Bobbaro

I resaved it and sent it off to the scenario file. It still did not appear. It did have a cmb. extension. I also checked the operation side and it did not appear there either. I may create a short and fast scenario as a test and save it to the correct place first time around. Maybe in messing around something got corrupted.

Thanks Bullethead, I'll keep on bashing around. Maybe a total reinstall if nothing else works. I sure hope I don't lose the scenario,though. I put too many hours in on it for that. And my server is giving me hell. Whine whine whine.

I have done up a scenario to a stage where I want to test it. I have been unable to make the saved file available for that. The title does not appear in the scenario list. I found the file after some hunting under an old CM Demo folder. I moved it into the game scenario folder and still it does not appear. Please advise me as to what I am doing wrong or what I should be doing. I am beginning to suspect that I may be having trouble with the way I installed the game. I placed it under a general folder called War. The scenario builder may be expecting to save the file under a CM folder as such rather than a subfolder. Or this may not be related at all. I am stumped.

Indeed! The only thing those who lack an appreciation for orignal spelling are missing, is a life. So, I encourage them to get a copy of CM and come up with one.

Max, That will have to be the way, but wouldn't it be fun to have to work at manuevering and protecting a jeep load forward, then distributing it to the lines? A scenario within a scenario.

Well, I am messing around with the editor to see what it is like. In a nut shell, very intuitive. Some things take a little discernment such a putting road stuff together but it works well. Of course, the beta folks and Steve have said this all along. I put up the mostest space it would take and it is awesome, even in the battle size. Who sez we don't need a ammo repleanishment capability in a maxie battle! Yeah a lot fights were done without it and a lot died. I can just see the player sweating out whether that truck, track, or jeep can get close enough to those guys, who fired off all their stuff making a demonstration off to one side. and now it is time for them to load up and do their part in the attack. Their buddies have softened the foe and are faltering exhausted. Here are these fresh units ready to move and they are out of ammo. Come on Steve, can't you see they need your support! You backed off a little and gave some extra ammo to the defense at the designer's descretion. Give a little here too! Managing that critical resupply, even if it is only a little, is as much a challange and as pressure building as whether that AFV will move *just* a little more into that ambush. Put 'ol Charlie to work.

Ah, the tender mercies of Uncle Sam's little service! There is a package from Vt etc. Now, it ends. No more superior scowls as newbys whine for the date. No more rememberances of years in waiting. (Counting up from when SL obviously could benifit from at least computerizing the charts.) No more merit gained from practicing extreme patience. Kindly someone has written by hand on the package "One of 2 packages". Of course, it is not big enough for a poster and I can feel the two diskett subpackages inside. Oh well, at least one more day of practicing all of the above. Two handbooks, not two disketts. If these guys at USPS can't keep their packages together , what chance do they stand with their $#!TT. !!!!!!!!!! Sorry about that folks. Surely there are out there in this cruel world folks who have recieved one or two posters or disketts without the manuels. It is kinda like getting the recipe with out the ingredients or other unfortunant half combos. She sent her perfume, but she could not make the date herself. Oh, well I might as well smell her perfume, so I opened the book. MY GOD! She was hiding in the package all along. HOT DAMN! [This message has been edited by Bobbaro (edited 06-19-2000).]

Is canceling orders a catch 22 deal? If you don't give it orders it will stop trying. Being bogged and with no orders, it won't take orders. It would be nice to be able to change orders to back up or hunt forward just a little. I just watched a stug sitting in one place as if bogged. I figured, oh boy, now I can get on his flank and do him in. But he just sat in place rotating to face threats as they arose in different places. I can't simularly make a sherman do the same.

What's a Texas drawl? I can't say I ever heard one. I have heard a lot of folks who made their words and sentences far faster and more crowded than either necessary or desirable. Sound a little unfriendly or mad when they talk. Like life isn't long enough and time is too short. Like there's not room to take a deep breath and let it out by itself. Maybe that is why some folks get into avoidable difficulties. They just don't talk normal.

