jimmy Hoffa, if he feels like running it while he's in there.' Then they drove off." ...
[Long, rambling, partially incoherent section follows, dealing with the role movies have played in revealing England's responsibility for the First World War, Apartheid, the Fall of Rome, fees charged for using ATM machines, Iran-Contra, and the Benny Hill Show. Cut in the interest of brevity and relevance to reality. Besides, no one's responsible for the Benny Hill Show, including Benny Hill. Sometimes things like that just happen. It's no good pointing a finger, and at least everyone got to see some naked ladies on television. Move along, people, show's over, nothing to see here...]
... Finally, then, we should consider some upcoming films that help people, especially young people, understand that 'rogue' nation, England.
Fan! (for release this fall) Mel Gibson returns to putting England in her place in his role as a mild mannered, but plucky Pakistani grocer living in Liverpool. Mel's character laughs at the joke of a friend during a football match, his laughter unfortunately coinciding with an own-side goal against England. He is brutally beaten by English football thugs (role not yet cast), along with about 30 other people who just happen to be standing there. The grocer's anger and rebellion force him to ever greater acts of defiance, until finally, at a World Cup match waving the Tricolour in one hand, and the Dutch flag in the other, he is dismembered in the stands. The final triumph is his, however, as it is revealed after his death that he has already fathered Tony Blair.
The Immigrants (coming in winter) In this film, England engineers the potato blight in order to force a mass exodus of the Irish to every corner of the globe. No longer content to abuse the Irish themselves, England decides that every culture deserves a chance at them as well, and arranges the famine so that the chief export of Ireland becomes the Irish. Using flashing imagery and stream of consciousness camera work, the degradation of the Irish in the new world is conveyed by such devices as the 'Lucky Charms Leprechaun', Hallmark St. Patrick's Day cards, and, in the film's most intriguing vignette, with Jesse 'the Body' Ventura's accusation that the street system of the city of St. Paul is 'the fault of drunken Irishmen'. Ventura later apologizes to the city of St. Paul, clarifying that he never meant to insult the city, and that he merely meant to indicate that all Irish are drunks. When Irish Americans ask for an apology, Ventura informs them that his friends Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn are both Irish, and they're always drunk. No further explanation or apology is offered. Irish Americans decide that the only way Nicholson and Penn can stand to be around Ventura is by being constantly drunk, and let the matter drop. (footnote: critics who have seen the early release of this one say that stylistically it's similar to "Thin Red Line", and encourage moviegoers to 'take a lot of caffeine pills and study Zen koans before viewing the film if they want to have any chance at all of following the action")
Falklands: The Return (opening soon). The movie opens with England colonizing the Falkland Islands, the motivation for which at first seems bizarre and obscure. But soon it's revealed that it's to provide the pretext for war with Argentina decades in the future. The first half of the movie deals with the Falklands up through the war (the battle footage is mediocre, but the special effects dealing with the settlement of the island are stunning). The second half of the movie focuses on how Argentina, shamed and degraded by defeat, works quietly in the background for years, through agents, in order to create the musical Evita!. Thus their agony, in the end, is visited on the rest of the world. In a heartbreaking final scene filled with irony and pain, a touring company actually performs the musical for Falkland Island inhabitants.
There you have it. Let's remember, people, that God surrounded England with an ocean for a reason. Some might ask, then, why didn't he put an ocean between England and Scotland? Or Wales? Well, actually, he did put an ocean between England and Wales, but only the Welsh can see it. And if he'd put an ocean between Scotland and England, it would have killed a lot of great filmmaking, now wouldn't it? Besides, people shouldn't inquire so deeply into the nature of God's plans. It's rude. So, England, the ways of perfidious Albion are finally being revealed through that most powerful tool of history and truth: Film. But don't worry, given tested levels of geographical knowledge among young Americans, it's unlikely they could find you to enact a just revenge. But if you're making holiday plans, you might want to consider Spain or France this year. Because after Patriot and movies like it are released, there's gonna be a lot of pissed off New Jersey teenagers looking for anyone with a cultured accent to kick the snot out of.
