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Kingfish

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Posts posted by Kingfish

  1. A spoiler is any information that might ruin a blind match for someone.

    This might include mentioning specific units in a scenario (Tanks, sharpshooters, Arty FOs, etc...) or specific game features (Minefields, turns in which re-inforcements arrive, padlocked unit locations, etc...)

    There is a forum set-up just for scenario topics, so go there if you want to discuss specifics. And don't forget to include a spoiler warning in your post. Most people (myself included) use this method:

    *****Spoiler warning***

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    And then your post begins here.

    I hope this helps, smile.gif

  2. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Henri:

    [balthough it is beyond me why anyone who comes to a forum whose subtitle says `...about scenario specifics, like how a battle played out or its balance...` would be surprised to find scenario-specific information in the messages confused.gif

    Henri

    [This message has been edited by Henri (edited 07-21-2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Well, the surprise comes from reading Spoiler info in a thread that's labeled "no spoiler" wink.gif

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  3. Greetings gents,

    I'd like to float a litle suggestion your way, tell me what you think.

    A good while back i remember reading a thread on adding a feature that allows you to find certian units based on their I.D. (infantry, MGs, arty FOs, etc...)

    The reason i brought this up is due to my experience in the last couple of games i've played, and the difficulty in finding certain units, especially in the very large battles.

    Example: in a recent PBEM game i was desperatly looking for an arty FO that was uncommitted, and the method that i had to resort to had me thinking "there must be a better way".

    This battle was particuarly vicious, with lots of units, burning vehicles, smoke, and the usual terrain obstructions. As a result i was forced to Shift-I (turn off smoke), Shift-T (turn off trees), Shift-B (turn on unit bases) and still root around 20-30 units until i found him (he had moved due to panicking from a too-close mortar round).

    My suggstion is to "tweak" (for lack of a better word) the unit base feature to specify a units I.D.

    Example:

    Shift-B turn on/off all unit bases.

    Shift-B-I turn on only infantry bases (squads & HQs)

    Shift-B-F turn on only arty FOs

    etc...

    Now, i'll be the first to admit i know nothing about computer coding, and what i'm suggesting might not be possible, but if it is it wouldn't you think it'd be really helpful?

    Consider, It's my understanding that Charles is now adjusting the purchase limit on units in DYO scenarios. We soon will be able to buy entire battalions. How much fun will it be to find 2 guys with binos in a unit numbering a thousand men, in a battle map the size of the Villers-bocage Op.

    Don't be shy, tell me what you think wink.gif

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  4. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> If he didn't know there were at least a Panther, he STILL wouldn't know whether or not there are still any enemy tanks left and how many.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    True, but as long as that Panther is alive and hiding the allied commander is assured there is still a threat. That assurance is something a real commander would not have in a true FOW setting.

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  5. To hell with work! Nothing like a good discussion on company time wink.gif

    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>but let's take a hypothetical case to avoid spoilers: let us say that there is a 30-move scenario where the Allies are attacking across a shallow river, and the briefing says that the river line is defended by the remnants of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Let us say that in fact there are two German companies supported by four tanks and a couple of At guns in the area. Now let us say that someone on this forum slips out that there is a Panther in the German position. How is this going to change the tactics of a British player? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Well, you'd be a very lucky allied commander to have that much detail of the OOB of the enemy beforehand. Most times you only get "some dug-in Infantry w/ tanks across the river".

    But anyway,lets approach this hypothetical scenario two ways.

    1) I don't know about the Panther, and in the course of the river assault i kill 3 Mark IVs. I can assume that i've destroyed all his armor and so proceed across, only to get ambushed by said Panther.

    2) I know about the Panther, and after killing the 3 Mark IVs i know there is still a threat to my river crossing, so i adjust my strategy to deal with it. Already i've gained an unfair advantage over my opponent because i denied him the ambush.

    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>And the briefing clearly indicated that the Germans are the remnants of a Panzer Division, who are therefore likely to have tanks.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Likely yes, but as to the number or type, no. Also, how about briefings that don't mention specific unit organizations? Case in point: Chance encounter. IIRC, This scenario never listed anything about the enemy OOB, and if someone was to say "there are x number of xxx, so be careful" wouldn't that ruin the surprise factor or "spoil" the scenario?

    Bottom line is even the smallest bit of information can be used to one's advantage. Here is another Hypothetical: assume that instead of a Panther it was a minefield. Would it be any less of a spoiler if i had mentioned there are mines across the bridge? How about an Arty FO atop a hill?

