Mad_Merse

My dad was a B-17 co-pilot in the 8th AF. Two uncles served - one as a Marine rifleman, the other as a SeaBee. Bob Mercer

My dad was a B-17 co-pilot in the 8th AF. Two uncles served - one as a Marine rifleman, the other as a SeaBee. Bob Mercer

My dad was a B-17 co-pilot in the 8th AF. Two uncles served - one as a Marine rifleman, the other as a SeaBee. Bob Mercer

In Marco's Read me for the CMMOS file "Bergman_si_iii_sv_rulesets.exe" he references an optional file named "Bergman_Allied_Tracks_CMMOS.zip". Forum search seems to come up blank as does a simple internet search. Does anyone know where this file can be found? Thanks Bob Mercer

Hello: My name is Bob Mercer and I'm a CM:BO mod slut. My hard drive is bulging with collections of mods, and I regularly revisit all CM sites hoping to find a mod I've overlooked before. I believe that CMMOS may offer some assistance in curing my addiction. Everybody: Read the CMMOS documentation (at least the first couple of pages). Answered most of my questions on how to install CMMOS and what to do with the downloaded MOD files. If you want a glimpse of what CMMOS is capable of, and you're comfortable reading DOS batch or Thrustmaster programmable joystick files, then keep on reading. Unlike the PC MOD Manager, you can create your own CMMOS mod sets and mix and match terrain sets, vehicle sets, uniform sets, you name it. It takes a little work up front, but it seems to offer greater security of MODS due to the bmp naming conventions CMMOS required. Gordon: I'm astounded. Your documentation of your program was complete, accurate, and understandable. I was unaware that anyone still possessed the technical writing skills to do so. What impresses me more is the open ended fashion that CMMOS allows for the conversion of existing mods and the creation of new CMMOS compatible mods. The munge tool greatly simplifies that task. I truly hope that BTS and the Mod community understands what you've created and will support the naming conventions for future releases of CMMOS compatible Mods for CM:BO, CM:BB and the future. Bob Mercer

36 Currently RTFM to see if maybe I can't rename some of my favorite terrains bmps into the appropriate naming format and develop any other required files required for their use. Bob Mercer

Holy moly: While I can understand that Tread Head is upset that CMBO may be left behind by CMBB, the Battlefront programmers have time and again stated that their intention is to attempt to make the CMBB engine compatible with the CMBO database. Even if it isn't, they are not the same level of blood-sucking scum that exist in the retail (read: on-the-shelf retailers who charge 49.95 for an upgrade adding one more disk file format, i.e. PowerQuest and PM 7.0) software world. They will not abandon us unless we abandon them by lack of software purchases on our part. Back in my college days, I, too, had no interest in the Eastern Front. Games such as Panzerblitz, Kampgruppe, and Squad Leader changed my mind. Now it as interesting, if not more so, than the Western Front. Keep an open mind. Buy CMBB if you wish and see if your mind is changed. It's a small price to pay for continued development of the CM engine. Look at the numbers of patches they provided for CMBO. Most, but not all, were tweaks to satisfy us, their market. I'd wait a bit before bemoaning their abandonment of the Western Front. I don't believe they have. Bob Mercer Former Redleg

The only problem you might have is that enabling FSAA may cause some text garbling in the wrapper (setup) screens and the in-game right-click orders menu. I haven't found a set of drivers yet that will let me use the GF3 with FSAA in CMBO. V/R Bob Mercer

What's worse is the garbled text exists in Win XP and the later drivers for the Geforce. While some of the earlier drivers (6.34, I think) would not produce the garbling if you ran the monitor refresh rate at 100 Hz and forced FS anti-aliasing, this option is not open to Geforce3 owners since they cannot run the older drivers (doesn't recognize the chip set). I think that there's probably enough doubt with this problem to pin it on either CM or the Nvidia drivers (since it did work at one time under rather restricted conditions) V/R Bob Mercer

75-76 Weenie Duty (ie training) FT Bragg, FT Sill, FT Benning 76-79 1st Bn 22d FA, 1AD, Zirndorf, FRG 79-82 6th Bn 80th FA, 7ID, FT ORD CA 82-83 528th FA Group, Chakmakli, Turkey 83-85 Platform Instructor, FT Ord CA 85-86 Personnel Plans Officer, Militayy District of Washington 86-88 ODCSOPS, HQDA, Pentagon 1 Oct 1988 Just gone (IRR) ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

