Barrett's Privateer

Awesome. A fantastically chosen piece. Evocative of the original, but not derivative. I've read in the manual that Daniel Sadowsky is credited with music. Does that mean he was the person who choose/edited/engineered the music? Who was the composer? Is he notable? I only dabble in classical styles and can hardly tell Baroque from standard parade marches! LOL But I know what I like, and this *one* got my heart beating!

Hi, nothing to add here. Just had wanted to see my join date. And to add to the ambient smell of ben gay.

The flipside of having a limited target audience. CMBO to CMBB; Those who like it more are less. Those who like it less are more. [ October 20, 2002, 01:12 AM: Message edited by: Barrett's Privateer ]

Sounds interesting! I look forward to your getting them hosted and posted.

jagcommander, Generation gap? I suspect you've assigned me an age based upon my Tragically Hip reference. Regardless, as Elvis has recently proven, the appreciation of quality music can be independant of generation or age. Since you're a lawyer, I'll try to explain my position using logical syllogism. The validity of the Beetles analogy you used is logically independant of the validity of my Tragically Hip analogy. As BOTH arguments are mutually exclusive, the possible truth of your Beetles argument does not automatically entail the falseness of mine. An exception does not disprove the possibility, only an absolute. But, as your Beetles argument _IS_ phrased as an absolute and my argument is an exception to it, it then neccessarily false. There. The terms and definitions may not be perfect (I sucked at the only Basic Logic course I took), but I'm reasonibly sure that the core logic is accurate.

Wow. Am I the only one who scatches his head reading some of these posts? jagcommander, If you had missed my point any further, you would have had to answer in Swahili to have made less sense. [ October 08, 2002, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: Barrett's Privateer ]

Ekk. No offence but it seems to me that if you took a PBEM game with THOSE conditions, he already gave you a 'real' setup and you took the bait. I don't think Lee-Di waited around long for an opponent. He didn't strike me as the patient type. What a silly challenge. Personally, I've found that some of the best players are often the MOST critical of their own skill. They downplay every win and enthusistically learn from every defeat. They are ALWAYS improving, the more times you play them, the deadlier they become. Each win against them is harder to earn. They never fall for the same trick twice. Eventually, you have to continually improve just to keep up.

I played the BB demo for a couple of days but found it's game play style gave me a whopper of a headache. Granted. it may very well be far more 'realistic'. Three days of fighting on the Russian front and I was ready to shot myself in the foot to go home. Now THAT'S a real combat experience! Seriously, the biggest changes in CMBB are in the area where I wouldn't have wanted them- gameplay engine. Conversely, the element of gameplay I would most like to see overhauled- AI Strat and Tactics, don't seem markedly improved in CMBB. Sure, things like ambush arc's look REAL nice- but NOT if they're paired with that CMBB play-style. [ October 07, 2002, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: Barrett's Privateer ]

I kinda wish BTS hadn't used the the prefix "Combat Mission" for both. BO and BB may 'look' the same but what's under the hood makes for a totally different ride. Some will like it, some don't. Either way, it's really not the same game and ideally one wouldn't subjectively reflect on the other. Sad though. It feel alot like when a favorite group (Tragically Hip for example) grows, and in doing so changes from the sound I love (New Orleans is sinking) to a new sound (Insert latest album) that I don't care for. Same parts, different experience. Hopefully in the end, the pleasue for people who really LOVE CMBB will balance out the disappointment of those who don't. Personally? I'm with Blu-ey. Make mine CMBO.

Lord General MB, Alberta is SO a part of Canada!!! They just have delusions of being part of Texas. My brother moved there a few years back to work as a long haul trucker. When he left he was normal. Last time I saw him, he grew a ten gallon hat and a belt buckle containing more iron than the Eiffel Tower. <sigh>

Is 'dood' the same as 'dude'? Great pics by the way!

Peter, You have a valid point. The concept of play balance is only partially defined by tactial applications and can be analysised completely independantly of 'realism' debates. That is, unless you're playing historical 'Alamo' scenarios where outcomes are virtually inevitable. In my mind, true play balance is by definition a contest in which matched players of ANY equal skill will have a 50-50% chance to win a game. My impression is that CMBB does not pass the above test. CMBB play appears biased in balance, being dependant on a VERY particular strategical approach that based upon playtester opinions is 'realistic'. Speaking of- Have any recognised experts in this area of military history been asked to endorse the game? Personally, I'd love to hear what even a general military historian (like John Keegan, Sandhurst) thinks. By the by to Spook- Nick Fury was given the infinity formula, similar to Captain America's super soldier formula which gives both longevity.

stug0099, For what it's worth - thanks. Honest, frank and nicely written post. Even if it's an unpopular opinion, it's nice to know it's shared with others for commonly held reasons.

Oh my... It's official: I'm now totally lost in this thread and have had several rather baffling comments directed to me that I honestly can't put in any logical context. Heck, I think a BTS administrator was addressing me on points I don't know I made! But I've learned tonnes--not the least is an alternate solution to the Gordian knot. Knowing to walking away, before it strangles you. Peace, out.

Outstanding posts guys! Really insightful and well-communicated viewpoints. Optimistically I had at best expected an angry 'no' in response, with optional assements of my intelligence and directions on where I should go to. The more I know about how everyones background/game-tastes etc. compare to mine the better I'll know how well CMBB fits me.

