Jasper

Ditto the "I wish my dad would do that". While you're learning tactics - learn the man as well. Similar to what Jackal said. Deception is an integral part of warfare - Can you outsmart him? Feints? Have some fun. Let the first three turns pass and show him nothing - will he come looking for you? Load up all your forces on one side or the other and storm a small area. If he defends something that you never attack, then those forces might as well not exist.

Shadow 1st Hussars: I'm interested in your operation. While I'm not in a position to do anything about it. (Honey, is that the doorbell!? No?) Is it something that you feel comfortable sharing once I get it?

The lack of trenches is fatal. Sorry for my ignorance. Waiting for Mr. Postman to bring me my recently purchased copy. Santa Clause failed me.

Boy am *I* off the beaten track. This is what I was/am expecting from CM2. (1) That CM2 would span the years from ~1941 - ~1945. As such there would need to be a calendar to determine things like equipment availability (and cost). A new piece of equipment - like a Panther tank would be very expensive, but the cost would fall after it's been around awhile. There would need to be a changing morale scheme for both sides. Example: 1941 - German High - Russian Low (surrender easy) 1942 - German High - Russian Low but they stopped surrendering as a rule. 1943 - German Moderate - Russian Moderate 1944 - German mid moderate - Russian High etc etc The Germans would probably always have the 'no surrender' option in place. The German players will probably whine about the Russians not surrendering, but maybe had the Germans taken more *live* prisoners in 1941 then it may have been avoided. As having angry customers is not what anyone wants - then there may be an option to turn off the 'East Front' morale and replace it with a 'West Front' morale scheme. Bogus? Sure, it's only a game. It'll be interesting to see if the use of captured equipment is implemented. Currently the scheme is to not allow the same equipment on both sides. Since the makeup and quality of infantry changed over time then there'll need to be something like 'Infantry 1941' and 'Infantry 1942' - perhaps some type of dynamic infantry model so that the values of infantry units will depend on what date it is.

Humm. Just an observation: The original question was: How does someone memorize the maximum amount of information in the shortest time? As regards WWII doctrine and tactics? If one does not enjoy the chase, then perhaps you've got the wrong hobby. One should not be in a hurry to be a Jedi Master of WWII doctrine and tactics. (Or whatever hobby you've chosen) Even if this could be achieved in a single lifetime - then what will you with yourself? - - - - - - - - - - - - Because this is a gaming board the search for competitive edge is not far underneath. That's not what the original post was about, but the following posts seem to take on the tone. Why not I say? Ya know Capt. Jean Luc Picard once said "You can follow the rules and still lose." The AI follows all the rules of WWII doctrine and tactics that the programmers can stuff into it (and *maybe* just a wee bit more), but it can be defeated by mediocre players like myself with relative ease. You have to chose if you are willing to maintain your principles and lose, or throw "the book" overboard and slug it out. Don't slip in a FireFly into an American unit and then make a case how I use the map edge to my advantage! If you ask me the 'secret' to winning is with knowing, and defeating, the person sitting across from you. But since that's hard - I just try and find as many ways to lose as I can and avoid them in future. PS - I will give away an observation that I've found useful. It's knowing the future. I noticed that playing chess I can't beat anyone that has studied the game. I mean I know the doctrine and tactics of chess, and I still watch myself get stomped. It's because the person I'm playing against is thinking like 1 or more turns ahead of where I'm thinking. Same thing applies to wargames I've found. Many people play the map as it is now, not how it will look in a couple of minutes (turns).

http://www.thegrognards.com/

Ok - first the confession. I find WWII as interesting as any other war. There's it's out in the open. I saw one senario that talked about 'trench warfare' - but it didn't sound like it tried to simulate WWI. As I'm new to this CM crowd I was wondering if someone had already tried, and if there were any fatal flaws. Thanks.

Ya know - driving your M8 that close might not be a foolish as I first thought. The traverse time for the Tiger was very slow if I recall. Could an M8 drive around the Tiger faster than the turret could transverse?

