Louie the Toad

Dear Priest Priest The reason I use other levels is because there is a connection to some reality. Level 2 is obvious. Level 5 is necessary because troops in a building should be able to move along the wall or into a corner. The interface at levels 1 or 2 don't really work in these circumstances. But I do not scroll all over the place in 5 looking at the enemy and such. Hard core FTCR fighters would say that a player should take a screen shot of the Set Up and use it as a map and never use 6, 7 or 8. I disagree since my HQ and runners and observers not modeled in the game would be giving info to update the map. So I let the AI do it. As far as taking extra time to move, when I play the AI -- no problem. When I play my trustworthy pbem opponent we both decide on the rules ahead of time (I think that was the argument that started this thread by the way) so we both know turns will take longer. We don't care. We like the small unit feeling, the uncertainty, the surprises. Currently we are playing a small unit action. Each has approximately a platoon + some support. All infantry. Very similar to the ambiance of the board game Ambush!, have you ever played it? Or have you ever tried FTCR? See what you think in a 300 pt 20 turn game. Also don't let FTCR cause frustration. For example if the LoS tool shows you can see an enemy then move ahead from the position of your unit using the arrow keys, until you can actually see the enemy on your screen. No zooming in unless you have binoculars. This is not cheating. There is a glitch in the graphics that us Level 1 players have to put up with from certain positions. Reasonable Toad.

Doesn't Sid Meier's Gettysburg have a LoS feature that shows the area a unit can observe, simply by selecting the unit and then the LoS icon. Recollecting Toad

I agree, FTCR are more difficult. That's why I like them. I use level 5 to negotiate terrain in buildings and by walls and woods because the interface has trouble moving in tight places. But I dont scroll around to view other stuff. If I think some of my units have a map (HQ and FO) I use 6, 7 or 8 depending upon the rank of the unit. But I dont click on enemy units from those views. Nor do I click on enemy units at all. I use the los and target tools to get information because that's what my units see. I don't use Detailed Armor Hits either (did I say that before?) because how would my forces know what happened inside an enemy tank at 800m.

1.Was it easy to load and set up ? 2. Does it perform to your expectations ? 3. Any interesting anecdotes to relate ? Curious Toad

Let's try that again. I play trustworthy opponents. Toad

Dear Priest, I play trustworth opponents. Trusting Toad

I'VE GOT IT ! There are Iron Man Rules and there are Super Man Rules. Super Man Rules allow you to fly all over the battlefield, see things humans cannot see, know things humans cannot know such as "Detailed Armor Hits" and all the while you are immune to enemy bullets. Iron Man Rules don't let you do that. I love CMBO, so many choices, so many options, whether you play Super Man or Iron Man. Appreciative Toad

To David A and Priest: Priest -- If you are playing to watch a movie that is one thing. If you are playing to fight a battle that is another. I think the view from levels 3 and 4 give a great perspective. It reminds me of my days playing with GHQ tank miniatures on a sand table. As I stated, I currently have no experience playing games over 2000 pts at level 1. The last large game where I used levels 3 and 4 was August Bank Holiday. Level 1 would be a tremendous challenge playing that scenario. David A -- If there is a big hill in front of me I should not be able to see the terrain behind it unless I get one of my units in position. Could it be that you are arguing from the perspective of a larger battle? See my note to Priest above. Have you played using FTCR? There IS a whole lot of interplay between squads and platoon leaders. You get your information about the battle and the battle field by observing from each unit's position, just as it should be, not from the god's eye position which I think gives you more information than you should have or especially by being able to fly like superman over to an enemy position and check it out from 10m away. How much fog of war should there be? Foggy Toad.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by David Aitken: This is the best example of an unrealistic aspect of the game which is necessary to make it playable. There are few aspects of the game which are as totally removed from reality as the omniscient camera. This does not, however, justify all other possible unrealism, as people have claimed in the past in discussions similar to this.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> There is no excuse to be allowed to mouse around the battlefield and scout out terrain. That is not a playability factor at all. What you see from the location of your units is what you should get. Anything else is cheating. But some would say... if both players cheat then it's fair... (But I don't think so !) I know from experience that playability is not compromised at levels 1 and 2 in actions of less than 2000 pts per side. These battles are more fun actually IMHO. In battles larger than 2000 pts at levels 1 and 2 it is quite possible that omniscience is not necessary. I'll bet not many have tried it. I would find it quite challenging. It certainly would take longer. But mousing around all over the place is really gamey. Anti mousing Toad

