Monte99

I just finished playing it as the Germans, with the goal of getting as many units as possible into Bastogne. Instead of engaging the Americans (except for a couple of skirmishes early on), I just slipped to the north and out the western edge. Boring, of course, but I wanted to see what the score would be. To up the ante, I also decided to hold on to the northern VL witha a few SMG squads and a flamethrower until the scenario ended. The result: minor axis victory. Damn. I guess I was hoping for a little more gratitude from Der Fuhrer. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Guy w/gun: Im often startled by the boasts people make on this board...if the things that they say they can do in CM are true, I must really suck! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I apologize if my remark came across as a boast. In fact, I've often been handed my own ass while using methods that had proven successful against the AI. Germanboy's observation about "defense in depth" is precisely what I was thinking of. Good human players seem a little less tolerant of letting enemy armor get behind them. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Can't say more than what's been said, except to add that the game is remarkably stable runs quite well on low- to mid-range systems. The interface is fast and elegant. This is definitely one of those games people will be referring to fondly for years to come. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dr. Buhl: Thank for the replies!! I love the game but I guess it is impossible to avoid gamey tactics. I have played ASL and I am a sucker for historical correctness Dr. Buhl<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I encourage you to try a moderately intelligent PBEM opponent. The "gamey" moves that you have described will generally result in your ass being handed to you... ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ChuckMan: can a Squad or any unit get so out of range from Its command and control after movement or action that it can wander off on its own and be lost in action? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> A panicked or routed unit will be beyond your control, but simply being out of command will result only in the unit taking longer to respond to orders. Far as I know, range from the HQ is not a factor. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mikhael: Man! You guys were lucky Not only do I live in Montana (a bajillion miles from Caroline or wherever BTS is located.. maybe it's Maine, can't remember) but it was during the horrendous midwest snowstorms that my little package had to cross right through so it took me a week and a half from BTS confirmation for me to get it!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hail Mikhael! Whereabouts in Montana? I am a native of that fine state (Missoula), but I find myself in Pennsylvania at the moment, pursuing fortune if not fame. But to stay on topic: I got my copy of CM in 4 days. I think BTS is pretty diligent about prompt shipping. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Doug Beman: re-fighting historical battles as a tactical study is (so I've read and been told) commonplace in military training. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> This is true, and the military should use whatever works, commercial computer games included. The thing about military training though, is that it's supplemented by a large measure of real-world experience with variables that cannot (so far) be modeled in any game. Chief among these is the possibility of getting personally killed or maimed. For most of us, games like CM are as close as we're going to get to a real battlefield. My point is that while we can learn a lot about tactics this way, we should accept that the expertise we gain applies primarily to the game. I'm OK with that; Mr. Trotter may have other ideas. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote [This message has been edited by Monte99 (edited 12-27-2000).]

Thanks; guess it's time to get it then.

Still playing 1.05 here. Just wondering: Are there good reasons for NOT using the latest beta? Or should all good CM players stay as up to date as possible? ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Seems to me the best way to encourage brilliant repartee here is just to leave a complimentary post when somebody adds something particularly clever. The idea of an actual award is harmless enough, I guess. But it strikes me as just a teeny bit sophomoric. IMHO, of course. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Just finished "Fear in the Fog" for the first time, with a total allied victory of 89 to 11. I was feeling pretty proud of myself until I looked at the map and noticed that the northern victory flag had been captured and was heavily defended by fresh German units -- including a flamethrower! When the game ended I was on my way to recapture the location with a Sherman and a couple of shot-up squads. One more turn and they all would have been toast, since I had no idea that sort of opposition remained. In short, the victory was quite a bit less than total, lopsided score notwithstanding. Anyway, I love that scenario. Think I'll try it as the Germans next time... ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Silver Fox: Gentlemen,it is ONLY A GAME!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> It's a tribute to BTS that such reminders keep recurring on this board. Only a game, yes -- but it takes a truly great game to generate this level of discussion. This is the best game I've played in years. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris Merchant: All the reviews I read of ME said that it runs 3d games about the same or slower than 98 SE, but takes up heaps of extra HD space.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Lets see: the possibility of slower performance and the certainty of less HD space. I'm damned if I can figure out what the advantage is in going to ME. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

