Oompa-Loompa

I just want know: Will the rarity system be OPTIONAL?! <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Big Time Software: The Rarity feature WILL BE OPTIONAL!! I put the word "optional" in each sentence in my description of the feature and thought that would premept worries about it becoming manditory. But that did not happen So I will say again... it is going to be OPTIONAL.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Oh........well......in that case... Yeah! Hear, Hear! Harumph, harumph! [sound of noisemakers and firecrackers]! I also agree that vehicles have an "inherent worth". However, please do not do a complete overhall of ALL of the CM vehicles! Just start off with the specific vehicles (and teams)mentioned above and "tweak": -->the light wheel vehicles-off road issues -->M20 > MG Jeep -->MG Jeep > Reg. Jeep -->MG Jeep < MG team I'm flexible in all regards, but I really hope BTS begins with smaller adjustments to specific vehicles rather than adding another varible (e.g. vehicle value) to ALL unit calculations. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

And now a quick interlude to talk about ...STATISTICS! [big Cheer] <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Slapdragon: I think that, and wish that BigTime had time, to run game statistics that test changes outside of the standard BETA test procedure. Use a simple spreadsheet or SPSS, and gathering observational numbers from games played by people from this group. plus qualitative narratives of the action, we could actually find out about the relative weakness of the forces, and place numbers (eventually) on how powerful things are in the game. I volunteer to design and track a study like this, or the gentleman who said he was in physics would be ten times better at it than I (since I am a historian and usually deal with socially constructed research). We would all play a part simply by playing each other in QBs, and recording our results for the study.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> An intriguing proposal. As a person who does research for a living and someone who who uses SPSS on a daily basis (at least until I finish my dissertation ) I like the idea of setting up some experiemental tests like the ones you suggest. I figure I might as well combine two of favorite past-times--Statistics and CM! If you want help with the design, let me know. However, as a caution, this would require a TREMENDOUS amount of care in the design and coding of data. Firstly, we would have to control for diverse factors such as terrain, weather, etc. which affect individual games. Ordinarily, we could assume such differences would be controlled for by random assignment BUT to ADEQUATELY (sp?)control for such factors would require an extremely high sample size Secondly, gathering data from the forum at large, risks introducing a high degree of bias (b/c not everyone has the same style of (or experience in) commanding troops-thus some expereinced commanders probably use units in a MUCH different way than newbie commanders (such as myself). Some commanders may be "overly" risky or even "gamey" while other commanders may be more miserly. Again, ordinarily, we could assume such differences would be controlled for by random assignment BUT to ADEQUATELY (sp?) control for such factors would require an extremely high sample size Thirdly, statistical analysis of qualitative data can be a very tricky, reitierative process (usng programs such as NUDIST)- unless we just reduce the data to categorical variables in which simple MANOVA's or logistic regressions (ala SPSS)could be used. However, again we would have consider whether or not we are missing fine distinctions in the qualitative data. There are more points, but you get the idea. Overall, I LOVE your idea , but it would require very careful attention to the design. If you want any help, and if you are interested in continuing the project, let me know. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Nikib: girlfriend/partner (who is expensive), cat (who is bloody expensive), and a horse (who is really really really expensive)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> To quote my country's Great Moral Authority, i.e. Bill Clinton: "I feel your pain." Horses are EXTREMELY painful! But at least I get to play more CM while she's out riding. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

It certainly does add to the enjoyment! I'll just chalk the squinting up to my advanced age of 32 years Seriously though, I for one, am very grateful to you for your efforts. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

