[Will the player have any control over the size of the battles?]

I tend to prefer tiny to medium battles as opposed to large or huge battles.

In configuring CMC will it possible to control the scope of battles which the player will see?

If so, how would such an ability interface with the size of the maps such that they appropriate for the associated size of the forces?

Thanks.

[Will the CMC battles be any better than quick battles?]

Moon,

To be sure I understand you. The setup placement of individual AI units in the CMBB for an attack or defense will be determined by the CMC AI component and not CMBB's COMPUTER FREE TO PLACE units?

Thanks.

[Will the CMC battles be any better than quick battles?]

I've played CMBO/CMBB/CMAK. I only play single player and for the most part have stuck to user designed scenarios. I got the impression that the quality of game play (single player) for well crafted user designed scenarios was way ahead of quick battles.

My question: Will CMC simply use COMPUTER PLACEMENT FREE to set up units that is built into the CMBB engine or will it go beyond that and generate better quality battles than are normally found when one plays quick battles with free computer placement?

I appreciate the operational aspect of the game, but I would like know that the actual individual CMBB battles themselves will be worthy investments of playing time.

Thanks.

[Advantages of the "sneak" command....]

One problem I have with sneak is that you cannot go from hidden to sneak. As soon as you issue any movement command, troops will stop hiding and wait for the command delay. During this time, they will happily take pot shots at the enemy and reveal their position. I suppose you could give them a minimal covered arc, but I am concerned of about placing such restrictions upon troops on the move.

[Advantages of the "sneak" command....]

I have sometimes used sneak (and possible hide) to position troops in the open behind a wall. I am under the impression that when a unit is behind a wall on more or less level ground that sneaking or hidden troops cannot be seen.

[Is it time to discuss distribution and anti-piracy yet?]

I have been in many Starforce debates and don't want to waste time on another.

However, I would simply like to state that I have purchased 4 BTS games in the past and will most likely buy more in the future. However, I will not buy any product of any genre of any stellar quality of any publisher if it includes Starforce. I would rather play CMBO until 2020, then to deploy Starforce on to one of my systems as both a matter of practice and of principles.

[A big "thank you" to Adm. Keth]

Keith,

I want to also say thank you for all that your site had done to increase my CM enjoyment.

I have to admit to being one of those who used your site for years, but never posted reviews (because a combination of laziness and belief that my opinions were less educated than many other CM players). I personally regret the loss of such a wonderful repository, your loss of hours/passion invested, and possibly the loss of some scenario/operations/maps/reviews gone forever.

Although it may be gone, it was a true gem while it lasted. Thanks so much!

[CMBO Fire & Maneuver Scenario now available for CMAK]

I just finished playing (and emailed my results to Bil). Too embarassing to post them for the general public.

So, are you saying that gun spotting got easier in CMBB/CMAK versus CMBO. I thought EFOW made spotting harder than CMBO?

For the left and right ATGs at the start, I only had sound contacts to them, but I dispensed them with off map arty. The center ATG I ID'ed and took it out with an on map mortar.

But the P51D and the M10s really messed me up.

[Hiding vehicles and crew recovery?]

Hiding infantry units speeds their morale recovery.

Does hiding AFVs have a similar impact on shaken crews?

Thanks.

[CMBO Fire & Maneuver Scenario now available for CMAK]

Hey Bil,

Forgive me, but I think I'll ignore following up on the updates to this thread until I played the scenario. Too difficult keeping my eyes off the spoilers!

[CMBO Fire & Maneuver Scenario now available for CMAK]

I downloaded it. Maybe I'll have some time this weekend.

Oddly enough, I checked my notes (I keep track of scenarios I played in various games) and I never played this in CMBO. Not that I would remember much about it a few years later anyway.

Thanks.

[Jason's Book(s)]

I don't post here often ...

I suspect JasonC reads most of the posts on this board ... so, here goes ...

Jason,

I have been reading your posts for years on and off. I have found them tremedously educational, helpful in terms of game play, well written, thought provoking, and generally good reads ...

You could write one h_ll of a strategy guide for the CM series either as a free venture for download or a venture for profit. Much of it could be derived from work which you have already done ... You have contributed much to this hobby and a separate strategy guide would greatly leverage your contribution beyond the forum posts which tend to get lost over time. Of course, there would be many who will find your conclusions and recommendations controversial, but, in any case, it would be well worth the time for most hobbyists to read.

Thanks for your sharing over the years. If not for you, I might have never even been able to embrace the CM series.

