Erwin

That was my point. Better they fight each other than turn their attention to foreign adventures. Realpolitik...

A major reason people still play CM1 is that it's not hard or too time-consuming to play giant scenarios 3-4Km square with Regiment-size battle groups on each side. We're inching towards that sort of size in CM2 but since CM2 requires much more work to play - partially cos of some of its interface and mechanisms, it will be much harder to play. I think that the CM2 game engine is very good these days. The only major issues involve speeding up play and making things easier (and quicker) to handle. eg: The ACQUIRE system needs overhaul. We need selectable waypoint and lines so we can use those to select units. One key 180 degree arcs. Having units at set-up start in formation so we don't have to waste time moving em around to get back in formation etc.

There is reason to consider that the ISIS/ISIL phenomenon could be a good thing for western interests for that reason. Hopefully, they will siphon off the Iranian trained Hezbollah guys who are helping Assad vs the (kinda) western backed rebels. And as LLF said, they provide a focus for various western enemies to fight and hopefully neutralize each other. If this works, someone in the CIA should get a medal.

Hi Snake... Unfortunately, RL and a lot of traveling has been cramping my game time for a while now. However, as soon as that slackens I know I will enjoy your scenario as much as your others...

Really like what you did with the map. And the situation is interesting - many different plans to choose from. RL is preventing me from playing anything for a week or so. Haven't even had time to install mods. But, looking forward to this.

Is LOMAC and the others fund to play - or more of a training/sim experience? I have A-10 plus the joystick/throttle hardware, but still in their boxes.

Has the interface of GTOS been improved? I tried the demo and found it impossible to understand how to do things. And problem as always with RT is that there is so much going on, that you miss too many events. But, boy, it looks really good.

If you like CMBO you should try the other two BF classics, CMBB and CMAK. There is an active number of clubs that still have CM1 tournaments etc.

Thanks... that is an interesting doc.

FWIW I have experimented with combining fresh and tired troops in CM1 and CM2. In CM1 IIRC the "A Team" fatigue state would always be dominant. In CM2, you end up with an average.

Unfortunately, they are all top down view 2D games.

Make sure you have "smoke" turned on as well.

Maybe the scenario has changed, but my Tiger never recovered from its gun hit and became a mobile MG bunker. Altho' checking my saved game folder it ends at Mission 8 so maybe I never completed the campaign(?)

A stationary tank is relatively easy to kill with arty assuming you have larger than 81mm. It's very easy to degrade and/or immobilize it, which is almost as good. (Actually, I wonder if this reflects RL as this is so effective why wasn't this tactic used regularly in RL?) (By comparison it seems relatively hard to kill an on-map arty piece with arty - esp if in foxhole.)

You unzip the mod folder and if it is not already in a folder it's convenient to create a subfolder in the Z folder and place the mod files in that subfolder. Make sure you don't have other similar mods in the Z folder or the one that starts with the later letter of the alphabet will be the one loaded. So, it's also wise to rename your desired mod with a Z in front of its name to ensure it is loaded last and will appear in the game.

Wonderful. Thanks.

Steel Armor:BOW looks good. But, according to website only two tanks to drive?? But, I really like their "strategic" aspect of the game, where you choose where to attack. I was thinking about getting it, but the reviews I read say the interface is terrible.

FWIW my Tiger had its main gun damaged in this first scenario so wasn't much use later on. But IIRC if your remaining armor is mostly intact, you should be able to get thru the campaign.

Ah, thanks... Have been completely intimidated from looking at the Editor to see that. However, I still wish it was easy to identify the differences between squads. One would assume that in the vast majority of scenarios when units have been in combat before, a Platoon HQ would know a bit more about his squads - which were more reliable, what are their relative capabilities etc. To us, the players, they all appear identical. And after dozens if not hundreds of games I still have never been able to identify which may be the "superior" or "weaker" squads. And in any case, you really need to know that at set-up.

I did like the rudimentary operational-level map part of CC which gave you some decisions and put the tactical scenarios in context.

This looks like a fun scenario. Thanks...

That is a very helpful comparison. Thanks. it helped me realize that I like the crisp "low/non-echo" sound - which seemed to be either the default or Bodkins". My sense is that unless the shooter is surrounded by hills/mountains one wouldn't experience the echoes.

I guess I will have to compare em then. Whie the more distant sounds are more atmospheric, I have been quite shocked by "sudden loud gun sound" mods that are sharp and sound like they are very close - esp when one is sneaking around quietly scouting.

This is a problem with small maps. The enemy knows you are in fairly constrained terrain so can often predict likely spots to barrage. On large maps (2K-3K per side) the enemy doesn't have enough ammo to saturate avenues of approach.

The only thing I would add is that SB being a more of a sim than CM2, it is not necessarily more fun. I found it quite hard work, and it didn't last long on my HD.