Disclaimer: the essay above is purely a work of historical fact. Any resemblance to countries, films, or individuals, living or dead or even both, are simply coincidence, and try to prove otherwise. Also, no Englishmen were harmed in the making of this essay. Except for a few that were hit, very hard, with sticks. But they seemed to take it in the spirit in which it was meant. That is, of course, to make them fall to the ground, and to hurt a very great deal. From the expression on their faces and the noises they were making, they seemed to understand the intent. Then all the world's other nations were invited to gather round and put the boot in. Everybody joined in except Uzbekistan. It's not known if their refusal to join in was because of a lack of access to Hollywood films, or some kind of language problem. Oh, and Sweden and Switzerland decided not to have a go because it would violate their neutrality, but they did cheer everyone on, and the Swedes said some very nice things about William Wallace.
If CM doesn't arrive soon, I can't guarantee that there won't be more posts like this one...
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MG Mannschft:
Germanboy,
In Responce to Rate of Fire, And Burning up Ammunition on a MG-42, Its not like a .30 Cal american Gun Inwhich you need a Screw driver and about 20 minutes to change a Hot Barrel, the Allies just let the gun Cool down, If you are a True German who Has seen or heard of a German MG-42, Then you already know they the Barrel On a MG-42 can Be Changed in Seconds but just Poping the Barrel out by the side.
Obviously, You dont know the Gun.
MG<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You know, I was right up there on 'discussion', 'language differences', etc. right up until I hit this reference posted to Germanboy about "If you are a True German"; that went right over the top, for me. Where does this (heavily edited) get off telling others what a 'True German' would know? He's not of an age to have fought in WWII. And he says he's had no military service. Why should anyone pay any attention to this (again edited). There's a heavy stench of 'Übermensch' about this guy's supposedly 'discussion' posts regarding German troops. He seems more intent on proving that his (edited for family content) re-enactment buddies are more correct than any other source of unit tactics. I know that Steve has asked us to lay off bashing this poster, but I can't get over that 'True German' post. That's outside the pale.
Post repeatedly edited to avoid unforgiveable statements which might have involved something approximating the Brit/Aussie/Commonwealth use of the term 'wanker'.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 06-06-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 06-06-2000).]
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Germanboy:
I am a non-native speaker of English, French and Japanese. That does not make it okay for me to go around and insult people. I personally think that as a non-native speaker in any language, it is my responsibility to take sufficient care of my usage of said language not to cause offense. If I do, despite my efforts, I would apologise. But maybe that's just funny old me...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hell, man, your English is better than most of the people I go to the bars with, and on par with people I went to college with. Your posts are always respectful, tactful, reasoned, and in my opinion, in excellent English. I've enjoyed your posts on this forum.
(how many smilies do you think it takes to excite the tiger?) (smilies used to incite Peng to invective, gods know, I do love invective! Wouldn't mind engaging in a hideous invective overmatch with Peng, but don't feel enough a part of the fellowship to try my luck that far...)------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
I want horses. Horse drawn transport (yeah, okay, I know that within the scale of the game, they wouldn't be of much importance).
And cows, lots of cows. I keep reading these books, and they all have pictures of slaughtered cows in them. Cows must have been extremely dangerous on this front, because both sides seemed to have killed them with wild abandon.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Juju:
There are more occasions that things like this might happen: It would be extremely frustrating, for instance, to see a paniced HQ fleeing in your mortar's direction, while you stand there, waving and yelling: "No, don't come any closer. If you come any closer, you just HAVE to assume command, sir!"
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
'Course, if I was in combat, and I saw paniced officers running back past me, I'd probably ask myself "Gee, what do those guys know that I don't?", and decide that, as a dutiful soldier filled with the lust to do what was right, I'd better follow said officers and find out what position I should be taking up, perhaps in Tahiti?
