Louie the Toad

That seems reasonable. I wonder though when one crosses the line between historical and semi. Can I assume that the following is Historical: In the drive on Minsk in 1941 I know there was a clash between units of the Soviet 22nd Tank Division and the 3rd Panzer Division. I know the TIME and GENERAL LOCATION of the engagement so the map will not be of the exact place, but a reasonable facsimile. There was no significant feature such as a river. So the AI could make the map. I know that LEAD ELEMENTS of both the 22nd and the 3rd ran into each other. I don't know HOW MANY or WHICH ACTUAL VEHICLE TYPES fought. But I do know what vehicle and infantry the lead elements that clashed were comprised of and so I have selected a certain number of vehicle, infantry and support units representative of both sides to fight in the scenario. In some ways this seems Historical and in others Semi Historical. When I think of battles that are world famous, where we know every detail, designing those would define HISTORICAL. When does that designation slip away? Is the Devil in the Details?...... Toad

How detailed must one get? Hmmm.. was the commander right or left handed? Toad

Bringing up the rear: Forest Lake Minnesota 30 miles N of St. Paul 25 miles N of Roseville (the other MN posted)

I do think that is the problem. I just hope I can fix it now. Thankful....Toad.

I can hardly wait to command those Italian CV/L33 machine gun tankettes. What a rush! I think their armor was 1 mm. Or maybe it just seemed that way. Feel free to correct me. Seriously, this is going to be fantastic. Sand between my toes.... Toad

I set up units for two players to conduct a battle. I sent the completed file to player A. He did his set up. Then he sent it to player B. Now B cannot open the file, it asks for player A's password. What can be done? Toad.

I disagree too. I think it will be fun to see further than you can shoot. I am hoping that the first game of the New Engine will be the early years in Spain and France 1940. I think that the new engine will be able to handle horses, motorcycles as well as those fun tankettes. Maybe there would be an option that would let the player set up experimental organization and equipment mixes. After all, those were the years when the great powers were doing just that. Less is More. Less uberTanks is More fun.... Toad

Players A and B asked me to select troops for a scenario. Player A sent me the map. I selected the forces and sent the file back to A. He did his set up and sent to B. Now B cannot open the game because it is asking for A's password. Should I send the original file to B as well? If so, will the files merge when A and B begin to play. It seems to me that one file would erase the other? Any suggestions? Puzzled Toad

David, Try playing the Iron Man Rules, AKA Franco's True Combat Rules. Prepare to be challenged. Prepare to fight without the god's eye advantage. Prepare to lose. Down in the dirt... Toad

coe, Yes you hit on one of my favorites, the PZlV with the L/24 short barreled 75mm and I believe a couple of medium mgs. In other wargames I have played, a very potent unit vs infantry. I still hope they go back to the BO camera angles. Won't let that one go..... Toad

Schullencraft. Thanks for the detailed information. Frankly I was hesitant to do stuff that had the potential to really mess things up, with a questionable chance of solving the problem. So I first reinstalled BB. That did the trick for the sound. I can probably live with the frozen flames and blocky smoke since some smoke is ok and the frozen flames only occur at short range. Maybe when I have some extra time I can upgrade my video. Question. After reinstalling BB, I expected to have to also reinstall the 1.01 and 1.02 patches, but the selection screen shows 1.02 at the bottom. I am not so familiar with BB that I can tell from limited game play that 1.02 is actually working. Should I rely on the 1.02 showing at the bottom of the screen at the beginning of the game? Still attempting to appreciate BB .... Toad

MadMatt, What a great surprise. Thank you. I hope AK goes back to the camera levels and resolutions of CMBO. The BB levels are elcrapo! What Wolf asked: what theatre will CM2X new engine focus on. I hope the Early Years with motorcycles, horses, carrier pidgeons, etc ! Can't wait to experience one of my favorite North African Campaign expressions: (paraphrased) " Yessir, we have advance quite far. We've passed the first Buq in Buq Buq." Sand between my toes..... Toad

Thats what the BB grass I have looks like. It probably is the default. Is there some better looking LOW RES stuff on the street? Gotta have it... Toad

Thanks, Of course if I use flags but want the scenario to give points for exiting, that will probably lead to the AI never winning. Woeful Toad

In BB Not only do the flames not move, they look like flat vertical frozen polygons, no flickering. In addition the 100 m distance can be on the ground or at higher camera levels. Vehicle sound and flames work fine in BO. Gun barrel smoke also polygonical. Other smoke and dust is fine. My system: PC Pentium II 450 mb 128 mb ram 3fx Voodoo 3 16 mb memory Windows 98 Direct X 8 Sound Blaster Creative Ensoniquic 9x driver resolution 1024x768

Video -- burning vehicles or houses look fine from 100 meters and out. But closer thatn 100 m the flames turn to what looks like orange panes of glass. Audio -- All sounds seem fine EXCEPT vehicle movement. No sound at all. Solid and silent Toad

In BB Does the AI respond to Exit Zones? Or, should I place some flags to make AI controlled units proceed across the map? Designer Toad

Hey Strontium Dog, I must say these trees are top of the line. They look suprisingly like the countryside here in Minnesota, so maybe that's why they seem so realistic to me. Have you done any CMBO work? Tree Toad

Yes, getting out of your tank to do it yourself would be the way, but that option is not in the game. If the crews are shell shocked then they would be panicked in the game and could not be given orders. When they can be given orders it follows that they must be ok. As I said, it would be great to hear from someone who really knows. Still waiting.... Toad

I wish there were a way to settle the Tank Crew question. Some time ago a lad on the Forum stated that his grandfather was a FO in North Africa, for a tank regiment IIRC. He said he would ask him but I don't think there has ever been a posting about it. My FEELING is: the crew is part of a larger unit which is more than just their tank, and if they are not hurt or dead then by god they can at least crawl up to the next crest and let the rest of us know what's out there before we go over the top. I can readily appreciate Fionn's opinion as well and I have played both ways. Craving the facts.... Toad

There's no place like home. Singing Toad

I have not played this scenario but... Does directing his fire by overriding with the 'Target' command help at all? Is it possible to have another unit put suppression fire on that enemy mg? These have worked for me in other scenarios.. If you cant mystify the enemy, mystify the AI -- Toad.

Gordon, That TC looks familiar. Curious Toad.

Tar, Based on your discovery, what would happen if a mortar halftrack was set to enter as a reinforcement, say on turn 3. Lets assume that the TRP was placed from the start of the game as it should be. Do you think that the TRP would be acquired by the HT as long as the HT didnt move from its placement on the board by the AI ? Curious... Toad

A tangent(?) to this is that terrain in well made scenarios should not be parking lot flat even though it might look like it from high camera levels. Get down to level 1 and mouse across the battlefield. You should find all kinds of dips, gullies, gently rolling low ridges, sunken roads and the like. All offer hull down possibilities. On the ground.. Toad