aka kingtiger

1) Can I pre-order CMAK (aka Combat Mission III)? 2) Just wanted to mention Silent Storm demo. It is turn based and quasi real-time at the platoon level. Has great graphics and is really very challenging. If you like controlling individual soldiers and like watching action play out in real-time you'll like Silent Storm. Silent Storm certainly reminds me of Combat Mission, feels a bit like Commandos, has the complexity of West Front and offers 360 degree graphics. Personally, I like Combat Mission, Medal of Honor and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, but if I had more patience I'd include Silent Storm in tbat list. So far in a few hours of play, I've been absolutely destroyed by the computer AI and I've even been using the save/reload to give my self every advantage. Game is even set on Normal mode. Take care all.

I am really really upset. I ordered CMBB and it arrived. And all that happens is I get my butt kicked by Russians. Then I get my butt kicked by Germans, then I lose all my tanks, then I lose all my artillery. Then I lose and then I lose and then I lose and now I just can't take it. Stalingrad on the TV. Ice cold Water. Wow. This is the best.

http://www.americasarmy.com/getthegame.php That is the link for the free pre-order of the official US Army war game. It was Runner-Up for best of show at E3. Maybe this has been posted already, but free is good. The AMERICA's ARMY CD Pack includes full version copies of both Operations and Soldiers game titles.

I would like to pre-orser the Russian campaign. Is that possible?

Hi all. Here is a link to a browser-driven Mod Manager for Combat Mission. http://kingtigerpanther.tripod.com/index.html The total download will be around 120MB. MadMatt is reviewing a sample. The example provided in the link above will not actually put the new tank, vehicle, face, etc MODs into the CM game. The actual version does. Of course it is free. Take a look at the Tiger and Kingtiger section. Simply click on the image of the tank you want loaded and whalla, Tanks UP! Check the Small Arms section as well. Basically load the John Bauckmanns arms default replacements and the pick and choose the replacement guns from the sections provided (bayonets, paratroopers, and miscellaneous). Of course all pages include a link in the upper-right for restoring the Combat Mission defaults. Why did I right this? First I downloaded some MODs (which I might add I voted against some time ago on this board). Second, I downloaded all the mods. I realised I liked many of the textures and unifroms and needed a quick/easy way to switch between these textures. I basically wrote the web interface to provide the average end-user a simple, quick and painless method to switch between different graphics. I also invision: - scenario based total texture, uniform, sound, vehicle changes at the touch of a mouse. - of course defaults restored at the touch of a key. I have been enjoying this interface for a few days and just felt I should make it available to anyone. Please provide comments, feedback, etc. If I should not do this, tell me! If someone does not want any of the beautiful mods they created included, simply say, "Richard don't include my stuff". Richard Kalajian aka kingtiger

Does anyone remember the scene in "The Bridge Too Far" where the German AT guns are ASSAULTED by artillery 155mm. The Pak43 crews return to the guns and drill several Shermans. Then ASSAULTED by the tanks, machines guns and light arms. The Pak43's continue to fire. And finally ASSAULTED by air? Of course most of us remember! Does anyone remember "The Tanks are Coming". The scene where the Shermans are coming around the river bend and encountering a well camouflaged 88? The lead tank is immobilized immediately. "Sullizan" goes into Bravado mode and heads out into the open against all logic, training and orders. Of course "Sulli" takes out the 88. Some of us remember! But how many have faced an anti-tank gun during WWII? Few if any in this board. My point is this: CM models what happens during a battle/skirmish/war or whatever really well. Better than anything I have ever seen. In CM, I have seen massive artillery barrages leave anti-tank guns unscathed. I have seen HE at fourty meters fired by a Stug IV on a machine-gunner in a fox hole for 10 straight turns have virtually no effect. And I have seen tank-machine-gun fire supress an AT team instantly. In reality I would GUESS: some tankers would react immediately, turn and fire HE on any threat. Other tankers would fire HE on select target types without fail. Still others would randomly use HE. Often times direct orders would be disregarded and Tank Commanders would do all sorts of wild-and-crazy stuff. And lastly I would like to detail my own personal hypothetical reaction to a hypothetical situation with me as main-gunner in a Sherman during WWII. ... the year is 1944, the scene is some relatively hilly, smelly, dirty hellish place somewhere East of Normandy and West of Germany. Richard aka Kingtiger is struggling with diahera and spends most of his time crying and bitching. A recent skirmish has been going on for the past 16 minutes, when some hotshot punk tells us to poke our well-camouflaged, highly fortifed tank out into the open. So with some delay we head out at roughly half-throttle and work our way up closer to the German highly-fortifed, well-camouflaged units. Suddenly, we come around a corner and encounter a light gun. Someone yells #$%@$%@. Someone yells - Traverse the gun, 11 O'Clock - "Target-Light Gun". Richard -" Target light Gun" Richard - "Target the &^^$R#& Gun" Richard says, "What gun? I can't see the gun? Mommie! Mommie!" Basically Richard aka Kingtiger (crying and bitching) cracks under fire and nothing happens. Someone continues firing the machine gun and Richard passes out. That is a likely scenario for me. I'm no tanker. I couldn't begin to guess what would always happen. I don't think anyone could. But Combat Mission sure does a damn good job of it. Richard Kalajian [This message has been edited by aka kingtiger (edited 09-08-2000).]