Using view levels 3 and 4 is the gamiest of all. Exactly who / what is viewing from those levels? Is it Rommel in his Storch? Is it a Union Army officer in a balloon? What factor or unit in the battle is actually capable of this? And what about mousing around the battlefield way out in front of your forces scouting areas you should not be able to see? D*mn gamey. Of course if we could buy Foo Fighters there would at least be an excuse. Level 1 headed Toad.

To Franko: How did you happen to arrive at FTCR mode of play? I just watched "The Thin Red Line" last night. The view from the ground, crawling in the tall grass and all, reminded me of our Level 1 play. I found it interesting that the G.I.'s in the film were "surprised" by terrain features they could not discern until they actually arrived at a spot where they could see them. ( I guess it was because they were in the early 40's and they didn't have a computer driven mouse they could use to fly over the terrain to scout it out while viewing the battlefield from 100m up in the air !!!) Sarcastic Toad

I have a PC with Voodoo 3. What effects on playability of CM , Good and Bad , will I have from changing from 800x600 to 1024x768 ? In an attempt to try moving to 1024 I noticed my desktop icons became unacceptably small. I noticed from looking at other posts there is a way to alter the files so that the desktop will open at an acceptable resolution and when selecting CM the resolution would change for gaming purposes. But what advantages can I expect in going to 1024? Resoluting Toad.

My opponent and I wish to try TCP. Can this be done in a pbem game already underway? I have searched for directions on how to TCP/IP . None on the disk or in the manual I have. originally v 1.02 . Wait, I can check the upgrades. But if anyone can help, please do. Thankful Toad

Hey Lars, Good to hear from another Minnesnowtan. Do you play Franko's Rules at all? Cordial Toad

I recently used VT on an attacking german platoon maybe two, plus support. Two turns of shelling and they ceased to be a factor in the game. I also used it on a tracked assault gun of some kind. (didnt know VT was supposed to be less effective in that role). It was the only weapon I had available for long range at the time. It must have had some effect on the crew of the AFV because they buttoned up and have stayed that way for at least 6 turns. Now I am under attack by two platoons of infantry or possibly a company on my right. They are coming over open and treed ground. At the same time in my center a 234 AC with the short 75mm and a Hetzer are moving up. I still only have the VT available for a few more turns before I can get my armor to help out vs the enemy armor. My decision is to keep firing at the infantry with VT rather than spending 2 minutes to acquire the enemy armor and try for an immobilizing hit as I did against the assault gun. Any thoughts? Holding the line .. Toad

Dear eba, By all means be realistic. But then be sure not to cheat either. For instance what exactly does flying over the terrain ahead of your tank using the mouse simulate? Nothing I am aware of. As it is there are at least 3 methods of looking for a hull down position that are not cheating. 1} You can view from your tank just as its crew would do (by selecting it, tabbing and hitting # 1). You can use zoom magnification 2 or even 4 if you are targeting. These would simulate the use of binoculars and gunsights respectivley. 2) You can move your tank in shorter bounds. That would simulate the crew moving more carefully and looking for a hulldown position. Whereas ordering a tank to make a long move is, as I see it, telling it to get to the end position asap and forget about anything else. Since there is no way in CMBO to order the AI to "find hull down", you have to do it yourself and it may take a couple of moves. 3)You can use other units, infantry half squads for instance, to help you find a hull down position. Using FTCR "What you see (from your position)is what you get". Observant Toad.

