phil stanbridge

Enjoy guys. I've been playing it for months.. What's next

Some of them work fine. I've been using Juju's weapons and icons and although they work for the Germans it is a bit of a fudge. Some of the buttons are over sized or in the wrong place, but it's playable. Obviously the Russian stuff is totally missing. But Juju and Marco will release a new mod to cater for this. Sound mods also mostly work, especially for the Germans. But once again, Russian sounds will be different so these will need modifying for the specific theatre. Rest assured, mods will be coming.

Juju and Marco - thanks. Appreciate this a lot.

I am playing with the commonwealth troops here using v2. It is well worth the money as it is. It's an incredible module.

I lost a Sherman V to an unknown in last night's campaign fighting. When I finally accepted defeat I scouted around the map to see what hit my tank. Turns out it was a schreck at 200m! I was gutted.

That's a really good plan. Unfortunately for me, I went down the left flank but didn't scout the right flank effectively. I sent a Dingo, a sniper team and a jeep with a command squad (for artillery purposes) through the wood on the right side - but I lost the Dingo to a mine, the jeep got taken out by something else (probably an 88) and the Sniper team sat there ineffective for most of the mission. A major problem for me was the lack of infantry support on my side. I had taken a *lot* of casualties in the other missions and even with apparent resupply (which I'm pretty sure didn't happen due to spaces in my squads) I just didn't have enough platoons. I tried to keep two more or less full-strength platoons back knowing that I would need them in the town, but I just couldn't get enough men forward to exploit the advance. I eventually broke through using similar tactics you described but it cost me dearly. You live and learn! I've decided to restart the entire campaign as I want to be far more cautious with my men this time round. By the time I got kicked out last time I had taken 700 casualties! I also had no luck at all with air support, so I will endeavour to be more productive with it this time. I *think* I was fairly close to a win, but not close enough The mission or three afterwards were difficult to hell and back. One was a defensive mission with 12 men. yes, 12 due to my inability to keep them alive. The next one I believe was an epic uber defensive mission on a beautiful map (towards the end of the campaign). The one with 3 panthers. Turning back the Tide I believe. Well that is a fab mission too, but boy, you need lots of men!

Very fast on my laptop too! Impressive stuff George. Haven't finished the mission yet, but I like what I see so far.

I can assure you we are not all hardened elite players.

Yes, with a 3 hour time limit sometimes you don't want to continue to the bitter end. Providing you have acquired enough points in the mission you will be awarded a win. But it can be a risky strategy so always save the game before the ceasefire just in case.

I have won roughly half so far - my problem is I really enjoy the larger scenarios and the smaller ones (which feature quite a lot so far) don't hold my interest for quite as long. But that's down to me. Close Combat ABTF was definitely what I grew up with. I absolutely adored the series too. I even loved the encyclopedia that came with ABTF if you recall - with all those lovely sound effects and the photos. Amazing stuff, they just don't produce software like that anymore. Hey, I replayed badlands and won a total victory, now it has sent me back to Here we fight, which I believe I have already played. Only this time, I have about 12 men to defend with.

I believe that it is based on historical or at least semi-historical data - but PT will correct me. We all know how contested the battle really was. It's a shocker and you really feel it. I'm not saying it isn't fun though because it is, it's just frustrating with it. But patience is a virtue. Play through the missions in a methodical way, with a strategy. If you fail at first, try again. Try something different.

I *believe* I read that on Day 2 you are resupplied in full, but I'm not too sure about replacements. I hope you get both. What mission number is the Lock one? I got to about mission 6 or 7. I restarted Badlands and have tried a different approach but the last VP is going to be a very hard fought over affair. Every mission has been a challenge in some shape or form. Personally I prefer the epic, huge scenarios. You have more at your disposal. Just makes it more fun in my opinion. I believe the maps are reasonably accurate but I could be wrong. Scottish Corridor is my favourite at the moment. This one could be a contested second. Although have you tried the Gustav Line campaign? That is quite good too.

Interesting PT. I managed to exit a single under-strength squad (about 5 men lol) but failed to get any armour up that road. I used smoke to cover my tracks against those damned 88's BUT I completely ignored the fact that any enemy units might be laying in wait on the other side.. Inevitably I got hit by a lone AT squad. I tried several different tactics (reloading every turn) to try and get a single tank up that road, and each time it would be hit by that AT rocket. Every single time, no matter what I did with smoke and such like. I ran out of time in the end believe it or not.. All 3 hours used up with about 80 KIA. The Germans suffered higher losses with 300+ KIA and quite a few injured but they still occupied the village. I lost the battle although I believe it was a close call. I had fun playing that mission but it was extremely difficult. I learnt a few things too. The Sherman V's can knock out the JpIV's but not easily. Sometimes it would take many shots even on the flanks (unless desperately close) before the enemy tank reversed into safety. I would constantly see ricochets. But the Firefly is deadly. I could knock out the JpIV in one or two hits full frontal. So I would keep them out of harms way until required. Great tanks them. Those Crusader AA vehicles are stupendous, with their 1000+ rounds. Probably my favourite armour in the game. I would keep them well back, but in LOS of a lot of the trouble. Using target briefly they would squeeze about 3 or 4 bursts out before the turn ended, and the infantry would bugger off promptly. It is a great way to save ammunition too. I found I was using target briefly a LOT in game, not just with these units. I really want to replay this mission, (which I can do as I saved it at the setup phase) but I want to try and progress through the campaign once before I come back to it. At the start of the mission it was apparent I had suffered quite a lot of casualties in previous missions even though I had played through slowly and purposely. I had whole squads missing unfortunately, which didn't help my cause.