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MG Mannschft:
Okay, Let me try to Lay this out in an Orderly Fashion.
Now, Steve.
It's saying the same thing. Be that as it may of the ROLE of the HMG Team, The ROLE itself wont stop them from quickly getting themselves into postion so they can put the most fire out, in the minimum amount of time you actually see the enemy in the open.
Okay, I think I wrote that down right, But I'll know when you respond.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I can't help myself, I have to post. I think the point you keep overlooking, and that several have made reference to, is the difference between the heady exuberance of hardcore recreation, and the reality of combat, and combat useage. Could a HMG squad , if driven and properly motivated, sprint like benzedrined bunnies to get into front line combat? Probably. Maybe even undoubtedly. Would they find it easy to do? After days, or weeks, of short rations, no sleep, shelling, and constantly moving that gun and all its accoutrements around (as others have suggested)? Probably not. Would 5 or 6 guys, loaded down like Atlas and sounding like a Tinker's caravan running the Preakness, really want to go charging hell bent for salvation into combat? Sometimes: probably; Most of the time, though, knowing that someone was likely to bust a cap into your ass while you concentrated on moving an arsenal into position, the people'd tend to slow down a little. Remember, the game isn't modeling, as Steve has said, people moving 'quickly' into position. Running is just that, going flat out. You don't model a combat game on the situation in which 6 guys who could machine gun for Germany in the Olympics do the 500m to get into position, and start ripping off shots. You model it on poor sods who've had the bloody flux for two days, eat nothing but rice, and who're heading into position carrying an iron foundry, and want to get there in some kind of shape to fight, if that's what they discover when they get there, without collapsing, puking, or having to wave time out. I am sure there were occurences in WWII combat, where heavy machine gun squads on every front, and in every army, put that poor sod who carried the message from Marathon to shame. Was it routinely done, was it even commonly done, and did most NCOs and officers expect it to be done? No, no, and not often. Not to mention that a squad who needs to arrive in a position to coordinate, pull the pieces together, and support each other just to get the equipment working, is not gonna move as fast as 9, 12 or whatever guys who're gonna dash into glory as individuals, take cover as needed, and make decisions once they're there on a slightly more individualistic level than a 'team' charging into position, all bent on servicing one piece of equimpment. I know you've read accounts of what vets could do, and I'm sure they could accomplish heroic deeds, when circumstances demanded it. But most of the time guys going into combat didn't know what would be expected of them in any given situation, and even the slightest doubt does not conduce to 'run heads down like hell and hope it comes out alright'. I don't mean to belabour you on this point, but I think you are using a false standard to analyze the behaviour modeled in the game. Merely my opinion, as it were, and imply no criticism of your group's re-creations.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jeff:
Excellent Idea !
Just tell me where in Italy should I go to pick up the game ! Although I hope that the normal procedure will get me the game sooner than the 19th of June ! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Alright, guys wearing dark glasses showing up in cafes, with pre-arranged identification signs, carrying thin black attache cases, handing over a copy of CM. Intrigue! Romance! Combat Mission!
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
Oops, double post.
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 06-03-2000).]
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by von shrad:
I was thinking in terms more primal.