32 y-old, married-6 years, soon to be Psychology Ph.D. No kids. 2 Cats and 1 Horse. One cat is mine the other 2 animals are my wives. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Again, thanks very much for for all of your effort with this work. The "+" on the unit infomation section is much easier to understand. As too, is the opening screen and your other changes. Just one suggestion though (yeah, I know... suggestions are like a--holes, everybody got one). The main battle selection screen(which you changed from red to tan), is still somewhat difficult to read and is a little hard on the eyes-I'm beginning to think it may be due to the samll font, or perhaps it's just due to my old age. Anyway, thanks so much for the overhall (and for the mod in the 1st place)! ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I'm more than happy to aksed for my opinion on this matter and then told by Steve and Charles how it is going to be. They have shown great leadership and have made some very good decisions in the past.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Here, here! Harumph, harumph!! (i.e. in hearty agreement with above sentiment) ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Parasite, [iron Chef Theme] If memory serves me right...... That picture of the explosion had the turrent added it for graphical effect (and I guess it works). Flying turrents are not (yet) part of the game, but I could be wrong.[/iron Chef Theme] ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>and move a phone next to the computer and practice saying "Mmmm hmmm, really? You don't say." over the din of battle before calling your parents.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I agree with Pham's suggestions, they may be your only hope. But I prefer to hook-up and EARPIECE to the computer, thus when the phone rings the callers don't even hear the battle sounds. It heightens the the notion that you really care about them. Works when my wife calls me from another room too! ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

My head is swimming with all of the suggestions. My $.02 1) Keep the purchase cost and victory points the same. Incremental purchase costs can lead to ahistorical results (as noted above). And increased victory points for jeeps, trucks, etc. may, in rare cases, lead to people buying those units and keeping them in the rear SOLEY for a vistory point bonus. Simply stated, people will always find away around the system. Now I nothing of coding and advanced algorithyms, nor do I know if this has been discussed before, but what is your collective opinion of the following sugestion(s). 1) Keep/enact the off road rules. 2) Make the units themselves less likely to perform well and endure fire while out of contact. Have an INCREASED specific unit morale penality (for the Jeep, truck etc.) if a transport "loses contact" with any friendly unit. "Oh,oh..I'm all alone". Increase the liklihood that the units themselves want to head home. So, you can order them over on the other side, but ON THEIR OWN they are significantly more likley to break, much more likely to retun to their own lines, and take longer to get back into acceptable morale status. If a person REALLY wanted to do a "gamey" recon they could load an HQ unit in a transport of some kind and send that over. Akin to having an officer standing over your shoulder (i.e. "G-damm-it-all, soldier I told you to drive over that hill, I want to get a look at the defenses". Let "gamey" recon-folk put a tansport AND HQ unit at risk of getting shot up. Increase the risks and lower the liklihood that the techniques is used. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

"I gots [sic] to know." Bank robber- Dirty Harry "A man's got know his limitations" Eastwood- Magnum Force SULLIVAN: My is he always so gloomy? BUTLER: He...he reads books, sir. SULLIVAN: Ohhhhh.... Sullivan's Travel's "You've got the brain of a 4 year-old boy, and I'll bet he was glad to get rid of it!" Groucho Marx- I forget the specific movie "Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. " Marx- Duck Soup "Another Tangurey & Tab honey, and keep 'em comming" Bill Murray- Kingpin "Sorry, Sorry..." Graham Chapman (playing the British Colonel)- And Now for Something Completely Different And my all time favorite... Also from Monty Python, discussing a joke so powerful that soldiers used it as a weapon in WWII battles. "..It was 10 times more powerful than Britian's great pre-war joke." [cut to picture of Neville Chamberlin holding up peace acord with Hitler] ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

I agree with 109 Gustav, recombine if possible...maybe your recon squad can draw some of enemey within CLOSE range of your supporting squads. If my recon squad is far enough ahead of the enemy (i.e. not directly in severe physical danger)I'll sometimes hide my supporting squads until the enemy is in better range/terrain, before I open up ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