I don't think it's wise to write off ANY force, even split squads, as a cost of finding out where the enemy is. In this game you already know roughly where he is: in the direction of the victory flags. You also have an absolutely reliable map and a pretty good idea of his firepower. This is before you ever make your first move. Casualties are inevitable, but for me it's important to minimize them. I don't like giving the enemy a free shot at anything. The best way to advance is to make sure every element has a modicum of cover and/or covering fire. Sneaking around a lot before the main engagement is, for me, generally a waste of time and assets. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote [This message has been edited by Monte99 (edited 12-26-2000).]

Hmmm. You can mount an HMG on a Puma? This is news to me. I'll have to try it. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

I've NEVER been able to get a flamethrower anywhere near the enemy. Maybe I haven't been trying hard enough. The damned things draw fire like an eight-point buck on opening day. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

I had to play it twice to achieve a total American victory -- which I acknowledge is cheating. It seemed fairly challenging both times, though. I've not played the German side. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Well, one nice thing about occupying the victory locations ASAP: Sooner or later the enemy has to come to you, and this makes him much more predictable. The downside, of course, is riding out the ensuing artillery barrage. So much depends on what sort of force you have, and what sort of force you're facing. The beauty of this game is that no single strategy works all the time. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

There's probably the only one thing more tiresome than the windy grognards who immerse themselves in the arcana of war, and that's the querulous old veterans who attack anyone who presumes to comment on anything of a military nature. Military service earns one a certain level of respect, but it does not confer a monopoly on historical knowledge. That said, as a combat simulator, Combat Mission is a pretty good game. Trying to link any game in any way to the blood and chaos of real combat is just absurd. The best discussions on this board are about how the game, Combat Mission, is played. When we rely on game experiences to draw conclusions about real warfare, we risk looking like fools. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pvt.Tom: Get a couple Panthers or a bunch of Mark IVs? The last game I played the 76 Shermans had no trouble killing my Panthers so I thought maybe it would have been better to get Mark IVs since I can get more of them. Thanks Pvt.Tom<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'd stick with the Panthers; just keep 'em back so you can engage the Shermans at the longest range possible. That way your Dad's armor will be at a serious disadvantage. And make sure to keep all those Shermans in front of you You don't want to get stuck having to traverse the turret back and forth. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Just looked at the the illustrated infantry tutorial by Todd Justice: a great refresher course on attack fundamentals. Highly recommended. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chrisl: Now that I've given away the secrets, GB and Cuppajava are going to track me down and kill me. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Well, I hope they make it a merciful death, because I really appreciated that tip. For some reason I had been laboring under the assumption that mortars couldn't fire from the woods. Thx for clearing it up. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Call me a cynic, but I have a feeling the game's reach will far exceed its grasp. Even an ingenious design can be quickly undone by the sort of rabble that massively multiplayer games attract. That said, I'll probably be part of that rabble when (and if) the game debuts. But I'd probably stick to the aircraft... ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

Yep. Even the playing same missions can be interesting. I played Aachen about eight times and got a different result each time. Then too, you can always give the enemy an edge if you're feeling cocky. ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Iskander: A better tutorial in the manual AND 1-3 more tutorial scenarios (perhaps via download to save CD space) on basic tactics (advance, defence, armor, infantry) would help the newbie. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> It would help the not-so-newbie too. I would have appreciated a nice hands-on lesson about the proper use of mortars and artillery in the game. (of course, I GOT a nice hands-on lesson, several of them, courtesy of the AI. But you know what I mean.) Not that I'm complaining. I love this game and am seriously considering a comitted, long-term relationship. Just last night I stayed up past 3 a.m. achieving a total victory in "Move It or Lose It" -- what a great scenario when you play it the first time! ------------------ "Arms are my ornaments, warfare my repose." - Don Quixote