WineCape
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Posts posted by WineCape
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On a Blackberry, so excuse me not reading this whole thread while being driven 365km from a stadium. It's a bumpy road! Can I ask a simple question:
Why did BFC decided to drop eLicense?
Was the eLicense 'service' running in the background such a hindrance & problematic for Battlefront? eLicense seemed an elegant system. Obviously some serious consideration(s) by BFC changed their minds to forgo this DRM method?
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In due time you will have RHINO Shermans crashing through the bocage into a foxhole and mow the weapons squad therein down - all in motion and in noisy sound
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Rumblings of War VI? Why not? At least some tasted South African wine for the 1st time in their life. Below are the players, again, in good standing from previous RoW tourneys...
76mm/Tom Reiter
Abbott
Ace Pilot
Andreas
Andrew Kulin/Ankulin
Artavash
Beeper
Bertram
Big Dog
Bigdogg944
Bigduke6
BigMac644
Bil Hardenberger
Bimmer
bobm44
Boris Balaban
Brent Pollock
c3k
Capt T
Combined Arms
Cpl Carrot
Cyrano
Dalem
Dandelion
Dangerous Dave
Deadly 88
Denwad
DerBlitzer
Diesel Taylor
Dirtweasle
Elmar Bijlsma
Enigma
Enoch
Fangorn
Flenser
forseti
Frenchy/Steve Dixon
Frunze
George Mc
Green Hornet
GreenAsJade
Grimthane
Heavy Drop
Holien
Hunter
Jarmo
JasonC
Jaws
JeffWilders
Joachim
John Bertles
John D Salt
John L
John O
JonS
JPS
K.A. Miles
Kanonier Reichmann
Kettler
KingFish
Kip Anderson
kump
Lindan
Londoner
Lt Bull
Malakovski
Melnibone
Mick Oz
Mike8g/Marcus Bloss
mPisi
nathangun
NG cavscout
Nidan1
noob
Other Means
Panzer Twat
Peterk
Platehead
RawRecruit
Reanimator
Redwolf
Renaud
Richie
rune
Runyan99
Sandy
Scott B
Scheer
Sergei
Shmavis
Sivodsi
Spanish Bombs
SpineRipper
Sripe
Steve McClaire
SteveS
Stickypix(x)ie
Stoffel
StoneAge
Stryker/Kevin Grande
Tabpub
Ted
The Enigma
The_Capt
tlKillerich
Tom Travisano
Treeburst155
U8led
Victor Charlie
von Lucke
wadepm
Walpurgis Nacht
We Build We Fight
wellsonian
Wreck
WWB
xerxes/Marc S
STANDBY LIST:
1. para
2. Baneman
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Your persistence, para, is duly noted. A good thing.
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I get this almost every other week. Literally. Being a pro football referee has its .... ups.Well if i am not chosen the organsiers will all get a telephone call like this....I know who you are. I know what you want. If you are looking for bribe or an essay, I can tell you I don't have money or writing paper. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let play now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you! ;-p
Unfortunately, a tourney is only as good as its number of non-drop outs. So, while you might not get selected initially, people missing the initial selection should not give up - there are quite a lot that filled slots for those that dropped out. Thus, you might become a RoW "drop-in". Don't get despondent if you're not in the first 24, 48, or even 72 selected players.
Again, I tip my hat to Treeburst155, Cpl Carrot and KingFish, as well as the designers. They did sterling work managing such a massive undertaking.
There is the "RoW rulebook/playbook" as some basic/minimum requirements - just gotta find it again
- but it must be remembered that the ultimate aim is/was to have extreme, tense fun and to test your skills against a PBEM opponent that might become an email friend at least. By and large, I think the RoW tourneys succeeded magnificently in this endeavor, in no small part due to the sporting behaviour displayed, which we did - and do - value as one of the highest unwritten qualities in RoW.Obviously, with the aid of the Nabla scoring system, where balanced scenarios are not a given or a necessity, you are judged by how others played the exact same unbalanced never-seen-before scenarios. Some nasty nightmares were let loose on the poor PBEM players... probably the only reason why some here still remember the Rumblings of War
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The Cardinal sin is dropping out/vanishing without trace. Real life suddenly cropping up, of course, excluded.
Even a slow PBEM turn rate can be excused, to some degree.
