Toad

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jshandorf: Hey, BTS. I was wondering if you are eventually going to work on making the tracks and tires of vehicles move. With that said the textures are great but when I zoom in and watch my tanks move out it would be really gripping if I could actually see the tracks move. Just a thought. Jeff <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> This is a source of missing fulfillment for me, too. The tank's tracks move. The turrets move. The tank crew move. The gun even "kicks" when it fires. But the pretty wheels don't go around ... And while we're on the topic of graphical treat Christmas lists. How about engine smoke? Just a little poof of smoke whenever the tank starts moving from a stand-still. Yeah ... ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pham911: Bug in Version 1.05 ?: When targeting an ambush marker with a hidden platoon, I decided to sneak two of the squads through nearby woods to get behind a tank so they could take it out with panzerfausts. On the next turn they began moving, crossed railroad tracks, then entered the woods. They immediatly were fired upon by a hidden unit in the woods, and another unit about 50m away in a crossroads. The shooting started about 20 seconds into the movie playback. For the next 40 seconds, they proceeded to duck and then get up and still move slowly, almost as if they were still sneaking. They also refused to de-target the ambush marker, even though the closest enemy that was firing at them was only 7m away. Very annoying, as the squads got hit pretty bad because of this.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'll bet you'll remember to un-select the targeting of the ambush marker next time, won't you? ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Now here's a leader I would follow into battle. I just won an Allied surrender while playing the Axis in the Elsdorf scenario. I discovered this future General in my ranks. Lt. Machen lead his 4-man HQ to inflict 12 casulalites, yet suffer none in return. The two surviving SMG squads under his leadership A) 4 casualites for 7 suffered and 12 casualites for 4 suffered. http://homepage.mac.com/tdailey/PhotoAlbum.html ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gibsonm: Assuming you are PBEM'ing then its fine (make sure the Mac user adds a suitable extension to the file so that the poor Windoze user can open the file more easily). You can't play directly until the TCP/IP patch comes out. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> It's been my experience with the Mac version that the game adds the "txt" extension to whatever name you type in. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sirocco: Well, he predicted the PzKpfw IV would advance on the left of the M10, and lo! it did. I can't understand the argument that because it didn't politely step on the exact spot predicted that the M10 should hold fire. The PzKpfw was a threat, and a mortal threat when it opened fire. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I think I must disagree. From Kanonier's story, the PzIV was 100 m away from his ambush marker. The very symbol chosen for the ambush marker - a bullseye - says to me that it's an exacting command. The M10 was obeying orders. In this situation, if Kanonier was expecting the PzIV to crest a hill 400 m away, the use of the "Rotate" command to face the M10 towards the expected arrival of the PzIV might have found better results. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I would like to be able to use tanks to ram lesser vehicles. In one of my first plays of the game, I tried to run over a small field gun with a Tiger. To my disappointment, the gun was merely pushed out of the way. I couldn't even get it to change status to "Knocked Out." And who wouldn't giggle embarassingly with the ability to bulldoze through a barn? Of course, this also raises the ugly topic of whether running over enemy troops could be modeled into the game ... Yuck ... ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Madmatt: For the record, I have been speaking with Charles about further refinements to the Ambush Marker behavior and would also like to see it be more of a 'Area of Focus' feature than it currently is. Madmatt <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I think people have different ideas of what the "Ambush" command is supposed to do. In his original example by Kanonier Reichmann, I think his M10 did exactly as it was commanded to do. I don't intend to be critical, but perhaps the unfortunate result of the M10 being killed was the result of the player making an error in predicting what was going to happen on the battlefield in the 60 seconds after he clicked "Go!" That is the great challenge of the game, after all. Also, consider what if the M10 had broken orders to engage the PzIV, and spoiled it's opportunity to get a side-armour shot on a Tiger that rolled out of the trees and right over the ambush marker - just as the player had planned ... If you don't want your forces to wait in ambush, then don't order one! I believe that using the commands that already exist - "Rotate", "Hide", and "Ambush" - in the right combinations can accomplish most tactical goals in the 60 seconds given between orders. However, in the interests of making this great game even better, I would welcome an *additional* command to "Focus Attention", or whatever title BTS choses. It would be especially valuable for turreted tanks that obey a "Rotate" order, but insist on swinging their long trunks around like a curious elephant. It would also be valuable to intentionally order tanks to turn their turrets away-from-center while moving, in expecation of the enemy appearing from around a corner, or over a hill. I think the current "Ambush" command works just fine. But I would welcome the creation of a brand new command to compliment it. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Considering the great lengths BTS has taken to ensure fair play in PBEM games, I'm sure this has an answer. What prevents a cheater from editing a scenario in his favour before starting a PBEM match? Some things would be obvious to a person who had played the scenario before - like an exta tank on the battlefield. But what about other, less obvious tweaks? Increasing the starting ammo of tanks or MGs? Increasing the odds of having fanatical troops? Increasing the chance of reinforcements showing up? ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

