Holien

Dear Seanachai, I am very un-happy with the way the beta testers tested the game. They have made glaring errors and I think they were not testing the game but playing it. I am outraged that they have not spotted the Major problems with puny guns knocking out my Uber tanks head on. HOW ON EARTH COULD THEY HAVE MISSED THIS?? Could you give me advice on how to wind up the testers so that we can see them froth at the mouth? Best Regards Disgusted Holien

TB. As you well know my statement refers to the Allies attempting to take the crossroads and hence the flag beyond it. For sure you can get a draw, but is that the aim of playing the game? I am more than happy to pick up the gauntlet and take the challenge. A win to me is scoring more points than the other player, but I am happy to go by textual description. On another issue could the design of Another Day been enhanced to have two big flags and a small flag on the crossroad. Would that have enhanced the game play and made it less unbalanced? Or would it have been more unbalanced? Anyway we are talking the toss at the moment and I am happy with playing fun and exciting games where I do not know what my opponent will have and what will come. (I have played no scenarios on the new CMBB yet as I want to play them Double Blind with Humans as this is really the only way to play, IMO.) I do not want to play games which waste my precious gaming time, i.e. boring and with little tactical challenge. P.s. TB I will be away for a week but please send the set-up if you have time so I can be made to eat my words. Tis only a game and I am no Titan.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly comes to mind when reading this thread. Thank you to the "Good" who have enhanced my knowledge. H

To me Another Day favored the Germans. I could win that game every time as the Germans. The trick is to know what to do. Just because it appears balanced does not mean that it is. However we could discuss that until the cows come home and not get any where. I am happy to agree to disagree. As for the games I want them to be fun and challenging. I do not think a lopsided affair would be challanging unless the designer makes it something different which in itself might have merit. Sat waiting for someone to attack with limited forces and limited options is not fun. You need forces, options and interest. I only represent my view and do not aim to impress it upon others and I am mature enough to know that other people have different views. H

Hi Nabla, I guess that kinda of answers the question in that unbalanced games will happen naturally and trying to design them balanced should ensure that there is enough imbalance to satisfy the player. Yep create interesting situations and interesting force balances. As a designer you will be trying to create a playable situation and that will move the scenario in a certain direction which while not perfectly balanced will allow each side some scope of action to achieve their aims. The recent Gumball Rally scenario does a great job of posing the players with some interesting choices. I am not sure if it is balanced, but even if it was not, it offered enough choices to the players to use their game skills. I hope they (BTS) listen to your requests as this is where the playability of the game can be greatly enhanced. The more interesting scenarios that can be designed, the more replay you get from the game. I would never have believed that I would still be playing consistently the same bit of software for well over two years. I have only bought one other game during this period and it was CMBB. I am also lucky that I have two CD's so I don't have to swap discs. H

KR, Yep you have me on that one. If you ignore the fact of my typo and take my meaning, what I am trying to communicate is that this could make for more boring games. In two games where I have been stung I should have taken a more reserved approach. Now will I have learnt my lesson for the next tourney? I doubt it. But if I do it will make for boring game play. IMO. Anyway, I think the approach being taken in trying for balance but leaving the door open for something special is absolutely fine. The games designed must above all be fun and interesting and provide a challange to skill and ability. Give players an interesting situation, which allows the players to make informed decisions (well as informed as possible) and the ability to use their skill in battle. Night games are difficult as it can be down to luck. The previous night game in ROW I was on the right side of the design line as it had enough units and possibility to allow for small errors to be rectified. However, if there had been say a platoon or smaller numbers then luck can play a bigger part. Lets say you design a game where a platoon attacks a battalion. That would be about as fun as watching paint dry as you are walking into a situation where you will be wiped out so quickly that you will lose the will to play. Or if you realise that it is a set-up you will sit back and defend. Now if the briefing is such that the pesudo defender is told to defend the game could be pretty boring. Defender "Why are you not attacking" Attacker "Sod off this is a set-up" Defender "How do I know that it is not a set-up against me?" Attacker "Honest, trust me it is a set-up against me" The remit should be interesting situations where both sides have chance to use their skill to control the situation. Balance should be aimed for knowing that, that will provide better game play. H

Helpppppppppppppppp.............. Meeeeeeeee............. (Thinks to himself... Why am I doing this?) (I guess I just want my turn, come on Berli why do you make me come in here to look for you?) Hellllpppppppppppppp......... Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee................... [ October 28, 2002, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: Holien ]

Opens large wooden oak door... Smells fetid air wafting up... Looks at steps down to hell... Takes a few... Timidly shouts.... "Ohhhhh Berli, Ohhhh Berli...." {Coughs nervously} "Send me my turn!!!" Listens to the mad rantings of those down deep... Slowly turns around before the madness can take hold and returns the way he came from, up to the cold light of a winters day. Breaths deeply and says, "Perhaps another day".