We vowed never to invite the vanishers again. It's like a credit check: you defaulted without valid excuse means your credit for future invites are zero.
We will again have some on standby list in order, for those that DO drop out with/without excuse. It might be that we run 24x2 or even 24x3 mini tourney within RoW VI to accommodate demand.
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If we decide to do RoW VI, then, as stated before on the CMx1 forum, we will give preference as follows:
-- Multiple previous RoW entrants first;
-- Obviously previous winners will fall in above category, even if they won/played only a singe tourney;
-- Single RoW entrants;
-- having played and finished other tourneys on this + other boards;
-- eager participants that will probably have to write something why we should take you in.
While we never can prevent drop-outs, the above certainly tightens up the issue to some degree given previous experience.
Finding good scenario designers willing to create handywork should not be too difficult, judging by the popularity of previous. I hope.
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Look at the list again previously in this thread.I *KNEW* I was in on the first one! Just had to dig up the proof: http://www.battlefront.com/community/showpost.php?p=247009&postcount=89So what's the going bribe these days?
I don't see Fionn on that list.Fionn riled Treeburst155 so heavily that the latter tendered his resignation. Since Treeburst was more valuable then Fionn from a tournament perspective, there was a certain decision we made, way back at the Invitational if I remembered correctly....
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The Nabla worked well in various Rumblings tourneys given past experience. It was, if memory serves, also tweaked from the original Alpha given input/discussion.As I didn't play in any ROW tournament, I searched about the NABLA scoring system, and I found a hot discussion about it's fairness. -
@ Stikkypix(x)ie,
You stick. Close enough. :-)
@Bimmer
And sending keys to your holiday house(s) in exotic places...
Apart from the competition, the beauty of RoW was that scenario designers spawned scenarios for RoW specifically, and these designers received an added bonus to their off-beat creations: AAR's were compulsory for RoW participants as they carried extra points to get into the play-offs. Anything from as simple as a couple of typed pages to a full blown pictured AAR scored you the full compliment of tourney points allocated to AAR writing.
In this small way, scenario designers were thanked for their unique RoW tourney created scenarios with a detailed set of comments about their work, which were thoroughly stress-tested; it gave them excellent ideas/indicators regarding future tweaking and/or public release of their handiwork in the CM fraternity. A win-win situation.
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The Deadliest Duo in Dodgeville. I can state, with certainty, that the above two were the most phenomenal and dangerous players in all of Rumblings of War, Nabla or no Nabla* scoring system used.Walpurgis Nacht and Wreck.....fear...so much fear..."The Nabla" has as premise:
"Unlike chess, CM is not a perfectly balanced game. Due to its very nature,
inequities will always exist to some degree. This is true whether playing
designed scenarios or QB meeting engagements. This makes competition
CM somewhat problematic.
How does one measure player performance relative to the competition when
all is not equal at the beginning? To complicate matters further, we don’t
even know how far, or which way, the scales are tipped for the Axis or
Allied side.
The Nabla system for CM alleviates this balance problem to a great degree.
In fact, the scoring system was designed specifically for the purpose
of scoring CM competitions that utilize deliberately unbalanced scenarios.
Competition scenario designers are now free to design scenarios with fun
as the primary goal, rather than balance. Hours and hours of playtesting
for balance are no longer necessary! Lopsided scenarios can be thrown into
tournaments to keep players on their toes. No longer can players make the
assumption that their forces are adequate to achieve the mission assigned
if properly employed! That is the strength of the Nabla system.
The foundations of the scoring system can be condensed into four principles.
1. The baseline against which performance is measured is set by average
performance in a scenario.
2. It is equally difficult to be a winner in a scenario, regardless of victory
margins. Therefore, the level of skill needed to score well in a scenario
is considered to be equal in all scenarios.
3. When determining the goodness of a player from a set of scenarios,
uniformly strong gameplay is rewarded.
4. In a scenario, both players should always have an incentive to strive
for more CM points. That is, gaining a few more CM points should
always be rewarded.
The mathematical operations used to implement the first 3 objectives
are, in corresponding order, difference from median, normalization of mean
absolute deviation, and an asymmetric, nonlinear scoring curve.
We believe that the Nabla system takes competition CM to a new level of
fun and excitement for players and scenario designers alike, while providing
an excellent way to determine players’ relative performance in a competition
setting."