OK, Bottom Line Up Front: I think CM needs a Mod Manager like European Air War has Stab 2.2 or Skins N More to manage terrain and aircraft skins (textures). Does anyone who plays CM (or anyone else for that matter) have the requisite programming skills and desire to create such a program? I believe that the recent spate of mods that we've seen at CMHQ represents only the tip of the CM Mod iceberg. While the Allied tanks did not vary so much as to camouflage, some did sport personalized and unit markings. German vehicles were found in a variety of camouflage schemes. Compound the schemes with the fact that most paint jobs were applied in the field with different thinners, as well as brushes and airguns - well, an almost infinite variety could result. And I've already begun to become overwhelmed with the variety of terrain choices - gridded vs ungridded, high-res clean or bumpy. Anyone want to take up the challenge or talk someone into to doing so? Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

It ssems that a fair number of CM owners have BTS's earlier air games. Who else besides me? I own all three - used to play some SPI board wargame that simulated jet warfare in 2D with altitude noted on a turn pad. It was in some ways similar to BTS' Flight Commander 2. That game influenced me to buy the next two - Over The Reich and Achtung Spitfire. BTS greatly improved the graphics, user interface, and gameplay as the series matured. At one point, I believe they stated that they were going to do a Pacific version of the series. When I saw that BTS was developing ASL for Avalon Hill, I began to drool for I knew if anyone could pull it off, BTS could. I pre-ordered before playing the first demo (Sep 99), because of the excellent workmanship and design of their earlier games. I'm glad Charles and Steve had a dream and succeeded in producing CM and selling it in sufficient copies to be able to expand the series. While I also really love the Eastern Front (yes, more than the West Front), I also very excited because I believe the trend of increasing quality and gameplay BTS displayed in their air games will be reflected in the CM series. Now I playing CM every opportunity I get (when I'm not posting here) and am really loving it. I keep discovering nuances and details that I didn't see in the Gold Demo V1.00 (like everyone else except maybe Fionn and MadMatt). It's a great year for wargamers! MadMatt - I hope you don't think I am imitating your UserName - actually I was awarded the nickname in 1972 as a result of my behavior during some exercises at Camp McKall, NC (McCall?, another sign of impending senility ) and because I once walked into a McDonald's wearing a S&W .357 on my hip after leaving a police range (The NC gun laws then allowed public carrying of weapons if you were licensed and the gun remained in your holster). My bud's harassed me a lot, decided I was nuts and gave me the nickname MadMerse. Hope no offense is taken! Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

BTS, in case anyone reads this reply, please delete this thread. I traced problem to an intermittent short in the microphone cable. Apparently, I'm very tense in CM and was putting extra strain on the cable. Wasn't happening in the other games. (I mean I sometimes jump if an arty barrage hits the vehicle I'm monitoring in view 1 and I didn't catch the spotting rounds - Heck, maybe that's how the short happened). So if you had any open softwre trouble reports on this topic, please delete them or annotate the root cause as defective hardware. V/R Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

Have CM running well on my system w/Soundblaster Live! card. But when I load up my GameCommander (GC)MX V1.01.012 (whatever the latest Ver number is) template, then CM the GC program only recognizes about 1 in 5 phrases incorrectly. When I run GC in the test mode (after training for some phrases such as "Five"), CG correctly recognizes 96-99% of the phrases correctly. I think I have the number of independent waveform outputs set as 4 in the AudioHq control program. I've no problem in Mig Alley or EAW with voice recognition. Any ideas on how to get the GC program to work better? Thanks in Advance Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

Warning: Maudlin Sentimentality Rampant Ahead I'd like to echo LeftWing66's congratulations to BTS, particularly to Steve and Charles. As I was commuting home on the train, I reflected on the double-blind 1/76 scale WWII miniatures games I used to play 30 odd years ago in high school and college (Tractics, I think was the rule set). We'd spend hours setting up the sandtable, and 8 hours playing maybe 20 minutes of real-time? Things sure have come a long way since then. I don't even think we dreamed of something like CM. To think that Steve and Charles kept up the effort after AH dropped the project, for what two years? When I really think about what they've accomplished, it's clear how jaded I've become over the last few years. Used to the excuses of many of the bigger software house, I think I forgot that there are real people who develop these games. So to all my comrades on this forum from whom I've learned so much, to MadMatt and Fionn who tirelessly kept us informed (and kept us drooling), and most of all to Steve, Charles, and everyone involved in the production of CM, I salute and thank you for what must have been a labor of love. If all of my fellow forum members would join me in a toast to the developers of CM: Sirs, I salute you and the sacrifices you've made to satisfy the rather unique, eclectic, and sometimes loutish set of CM fanatics who inhabit these forums! Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