Dear mensch, I was very enthusiastic until I realized the scale you were suggesting. IMHO you have the scale mixed up. The battle field should be 1500 m and the points should be 400. This would truly be small unit action. I feel the other way that you suggest will be a parking lot slaughter, no one will ever have a shot miss something in those crowded conditions. Right now I am playing a 300 pt QB pbem on a medium map, full trees, full hills, village, 25 turns. This is totally infantry action of a platoon plus some support, mg or on map mortar. In addition we are playing Franko's True Combat Rules. For anyone who remembers the game AMBUSH ! this is the action that you saw in your minds eye when you played that game. Excited Toad

Is there any way to adjust the screen resolution so that buildings (at level one) appear more 3 dimensional ? I know you can use the los tool and the occasional reference to the map to determine relative distances, but I would prefer to be able to discern the differences in distances to objects by looking at the screen. I currently use 800 x 600 resolution. Curious Toad

Says Toad, after picking himself up off of the floor due to an uncontrollable fit of laughter, "even while playing Capture The Flag we couldn't MOVE the flag !" Ha haha haha hahaha hahaha......I can't stop....haha hahaha

Ahoy Cap'n Wacky It is a well known fact that many teenage and pre teen boys can, without the aid of a manual, or by way of prior experience, engage in computerized combat with many types of AI and win in a short period of time. Observant Toad

Well, after knocking out an enemy halftrack (with one shot) that appeared to be scouting my defenses and taking part in the repelling of an infantry attack, my gun has been spotted. Eight to 12 mortar rounds have landed too close for comfort. While the wall may not protect me from the shells which mostly have fallen behind my position. I am certainly glad I am not in the woods. Ducking Toad

Pvt. Ryan, I play at level 1 and realistic size and one of the 3 figures was outside, the other two were inside. After reading the other posts I think it was just the fortunes of war that this particular squad took more casualties. Understanding Toad

What actually defines when a squad is in a building or behind a wall? I had a squad that seemed to be taking more casualties than its buddies. All were in buildings according to their location boxes. Viewed from level 5 all of the white markers appeared to be inside the walls. However one of the 3 figures in this particular squad was located outside of the building because the squad was in a corner and facing a certain direction. Again this squad seemed to take more casualties. Any thoughts about this? Puzzled Toad.

Just finished a satisfying 300 pt QB vs AI. Had to take the main bldg in a village. Suppression fire, movement and leapfrogging worked so well I was able to maneuver a flamethrower (computer gave me a reinforced engineer squad)into position unseen. In the last minute of a 20 turn fight he moved into a building, and climbed to the second story, just across the street from the german stronghold, the VL building. In the last 10 seconds with suppressive fire making the germans keep their heads down he torched the building with two sprays. Two german squads bolted from the building, one was eliminated by the suppressing fire, the other as it turned out was panicked. The game ended with that turn. The VL was ? and I won the body count by 3X. An interesting game for several reasons: There was no contact until turn 8. This most likely because I leapfrogged from house to house thru the town with overwatch. As it turned out I had to move thru the town while the germans had a nice walk up a road right to the VL building. But I never knew this since I only used LEVEL 1 and 2. I never saw the other side of the map until after the game was over. While I thought the VL was in the middle of the town, it actually was on the far edge. This was one of my most successful uses of small unit tactics. It worked just like out of a field manual. Both of us tried to lay down suppressive fire and then maneuver to the flanks. I got there "the fastest with the mostest" and routed his manevering force. Here another thing happened, I inadvertantly hit Done before I had seen every firefight. The german maneuvering squad was in the thick of it from one view but then must have run when it was attacked from the flank, but I never saw it retreat. ...and I never was sure where it went, between houses, in houses or where? Its the NOT KNOWING that makes Level 1 play the best. Satisfied Toad

Dear FFE, Upon reading your query I rechecked. The sniper did knock out a 37mm AA that was unlimbered in a foxhole. The 7/2 I thought the sniper knocked out was actually shot up by a squad. The other 7/2 was indeed kayoed by a HQ unit at extreme range. Corrected, but still happy Toad