Every taste of Scotch I had experenced was the worst. I wondered at the sanity or at least at the tougue health of the individual who avowed the stuff. The brother of my ion in law fell on hard times with DWI and amended his ways by leaving what remained of a bottle of Scotch at my house where his brother was living at the time. Screwing up my courage I approached the bottle and in an expermental mood I lifted a little sample. Total shock! It was Glenlivit aged 12 years. No comparison to the poison previously encountered. Of course I understand that palitability is not the only shock when you pay for it yourself. I still search for a comparable experence in red wine. I have not had any that was not improved by taking it along with some food that covered some less than desirable strains of flavor. I have enjoyed it with some really stinky cheeses, but does any stand alone as a fine unsullyed flavor? Prices are not reliable. I have found some good drinking in 99 cent bargin bins (some years back), and payed way more for lesser experences. I am no elevated con-a-sewer of sophisticated and trained palate in these matters. I am more like a kid, and when ice-cream sucks, it sucks. On the otherhand it can be wonderful. So the same with beverages made from rotted vegetable matter. You gotta suspect such products. So when you check one out that actually tastes good, inspite of the included products of decomposition, you can thank your stars. Of course there are those with the toungues of vultures, who enjoy rotten flavors. Take care you do not risk your wallet on advice. Trust your own tongue, if not only, then mainly.

Combat Mission is a game concept of a whole cloth. It works and is fun. That is enough. But, as much a CM encompasses, no game is the end all in game design. And each success that turn a new page in concept, as CM has done (and few as well as it has), only inflame the imagination to further possibilites. Even within CM there is potiential for different styling in play; like, using only level 1 and 7&8 as has been posted previously. Taking off on this idea, one possibility is to only have view one available and instead of including view 7 and 8, to provide a map as such, rather than the same 3d view from above. View one could either work just like it does now or it could be trimmed to the view of each unit eliminating what other units also can see. The map could be set up as a base with a capability for updating either manually by the player or his AI "staff" working for him or a combination. It could even be set up as markable for planning purposes. Perhaps for giving orders as well. This latter would make orders a two level thing as from either the unit view or the map view. I can envision the units being given a "compass" for aiding them in orentation and attempting to follow their orders. It would be possible for the player to get his units lost as he fails to properly identify landmarks corresponding to the maps. Perhaps such a game could even give an elevation boost to views from units going to upper stories and having "scouts" climbing trees. Perhaps such compasses could even get lost and the unit make do without it. That would require a sun or moon for good weather navagation. Otherwise, they would just have to do it by the seat of their pants from landmarks. Wouldn't night work be a bitch with out a moon! Having navagated myself about a bit using all the above techniques including stars, that aspect is a whole game by itself. Too litteral an attempt to remake Combat Mission into something else would probably end up being an impossible coding tangle. It would likely have to be done from scratch, but with CM expertise working in the background. I can see an very much increased immersive factor in such a design. It might result in such a time consuming process that some or even a lot of present enthusiasts would turned off. On the otherhand it could grab some to whom greater first person sense would appeal. One feature of present play, the movie with unlimited camera travel, would have to be scrapped in order to support the greater FoW. If the coding of a linked turn movie capability were developed, that could be used to review the entirety of play with unlimited camera positions and full view (less blocked LOS from the camera). The player role would would appear to have simularities to the present CM. You would still play a hydra headed multi-leader role being each unit leader in succession as you give orders. But your omniview of the battlefield would be reduced to serially visiting each unit and looking at the map with its updates. The batallian command role would be somewhat lessened as that would be represented by mostly by the map view; simularly, the lower level commands. However, their sense of reality being more separated from the unit views, they would become more realistic and immersive in that role in a more clearly defined manner and more map orented. The player would probably be spending more time with each unit in working out their operations. The role of the AI would no doubt have to be altered and possibly the kinds of orders available maybe somewhat, although I right now am not thinking that far. In the present CM the large scope of view makes it possible to give orders that cover long paths of travel and time. Here that may work out as well, but probably with a lot more interventation by the player as "real" terrain details become more appearant as compared the map on which original orders and planning made clear. Micromanagement would become heavier of necessity. Anyway, this is how previous postings along this line have grown in my head as I have thought about the idea since. Whether such a game would maintain playabiity is a question unanswered. If someone is so goofy as to buy in to this line, maybe it could see some developement in concept and possible detail. One final thought occurs to me, that it might work better on a company level battle. With more possible micromanagment, less to manage would seem in order. How about also having adjacent companies possibly represented across uncrossable boundaries with a single platoon or squad to end the map edge effect somewhat? They would have their own built in scenario design orders with the possibility of you having input with reduced control or effect or something less than as you control your own. Perhaps with the possibility of acquiring them by assignment at some point under some condition. I thought that was a final thought, but you see how long that lasted. Does this spark anything in anyone else other than dismay, perhaps dismissal out of hand or contempt?