I'm replaying through Badlands at the moment, with 3 hours. I tell you something, 3 hour missions are a good idea. Gives you plenty of time to plan a strategy plus you can ceasefire at any time without consequence providing you hit the targets. I like it. I was winning about 50% of the missions until I got to Bloody Aalst. Great mission but has anybody managed a win yet? You have to fight for every inch. It's crazy and costly. Just wondering if this one is winnable - will have to ask PT.

Please note this thread will contain *SPOILERS*. Okay, just got my backside handed to me, in a total defeat and booted out after a dismal effort - I hadn't even finished the campaign, got nowhere near. It's the hardest campaign to date in my opinion. Just not enough support elements for the majority of missions. Infantry centric missions and very difficult. I play WEGO in Warrior mode. By the end of play I had over 600 casualties all told. A tough nut to crack! How have you guys got on?

I'm no programmer Rokko, but maybe you assume wrong? Who knows eh

Those folk not playing CMFI *SHOULD* be. It is a fantastic title. It feels completely different. Trust me, it's good.

I'm guessing you will be disappointed then Rokko. Not that any of us know what is around the corner, but I doubt very much that significant improvements in graphics will be forthcoming with the Eastern front title. As I said above, it is all to do with scalability and a certain amount of compromise. Let's not forget that CM is very bespoke. From tiny engagements up to huge battalion on battalion battles and more, all modeled 1:1. The graphics engine is fundamental to how the game is perceived of course, and any significant changes in that department surely would require engine rewrites. If we see anything in that department it would be an upgrade rather than a complete rewrite. A rewrite would require a huge investment in time and money. I'm sure BFC will want to address the DirectX/OpenGL change in due course, but I'm also positive that is not a priority.

I think BFC are always looking to improve things. But don't forget there is far more to the game than just the graphics and with a game such as this, scalability is key. For what it's worth I actually rate the graphics as they are now. They are clear and well defined, and with ansitropic filtering enabled they look great.

Just wow George! I am downloading now and will report back. Looking forward to trying it.

The 37mm is even worse although in my experience it has been easier to kill. Those 37mm rounds are lethal - one even knocked out my Sherman..

I believe it fixes the problem with haze/fog that was *possibly* introduced in 2.11 but don't quote me on that.

Yeah, sorry Juju. 2.12 is pretty important to be honest as it fixes a number of little niggles plus improves graphical performance. New 2.12 Feature List * Generally improved graphics, including FPS and quality improvements, and better support for faster video cards * Bridge navigation problems corrected * ATG issues when setting up near walls and bocage corrected * AA guns can no longer incorrectly limber near walls and bocage * Passenger vulnerability in soft skinned vehicles increased * German halftrack gunners lowered to a more accurate protective stance * Some urban roofs that incorrectly blocked LOS/LOF no longer do * Vehicles using Pause do not have accuracy reduced as if they are still moving * King Tiger ammo counts lowered to probable correct amounts of 64 for Porsche type and 70 for Henschel * Jagdpanzer IV/70 now has ammo for it's machinegun * Sherman M4A3(75)W (Rhino) now shows the cutter attachment * PIAT max range reduced to 180m * "Ditch Contours" feature * US Airborne uniform options for Holland corrected * Missing German Airborne and Navy unit portraits now included * Fog looks better * Various minor bug fixes

The survivability of this thing was amazing. Currently playing through The Road to Nij campaign, and it is rather challenging to say the least. But listen to this for a laugh.. I set a prep artillery strike to hit a hedgerow I predicted (accurately) to conceal enemy troops and/or AT guns. So I let fly with 88mm rounds for a few minutes of saturating stuff. Nothing too heavy to begin with, as I just want to expose the units. I then send in a few scouts to recon the area, and they are promptly cut to shreds. This 20mm finally exposes itself. I can see it is dug in, but there is nothing much else around it. The trees have been stripped, as have the walls nearby. It looks isolated sitting there by itself. So I think, I have plenty of time, this will be easy. I will set some arty to knock him out. I wont bother with anything else. So the arty lands, and I strike some direct hits! Or so I think.. The craters are exactly over the top of this gun, and I believe I have knocked it out.. So I send some carriers forward to investigate. One by one, my carriers are left smoking wrecks.. Arrgh, that 20mm.. Still alive.. So I decide to fire everything I have at him. Vickers MG, in LOS, rifle teams, mortars and arty lol.. The works. This one gun is sitting there.. Still.. sitting there. They all hit the area, smoke and debris everywhere.. But this gun remains.. Just because he can he fires a few rounds himself.. They promptly cut through this row of trees and hit my infantry squads whom are HIDING in the field. Shredded. Then the rounds hit my Sherman which has just arrived. LOL.. My infantry bolts. My Sherman takes damage.. Arrgghh. My artillery is still landing. But the gun is STILL alive and STILL firing lol.. He eventually succumbs to a lone 75mm round fired from one of my tanks. A single shot takes him out. But the damage this one poxy gun has caused is immense. Plus I have wasted dozens of rounds of 88mm artillery I can ill-afford. I couldn't quite believe it. But then I thought, this is Combat Mission after all.. Go Go Go...

It uses onboard vga presumably - Intel 4000 or so? Just take into account if you do upgrade to a separate card (and if you go low end because of the power requirements) you are still going to struggle somewhat with the larger scenarios. There's no way round this unfortunately without upgrading the psu and the vga.