Steve, I must respectfully disagree. I think the USPS has to a greater influence on when you receive the copy. I pre-ordered on Sept 15, 1999. My guess is that my copy was shipped on Thursday. I would also guess that the fulfillment company didn't run individual copies to the Post Office, but rather as the vehicles were full. Since people who ordered in June 2000 already have copies (which I assume were shipped Friday), then nine months of "pre-ordering" makes only a day's difference in shipping. My experience with the USPS priority mail variation is 2-4 days (and I've had priority mail sent to my daughter take 3 weeks to arrive in Portland OR from Virginia). My conclusion is that the USPS variation is larger than when you entered the pre-order queue. So don't flame BTS or the fulfillment company folks. Just wait for the USPS (when it kinda, sorta, maybe gotta be there on time) patiently while consuming vast quantities of charred mammal flesh and beverages made from fermented grain. It works for me anyway Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

MarkIV is right about the lack of rifling reducing friction for kinetic kill rounds (APDS, APFSDS, etc). That, in turn, should lead to extended cannon tube life and reduced wear. The reduced wear has two benefits 1) Extended tube life and 2) Retention of tube accuracy. With today's very fast, heavy projectiles, tube erosion is a real issue. High Explosive Anti-Tank (shaped charge rounds relying on the Munroe effect for penetration) will have their penetrating capabilities very adveresly affected by spinning. The spinning prevents the proper formation of the metal particle jet which causes the penetration of the tank's armor. If the tube is rifled then a rotator band that both seals the barrel with the propellant gases behind it and allows the HEAT round to travel the length of the barrel without imparting spin from the rifling. So given the benefits for the kinetic rounds, and a simpler HEAT round design, most nations have gone to smooth bore cannon for their Main Battle Tanks (And if you're a CIS design, you can also shoot ATGM from a smoothbore). Bob Mercer, Geekoid ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

MantaRay, there are a few good ladies out there - I'm married to one too. After showing my wife the gold demo, some of the screen shots on CMHQ, some of my post game screenshots, and this forum, she had no problemo with me ordering the game. She was really pretty impressed with the forum and the topics discussed (although that was about six weeks ordering the game). The really interesting part is she didn't even get p*ssed off when I told her I had ordered it last September. She just said it was "cool" and that was it. Let's see how she takes in when CM arrives and I break out my BDU's and LBE, hole up on the computer with my MRE's and canteens for days on end after digging a slit trench in the floor for personal relief. Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

It's like the 20-40-60 rule. At 20 you're worried about what everyone thinks of you At 40 you don't care what anyone thinks of you At 60 you realize no one's been thinking about you at all Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

Umm, I thought that Steve said something to the effect that as BTS released new versions of CM (CM2, CM3, etc) they would try to provide patches to the older CM to bring them up to snuff with the improvements made in the later versions. IIRC, he did not promise that they would be patched, only that they would try to the best of their ability to update the older games. If they did provide such updates, I don't believe it was their intention to charge for them. Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

Sep 15, 1999 Hoping that gets me in the 20% shipped today. Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

MadMatt, What's with the Snow Blow POTD and all the "W"s flying around near the explosion. Is this some nefarious plot to ensure that all CM players become, if not literate, at least familiar with the English alphabet? Maybe the BTS crew got a grant from the same people who do Sesame Street and used the money to develop CM, but had to sneak letters of the alphabet into the graphics? Combat Mission brought to you today by the letter W. W is for Wounded, W is for Wulfrahmen, W is for Waffen, W is for War (what is it good for?), W is for Weasel (M29 type, not the furry, sneaky ones) What else begins with W in CM? Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

OK, I'm satisfied with your explanations in terms of the "uber" control vice control within the scenario design. It did bring to mind an additional question on the inter-relationships between the various AI. Let's say I set up a scenario that could be played by either Germans or Ami's. If the Germans had an infantry anti-tank ambush along a major avenue of approach and concealed. If this avenue was connected to an extremely valuable victory point, would the American AI ever go "B*lls to the Wall" to take the victory location, or would the AI generally assess that those woods ahead look like a pretty good place for an ambush and take security measures? I guess what I'm really asking (for probably the hundredth time on the board) is how often the AI makes "dumb" mistakes. If it does, are the frequency they are made partially dependent on external factors (leaders, weather, etc.)? I don't think I've asked this many questions on the same topic since I was a kid! Thanks for your patience and willingness to answer questions, Steve. It really helps when I'm convincing some of my friends to buy CM. Bob Mercer, Expert in Whatever (i.e. one who comes from more than 50 miles away with at least a three inch stack of briefing slides)