Thanks Tom, for hauling back that old thread, "How Does the Game Simulate Tank Gunnery?" It pretty much says it all. I had forgotten it and the detailing of the modling that Bigtime provided there. Whadda ya expect from the web festooned mind of such an old timer as me, broken down further from the excessive practice of patience? [This message has been edited by Bobbaro (edited 06-17-2000).]

Rob, when I am in a head to head shoot out, I *feel* that the AI usually wins. I think a human player against the AI on *replays* should have a decided advantage in being able to work to a flanking or ambush position.

Well, I agree that there would be some benifit to our stinging hides for having it explained how the hit machinery works. There should be improving accuracy on subsequent shots up to some limit, especially against stationary targets. Now, that said, there is the counter accuracy effect of being shot at and especially for near misses or actual hits deflected by protection. So, what does the model include? A good question even if the answer includes fuzzy logic. [This message has been edited by Bobbaro (edited 06-17-2000).]

The hard, objective odds are difficult to credit, when it is your guys losing, I know. I just think it is worth examining with the inside hit machinery exposed to convince our little subjective doubting minds. I have experinced this sort of thing in another game and made the same observation to the players as Scott. A little play testing bore out the rule of the capriciousness of odds being impersonal and evenhanded. Getting a large enough sample to smooth out the random bumps is essential to the process. In VoT I have felt that the infantry gun should do better than the tanks on their shots when they are mine and that it does too well when it isn't. I am totally sure a decient testing of the statistics would prove out as Steve has avowed it would-- no special help to the AI. It seems that a stationary gun should out shoot the tanks. They should have range cards etc. what ever those kinds of units do to get an edge. Tanks running on the fly should find ranging in first shots a little more difficult.

Yup Tom, that is the way it has felt to me as well. And it seems that the AI usually has the best of it in those deals. Although, last night I did take out the 3 stugs with no shermans lost. I did have the advantage of blindsiding them with unbuttoned tanks from the German's left flank as the soon to die stuggs attacked the 2 story house objective loaded with 3 squads, a bazooka, and a HQ. I was playing to explore whether the tanks could sneak through the woods along lanes to come out in the rear. I had them loaded with the another platoon, its leader, 2 machinge guns and a bazooka. Didn't work out. Lost a little time to various difficulties easily overcome and failed to find any lane path wide enough along its entire length to pass. The third platoon hot footed it to the woods also and arived in time to protect the tanks in the woods takeing on Germans attacking the sound sightings they got. The Amis did well, losing only one squad and weakening the other two, to the loss or breaking of all the opposing forces. The platoon riding in helped a little but went on with their original mission in the rear taking care of the incoming reinforcements arriving there. The tanks backed out, knocked out the stugs, and knocked the remaining enemy on the heads, while the guys in house and the friendly reinforcements came on to take the objectives. Altogether a satisfactory result. But, I know what you mean Tom about the hit modling. It appears an issue worth re-examining. [This message has been edited by Bobbaro (edited 06-17-2000).]

That would top off any piss barrel, to say nothing of filling it in the first place.

You would think with Priority Mail that the East Coast folks would be thumbing their noses at the rest of the country to say nothing of those living across those damp patches - no wonder the private deliverery systems are doing land office business. Of course there is a larger expense; well, even though I gave gained emense merit from practicing patience, I have to admit that that postal service plastic bag hanging on the box and slowly turning in the wind as the sun made its white enfolding sheath to shine as a proud banner on the battlefield was a heart stimulant. Wife's order of back magizine copies - Oh well, back to patience. Doggone! we ordered those mags the same time aa CM was being processed. Is there no justice? (a question forgeting how easy it is for that process to serve the wicked rather than law abiding and patient ones).