Can a squad who is in open ground with 2 men remaining beat, for lack of a better word,a full squad also in open <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Well, I don't know about squad on squad combat, but a few nights ago when I was screwing around with the game just trying to set something up, I stumbled into this situation. In CE, a Sherman had driven up near the edge of the woods just NE of the Church, and encountered a smattering of German infantry. The Sherman, buttoned, ended up about 20ms from a HQs squad, kneeling in open ground and looking like a sacrifice. The HQ was down to 2 out of 4 soldiers. The tank was machine-gunning and blasting some other nearby infantry, and the depleted HQ squad tossed a grenade underneath the tank, and knocked it out. The crew bailed, and took further casualties from the plucky HQ squad, who sat there whacking away at them with their personal weapons. On top of that, a machine gun squad that had been riding the Sherman took some casualties during the grenading, they bailed, and ran off panicked, and the HQ captured them before they got more than a few steps. (Admittedly, I don't know if the precise situation would have happened in normal combat; I was primarily rushing a few units into certain positions to check something out). Also, let me add, that this situation was basically worked through by the AI, I wasn't interested in detailed play, as I said. So it seems to me that there are times when even weak units can indeed triumph.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mark IV:
Without getting overly political, corporations are MADE of "people", who often care as deeply about their products and customers as BTS does. It is not OK to rip them off, either, regardless of what you think about them.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Excuse me? Where in my post did I advocate ripping off corporations? Or imply that I thought that behaviour was alright? And why would you think that something being 'shareware' makes it permissible to pirate it? And I've bought plenty of 'shelf' software that wasn't worth the price of setting a match to it, with no response from the retailer or the manufacturer beyond a shrug and a $mile. I've found a lot of shareware that was superior to commercialware, and I'm not responsible for the opinions of waterheads you've encountered on other boards. Your entire post seems intent on misrepresenting what I'd said originally, and taking exception with it for no particular reason. I think you owe me an apology, buddy.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maximus:
Hey well now, Madmatt is from Ohio, so I wouldn't be gettin' your panties all in a bunch.
Then again, why did you post in the Midwest Chapter thread if you don't consider yourselves Midwesterners?
Try to start a thread about a geographic region and someone has to be a jack-ass about it. It's especially sad that you're bashing your own region. Very pitiful...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My apologies (to some extent). The original post was meant to be tongue in cheek, but it loses some of that flavor when you view it later and find your whole last paragraph is gone because your ISP dumped you while trying to post! When I got back on, I didn't even see my post, so I assumed I'd lost the whole thing (probably got a cached page)
Fully half my friends of 20 years standing live in Illinois (and three of my closest, lifelong friends live in Ohio, where I have lived myself). My original last paragraph, replete with inummerable smilies, dealt with the tendency of Minnesotans to view with suspicion our co-Midwesterners (I was in fact poking fun at that tendency).
Given your quickness to take offense and assume there was no joke meant, I'll just say I was thinking in terms of the Upper Midwestern, or Über-Midwest chapter.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 05-30-2000).]
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Dude:
Wisconsin<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hmmm, Wisconsin, weell, they're like younger brothers/sisters. Michigan; the farther north you go the more reasonable they are. Illinois, now, well, I don't know. Yer lot should be on their own, or maybe, just maybe, talk with the Indiana and Ohio sort.
Minneapolis.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by V B:
I was wondering, since the CM engine has been established and the next few installments are going to use the same basic engine. I was wondering what the price range would be for the next few versions. I am not a rich guy by any means. Even though I put a preorder down for CM some time ago I was wondering if I would have to pay 40+ for the next few installments. Love the game, love the design, can't wait until you folks ship it out. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Well, I'd have to say that even though the engine is done, the amount of time that would have to be spent to produce accurate follow-ups would still be massive, and not necessarily result in price cuts. I mean, sure, a lot of work has been done on the 'engine', and modeling of German units and vehicles. But the whole Russian army, quite probably East front 'ethnic' armies (Rumanians, Bulgarians, etc.), and conditions unique to the East front would have to be researched and modeled, tested, tweaked, etc.
I think the best that customers could expect is a 'time' saving, in that future versions wouldn't take 2+ years to release, but would come down to us quicker. But for the next 2 fronts contemplated (East and Mediterranean, from what I've read here), there are significant differences from the West, even for the Germans, in terms of unit organization and equipment, terrain, and combat conditions. Personally, I like a bargain, I'm not rich, and would prefer to pay the least amount possible for my fun (like most people). But consider this: what kind of return would you want from a year's worth of 'sequel' coding? Coding, researching, reading & answering posts, testing? Running a small company? Many people see an effort like BTS's as two guys like Steve & Charles sitting around drinking Jolt and play-testing code they rapped out that afternoon. But the coding, alone, has probably been an hours-a-day proposition, with damn little time for anything else. And that doesn't take into account record keeping, accounting, administrating, manufacturing, shipping, etc., etc. I'm sure that many of these 'peripheral' activities are carried out by hirelings or subcontractors, but these people still have to be paid, and met with, etc. When you get right down to it, the whole thing isn't a matter of hammering together a birdhouse in your basement and selling it from a folding table at your community craft fair.