PS: Experience has taught that the best way to organize the Nabla scored tourney is to use 24 players tournaments, divide them into 4 equal sections of 6 players. This arrangement means that each scenario will be played 12 times.
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Well, we don't want your member. Only your brain.I refuse to participate in any tournament that would have me as a member -
Why not? If your name is not on this list below, you can forget getting through the revolving door, unless ......
76mm/Tom Reiter
Abbott
Ace Pilot
Andreas
Andrew Kulin/Ankulin
Artavash
Beeper
Bertram
Big Dog
Bigdogg944
Bigduke6
BigMac644
Bil Hardenberger
Bimmer (Gestapo has to verify this one)
bobm44
Boris Balaban
Brent Pollock
c3k
Capt T
Combined Arms
Cpl Carrot
Cyrano
Dalem
Dandelion
Dangerous Dave
Deadly 88
Denwad
DerBlitzer
Diesel Taylor
Dirtweasle
Elmar Bijlsma
Enigma
Enoch
Fangorn
Flenser
forseti
Frenchy/Steve Dixon
Frunze
George Mc
Green Hornet
GreenAsJade
Grimthane
Heavy Drop
Holien
Hunter
Jarmo
JasonC
Jaws
JeffWilders
Joachim
John Bertles
John D Salt
John L
John O
JonS
JPS
K.A. Miles
Kanonier Reichmann
Kettler
KingFish
Kip Anderson
kump
Lindan
Londoner
Lt Bull
Malakovski
Melnibone
Mick Oz
Mike8g/Marcus Bloss
mPisi
nathangun
NG cavscout
Nidan1
noob
Other Means
Panzer Twat
Peterk
Platehead
RawRecruit
Reanimator
Redwolf
Renaud
Richie
rune
Runyan99
Sandy
Scott B
Scheer
Sergei
Shmavis
Sivodsi
Spanish Bombs
SpineRipper
Sripe
Steve McClaire
SteveS
Stickypixxie
Stoffel
StoneAge
Stryker/Kevin Grande
Tabpub
Ted
The Enigma
The_Capt
tlKillerich
Tom Travisano
Treeburst155
U8led
Victor Charlie
von Lucke
wadepm
Walpurgis Nacht
We Build We Fight
wellsonian
Wreck
WWB
xerxes/Marc S
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Of the list, I'd say the KWV, Zonnebloem, Nederberg, Simonsig, Vergelegen, Rust en Vrede and Allesverloren are reliable names. I don't know all the names on the list as there's a few new ones and I've been out of SA for some years now.
The KWV Pinotage is a personal favourite ( if you ever get the chance, the Middelvlei Pinotage is probably the best Pinotage I ever tasted )
Nederberg cater for mass market and are very successful at keeping their wines tasting the same, year after year ( no mean feat ), so are reliable for someone new to SA wines without being the best. I'm sure WineCape can give you more info
Jarmo, a lot of .... below par red wines there indeed.
Baneman is correct with the bold names above. Selecting the better ones below from the list, seeing there is NO vintages, but at least these wineries mentioned have consistent quality vintages:
-- Capaia (usually Merlot/Cab/Petit Verdot blend) If it's a 2005 vintage, definitely grab it!
-- L'Avenir Cabernet OK. L'Avenir Pinotage = top class! One of the top 10 (under the reserve "Larouche" label) in South Africa this year.
-- Rust en Vrede Estate cab - usually very elegant, softly structured wines. Their "Estate" (usually Cab/Shiraz/Merlot blend) a delight to drink the last 7-9 vintages.
-- Penny Black (Post House), if it's the 2004 vintage, a good serious blend, heavy style; taste profile close blackcurrant/ liquorice/very minerally, earthy. Have not tasted subsequent vintages.
-- Bellingham Maverick Shiraz - Outstanding wine, though price IS steep, as it sells here for equivalent of 25 euros roughly.
-- Allesverloren Cab - OK to good. I love their Shiraz and Port. Their wines in general heavier, fuller style, high alcohols (due to warmer temperatures in Riebeeck Kasteel area) and tend to be like SA rugby Springbok players: Well-build with finesse. Allesverloren Means "All is Lost" after the farmer lost his farm to a scorched earth policy of the English during the Anglo Boer War during start of 1900's]
-- I assume the Vergelegen Cab-Merlot blend = their titled 2nd label, called the "MILL RACE RED" -- selling here for 6-7 euros. Cant go wrong with this, given the price. Decent. Every year.