¼H??¬riginally posted by Jeb: For reasons that shall remain nameless, (so as not to put you to sleep)I need to obtain a copy of the 1.03 patch. I've looked at a variety of CM websites, and I can't seem to find it anywhere. Does anyone know where I can grab a copy of it, or failing that could anyone send it to me? Your help is greatly appreciated. Regards, Jeb

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Seahawk-vfa201: Hi there, do the new sprockets constitute an improvement or should we still have to stick to the 1.7.1 version of the SoundSprockets? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yea Gads! For a scientist, you sure are vague! Assuming that you're talking about the Apple SoundSprockets for Macintosh - I have found that version 1.0 still produces better sound than the latest 1.7.5. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Christov: My Girlfriend asked me a few days ago, "What is the purpose of War?" I thought I should ask the men at arms on this forum. So what is the Purpose? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> War is the Alpha-testing stage for cool computer games. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Y'know, we could turn this whole topic around and start wondering about the English translation for all the German voices in the game ... ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Thanks for the replies so far. I think what I'm looking for is some way to set expectations. To use my first examples. If the game tells me my tank has a 78% chance to hit, and an OK kill possibility I can set some expectations around that. I can have a reasonable idea of what my results are going to be. The firepower and exposure abstractions don't give me that. I certainly don't want to turn CM into a game of spreadsheet play-by-the-numbers. That wouldn't be fun at all. And often, it's the *un*-expected results that become our fave movies to play over and over. But I'm looking for a way to build better expectations for small-arms combat. "What if I want to keep that enemy MG surpressed while my troops advance to that forest over there? Do I have enough firepower aimed at it? Should I get this extra squad involved too, or should I leave them to choose their own targets? What can I *expect* when I click the Go! button?" See what I'm looking for? ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