Besides the time these guys have put in on creating this thing and making it a good product, they also have to have made a fairly significant monetary investment in the whole project. And until about now (let's hope they've got the product in hand, and are running our credit cards through!), they haven't made a frigging dime on this product. So, any money they've spent on webservice, accountants and lawyers (try starting or maintaining a business without either one, even if you only have them on tap and kept anything billable to the absolute minimum), equipment, research material, subcontractors, etc. has been all on spec, out of their own pocket.
I hope these guys get a great response to this game, and support for the following games. I wish I had not only their abilities to create this, but their guts in trying to do so. America's vaunted as the Land of the Enterpreneur, but most eveyone of us in this country (and in much of the rest of the world), buy everything we use from massive economic organizations that we can often safely assume could sell their product to us at a greatly reduced price if the whim, let alone the need, ever struck them.
I hope these guys make some good money off this product. I'd love to see future games (and I seriously don't see the future of this game as being cranking out 'scenarios' or 'expansion packs', but new games with their own unique character). And I'd like to see them cheaper, make no mistake, because I work hard for my money, too. But the prices they're charging seem reasonable, and in line with the quality of the product, let alone what other producers are charging. I actually feel a kind of satisfaction in knowing that a couple of guys I've exchanged messages with, and who've acknowledged my existence, however peripherally, might make some real money (if the gods smile), by producing something I've enjoyed and could share with others. The line between 'shareware' and 'commercialware' is becoming increasingly blurred nowadays. In my opinion, Combat Mission qualifies as shareware, because it's a product created by people, as opposed to a corporation, not merely responsive to its customers, but personally responsive, with a version available for evaluation, without millions being spent on advertising, marketing, and strong-arm distribution tactics.
Come to think of it, I'd like to see these guys make a million dollars each, and take their wives/girlfriends to luxury hotels near original battlesites on write-off 'business/research trips', and spend every night drinking the finest French champagne and Scottish Ale. And for my investment in the process, I'd like them to send a nice postcard filled with drunken gibberish to research/consultant people like the Fionn.
(now if the above doesn't win me a discount on CM2, then nothing will–nor should it!)
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 05-29-2000).]
-
I have to say, I do appreciate many of the extremely knowledgeable and analytical people who frequent this board, and who's observations, experience, and requests have contributed to the process of making what is, in my opinion, one of the best wargames I've ever seen.
This game is the game my high school buddies and I used to dream about. We would have killed to own a game of this quality, complexity, and playability. (Of course, at that point in history, if we could have been the peopel that created the computer systems it runs on now, we'd have been rich enough to hire psychopathic Grognards to re-enact the battles for us on the original terrain...)
I've been absolutely astonished by BTS (read: Steve and Charles)'s availability, willingness to listen, and willingness to implement change. Awwww, dammit, jgdpzr, now you got me doing it...sniff.
Anyway, this is a truly fine game, I'm impressed with the AI, which (now that I'm a little more experienced), I usually beat, even blind. But there's still a struggle to do so, sometimes I don't do anywhere near as good as I think I will, and I still enjoy immensely the process. I've said it before, there are aspects of any given battle against the AI where I was seriously breaking a sweat and paying REALLY CLOSE ATTENTION to what was going down. And that's a big part of any game, for me.
I'm sure, from everything I've seen even during the time I've been here, that BTS will continue to tweak, nudge, and prod the game into ever and ever more intriguing abilities and functionality. Will they ever finally and completely satisfy everyone? Of course they will! (that final tweak will see the introduction of the jaeger-bomber flying pigs, of course).