BACK TO LURKING ....
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Manx! Long time no see! Hope you are well and in rude health.@ WineCapeI still remember the six handpicked bottles of SA's finest you sent over to England for me many years ago free of charge. They were all excellent my friend...all the best to you.
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You say! :cool:Ahem, if there's good SA wine going, I'm there ( did my Wine Tasting diploma through Cape Wine Academy back in the day )... the trouble with South African red is that ( at least this is true for the UK ) the really good stuff seems to stay in SA - apart from a couple of specialist shops I've found ( the one in Kingston-on-Thames is very good ), the supermarkets particularly seem to import the most awful co-op and brands-you-never-heard-of rubbish.Indeed. Volume sells. To the lowest bidders. International markets are unfortunately suckers for volume @ the lowest prices. Seems a trend in many wine industries exporting their produce. Even gaming software, where they get fed mediocre stuff so much (via marketing etc.) that at times it is a losing battle to ween them off rubbish and try rather CM instead, or by analogy, a De Toren, Veenwouden, Boekenhoutskloof, Kanonkop, Springfield, Jordan, Tokara, Thelema, Rustenberg, Vergelegen, Le Riche
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Summed it up perfectly; only I had a CMSF manual to read while fiddling with CMBNSequence of events when game is received:1. Install while twitching and palpatating in anticipation.
2. Double clicking desktop icon (automatic due to twitching and palpatating)
3. Start with tutorial scenario (assuming there is one)
4. Laboriously do everything wrong and get my clock cleaned
5. Start a small unit action scenario
6. Realize I have forgotten the few things I thought I remembered from the turoial
7. Endeavour to retreat and save the few surviving troops under my command
8. Weep at the carnage and write a letter for each casualty
9. Re-write letters omitting all references to inept leadership
10. Try scenario again (see 6-9)
11. Glance at manual cover
12. Think about manual
13. Try different scenario (reference 6-9)
14. Curse myself
15. Curse my parents for not drowning me at birth
16. Pick up manual
17. Go to latrine
18. Read until I have lost all feeling to my legs
Lather, Rinse, Repeat
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I'm having my revenge when I swopped and batted for the Germans. Now.You speaking from experience there?
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And I thought I was converting the winners of RoW to good wine... Sheeeeshhhh. I converted The Jar to South African, albeit temporarily ...Forget the loot ROW was awsome -
I'll see if I have enough private stock left for a RoW tourney, after selling the business/property in 2007. I have been raiding my own stock extensively for past 4 years. Might as well see if there are more drinkers abound to share in loot ...Cant wait to PBEM CMBN and I really hope another ROW Tourney comes around again real soon!
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Ohhhh yes. A few HMG/LMG's at strategic places in the bocage and whole platoons/companies' struggle to advance, if at all. Grazing fire is deadly, coupled with mortars after pinning plts. and you have a recipe for scratched platoons within 1-2 turns after being pinnedGeorge MC, after reading the exellent document posted by JSj,do you feel that CM:BN will well simulate the tactics describes in it.
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The words 'pretty precise' should be construed as "danger close" in most CMBN battles.Haven't seen this applied yet in the AARs and perhaps it is still under development, but am wondering how air support functions in CMBN. In CMSF it is pretty precise, but I can recall games in CMAK where my air support would commit some friendly fire. Frustrating but at the same time pretty cool. Is that going to be a possibility in CMBN?
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We call it "crunchies" in CMBN-speak......a sound when the tank passes through a fence? ...
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Real lurkers get counters for posts although they never do post. BFC is trailing a new forum feature ....You and Jarmo, with post counts of 4 figures, hardly qualify as lurkers. Sorry, but that's the brutal truth
- but it must be remembered that the ultimate aim is/was to have extreme, tense fun and to test your skills against a PBEM opponent that might become an email friend at least. By and large, I think the RoW tourneys succeeded magnificently in this endeavor, in no small part due to the sporting behaviour displayed, which we did - and do - value as one of the highest unwritten qualities in RoW.
The name Charl seems to be a blessing !
in General Discussion Forum
Posted
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-masters-20110411,0,2165950.story
Winning the Masters! Well done, another South African wearing a green (flak) jacket.