The Commissar

Tsk-tsk-tsk. Amateurs Are you forgetting the deadly side effects of prancing? To simulate prancing to the fullest, BTS must include a special meter which shows in bright pink colors how close a prancing unit comes to resorting to homosexuality. The more you prance, the lower the bar goes. When it hits bottom, the prancing prancers have pranced their prancing maximum and will proceed to drop their weapons and healmets and put flowers in their hair. Enemy tanks will be pranced over to, and rings made of daisies will be hung from the turret and machinegun. At hand to hand combat range, units which have failed their "prancing check" and turned over to homosexuality, will have a routing effect on the enemy units. At longer ranges however, the "failed-prancing" units will act like a magnet for all enemy fire and will be brutaly shot to pieces. All enemy units firing upon prancers will go into berzerk mode until the prancers are destroyed. No incoming fire will affect the berzerk units until they either destroy the prancers to the last man or get destroyed themselves. ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Great, Silent Sniper! If hotmail doesn't want to work, why don't you try my ICQ # (it's in my profile) If you wish, I can be the Germans in the Chance Encounter scenario. ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Well, name the game files with the name of your opponent to remeber which is which. If you have movie files left over, why not create a seperate folder for them and keep them there until you wish to view them, when you can easily put them back in the PBEM folder? Just my suggestions. ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Heya guys! Until I get this beauty of a game, I am left to fight PBEM battles in the demo, unfortunately :-( So, would anyone like a game? I will gladly be the "under dog" force if you want to play the more powerful side, I'm just looking for a fun game with a fun opponent. BTW, I would prefer that you have ICQ if you want to play, for quicker exchange of files, but e-mail is ok too. My e-mail: sword_lover@hotmail.com My ICQ: 26953512 ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

I also wanted to know the sales figures to simply compare with the figures of other wargames. If however, they wish to keep it privet, that's OK with me as long as I get my grubby hands on CM 2

In light of the little song made up by Hacho Ichiu, I hope this thread does not make ALL people whose names sound Russian look bad. After all, our plagerizing friend could have got it from a number of sorounding countries who are similar in language to us Russians. Then again, he could of also though a combination of pretty letters would make for a neat-o name ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Heya guys! I was just interested - since I am but a humble demo player and did not yet test this out - can infantry squads (when they are out of panzerfausts or bazookas) climb up onto a tank and blow off the hatch with a few grenades? I know this was used in the war, albeit rarely since tanks are not often left by themselves and without backup, but used all the same. I assume if in CM the tank was buttoned and shrouded in a cloud of smoke grenades, this would theoretically be possible if I am not mistaken. Do any of you know if this is in the game, and if not, why? Thanks in advance for all answers! ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

I think flight sims and wargames are very different on the prospect of terrain (among other things too, of course). A flight sim is designed for you to be above the ground, preferably so far above that you would not care about the miniscule details down below. They make no difference to you since you're busy repelling other aircraft. The rare instances that you do have to get close to the ground (perhaps for destroying a AA gun or bombing a target) you would notice how ugly the terrain gets up close. Because of this "ugliness" and lack of features on the terrain in a flight sim, flight sims are able to render so much terrain. Now, comparing to a game like Combat Mission, where each building, ditch and shrub is crucial to survival and tactics, it gets very hard to render so much space. Not just to program it, but for the computer to be able to process it. Maybe in the future, but not now. So I guess border hugging is inevitable. Thanks for your responces everybody! ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Hey guys, I'm playing my first PBEM using the "A Chance Encounter" scenario. I'm playing as the Germans, and as we all know from playing this scenario I am outnumbered and outgunned (Stugs vs. Shermans are almost no contest). Playing this scenario against the AI, I have developed a nice tactic which I am using in the PBEM. I take all my Stugs, a Veteran platoon of SMG's and a bunch of green and regular rifle sqads and run down the left flank into the forest next to the ally positions. The opponent never sees me because he is cautious about my Stugs so most of the time my men get into cover in safety. Now, reading this forum I have determined this would be called "border hugging" and I would be branded a "gamey player". But looking from my POV, this tactics works not because there is a border on the map that I am next to, but because the enemy never comes out anyway. In fact, without a border it would be even easier because I would do a wider flank and catch him with total surprise perhaps even encircling his Shermans. Unfortunately, this game has limitations like all games, and so the borders are there. So if one is to do a wide flank for a desperate but effective move such as my own, the borders are next to me. If I did not do this, I would have to be predictable and sit in wait for the Sherms to come around slowly and take out my poor Stugs from a far range, or outflank my positions. I've seen it happen. So what I am asking is, in these sort of situations, would this tactic STILL be branded as "gamey" and myself branded a bad sport? ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Thank you for the quick reply and detailed instructions Germanboy, and thanks to you for the tip, Kingfish

