Dr.Juzzy
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Posts posted by Dr.Juzzy
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IMHO, this is a really poignant thread to which, as a relative latecomer, I can add little other than my total agreement with many of the points raised.
As the other half of the discussion with Andreas, we agreed with many of the points made by Dandelion in that the enormity and ferocity of the war on the Eastern Front makes it a less than an appealing prospect for the majority of CM players (myself included, initially at least).
When CM:BB was in development I, like others, really wanted to develop my knowledge and understanding of the events between 1941 and 1945. But, unlike the western front, it is harder to access the experiences of the small unit actions we’re so familiar with, say, in northwestern Europe. From the luxury of my armchair is England, it’s relatively easy to find out and appreciate the heroics of characters like CSM. Stan Hollis who featured in such venerable CM:BO games as ‘the Sunken Lane’. Doubtless, despite their grim reality, there are moments in reading about these little cameos that a certain pluck, an opportunity for gallantry or chivalry enable me to take something positive out of this mire of horrific experience. Sadly, I feel that the character of the war fought on the Eastern Front often denies this.
Many of the more recent, reasonably balanced and readily accessible books on this subject (this too is a problem), e.g. Christopher Duffy’s ‘Red Storm on the Reich’ or Charles Winchester’s popular ‘Ostfront’, are prefaced by statistics which, whilst numbing, enable a comparison between the scale of operations on the Russian front and those in western Europe. Often, I’ve found these figures simply shocking, mind blowing in their enormity. I’m not trying to reduce this to the simple equation of one theatre being ‘worse’ or ‘better’ than another, but what I think I am trying to say is probably best expressed by Duffy,
‘Only nations which were spared the experience of that holocaust have been able to regard the Second World War as somehow more light-hearted than the Great War, and a fit subject for adventure stories and comedies’.
But I don’t think I could have had some inkling of what Duffy was driving at if I hadn’t had the privilege of reading the novels of Heinrich Boll (‘And where were you, Adam?’ or the ‘Train was on Time’), Heinrich Gerlach (‘The Forsaken Army’) or Willi Heinrich (‘Savage Mountain’). It’s the absolute sorrow that pervades these books which is crushing. And this is only through German eyes. Sadly, but essentially for me (I think), my reading has drawn me towards the inexcusable consequences of the military occupation of the former Soviet Union that are, thankfully, not charted by CMBB (e.g. Christopher Browning’s ‘Ordinary Men’ or Omer Bartov’s ‘The German army and barbarization of warfare’.
For me, all these factors make CMBB a very different game from CMBO. And that ignores the differences in the game engine entirely. But I agree with Andreas, some of the scenarios can just be reduced to ‘war porn’. What I’ve always enjoyed about the good scenario designers in CM is that they have, in one way or another, initiated or deepened my understanding of history. I don’t think I would be reading about the Eastern Front or North Africa if it wasn’t for CMBB for CMAK.
I accept that it is really, really difficult to design an authentic CMBB game. It is hard to get the maps and, as a monoglot English speaker, it is difficult to get reliable and balanced details about small unit actions. I’m not sure I want to play a game where I’m are subjected to an hour long 120mm rocket barrage before being stomped, but I’m equally sure I don’t want to be playing faux heroics battling my way out of the railhead with my Tigers in the van.
For what it’s worth, I do believe it’s possible to put together scenarios which make some attempt to capture the flavour or recreate an aspect of the war on the Eastern Front in a way that many of the superlative CM:BO games did. I’m thinking here of something like the Stalingrad pack. The thing is, can they, we, do it again?
Answers on a postcard please…
P.S. Buy it, even David has bought it. And who wants to be whipped in CMAK?
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That sounds just my cup of tea.
I'll have a look at the FRAPS (thanks for the link). I've got PSP7 so I'll tinker with the borders and, if you could, that frame would be lovely. I've converted CM:BO pictures into sepia in PSP, gives them that faux '40s feel
I've got some paper textures for background that might be quite nice as well.I like the idea of the AAR being seen from both sides. Its always interesting to see if you worried about the wrong or right things. I'll strart penning one and if Nick would like to, well, so much the better.