And while I hope the grumblers will continue their (courteous) request for realism, features, and playability, let us keep in mind the story of the man who, on the brink of death, went to visit his doctor. After six weeks of intensive medical attention, he strode into the doctor's office, and called him a goddamn fraud and a quack. The doctor said to him: "What the hell do you mean? I stabilized you, reinflated your collapsed lung, cured you of pneumonia, fought off staff and strep infections, rebuilt your infected sinuses, and got you back on your feet and back on the job!" And the man replied: "Yeah, but I'm not any TALLER!"
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fenris:
Well the whole game of course but specifically in no real order and keeping it to less than 5 things...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
-Quick Battle generator
-Scenario designer (I foresee this game as having almost unlimited replay possibilities, and thank the gods for it!)
-Bocage fights
-Brits, Canadians, etc.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by G2A:
Just for fun, I tried playing VoT as Americans and giving myself a +150% advantage. Using the sophisticated strategy of lining up my men and running straight forward, I was able to kill or capture every German soldier on the map by turn 10. Despite this, the AI bravely decided to fight on until the reinforcements arrived. At that point I had over 1000 men left, waiting on top of the hill.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
C'est magnifique. Mais ce n'est pas la guerre.
-General Pierre Bosquet, viewing the Charge of the Light Brigade, Balaklava, October 25th, 1854
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 05-25-2000).]
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tyro:
G*L, Are u sure your in the right forum?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
His profile says he's into wargaming, and he's asking about the game. I'd have to assume he was in the right forum.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
I've read a couple of books that describe both the Brits and the Germans as using 'floodlight' units on night offensives (the Ardennes for the Germans), where the beams were reflected off low cloud cover to create 'artificial moonlight' conditions. Of no particular siginicance within the context of CM, of course, just a little historical aside.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
You know, this aspect is one of the things that I WANT this game for. I keep reading messages about truly weird/cool things, and I want to see them for myself!
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
Sasanach? Sasanach! *splutter, laugh, cough*
Please excuse me, I just got on to this thread because Lorak tipped me a nice aside on my signature. I didn't realize the dear man had been injured, and when I did, I caught the earlier posts, and I feel the need to wave a finger in the air at the Fionn and say, 'now is that any way to talk to our...er, well, is that any way to talk?' Actually, it's not that bad, but you never see it or hear it in America, and it only means, as most probably know, 'Englishman' (roughly).
It reminds me of this story I once heard from the vocalist Andy M. Stewart:
It seems the local bus was making its way up the Isle of Skye, and filled, as usual, with the locals, who were having a bit of a Ceilidh in the back of the bus; singing, dancing, and passing the whiskey round. Everyone was involved, except the driver, who still came back during the straighter parts of the road for a quick chorus and a shot or two. After a while, the people began to notice that everyone was taking part and having a good time except for one man sitting up about the middle of the bus, looking out the window. They decided that perhaps he was shy, a bit put out, a Sasanach, in fact, that didn't feel comfortable with joining in because everyone was speaking The Gaelic. And so they deputized one of their members, who still seemed capable of carrying on a diplomatic mission in a common language, and sent him up to invite the stranger back to participate. And he went forward, and said to the stranger:
"Be welcome! And if yer minded, come back and have a bit of a Ceilidh with us! We couldn't help but notice that you were keeping to yourself, and we're thinking, we were afraid, that you were doing so because you didn't have the Gaelic, and we wanted to make you welcome."
And the man, who was indeed from England, replied: "Thank you! I wanted to come back, but I didn't like to; I didn't like to, you see, because you're right, I hadn't the Gaelic. I can't speak it at all, and I can't understand it much, just a few words here and there, if they're spoken to me clearly and slowly."
And the Scotsman told him:
"Och, don't fash yourself man! I've got a dog at home that's the same way!"