Hello, Sorry about this rather stupid question, but I have the demo so I don't own the manual which probobly explains this in detail. Can someone fill me in as to what I do to start up a PBEM (after I find an opponent and all). Thanks is advance! ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

*bump*

Hello comrads! I just figured out that it's possible to PBEM with the demo (duh!) and since I played both those scenarios half a zillion times against the AI, I'm up for a little PBEM! Who here has the demo and is willing to play? I assume we can only do those 2 scenarios, so I suggest "A chance encounter" I'll be nice and play as the out-gunned Germans, too, so any opponents will probobly have it easy! PLS contact me at sword_lover@hotmail.com or with ICQ:26953512 ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

On the topic of camouflauge... I have read many accounts aboit Germans getting ambushed and destroyed by Russian forces, who not only were masters at "bonding with the earth itself" as Germans called it, but also to traverse seemingly unpassable terrain like heavy forests and swamps to emerge on the German flanks. I hope this is modeled. ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Excellent post Leftfield! Although I do not consider myself a newbie, nor am I clueless (most of the time ) I did find your post very informative and easy to understand. Ill keep your rule in mind during my next battle, and look forward to your next writing! Keep up the good work. Los, the CMHQ only has like 2-3 articles that I can see on tactics in the "Articles section". Is there some way to access older articles which are not shown? ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Forget dogs...I want my SKI TROOPS! Oh yes, and the Russians should be harder to spot, since they were very good in blending with the terrain. The bad side to the Russians should be a major slow down in communication due to lack of radios as already mentioned. Wonder how they'll handle this? ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back" [This message has been edited by The Commissar (edited 08-07-2000).]

Well, I must be honest: when I played the Alpha demo of CM (this is the old demo, with all the graphic glitches, not the one up now) I was also playing CC3:RF Upon d/ling the Alpha CM demo and playing it, I was turned off by the awkward camera movement, the many graphical glitches, and how slow the game ran on my PC (this was a Pent 2 333, now I have a AMD 650 which runs the game great). All in all, I didn't enjoy CM much based on the Alpha demo. I longed for a CC in full 3d, but it seemed this would not happen since CC's devs stuck strictly to the 2d engine. When the new demo of CM came out however, i decided to give it one more shot. By then, I had played CC as both Russians and Germans. In the end it degenerated down to a tank vs. tank match, with infatry not even able to leave a scratch on the heavy monsters most of the time and thus playing a small role in the fighting. This time, with all the improvements I saw in this demo, I really got into it. I liked it a lot, and right now saving up for the full game when it's finally back in stock CM is definately more balanced, and unlike in CC infantry actually manage to take out those evil evil tanks when they get cocky and come too close ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back" [This message has been edited by The Commissar (edited 08-06-2000).]