That's Ok, V. You have good comments, and grammer never counts with me. Ok guys I think I got it... 'too early, wait and see,' Thanks all. With luck, time will prove my first impression of the demo wrong and I'll hear the full version of CMBB will play as slick as it looks. The nickname 'Barrett's Privateer's' is from a very popular folk (ie- 'Drinking' song from my neck o' the woods. [ September 10, 2002, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Barrett's Privateer ]

Dirtweasle, Maybe I overstated my point. I'm not quite that desperate (yet)! My poverty is more 'of humble means' than improverished. Panzer Leader, I admit the new elements you mention REALLY appeal to me. But while you've listed some very good trees, the forest I've seen so far still didn't appeal to me. My biggest reservation is still the abstract 'feel' I get. It's great, it just wasn't... fun? That's why the demo problems are so disconcerting to me personally. I still haven't figured out if the general 'ebb and flow' of CMBB gameplay a fuction of the game engine or the demo selection.

Absolutely, One of the finest games I've ever owned! But in a way that's part of the problem. CMBB doesn't 'feel' like CMBO to me. Also, but in this case a penny saved wasn't a penny earned, it was just less debt incurred! If I was to try ot pay BTS for what CMBO was worth I'd have to become they're indentured servant for years!!! Seriously, I would be happy to buy the game as a investment in future BTS products but my impression is they're design goals are actually moving away from my interests. My money would only speed them on that journey.

Sorry to use a thread on another "Should I buy this game?" type of question. I've tried to following the many threads regarding some negative opinions on the demo/game but they all quickly turned into gordian knots. Any Alexander's out there? Here's my position: Played CMBO regularly for 21 months. Have dabbled in PBEM for a year or so. Not wealthy!!! (This one is important:) Solid laymans knowledge of WWII history but more dabbler than enthusist. Not significantly interested any particular campaign/theater. More interested in general stratgic and tactical theory/application than any historical reinactment. IE- I like Chess more than a Civil War reinactment SOooooo.... Does the CMBB version of game have anything to offer me, that CMBO doesn't? Or more specifically: Does CMBB have $45 worth of upgrades over CMBO. (I repeat- this is a very poor man speaking) Now, don't shoot me!- But my VERY personal opinion based ONLY on my preferences and experiences with the demo indictate a strong no. My overall impression of the gameplay (Again note above disclaimer!) is that they overall "feel" has changed significantly from that of the original. I personally found it now seems to leave me feeling frustrated. It's not unlike hand-to-hand combat underwater. I'm left feeling I have to fight my own forces and envirorment, as much or more as I do my enemy. Now, since I suspect that this limit of battlefield C&C is probably historically accurate, I'm guessing it is a part of game design and is intentional. So, am I right in concluding that CMBB doesn't have anything (or enough) to offer me _personally_ that I wouldn't get out of CMBO (or Chess for that matter.)

I've enjoyed reading your informative posts for some time Mr. Dorosh. I would have thought you better than starting a threat like this would indicate.

Pvt. Ryan, Sorry, I guess I wasn't very clear. I actually DO have CMBO. Well, technically it was a gift from my girlfriend after 3 months of my constant chatter about the demo! So, I guess I am (was?) an existing customer. [ September 08, 2002, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: Barrett's Privateer ]

Many complicated arguments but the end result in my case is still very simple; with the info I currently have I really can't justify buying CMBB. Big whoop I supose many of you say. (And in the grand scheme of things to a company that plans on selling thousands.) Still customers are earned (or lost) one at a time. I thought that the more customers, the better games BTS can make for everyone. So, for what its worth, here's one customer who found the demo weak and only served to nudge him not to buy CMBB. Perhaps it was just the scenarios I disliked, not the game. But if I'm correctly percieve the hardline stance the company has adopted on the demo, then they must be satisfied that they're hardcore market is still pleased. Too bad... if this is the case. I'm genuinely disappointed. I was rather hoping BTS was going to continue to try to appeal to both hard-core military buffs and the general gaming public (Like me:)).

I second Scipio. It's really too bad. The strength of the original CMBO demo addicted me into a game I would have never considered buying otherwise. Right now, I'm on the razors edge of deciding whether to buy CMBB or not. I was hoping the demo would win me over but there wasn't really enough 'meat and potatoes' there to give me a solid impression. I like CMBO fine but I can't say if CMBB warrants the $45 more to me. [ September 08, 2002, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Barrett's Privateer ]

I find AT guns give very good kill-for-cost value. Many of the key good points have been already mentioned but here are some things I try to keep in mind when using them. -Try not to do too much. Set-up in a carefully picked location and be patient. -Assign a specific task they're going to perform. I think in terms of 'area denial', 'supression of mobility', 'divide and conquer''zone defence'. -Identify small specific areas of the map you want to control. (The classic example is a town crossroad where two major streets meet. By controlling that one small location you can limit or shutdown movement in four directions.)

Absolutely outstanding, I can't thank you enough for your quick and incredibly helpful replies Schrullenhaft! I've just begun going over the links you've provided but they're already tremendously informative. My only regret is I never asked earlier, instead of trying to fight through endless google searches and help files on my own. --Dave