I would play another ROW CMBO tourney as it is a bloody good game. I am still learning CMBB and need some games against humans. Any ROW vets fancy a face up now I have a bit more time on my hands? H

Hmmm A tough question... I think unbalanced games might encourage players to play safe. This will then have a negative effect. Lets take "Another Day". Once I realised I was up against Tigers I should have pulled my horns in. This would have resulted in quite an boring game. I play games to have an equal chance and to have fun. I don't play games to have my hide spanked (through no fault of mine) or to spank some one elses hide because the designer made it that way. I hear all the arguments for, but given the choice I would hope the designer tries and makes it as balanced as they can. Imbalance will happen naturally, so strive for balance knowing that it will never be achieved. To strive for imbalance will make the game not fun for one side. IMO. H

Hi, It would be interesting to understand why Uber decided to launch an attack through the woods. When one is defending it is best to defend until you know that it is time to attack. Moving troops through woods at night is not a good thing to be doing. I have seen no report from Uber, did he post an AAR? H

JK I wonder what game that might be... So much boredom for so little action... Sleep on sleep on... H

Hi, Anyone know the range of Molotov's? Do you have to target the vehicle or will your unit just use them? Sorry for jumping in, but someone might know here? H Please ignore above... I finally used the search engine and it hit pay dirt... http://www.battlefront.com/cgi-bin/bbs/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=001603 H [ October 25, 2002, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: Holien ]

Opens large wooden oak door... Smells fetid air wafting up... Looks at steps down to hell... Takes a few... Timidly shouts.... "Ohhhhh Berli, Ohhhh Berli...." {Coughs nervously} "Your turn awaits you..." Listens to the mad rantings of those down deep... Slowly turns around before the madness can take hold and returns the way he came from, up to the cold light of a winters day. Breaths deeply and says, "Perhaps another day".

Hi, It is Ladungsleger auf Panzerkapfwagen I Ausf B an end of war picture where the Germans are experimenting with catapulting explosives into the Russian lines. The crew would drive the vehicle full pelt towards the position and at a 100 meters would do a hand brake stop and let go with the catapult. It has been reported that they managed to get a 200 meter throw with this method. It was preferable to do a downhill approach as this method back fired when used uphill and several crews were lost until they realised why it was not working. As a side note they had problems getting enough elastic due to war shortages. This was rectified by a call to German women to give up their bra's for the greater good of the German nation. Through this sacrifice and sagging breasts these units were able to continue right upto the last few days of the war. H Edited to steal "SAMi V's" info "Ladungsleger auf Panzerkapfwagen I Ausf B" [ October 24, 2002, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: Holien ]

And you have been wasting my time... (Joking, it was no problem) At least the backup will be with you in the morning!!! H P.s. Send me my set up!!! [ October 23, 2002, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: Holien ]

Yeah MD.... What excuse do you have for not posting... H P.s. There are some other loud so & so's out there that have not posted yet. Come on show ya stuff!!

Hi VL, I hand my hat to you with the worse luck. I think you really should change your name as it clearly is not working.... H

Hi JK, Sorry to nick your thunder, I was lucky with this game and got on a roll. I need to play wolfie again with something else as I do not think I got him at his best and with a game that gave him enough options. Bit like a game I have just finished with someone. But more on that in the AAR to come.... I am now just getting into the delights of CMBB and look forward to the next ROW. H P.s. Your game has improved (and I hope mine)since we last meet. These AAR's do show how things can be done. CA getting into the finals is great as the last time we meet his attacking style was not as good as it is now... No offense meant with these remarks, it is just an acknowledgement of how playing other people improves your game play. I have a feeling in the next ROW I will find it even harder to make it into the finals, especially if I am drawn against you two old birds... (CA & JK)

As mentioned by Spanish Bombs, "hoping that the distance and open ground between the flags provides enough protection from my armor, to make the rest of this match harder on my opponent than the first part has been." This is the key to the game, as mentioned earlier in the thread. If the Germans can drop the Tigers back on the slightly higher ground and good LOS, then the American player will rarely, if ever win this game. However, like all games people play differently and so different results are possible. H [ October 23, 2002, 07:47 AM: Message edited by: Holien ]

Morning chaps... The last few turns were finished for us last night and I guess it is now down to Lopaka and Ali to finish off. How's it going gents? H

TB is it time for a new thread? Game nearly finished with The Capt. Just a few turns left. Then I can get on with normal life and we just have to wait for everyone else. H

I would post a link if they had a web site. The paper (a free jobby posted through the door of every home in the area) dropped through my letter box this morning. I will write more of the review on Sunday when I do not have as much alchol in my stream as I do now. It is truly amazing and as none of you lot have told me the answer I shall have to work it out myself.. Just thought it would be nice feed back to Steve and the boys. Big In Banbury.... H

You can win a free copy of the game if you can answer the following question? From which war are the battles and skirmishes featured in Combat Mission Two? I am a bit stuck, and I really want a free copy. Can anyone help? On a more serious note they are giving away ten copies and it is in a small local paper. This means that the user base is going to explode as word gets out... They also comment in the review that "Combat Mission's immense online community is catered for admirably" We are IMMENSE... Well done BTS. H

That will do the fish no good at all won't it... And I thought you were a nice young man.... H