1) I read all the ones I can get a hold of over at CMHQ. 2) I read them mostly for entertainment, but also to see how other people fight their battles. I like comparing tactics, learning new things, and getting fun out of doing it. 3) The ultimate AAR would probobly be like the ones I read in "White Dwarf" magazines for a fantasy war board game I like called "Warhammer 40k". That is, first there's the setup (if it's a PBEM) with opponent's thoughts and tactics as well as force selections and such. Second, there would be the turn by turn account, with turns clearly listed so readers could clearly picture the timing of these battles and fire fights. This section should be told from a story-teller like perspective, not necessarily centering around one individual or one side. Third, the two opponents each talk about what they did wrong and what they did right and how their plan succeeded or failed. They may even make plans for later games against their opponent for a rematch. For games against the AI, simply have one person do the before and after game analysis of the battle and leave the story telling part as is, since it doesn't have to center around one side. When I finally get the game in my greedy little hands, I plan to seek someone who would be willing to participate in just such a game with me and write an AAR afterwards. This, in my mind, is the perfect AAR ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back" [This message has been edited by The Commissar (edited 08-06-2000).]

DrD, Well, I for one will be definately fighting for my country-men Give me a couple of T-34's and some mech-inf squads over a King Tiger any day of the week! It's funny how many people see the Russians as an even worser people then the Germans and refuse to play as them in games...wonder if that whole Cold War thing had anything to do with the view? BTW: Will there be ski troops? PLEASE let there be ski troops! There's something REALLY cool about riding circles around German squads who are sitting ducks while stuck in the heavy Russian snows! ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

I don't think the Italiens did much on the Eastern front except get captured and sent to turn into frozen popsicles in Siberian POW camps. Poles on the other hand and Fins are a good possibility. ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

New York City, USA here ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Hello fellow wargamers! I am new to this game and to the forum, so forgive me if a similar messege was posted on an earlier date. So far, I have just played the demo and now ordered the game (amazed as I am) only to find it backordered! CRAP! There is a good side to this however... If those money-grubbing, wealth-loving, make-a-quick-buck bastards we call big time company "suits" see the success this game is having, with it's tiny un-known company and limited finances (well, compared to Evilsoft and EA it's limited), then they would assume that they too can reap the benefits. If this game happens to appeal to other people besides hard core grognards, we might really have something of a ground breaker here! If, with CM, Battlefront manages to attract even a small fraction of the hordes which are RTS gamers, they would already be made men Seeing this, some suits would then assume it's the new "thing" and quickly find developers to develop similar products, as is the nature of these money-grubbing louts. Most will be somewhere between downright bad and adequate, but a few, at least a few, will make it big. This then would be a grand thing for all wargamers... or maybe I'm just dreaming? Your thoughts? ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"

Well, since I only played the demo (short on money lately, working to get those precious $45 + shipping!) my account isn't nearly as funny as the ones some of you guys listed, but I think it's at least mentionable. It was the "Valley of Trouble" scenario, with me as the Germans. Over run with enemy M4's (for those who dont remember, 2 in the beginning {1 vet, 1 regular} and 4 more after about the 10th turn I think) I was relying on my only pillbox with anti tank capability. This was in the first few turns, and it was my 75mm Concrete Pillbox vs. 2 M4's. My pillbox was positioned on the southern hill with a good view of the enemy positions, and thus I was able to get a nice clear shot in at the first M4 which popped into view, the Veteran. With a lucky shot, the vet's gun was damaged and he quickly backed off. Then the Regular M4 moved up to face the challenge. We exchanged a few shots, it's the last 5 seconds of the turn, and by some miraculous timing reasons, my pillbox fires it's gun, and a milisecond before the shell actually hits the M4 (burning it up) the M4 managed to squeeze off one last, heroic round into the pillbox, also knocking it out. I watched that film several times, and if my pillbox would have fired 1/4th of a sec earlier the M4 would have been killed and my Pillbox safe to take on the American reinforcements. Oh well, it was great watching. I ended up winning the game (Minor victory) but that tank/pillbox duel to the death was pretty much it's highlight, IMHO. ------------------ ...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back"