OK so I downloaded "Sudden Strike" aka "Sudden Slight of Hand". I start my first battle. Up pops a pretty Tiger and an awesome sound. Boy was I excited. 10 minutes later I felt sick to my stomach, dazed, confused and utterly emptied of any desire to ever play the game. I may consider purchasing a Tiger mouse pad. Then again I don't have a mouse. Oh well back to endless hours of Combat Mission scenarios. Richard Kalajian

I'd like to see a Maus as well. But I remember seeing a picture of a JagdTiger somewhere in CM. What happened to the Jag? Grunto, Man Grunto you sure are DETAILED. I think the LARGE map should be heavy trees and high hills, meeting engagement with 4-6 victory locations worth 300 points each. From either side of the map have high hills left center and right. Forces will need to first take high points and setup up FO and setup up various direct fire artillery (like wespe). I am not familar with the 20mm and 37mm aa guns. I think towed artillery or machine guns will not work in the scenario I just mentioned. I'll start on the map soon and report back. Richard Kalajian

Imperator Yes. I think "Fuller" FOW would be more better indead. Richard Kalajian

Imperator = Marine Angel Fish http://www.iw.net/~jjwill/angel.html I didn't realize it Imperator had another meaning, like something to do with Caesar. Sorry. Richard Kalajian

Speaking of weather, does fog result in friendly targeting friendly? I have seen some really strange things in this regard. Does night time or fog result in a veteran more likely to break down and run. If it is raining or fog or dark, artillery range severaly limited. What can be done with artillery spotters or Arty guns that can't see anything? Richard Kalajian

Grunto. WOW. Hummel: 17H,1S OR 16H,1C,1S OR 14h,2c,2s Wespe ~ 24h, 5c, 3s Sounds like a little too much by way of artillery for amis. It is difficult to roll Hummels and Wespes over a large hill without being detected and eliminated. As soon as Hummels and Wespes are spotted, American Artillery will finish it off. I seem to remember these weapons being open to top hits from arty. 7 Ami Jumbos seems a bit heavy as well. Germans need some Pumas to offset the M5's. But then again I am no expert. I will work on the scenario. Sounds like a hot project. Richard Kalajian

Arty No Luck I dropped about 40 - 81 mm shells down on an anti-tank gun with no success whatsoever. In fact, my artillery is rarely ueful at all. I agree that artillery should be brought to battle, but it's no sure fire remedy. Richard Kalajian

Hey Imperator. By chance do you lack spare time due to marine fish maintenance? Richard Kalajian

Has anyone used the Hummel effectively? I always liked to use the Hummel in PGII and tried repeatedly to use it in CM over last couple days. Not in position. Knocked out. Ineffective. But like a bad movie at the theater, I stuck with it. And finally...... My well positioned Hummel laid down hammering blow after hammering blow. My Tiger, Panther and Kingtiger approached gobs of devestated troops. The Hummel eliminated several Anti-Tank teams (I mean eliminated). The Hummel crushed many machine gun teams. The Hummel disintegrated rifle squad after rifle squad. I could not believe how effective that little devil was. Reccomendation: When it comes to Hummels, Don't leave home without one. Cost is reasonable and has a 150mm shell. It even knocks out tanks. Drawback: Easily knocked out by enemy armor.