Yes, I searched the forum before writing this. Read lots of good messages, but I still have come curiousities. The short of it: How are small-arms casualties figured? When I stretch the targeting rubber band around the map, I notice that it gives me firepower and exposure estimates when I point at enemy units. This is neat, but unlike armour-to-armour targeting, it's hard to judge if I'm being effective or not. Example: Firepower 100, enemy exposure 20%. Is this good? Am I wasting my bullets? Can I be effective with this, or do I need to move closer or bring more guns? How can I decide? Example: 78% chance to hit, OK kill. Abstractions; I know. The gunner doesn't have a battle computer that spits these precise measurements out for him. But I can make a decision about the fighting effectiveness of my tank. Can anyone offer more insight into translating firepower and exposure numbers into "good" and "not so good?" Thanks! ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Daveman: May I put in a request for "nahverteidigungswaffe"? Or would that be too large a file to easily download? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Double that request for "nahverteidigungswaffe!" Somebody post it, or I'm gonna record it myself. And I *DON'T* know how to speak German ... ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by duenorth: I love my new computer but I can't play combat Mission on it. Please Help. The game will load fine, but I can't read any of the text in the text boxes. For example when I click on GO a black box is displayed but no text is there. I have tried the latest ATI drivers on my computer. No go. I am using CM 1.05. Is there another patch I don't know about? Thanks Joel<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Please run an Apple System Profiler reoprt (Apple Menu) and cut & paste the results here. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pershing Predator: For a while, I had been one of the "Twitch" gamers, playing the RTS games that haves less to do with thinking and more to do with "Click it now! Now! NOW!!" than anything else. But, when I tripped upon the review of Combat Mission in PC Gamer, I was intrigued. Needless to say, after getting some sage advice in a few chats, I bought the game. However, the more I go about through the Combat Mission chats and the message boards, the more I am impressed by not only the quality and detail of the game (can everyone say 14-inch gun shrapnel?), but the CM community. Never before have I seen group of more mature, thinking gamers, and I couldn't be happier. To everyone at Big Time and to all the gamers, keep up the good work. Pershing Predator<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Welcome! The "S" in "RTS" games like Starcraft doesn't stand for "Strategy ..." ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I might generally agree that being the defender gives you an advantage in not needing mobility as much as the attacker does. Obviously, the attacker must *move* and come to you. However, I would be very worried being the defender against a very mobile enemy, without some mobility of my own. If none of my defences can move and my attacker can move and move quickly, it won't take long before he's moved to where he can hit me, but I can't hit back. For example; he could attack, discover where my weakness are, and then retreat only to re-group and re-attack where I'm weak. And I have no mobility to re-arrange my forces while he's re-grouping. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Steve Schaeffer: Does anyone have CM running on a laptop. I have a Dell Inspiron 5000 p3/600...with a funky ATI rage mobility card 8megs. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I run the game regularly on my Apple Powerbook. I know we're talking about different OS's, but my Powerbook does use the ATI RAGE Mobility graphics. I can run the game both on the Powerbook display or on an external monitor. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by spcwrnglr: Hey man, I'm using Eudora Pro 3.1.3 on a PowerMac G4, system 9.0.4. I have my encoding settings to "uuencode" or whatever it is (its the setting endorsed by the manual). Furthermore, my opp and I were not using email to send files, we were using ICQ. (When ICQ crapped out on us, we tried email, but it did not help us out any). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> ICQ, eh? That's a good idea. I hadn't thought of that ... Try zipping (or Stuffing, if your Windows opponent has Stuffit Expander) the game file before sending it. Eudora may be treating the game file in a way that messes it up, because it's a text file. Zip it, and hopefully Eudora will keep it separate from the e-mail itself. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by spcwrnglr: Hey thanks everyone who responded. I just had a brainstorm over lunch. Could it be perhaps that he didn't allocate enough memory to the Combat Mission application? I know that on my Mac, I can tell the computer to give the application more memory to prevent it from screwing up if I want to. Can you do this on PCs, and if so, would this be a viable solution to a file being too big to process? [This message has been edited by spcwrnglr (edited 08-24-2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> No, it's not a memory problem. I (Mac user) regularly share PBEM files around 300 K in size with Windows opponents. Please post what e-mail program you're using (be sure to include the version number) and post what your e-mail attachment settings are. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rob/1: Yes you can do that Toad but do you have a P.C or a Mac?I don't know if you can do that on a Mac and I have one! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yes, I'm talking about Apple's Disk Copy for the Mac. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nortons: I am using CM-Beyond Overlord on a Mac. Can the CD be loaded onto the HD so I don't need the CD drive? Thanks for your help. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You can use Disk Copy to make an image of the CD. I've been able to get the game to run using the mounted disk image. It has to be a read-only disk image. Very handy for my laptop when I want to bring the game with me when I travel, and don't want to lug the CD along! ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

I found it! Contextual Menus and Data Detectors can be installed and active and still allow Control-clicking in CM to move you around the map properly. The extension, "Contextual Menu Enabler" needs to be disabled. This old extension extends Contextual Menu functions to applications that don't have it built-in. In the case of CM, it interferes with the Control-click map moving. Contextual Menus in applications designed for it continue to work fine without the Contextual Menu Enabler extension. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MajorH: I did a bit of Internet surfing today and it looks to me like your problem is related to the installation on your system of a thing called Apple Data Detectors. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Y'know - you could be exactly right. I *do* have the Apple Data Detectors on my system. I added them manually, after downloading them from the Apple Web site. They're increadibly cool and useful. I always considered them to be an *addition* to Contextual Menus. But, perhaps they operate independently. I'll try some things, and post my results. ------------------ -- Toad Ontario, Canada