BloodyBucket

Good points. However, let me say that because I don't like playing the French doesn't mean I don't respect or like the French. I just don't get the point since it means just a restricted set of American gear with different wav files for the voices. Now if they had something special to bring to the plate in the way of weapons or vehicles, it would be different. At least the Canadians have some native gear.

They are also great for the smokescreen that never goes away or just denying terrain to all concerned, although this sort of thing is best discussed with your opponent ahead of time, lest the cry of "Gamey Tactics!" be heard. Off topic, but doesn't a little teeny part of you wish that when a flame team bought it there was a chance that they would explode? I know , but it would be fun :eek: !

Gyrene, you have touched an old Master Sergeant's black heart. I have never seen the Coffee Cup Creed rendered so movingly. The Marine's Hymn plays softly in the background. In my mind's eye, platoons of lifers long gone proudly form up at the heavenly perculator for that last cup of joe before the everlasting retirement. I can't go on, I am weeping...(SOB!) [ 04-29-2001: Message edited by: BloodyBucket ]

One of the hidden virtues of a flamethrower team is the fact that they draw fire like a freaking magnet. This takes the heat off your other units in a close assault situation (no pun intended). I look on them in the attack like a lottery ticket. I try not to count on them but when it pays off it is spectacular. The aforementioned threads and the advice given in this thread are spot on for using flame teams. Good luck.

Said with feeling by Gyrene: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Giving blood samples was the most dreaded thing I regularly had to do in the military <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> LOL! I remember one nasty Corpswave digging in my arm like an epileptic with a knitting needle. When I had the temerity to question her technique, she asked me if I knew what "Marine" stood for. When I said no, she stuck me again and said, "Muscles Are Required Intelligence Not Essential".

I like the PIATS, but the 2" mortars leave me cold. They just don't seem to have the umph! of the American 60mm. Any German squad based around the LMG seems a good one.

Yep, that is what I was asking. I have no logical reason for not playing the French. On the other hand, my knowledge of British tanks and vehicles is limited, and I am lazy so I am missing out on the Brits through my own ignorance. I am sure from reading other posts that the Brits have some interesting gear to play with, but I look at an Archer or a Cromwell and since I know little about them, I have a tendency to stick with stuff I know. Perhaps a good book could cure this. Since I have read a fair bit on Market-Garden, I am more comfortable with the British airborne forces.

Kewl!

originally posted by the esteemed Michael Emrys: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>ROFLMAO!!!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hey, I just make this up as I go along. So, Schugger, one vote against the SS. Just a political thing, or is there something within the game that you don't like about them? Why the British army?

Gyrene said: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Michael, when I was a Pvt. or PFC I could have sworn that Staff NCO's (E-6 and up in the Gun Club) were issued coffee cups with their first rocker stripe! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Do not make fun of sacred traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Did you know that Dan Daly would never have been able to say "You! Do you want to live forever!" had he not just wet his parched whistle with a cup of hot joe? John Quick, Lou Diamond, in fact all of the legendary enlisted leaders of our proud Corps were able to perform the heroic deeds that made them immortal because they had a cup of coffee first. As I write these lines, a tear comes to my old eyes, as I reflect back on the creed I learned as a young Staff Sergeant, so long ago... "This is my coffee cup. There are many like it, but this one is mine..."

Ok, I should have said: Any other weird preferences out there? As in nationalities that you can't stand to play in CM? Those who can't spell must take thier lumps.

Is there a nationality or subdivision of a nationality that you can't stand in CM? I know that if I do a QB and get the French, the urge to do-over is very strong. I have nothing against the French, but if I am going to get US stuff than I want US troops using it. Oddly enough, I like playing the Poles. Any other wierd preferences out there?

The difference is easily explained by the slight difference in imperial millimeters and decimal millimeters. The British Imperial Millimeter is 1/76th larger than the standard decimal millimeter, so BTS just used the decimal millimeter to express the diameter of the modified 17 pounder gun on the Comet. Another little known fact is the Brits used the cost of their ordnance when naming it. Thus, the 17 pounder costs 17 pounds to manufacture. I hope this clears things up.