May 1999

I seem to recall Krueschev (sp) being quoted as haveing said that the Soviets would have not succeeded without American trucks. Whether the represents an accurate parapharase, he at least spoke to the importance that the trucks played in their victory.

Ah Mikester, do not call upon the name of Bigtime in vain. Although I can completely understand your abundantly justified motovation regarding this thread, I, having discovered the fine art of exercising patience through humbly submitting to the will of Bigtime, will wait for Judgement day to arrive in its own good time. In the meantime I join with you in giving thanks for the comforting rituals of threads, on and off topic, even wildly off topic. Perhaps the mixed feeling you seem to have about this thread involves a little puritanic reservation with some shortfalls in seriousness and appearantly wayward paths. The only solace I can offer, is that Judgement day will certainly arrive, and that all subjects are, however remotely, connected. And Mr. Peng, thank you for your generous response to my query. I see you offered an opinion in consistancy with your slight retreat on the smilie issue, although you seem to see fit to be less vehelment concerning your personal use of the items. In retrospect it seems that I appear to follow a simular line of practice concerning these uses. I do not know that this is due to any doctrine or some accident of habit. I have done some expermenting that satisfied my curiosity and make no apoligies to the doctrinare. Be kind to little smilie faces, keep them in a closet, pet them occasionally, and do not let them breed. Only take them out on special days in the presence of close, forgiving friends.

Lorak, this tactic can be enhanced by splitting sqads so that they generate 2x foxholes for one squad. This can be utilized in prepairing either an advanced set of holes or a fall back set. In VoT I experenced one hell of an artillery barrage on an advance set of holes when the half squads that made them were spotted hot footing it back to their buddie's holes in deflade. It was so wonderful to see that stuff comming in on empty positions making additional holes and reducing stockpiles of ammo that had better work waiting for them. It went on and on for several minutes. The AI could not spot any further targets and seemed to have a terrible itch to fire. In the resupply catigory I just have an equal itch for pushing a jeep, truck or half track up close to the defences and having half squads or what ever running back for those precious rounds and returning to the lines to make those laggard attackers pay for being too slow in either renewing their original attack or making their counter attack. This would certainly add one more item to the battlefield already rich in combat elements. A 2 hour maxi-battle is certainly long enough for this to work and perhaps too long a time to not have it. Steve has pointed out that a short battle does not provide enough time to do this sort of thing even with AFVs, where not only do they have to return to an ammo point, but also have to pass the shells into the tank and pack them away properly in storage. But, in a longer scenario - - - - Hummmm. Sure would add an element to split the older more provident men from the younger fellows, (the men already having been split from the boys in the initial combat)

Spitting out some of the dictionary, into the hands of an EMT fellow, I ask of Mr. Peng, would you extend your objection of smilies to military abbreviations and acronmns and consider their use as the work of slackassed lazy boys or the reaction of individuals overwhelmed by the unnecessarily inflated military termonology or something else? Gee, emulation is the greatest flattery, I never saw so much dictionary chewing in one thread, even if some were dictionaries of philosophical terms. Mr. Peng did a fine job of explaining that he would supply the smilies in the text of his writing and not need the items themselves. Now, how is that for identifying his text as a smilie equivilant or compound smilie equivelent as the case may be? (Note: can't find the E section, haven't spit that out yet, using area fire.) [This message has been edited by Bobbaro (edited 06-11-2000).]

Messing around with the tutorial, I noted AFV being killed with rifle granades and morters. Seems the AFVs are now vunerable.

John Kettler, my appologies for the appearant implications of my previous post in this thread. I was addressing the Private Ryan film, not your documentary. My compositional timing was such that other posts, including yours, intervened between mine and the one last referencing SPR. I should have been explicit. [This message has been edited by Bobbaro (edited 06-11-2000).]