Andrew H.

You can measure the distance using the "Target" command. I think it's probably about 1000 meters (so maybe not as far as it looks), and the Jagd IV has one of the most accurate guns in the war.

This has happened a lot to me, too. I think what's happening is that the loader is popping up to use his MG (even when buttoned). And then after he is killed, another crewman does the same. And he will also be killed. I've attached two saved games - note that I just started from a save and drove a StuG near enemy infantry because I was pretty sure they crew would be shot up, which happened. Here's a link to a saved game: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7259929/Battle%20for%20Chaumont%20-%20Second%20Round%20004.bts Note that the StuG began buttoned, the loader unbuttoned, was killed, closed the loader hatch...then another crewman opened it and was also killed. Here's another one - the StuG was unbuttoned when I started moving it, although by the beginning of this turn, the loader had unbuttoned: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7259929/Battle%20for%20Chaumont%20-%20Second%20Round%20002.bts This also seemed to happen with the Jagd IVs, although I didn't run new saves on them. The action is near Chaumont center. I'm on a Mac, if that matters.

I usually give them a blast command into the building/across the bocage, followed by a "quick" command back to the other side. I haven't suffered any casualties that way - but your way seems even safer.

So I noticed that the M1919A6 MG starts out semi-deployed. Is this new, or did I just not notice it before?

Yes. I think some people in West Texas are still waiting on CMAK.

Traditionally, BF releases a game at about 2 pm, when I'm at work and can't download it. They send a "secret" e-mail to people who have preordered, which is typically posted on the forums within 30 minutes. If work is slow that afternoon, I can read about people downloading it! By the time I get home, everyone knows and the download takes forever... I mean, it still beats the old days when we had to wait the 2-5 days for the CD to arrive in the mail from Maine and the forum was filled with people posting as it arrived. "It's in Ohio! It's still not in Texas!"

I suppose this is only tangentially related - but here is an interesting link about self-sealing fuel tanks...including an experiment you can perform at home:

It's not my favorite theater, but I think a CM North Africa could be interesting. But I do think you would need to play on very large maps to get the flavor right and to permit some common tactics like using trucks to transport AT guns so they can be deployed ahead of the advancing tanks. This would also simulate the "the attack can come from anywhere" feeling. Whether my computer can run those large maps is another question. I think that the game engine can already account for things like dust and heat haze.

First rule of Schwimmwagen is you don't talk about the Schwimmwagen.

I don't know whether there's a correlation or not, but since I probably bogged because I wasn't moving slowly when I should have been, switching to slow means that if my tank gets unbogged, it might not immediately bog again because I'm trying to quick move across the mudflat.

Finally! No more waiting for the pre-order! Just waiting for the order... Does anyone else always try the e-mail link right away to whether it might be live? Does anyone *not*?

Release. The. Monkeys.

In the QB selection screen, we currently have the ability to: (1) select certain specific options (weather type, troops, etc.); or (2) have completely random selections. I'd like the ability to select "random" but exclude certain options. For example, I'd like to be able to select random time of day, but exclude Night. Or random terrain, but exclude City. Or Random Axis but exclude Italian. Or Random Weather, but exclude heavy fog.

Just played "The Copse" - very cool little scenario!

Lead poisoning?

Getting off was probably a good idea. I'm just surprised that it happened so quickly. Was he even there a minute?

I am going to take this picture to a print shop, have it blown up to 24"x 36". Then I will transfer it to black velvet, frame it, and mount it over my fireplace in my living, relegating the current picture of dogs playing poker to the basement.

*snort* That's not what I've heard.

Obviously this means that the secret plan of surprising everyone by announcing CMGP (Guadalcanal to the Philippines) on Monday is still a go.

So close...you totally would have gotten that jeep if the tank hadn't been in the way. I guess those are the breaks. Better luck next time!

You are a true hero!

Can the T32 fire from muleback?

It's too bad he doesn't have a second Jagdtiger he could commit now ... that would *really* get inside Bil's head.

Make sure to keep your armor in line and not in column!

This has turned into a very interesting battle. And, actually, the infantry still might end up being a very important part of the attack. (Although infantry against Shermans typically don't fare well). I think Bil still has the better force; but he uncharacteristically: (1) maybe got a little overconfident after his initial success with the spoiling attack; and (2) slightly misjudged LOS on a couple of occasions. He's usually eerily accurate about judging LOS - possibly the weather conditions are making things a little harder to judge. And the LOS errors are particularly critical given the incredibly powerful Jagd (plus the standarly powerful Panthers) against Bil's thinly armored forces (esp. the Hellcats); he's not getting a lot of second chances. Still, probes are hard, the VLs are deep and scattered, and Bil still has a lot of armor.