Thanks, Steve for the quick response. I was thinking mostly of some of the actions on the Eastern Front where the Germans depended on relatively modest defense forces to defend their supply lines at selected fixed positions, but with a "quick response" force to respond if the fixed position was attacked by partisans or deep strike Soviet forces. I was hoping that as a scenario designer I might be able to interject some "uncertainty" on the part of the defender in that they do not know whether or not the "cavalry" will arrive on time. Like I said before, I'm not hard over on the topic, just curious. The one thing I learned in force-on-force exercises in the Army is that Clauswitz was right about "friction" in combat. Murphy rules a lot of the time. Part of the reason I asked about scripting was to introduce some of the mistakes of combat where because of lack of solid intelligence, a commander entered the battle with an understanding of the situation that did not match the reality of the situation. My experience is that a commander often is force to make decisions not based on reality, but the perception of reality of his superior or subordinates. Let me provide a concrete example. In 1978, I was leading a direct support battery of 155mm SP howitzers (M109A1) during a Reforger exercise. We were the Orange (attacking) forces. I was in direct support of the 2d Bde and following closely. I had managed to keep up with them because I had convinced an armored battalion to leave their AVLB's in position a little longer to allow my battery to cross a water obstacle that otherwise would have precluded us from providing artillery support (all the road/rail bridges were blown by the defenders). As we advanced with the lead armored Brigade which was attempting a deep strike against the defender's infrastructure, the Divison Artillery Commander (Brigade Commander) stopped my battery on the road and directed us to a new position. Although I argued against the orders because I knew we were in enemy territory and wanted to stay in contact with the armored battalion for security purposes, I was overruled. I advanced towards the new position rapidly in march column, tubes in travel lock (artillery needs to do so to preclude blowing the hydraulic seals on the elevation mechanisms). As you can guess, we were ambushed (hell, we drove into the middle of them) by an armored company (17 blue force M-60 tanks). Anyone want to guess the losses the umpire adjudicated for my battery? Yep, total annihilation because we were trying to get to point B from point A within a specified time limit in a very vulnerable march column because the commander believed there were no enemy forces in the vicinity. And by the time we detected them, it was too late to react. Maybe these types of "tactical" surprises can be handled in other ways, such as the OPORD. I guess I'm asking for ideas on how to duplicate the effects of mistakes by higher headquarters/perception of the tactical situation. That's the intent behind the pre-scripted paths. Maybe I'm the only bozo who likes to be surprised by something that's not what's briefed, but I'd also like the AI to be able to be "surprised" as well. V/R Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great

Apologies if this has been answered before, but I'm not really sure how I'd search for these questions. Most of these editor questions deal with providing some randomization of user designed scenarios. Does the CM editor give you the ability to set what I'd call triggered reinforcements, i.e., reinforcements that occur only after some event? An example might be a mechanized force that arrives 20 minutes after the attack of a specific friendly unit or location designated by the scenario designer. Does the CM editor allow you to assign an initial default path or movement state to reinforcements. Example: the reinforcement moves at running/move speed until it reaches a specific waypoint that is pre-scripted by the scenario designer. Until the unit is fired upon, spots an enemy unit or reaches the waypoint, it moves along the path without the tactical AI kicking in to alter its movement. If the scenario editor does allow pre-scripted paths, can the scenario designer assign probabilities of occurance to them? An example: infantry platoon A is scheduled to show up on turn 8, 25% chance of following path X, 45% chance of following path Y, and 30% chance of following path Z. Does the scenario editor allow the designer to assign probabilities of appearance for reinforcements or air strikes? Does the scenario editor allow for random unit selection for reinforcements? Example: 2 German tanks are scheduled to appear on turn 6, .5 probability of PZIV-H with schuertzen, .5 probability of PZIV-H without schuertzen. That's probably enough questions for now. If the answer is no to all of them, that's OK with me. If so, might any of these features make it into CM2? Most of these editor features would really come into their own on the East Front when the Germans depended a lot on trip wire defenses coupled with a mobile "fire brigade" of forces to deal with Soviet penetrations or attacks by partisans on supply lines. Whew! (See what happens when we're not playing CM, Steve - idle hands and all that ) Bob Mercer ------------------ "Next slide, next slide, you swine! Do you want to brief forever?" Apologies to Frederick the Great