I looking over the camo collection on this site a term wasn't clear to me. "shelter quarters" is that what us civilians would call a tent? Notice that I didn't say a word about adding some of those cool camo patterns to the graphics in CM?

Not if I was the tank commander. It'd be shoot tungsten until out. Then have engine trouble - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Drill instructor addressing class. "Ok you see this", he says holding up a photograph of a German tank. "It's on a hill 100 yards high and 750 yards away. Which ammo do you use?" The sound of pages being hurriedly turned over as cadets flip through their "Ammunition Selection Book". I cadet bruts out "APBC!" Instructor: "Wrong. This is a Mark IV Ausf D not F!" "APC" "Wrong - the evelation changes the angle of penetration." "APCNR?" "Yes, finally someone got it right. OK close your books and we'll try another one."

Let's see if I understand this. So an infantry units spots the enemy. Therfore you as a player see it. Then you zoom over to the tank - who doesn't see it. After writing a flame about infantry / armor communication, you then drive the tank so it can see it and blast it - or - you have the tank area fire (or fire blind) at the enemy. So the effect is because you the player can see if - then all of your units can see it. Unless you pretend that they don't. Can't you do that now - just pretend that unit A hasn't spotted something that unit B has? I do the same thing. I have problems with the "commander jet pack" syndrome, so I don't go flying behind the hill to see what I shouldn't see. (Works only the first time you play - then the discovery thrill is ruined forever) I don't suggest that the game need limit me. Personnally I got a unique gaming expirence playing CM - and I've played a lot of different games. I saw how different the same piece of terrain looks from two directions. Then playing that demo Chance Meeting (or whatever it's called) - I thought I knew the terrain pretty well after playing the Americans. Then when I switched sides, I found out just how many Germans there were (I couldn't really tell because my armor really chewed them up on the wooded hill) and how different the battle field looked. Thanks BTS!

. . . upgunned cardboard tank . . . Indeed! Look at the picture! A MkIV sunk a cruiser! Wonder if he used a tungsten round?

Let me see if I understand this stuff. Being more serious you either have to be self disciplined, or play a scenario? But while fooling around you can mix and match both British and American equipment. OK I can handle that. So where does it end? Can someone make like "Chickamauga '44" with Sherman's on both sides? Interesting bit of historical naming that isn't it? How about "Revolt in the Reich" with Panthers on both sides? Damn, now I'm counting the days. Four. Will Christmas *ever* arrive! - I can see it now. An American tank crew talks up to a British tank. The British tank crew is sipping hot tea. "Hi," the American tank commander says. "Cheers" "Yea look. We just found out that our 75mm gun can hurt a Panther unless we're suicidally close to it. Can we borrow your FireFly for a couple of days? We'll put a full tank of gas in it when we return it" Silence "No? How about a couple of chocolate bars? AND this month's issue of Life?"

All I got's the demo. Waiting for either Santa Clause or if that fails I'll find the checkbook. So what is the deal with British equipment? If you can buy the British 17lb AT gun - who would ever buy the crappy 57mm US widow maker?

Do they ever talk about ammunition types / ratios in there?

Something to think about: Select the year you want to fight in. The only effect would be to alter the list of available equipment to choose from. Then the grogs could fight in '42 while the flash-bangers could select "None chosen" and buy all the FireFly's that they want to. PS Can you buy the Brit 17lb AT gun as well or only the Brits tanks?

I've played the demo (Ok once) and done some reading. I have a question: Take a low hill with no cover. Behind this hill is some trees. On top of this hill is a rifle squad of mine that I never give orders to. In front of this hill is three enemey rifle squads supported by a tank. Will my rifle squad die to a man or will the survivors been driven into the trees?

Nice to see a friendly face! Where you always here? or did you wander in here after CC died. sniff! Me I'm wandering. I have a few questions about CM - in my next post.