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Lou - that's a fine AAR you put up.
I particularly liked the 'photographs'. What piece of natty software did you use to put them in the album frames? That's a really nice touch :cool: .
It started me thinking, what software do people use to map out their AARs? I use Fireworks before a game, particularly the transparencies, to identify possible routes to an objective as well as viable overwatch positions.
NickT is right, we have a catastrophic map. We're going to be knee deep in it by the end of it
If Nick woud consider it, the two of us could put together an AAR for our game. I think it could be quite interesting considering the bald map we'll be playing over and the carnage that I'm sure will ensue.
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I've just put together a game on an 800 x 800 map and weighing in at just over 1200 points. Its infantry heavy so I've opted for 30+ turns.
I've tried to go for something a little less vanilla (mmmmm, vanilla). The scenario revolves around a resisted village clearance by Ordnungspolizei (regular police) in Byelorussia in June 1943.
Playtesters would be most welcome
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“Hey, Drinksupvodkavich, do you hear something?” Bleary eyed, their Sergeant raised himself onto his elbow and glanced around the tree he was slumped against.My game with Justin was good fun and included a beautifully executed ambush by my opponent as my impatient Germans took a short-cut down a hill. One knocked out halftrack, two destroyed 81mm mortar teams (oh how I could have done with those towards the end) two knackered squads and an eliminated platoon HQ later the birds started singing again and the remaining Germans gathered in a copse of trees to discuss tactics and agreed that they should really try to use some from now on!“By Lenin’s legs, it’s those crazy Fascists,” he belched, “They’re coming straight for us!”
Kicking his drunken comrades into action, the brave men of Section 2b, Company 3 reached for their weapons with shakey hands to aim at the blurred grey half-track (tracks?) rattling towards them.
“Fire!” croaked the sergeant.
Somebody vomited.
“Fire!” retched the sergeant.
Somewhere, somebody let out a deafening fear induced fart.
“Fire!” cried the Sergeant, sweating profusely.
Only when the Germans were clearly within focusing range did the section let loose a ragged volley. They were heroes of the Soviet Union after all
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Aaargh! He gets everywhere! I thought I was free of him here in the NOWT tourney, but he's like a omnipotent Big Brother knitting his way through Battlefront threadsThat's what you get for being early at the Railway Telegraph all the time.Happy to offer the additional prize, but I doubt I'll wobble my way through to the final.
Best of luck to all the gents through to the second round.
Thats second round, Andreas
Go Grrreens!
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Loser's round? That sounds like me at the bar when Andreas is around
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Thanks, we're just a little slow to get started, that's all. Tortoise and hare sort of a thing, I'm sure everyone understands...Well done Justin ... at least one of the green team managed to get to the next round -
Thanks, you do a stirling job over there.
NickT, I look forward to receiving your setup, best of luck!
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I think it's NickT isn't it? Could you let me know? I'm easily confused :confused:
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Nestor and I have finished out game with the following result in my favour
. If you squint hard enough you might just see the result (I was painfully aware that I'd posted a LARGE picture last time).
Thanks to Nestor and good luck to him in the next round.
Lou - Sorry to be vague, but I've got alot on just at the moment. Could you tell me who my opponent will be in the next game and I'll happily take it from there.
GO GREENS, GO GREENS, GO GREENS (ahem).
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Nestor isn't quite doing himself justice.
He has actually quite dented several of my T34s, chaffed a couple of my men's knees and nearly had somebody's eye out, all is 25 minutes.
Frankly, I going to be writing to the Health and Safety Executive about his outlandish behaviour.
Seriously, its been a fun game and Nestor is a courteous gentleman of character.
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bumpalicious.
I was pondering asbout this on the way to work this morning. A bigger map is a must. I'll rumiate further.
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Still plodding along, no problems. About turn 25 now, both of us have irritating RL committments that just keep getting in the way
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I would say Nestor and I are about two thirds of the way through our game, but we've had to call a temporary halt because both of us are on extended leave over Easter. Play will resume after 22nd April.
Incidentally, the reason for the temporary suspension of play, my holiday to Rome and Monte Cassino, has adopted a greater significance in light of the recent DAK announcement. I'll be sure to take plenty of photographs for those scenarios.