So, for his kind remark on my signature quote, as well as that general human quality that ALL on this board should take a notice of and ADHERE too (gods know, there's been some...umm...well, crap, about this), let me say Lorak, welcome back, and hope yer back welll, and come on to the back of the bus for a bit of a Ceilidh, and say hello to your own fine wife, good woman as she is, to stand by you and put up with...well, all of this.
Between true oppontents, the only measure should be, what move was made well, and honour. For the rest...well, honour hardly enters into it, and devil take the rest.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ol' Blood & Guts:
Hey that's a great idea! To design a scenario after your neighborhood. Picture a King Tiger driving up from behind your house.
By GOLLY! I think I'll try that. Just gotta get some dimensions.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Oooh, that is extremely twisted. What a bizarre, extra-engine-intent application!
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Germanboy:
Have to agree with Lewis here. I read a book about the Afrika Korps years ago, where they described these operations in some detail
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I've read the same, that at the time (and from Britisher sources), said one of the advantages the Afrika Korps had was that they were far better at recovering vehicles from the battlefield post-combat, and getting them, whatever their origin, back into combat. Please keep in mind that the VW bug was designed in Hitler's Germany (because Hitler was supposedly incensed by America's domination in this area), and from friends who owned original VW vehicles (NOT modern, high-tech VWs, but the original, buy-a-spiral-bound-manual-and-replace-every-
aspect of your engine), they were simple and quick to repair. I believe others are correct in saying that as the war progressed, vehicles became increasingly high-tech, complicated, and (like modern vehicles), 'proprietary' in terms of the parts and technology needed to keep them operating. Certainly many German generals have chipped in post-war to bitterly lament the (almost bizarre) proliferation of vehicle types and solutions the Reich came up with in the latter years.
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.
-
Double post, double post! Why can't we delelte our own double posts?
[This message has been edited by Seanachai (edited 05-22-2000).]
OT: How Hollywood is rewriting the role of the British and the USA in war (Big)
in Combat Mission Archive #2 (2000)
Posted
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cuchulainn:
Wow guys!
this thread still going 137 posts later...
I didn't know what I started.
Don't know whether to be pleased or apologetic. :0<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
"McCormack and Richar Tauber are singing by the bed
there's a glass of punch below your feet, and an angel at your head
there's devils on each side of you, with bottles in their hands
you need one more drop of poison, and you'll dream of foreign lands..."
"Sick Bed of Cuchulainn"
the Pogues
Hmmm, from the 'demonization' of England in film, to 'Workers of the World, Unite', to 'Better Dead than Red!" I have no particular interest in 'defending' anything, but I feel like making at least these observations: It is easier to attack another political system, than it is to defend your own. It is easier to denigrate other nationalities, than it is to justify your own. It is easier to belittle the 'foreigner', than it is to accept him as your own. What is intriguing about this board is the courtesy (sometimes strained), and reasonableness (sometimes also strained) with which people debate each other here. Strangely, though, the main thing that comes through is that almost all the people I've seen debating here would basically hold any social or political system up to the same yardstick of values. I doubt the most ardent Capitilist loving, Democracy espousing, Imperialist apologizer on this board would advocate or condone with anything like a clear conscience the torture of a Latin American Trade Unionist, the brutilization of peasants in the name of 'counter-insurgency', nor the assassination of opposition members in the name of 'anti-communism'. Nor do I think the most committed Communist/Socialist/Maoist activist here would feel anything short of horror for the mass murder of 'counter-revolutionary' minorities, the imprisonment of journalists, or the execution of political 'dissidents'. Those who would debate the rights and wrongs of politics have more in common than those who would eradicate those who would ask such questions. And for those who are willing to say nothing and look the other way when those they support do wrong, well, to paraphrase a great man: who will bear witness and speak for them, when their time comes?
------------------
After witnessing exceptional bravery from his Celtic mercenaries, Alexander the Great called them to him and asked if there was anything they feared. They told him nothing, except that the sky might fall on their heads.