    If i was the allied commander charged with crossing the river and i knew all those things from spoilers it would change my strategy.

    Example:

    1)I just killed 3 of his tanks, but i know there is a Panther waiting, i'd better hold my tanks back.

    2)I know there is a minefield just beyond the bridge, i'd better lead off with engineers.

    3)I know there is an arty FO looking down on me from that hill, i'd better smoke it.

    I hope this helped clarify the issue. Believe me, nothing is more enjoyable than executing a muderous ambush against an opponent. that would be impossibel if he knew what you had and where.

    You thoughts smile.gif

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  6. Hello Bill,

    There was a couple of threads on the CM board that dealt with operations ending too soon. I know one was labeled "warning, warning", can't remember the other one.

    Anyway, i'd like BTS to have a look at that. IMO my opponent had the upper hand in the first two games yet it ended after that with me as the winner. Strange.

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  7. Hello Henri,

    Mind if i chime in? wink.gif

    As far as i know, there is no "official" definition for a Spoiler. However, I'd like to refer to your own as it supports my position on this issue.

    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>"information about a scenario that may be used by a player to gain an (unfair) advantage over an opponent".<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    You will agree that everything on the map has an infuence on how the battle is fought. Friendly / Enemy deployments, Terrain, VLs, reinforcments, etc...all contribute to the outcome. Even the lowly 80-year old Volkstrum Sharpshooter can reduce the effectivness of a Pershing tank.

    By providing specific information about a scenario you automatically give the player an unfair advantage. If you were playing on the largest map CM can produce in a 120 turn game, and i told you "there is a small minefield over there" you will change your tactics from that point on. Maybe not alot, but it will always be thinking in the back of your mind "I'd better not advance my tanks there".

    Now, IMO, the German tank you mentioned does not fall in the category of "small amout of information". It has the ability to influence the battle and the opponents strategy in a big way. The fact that they might not see it until game turn xx and 2 kilometers away doesn't mean anything. It's the fact that it will appear that changes things.

    One more point i'd like to add. I know that people that wish to play Blind scenarios are taking a big risk in browsing this forum, but your topic did say "no spoiler" and that's what i was trying to point out to you. If you had not put that in, just left it "all or nothing", then it would be the readers fault if they were spoiled.

    Sorry for the long post, i hope it made sense (where the hell is John Kettler when you need him).

    P.S. i hope the people that contribute to this thread can keep it civil, i've seen way too many threads that start out good but end up circling the bowl. Just my opinion FWIW smile.gif

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  8. Spoilers (IMO) are information about specific units and scenario features (minefields, reinforcments arrive on game turn x, etc...)in a specific scenario. They would ruin the surprise factor in a blind game, hence the term "Spoiler".

    The number of vehicles or turns doesn't matter. It's the fact that someone who chooses to play the British now knows the Germans have or will get xxxxx. This changes their strategy in a big way. If you disagree, then look back on some of the threads discussing how people played a certain Beta scenario right around game turn 10.

    I didn't mean to get you upset (frown graemlin), just thought i'd pass on some friendly advice, thats all smile.gif

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

    [This message has been edited by Kingfish (edited 07-19-2000).]

    [This message has been edited by Kingfish (edited 07-20-2000).]

  9. Greetings all,

    Ever since i d/l the Gold demo, i haven't been able to read any text in the pop-up screens. This includes the Hotkey screen, save game, quit game, reinforcments have arrived, etc...

    All i see is a black screen. The choice function still works, in other words if i click where it might say "yes" to exit game i exit the game. It's just the text is unreadable.

    My system specs are:

    Gateway 2000

    P2-233

    160 meg RAM

    4 meg VRAM

    Anyone have any suggestions?

  10. ***Spoiler***

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    Jeff,

    Yes, i hid everyone except 2 reinforced platoons that i ran forward into ambush positions. The reason my defense is collapsing so quickly is because my opponent charged with everything he had, saturating my lines. The tidal wave reference is the best way to visualize what i have coming down on me.

    However, things have taken a slight turn in my favor and can be summed up in one word - Arty biggrin.gif

    Whether or not it will turn the tide, dunno. But it is most welcomed.

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

  11. Here (IMO) is the solution to the gamey use of crews: give support crews (Mortar, MGs, Zooks, etc...) small arms for self defense. Then give them a "low" ammo rating for those weapons, this you can't use them in any offensive action.

    I've read numerous posts about zook teams getting killed by bailed out crews. This would at least give the team a fighting chance and still prevent them from joining the grunts in real fighting.

    Your thoughts?

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    The dead know only one thing - it is better to be alive

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