Have a nice Easter everyone.
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I'm always grumbling at the Luftwaffe. I thought I'd be cunning and have a Stuka in a game where I'm defending, throw the enemy off so to speak.
What happens?
The cheeky devil buys his own bloody aircraft and proceeds to maul my armour! I even invested in some AA halftracks, but those boys were too busy fraternising with the pretty Ukrainian girls to notice the rockets fired from above.
It's all very distressing. Turn 17/30 and I'm still waiting. The Russian hoard will be upon me before Rudi puts his Stuka into full throttle.
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I agree with the above, I'll play whatever. Even though its a tourney, I just enjoy playing the games for their own sake.
My only suggestion would be to move the year forward to 1944 and play the 2nd and 3rd rounds in that year.
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Turn 15 and I think you could say Nestor (red 2) and I are fast approaching our crunch point. The rumble of tank engines and the rapid deployment of infantry on the heights suggests that things are on the move. My motto, comrade?
All the more to shoot at:
Heroic Sgt. Umurzakov bagged this little number a few turns ago.
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No headaches here, scratch one recalcitrant SP gun.
Get orf my land!
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Hello Gents - just a quick update on Green 2 vs. Red 2 (Nestor).
We're just over a third of the way through the game. I think both of us have been in close consultation with our commanders at the front co-ordinating our 'Yawn and Snore' tactics.
In the meantime, my infantry have been skulking in the bushes harvesting fruit for jam whilst the Germans have been joy-riding in their half-tracks on the reverse slope of a very prominent hill overlooking the primary VL.
It's all set to change this turn, however, as a rogue axis SP gun looks deterimined on ram-raiding my larder of preserves.
Our turn rate has improved of late so perhaps we can catch up with the rest of you shortly.
All the best,
Justin.
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Stuck at a 45 degree angle, Sgt. Aleksei Gurov winced as the detritus of one weeks heavy drinking slid to the rear to the Pride of Strumilin,
“You bloody fool,’ Aleksei shouted as his driver ‘I said reverse!”
Through the makhorka haze of the T34’s fighting compartment Slava gave him the thumbs up.
After our first week of play (Turn 4 or 5,I think) Red 2 and Green 2 (Nestor) have yet to have the pleaure of bumping.
Apart from a few little incoveniences on my side, I think both opponents are manouvering to best effect. Of course, I'm attempting to shower my opponent with a little affectionate mortar fire, but other than that all's quiet.
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Nestor (red 2) and I (Green 2) have purchased, deployed and made some initial moves.
We're holidaying in a lovely little valley, carefully manincured to be virtually treeless with a few scattered rockeries and tea houses dotted about.
Currently, my lads are engaging in vigorous cross country hiking in the general direction of the Germans whom, I understand, are engrossed in the cricket. Hopefully, we'll be able to bowl them all out before tea.
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I've sent my purchase over to Nestor.
Looks interesting. My economic 5 Year Plan has enabled me to purchase a company of KV1s, a regiment of close assualt SMG troops, a battery of Katyushas, a natty little field kitchen and a Komsomol production of 'Carry on up the Reichswald'.
Personally, if I we're him, I'd concede straight away. It's only right, all those virtual orphans and widows brooding back in the Fascist's Lair. But, by Stalin, if he wants to prolong the agony by actually playing, so be it
. I'll send over a screenshot of the map when I get it.
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NO, NO, not the dreaded Fascist trucks! Never again...Their evil little Opel faces grinning at me in the darkness...
Withered, I'll return my setup tomorrow evening, thanks Nestor.
Damaged buildings
in Combat Mission - Tips and Tricks
Posted
When designing scenarios in the scenario editor, is it possible to have some of the buildings partially damaged as in the QB editor?
I'm aware of placing the flat rubble marker down, previewing the map, and then placing a building over it to create a collapsed variant, but not of how to set random amounts of building damage across a map. I've got a little game set in Spandau on the brew and some of my buildings just look too damned prestine. I wanted to get some of them partially damaged so that they showed abit of wear, but not ruined. Everything looks as if the road sweeper has just been round.
Any tips would be appreciated.