I heard a story about an interview with a crusty old Finnish veteran of the Winter War. The interviewer is a young blow dry hair yuppie journalist: Journalist: "Did you get in any firefights?" Finnish Vet: "Yes, many." J: "Did you kill any Russians?" FV: "Yes, quite a few." J: "Was it hard to kill other men?" FV: (Thinks a moment) "Yes, quite hard. They hide, they zig-zag, very difficult to hit." So this reluctance to kill is not a universal thing.

It is a good read. The real interesting part for me was his discussion of the first person shooter as the ideal way to get people to kill. Makes sense as training: Endless reps, instant gratification, and realism that earlier military trainers could only dream about. Kind of scares me.

Outstanding! Of course, I am happy for deanco, but I am also happy for me. I selfishly want the best interface available, and now I know I will get it. Congrats, it is a well deserved honor.

The flowers are a nice touch. I like them. Some might prefer walls spattered with scorch marks, gore and gobs of flesh, but I like the flowers. BTW, it's a fine looking building. My hat is off to you modders.

M. Dorosh asked: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>How many years to an idiot stripe <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> The idiot stripe/hashmark/service stripe represents four years, at least to the Marine Corps. I understand that the US army bestows one every two years, and a different shaped one for four. My knowledge of army uniform regs is shaky at best. It would be interesting to have a peacetime service game called "Noncombat Mission: Beyond Tedium". I could comment on the realities of that simulation. [ 04-28-2001: Message edited by: BloodyBucket ]

I guess it all depends on your definition of veteran. I am coming up on my fifth idiot stripe on my sleeve and I don't consider myself a veteran, I have not been in combat. My father had one-tenth the time in the military I have and is ten thousand times more qualified as a veteran. I have shown him the game, and he interested to a degree, but he is over eighty and the conversation goes like this: "Those guys are too bunched up. They'll be dead in a minute." "Pop, it is just a graphic representing 12 men in a 20 meter square area, it's not 3 men marching shoulder to shoulder." "They are too bunched up and they are standing up straight. If you stand up like that your head will get blown off. They better start crawling. Anybody that stupid would be dead in a minute. Did I tell you about the professor who was a private in my squad who apologized to me for getting shot? I told him to get down and he didn't, and when he got hit he was very apologetic. Bastard got hit in the leg, I wanted to be him...." So my thoughts on the game along this line are that I am very grateful it gets the old man to tell a few stories. He thinks it is silly and unrealistic, but he always watches, comments and sometimes I get to hear something I haven't before. He never talked about the war until he was very old.

originally uttered by Head Mahone: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I don't see nothin' wrong with Redmow's signature. And anybody who does is a dorky bottle capped little bastard who doesn't have anything better to do. In fact it's YOU who are causing so much attention about the thing that you claim you dislike! To complain about someone’s signature on a freakin war game message board shows just how much of a stupid wanker you really are! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Head, you are going to have to learn how to release your emotions by expressing yourself openly. I am afraid that covering up your true feelings like that will eventually lead to deeper issues, and you might even end up living in Louisiana.

I am starting to think my electronic toy soldiers deserve a medal for putting up with this thread.

Anyone who knows what VoT means is suspect. Also, someone who runs a Stuart at top speed towards certain death just to see how far it will go after being killed with various types of weapons needs help.

originally posted by Abbott: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Hey, if a war between the USA and Aus. broke out, who do you think would win? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> The BTS Moderator, of course.

You mean this is an international forum? I didn't know that people outside the USA had the internet. Did we lend-lease it? Seriously, that is a good point. It is only polite to consider the other blokes point of view when you are in public. I consider this to be a public conversation, and if I am proud of my country it only stands to reason that other folks are just as fond of their own piece of the planet, and we should speak with this in mind.

I wouldn't go that far. I do think that one of the big challenges to any commander is dealing with the less than ideal subordinate commanders he has. I have heard of units having two sets of leaders, one for frontline duty and another for garrison. Seems to just happen without any formal guidance.