WOW!! Great job! I love the status buttons (routed, etc.) Did I mention ...WOW! Thanks for doing this, and esp. thanks for sharing it with us. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I wanna know about the multiplayer now. I probably wont buy it if it doesnt have internet or LAN play. Someone enlight me about the multiplayer stuff it has on it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I understand your concern about LAN and/or internet play (although PBEM is done over the internet ). Personally, I also enjoy fast-paced games such as Unreal Tournament or Team Fortress for a quick and mindless adrenaline fix. Please, no flames! But trust me, CM has a completely different type of excitment that's just as thrilling as fast-paced LAN games! The planning stage does take awhile-if you want to develop a good plan. There is a "luxuriousness"-for lack of a better word to refining your strategy, going over the ground, deciding on formations, etc.. You really give your all of your reasoning skills a work out. But afterwards during the execution/playback stage there is a helpless feeling which comes from having to sit back and watch to see whether or not your plans and your troops carry things out. For me this is edge-of-the-seat excitement, almost like a baseball game - no matter how smart your managing decisions are it the end it up to the execution of your players. Additionally, as I watch the replay from various angles I am often amazed at the little things I see, friendly fire, damage from ricocheting shells, etc. These "small" discoveries will impress you with just how much consideration went into making the game. So in a nutshell...I understand your desire for LAN/intenet play. However, THIS game is so good, you may not(IMHO should not)have LAN/internet component be the PRIMARY criterion by which you decide to purchase the game. Just my 2 cents..... ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

As a newbie, I too (like Jaded)have never mixed nationalities in force selection. However, I am worried about becomming an unintentional cherry picker(CPer). So far, I have relied on Fionn's 75/76 rules posted in the PBEM section of Jagdcarcajou's Cm Recon site (http://members.home.net/jagdcarcajou/). BTW--A big personal thanks to both of them. To a neophyte like me, the guidelines seem like a good way to reduce the chance I become an unintentional CPer. But I have a few questions, I hope that those of you with more knowledge can address for me. 1)How do those 75/76 standards appear to all of you? Do they seem both reasonable and realistic? Can I safely assume that by following such guidelines my CPer liklihood will be reduced? 2)Have any of you (newbies to grognards) referenced those specific guidelines in your force selection? If so, how did such limits affect your gameplay experience? Were games more enjoyable and/or balanced when both players followed the guidelines? ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Hey Dave, I've been playing CM with the new faces for a day now, and I've got to say they're great. The shading on the lower face IMHO gives the soldiers a "tired and unshaved" type of look that I would expect many GI's really had. Is this my imagination or did you intend to go for that look. Fine work!...and thanks again. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Count me in too! ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

These days it's rare you get your moneys worth. [God, I sound like Pepridge Farm comerical]. But I can HONESTLY say this is the best value I have gotten in years of buying wargames. Actually, it probably is the best value I have EVER got. Buy it now! ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

I agree with Mace, the Operational Art of War is a good operational/strategy game. No "fast action" and a bit heavy on micromanging supplies, but I enjoyed the way political events could shape the battlefield resources/goals and the engine was easy to use in terms of representing battles across different wars (Balkans war ala 1910 or so,WWI, WWII, Korean, etc.). Ok...now to date myself...I also enjoyed the V for Victory series when it first came out... I don't really know if it would "hold up" now. I suspect it wouldn't ...especially in light of CM. Sorry, I just had to get that in ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>They is 2 ways to avoid assimialtion. 1 if the individual has the willpower to stop the assimilation. 2 if you belong to an elite group known as JEDI yes the force can save you. So far I am one of the very few new member to show these traits. A few of my friends have started I group known as the CM BORG killers (Gen.Shatter, Col. Stretch, Cap. Appy, 1st LT Cage, 2nd Lt Puffy).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> How much can a Borg "pelt" fetch on the open market? ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

They look great. I'm downloading them now and I can't wait to try them. Again, thanks so much for you dedicated work. It's persons like you who help to keep this fabulous game fresh almost each and every time I play. Kudos. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

You are a sound monster! Many thanks! They sound great, esp. the panther/heavy tank movement. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Just booked you page. The PBEM Guide is invaluable to a newbie like me. Thanks for your efforts. BTW Don't strain yourself with that 20 minutes per day. Make sure you use at least 10 minutes of that 20 for a lunch break. ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Never under-estimate the power of a Loompa You wouldn't believe what we *really* put into those bars! ------------------ "Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal" Dwight D. Eisenhower

Great work! I agree with the abovementioned points, tone down the eyes and shading a bit (esp. in the bottom row). No. 3 from the left in middle row looks "perfect". But ALL are a REAL improvement over the old faces. Thanks for your hard work and keep at it.