[Two questions after reading SIMHQ's review]

Martin,

You might want to add those two items to a pre-release FAQ.

(1) Cat's review basically says, "superb product, but you are going to have to work very hard around the language issues if you don't read Russian".

(2) The review also very clearly mentions Starforce and there is a large segment of the gaming community that holds that technology in very low regard.

[Two questions after reading SIMHQ's review]

I read Cat's review of the Russian version on SIMHQ.

Two questions come to mind:

(1) Will the product be fully localized for the English speaking market? Meaning:

(a) Game screens in English?

( Game documentation in English?

© Game voice feedback in English?

(2) Will the game be deployed with Starforce? (I won't go into the whole debate about this particular form of copy protection other than to say this: Battle Front has clearly distinguished themselves as being a very customer oriented company and I would be surprised if they were to adopt such an invasive and customer hostile form of copy protection.)

Thanks.

[CMAK 1.03 Install & Mods?]

Does the CMAK 1.03 patch change any BMP or WAV files? Can I install it directly over my modded CMAK or do I need a fresh install and then have to reapply my mods?

Thanks.

[CMAK, CMBB, CMBO: Anthology of Useful Posts II]

Yes, but it is incomplete. Many of the original posts that I had selected for inclusion were in fact multi-page. When that work was done that you linked to, only the first page of the post was included.

Sorry.

[AI's use of indirect spotting for mortars, proximity direct fire, and area fire?]

Three questions:

(1) Does the AI use HQ's to spot for mortars? I get the impression that the AI only uses mortars in a direct fire role?

(2) Does the AI use proximity fire/blast effect to neutralize guns? I get the impression that the AI will not hammer a gun position from slighting outside of LOS.

(3) While on this topic, does the AI ever use area fire supress or neutralize lost contacts? I get the impression it only fires at solid contacts.

Thanks.

[Cover for AFVs and airstrikes?]

Does anyone know the answer to the original question? Thanks.

[Cover for AFVs and airstrikes?]

No, air support will not create any contact markers. If you get a contact marker, than someone on the ground had the contact.

Yes, air support can be quite inaccurrate at times; especially if your troops are on the same vector as the bomb drop.

MG fire against enemy tanks would not be totally useless. It would keep them buttoned and make them less likely to spot another tank, tank destroyer, or anti-tank gun.

[Cover for AFVs and airstrikes?]

You the player sees everything every ground unit on your side sees, but not air unit. However, when you see your air support shooting at something or dropping bombs in a certain area of the map, it is reasonable to infer that there are some hostiles there.

[Cover for AFVs and airstrikes?]

Does having your AFV and/or infantry units in scattered trees/woods provide any degree of concealment from airstrikes in the CMBB/CMAK?

Thanks.

[explanation of units?]

It seems that it's been almost two years, since I have played CMBO as I have been playing mainly CMBB and some CMAK.

Generally, you will use tanks and trucks to move slow moving units through areas which you believe are safe to save time. For the most part, you don't know where safe areas are until some time has gone by. So, you are most likely to have an opportunity to do this later in a scenario when reinforcements (tanks and infantry) are arriving or you have held trucks out of sight and you want to move forward some reserves.

In this scenario, all units were dismounted before things went hot.

You generally you want to keep HQ units out of the shooting, but in command range. You accomplish this by moving them forward with their platoons, but keeping the squads out front. When you hide HQs in cover, they pretty much dissappear and their risk from direct enemy fire goes way down.

In CMBB/CMAK hiding HQs reduces their spotting abilities (they are better spotters than infantry, since they have binoculars). Instead you can simulate hiding, by giving them a covered arc out to 10 meters. This keeps them from firing at things and so they remain fairly hidden and don't draw enemy fire. With clear conditions and good LOS, they provide additional help by being your eyes on the battlefield.

[explanation of units?]

Gollum,

Try this tutorial which I did for the basics:

http://www.battlefront.com/cgi-bin/bbs/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=001377

[CMAK Graphic Bug?]

Well, I only reported this, since it does appear to be a true bug and I thought the developers would like to know. I wasn't insisting that it be fixed. That's up to BTS; I'll keep playing CMAK either way.

Turning off roofs can be a very quick way to differentiate light from heavy buildings in a BUA environment. They have different floor patterns. It's more convenient than having to drag a LOS line over everything.

[CMAK Graphic Bug?]

Maybe it's the flat roof model of the desert buildings?

I suppose I could play around the scenario editor, but I have to go make dinner now.

Later.