Erwin

I understand what you're saying Luke. But, the mods really do improve the game experience (for me at least) so much.

Just curious... have you guys played all the scenarios currently available in CMFI, or do people take a quick look at the graphics and then wait for the next module? (I feel I have barely played more than a few of the campaigns and only a couple scenarios so far, and that's while I was injured and had all the time in the world. I can't figure out how folks can play em all so quickly.)

Just curious if you compared em with Drakenlordes, Veins, Scipios and proeffects...? (So many choices now...)

Looks very interesting, Egger. I presume you have left it pretty clean deliberately. However, have you considered adding shadows/darker shades to the sides where they are shielded from the sun. Right now it looks like it's in a showroom with light sources shining on the vehicle from all angles (except the rear).

What SS and Streety are alluding to is that some of us prefer playing vs the AI. Ironically, it's been a very long time since I have played CM1 vs the AI and I enjoy playing huge CM1 battles vs a human because it's technically and practically quite easy. However, due to the increased detail and "finickyness" of CM2 I find playing the AI considerably more challenging (assuming a primary goal is keeping casualties low). It is also a question of time. Plotting a CM2 turn takes a LOT longer due to aforesaid detail and finickyness (especially if you play WEGO). Finally, it's great to play when I want to play, and not have to wait for an oppo sending me turns.

Thanks for the useful feedback. It's interesting to see how others approach the use of recon units when every scenario effectively starts after the recon has told you there is enemy about. I suppose what we are really doing in any of the CM games is more accurately called "scouting" after recon (the briefing) has told us that enemy is present.

The main thing I enjoy about CMSF (and theoretically CMA altho' I haven't ever seen any large CMA maps) is the much larger maps on average than CMBN and CMFI. However, I am never sure what to do in the first turns of a scenario on a large map when one starts with recon units (incl vehicles) and the main force "will arrive over the next 30+ minutes" as reinforcements. In RL, would one drive the recon vehicles down the road or across terrain until shot at? (In the game of course this is usually suicide. But, I suppose you get to draw fire and maybe figure out what it out there quickly.) Or, should one assume contact in imminent, thus dismount the recon vehicles and move cautiously forward on foot even though one could have a looong way to walk to contact. If contact is imminent, (and since one is the player of a scenario one knows this of course), then what is the purpose of the recon units? Would it not make more sense to wait 10-30mins for the main forces to arrive and keep the recon units someplace safe? However, if the sensible tactic is to wait for the main force, then why start with any recon units on the map at all? Why force players to sit repeatedly clicking GO, (if in WEGO), or letting the clock run out (if in RT)? Am curious as to how other players, esp those with RL experience would proceed in these situations.

I was able to edit the names so the M's are m's. Will that solve it?

"I gave up playing wargames forty years ago because all I saw was old men arguing about what was or was not fair or realistic." Not at all like what it's like now on these forums natch hehe.

That is xnt news.

At the risk of you punching me out, Aris... I wonder if these uniforms can be adapted back to CMBN as they are so superior to CMBN stock (or even the CMBN uniform mods I have seen). (Also, is there any chance you might complete the vehicle and gun mods for CMBN?)

Received it fine, thank you, Michael And it looked perfectly normal. But, I tried playing it RT since that was your mode, and got massacred. I don't know how people play in RT unless you're pausing every few seconds. Hope my file arrived at your location ok. Am really curious as to how it looks to you.

I think your file is too large for my e-mail to receive... (I know my own file is 22MB!) My OUTLOOK gives me an error message.

I saved and kept most of the Dinas scenarios as I played through em. I checked the previous scenario and all graphics and weapons were just fine. So, something weird happened when I started the new scenario a couple of years ago(!) Then forgot about it as CMBN and CMFI came out. But, I have a real hankering for CMSF these days, so have been going back to it to complete half finished campaigns. I wonder if a CMSF patch changed the version half way through and that caused anomalies. Anyhow, I sent you my e-mail via "private messages." Actually I can send you my file from the previous scenario (which I think I won). Maybe you can load it up and get to the Where Farmers Dare set-up turn and see if it looks ok to you(?) Thanks mate...

Not sure about a $1000, but I'd be happy to pay several hundred $ to get a final version game with all families eg: all of East Front. Currently, there's a danger that we'll get bored with each incrementally improved module/family, so the next one just seems like more of the same and not nearly enough novelty to re-excite interest. And trying to mod several different games is a nuisance compared to CM1 when you used a preferred mod once and that was it... after that you could focus on playing.

Just got from CMMODS. What more can one say about these amazing mods?

If some of the Italian footage of very close explosions were real (vs demo explosions just to make a lot of smoke) the cameraman would amost certainly be hit. In addition, there is an autonomic/physiological reaction that causes flinch and it's uncontrollable. All you have to do is look at modern combat video from more modern conflicts to see what combat photography looks like. Re-enacting beach landings was de rigeur. But it all cuts nicely together with RL footage.

I like the (first image) saturated look.

I am glad to hear it. The previous scenario worked fine for me. Something seems to have happened between the end of that and the start of "Where Farmers Dare." Since so many of their weapons are missing, I don't think I can continue and just don't know what to do. Any chance you could send me your set-up file? Maybe mine has gotten corrupted

Getting close to RL photographs!

Your rant has inspired me to rant: It really is a new world where (some/most?) younger folks have a desperate need for constant contact with someone else they can label a "friend" even tho' there is actual no connection other than the most superficial electronic transaction. Now there is also a push to make all financial transactions electronic via your cell phone or similar - so no money, everything deducted direct from your bank AC. (And we know how hard it can be to get your $ back from a bank where there has been an error or fraud that has nothing to do with you.) Feels like we are in the middle of a disaster sci-fi story. Anyone who's worked on DoD-related projects knows these systems are not secure, that they are being hacked all the time (altho' never admitted), and that one day the stockmarket, or the power grid or food supply or somesuch will be hacked big time and this paperless world will crash. I dread to think how the Facebook generation and their ilk will cope. In the meanwhile, we have new versions of smartphones every few months requiring new skillsets... My wife just got a Samsung III and has barely any idea how to use it except for the basics. I still have a voice only "old" phone. I hate texting. Seems to take far longer to get actual useful info across than just calling someone. And I liked getting Netflix DVD's in the mail. Now I have to d/l to my computer, run an HDMI cable from my computer to the TV and only then get to watch a friggin' movie(!) All this new communications stuff seems aimed at kids who want to secretly chat in class, and moron level execs who can text while in some inconsequential meeting.

I took another look at the saved "Where Farmers Dare" scenario from the "Road to Dinas" campaign and realized that only the FO was armed properly with 3 AK's. All of the other inf units were armed with one or two (only) western small arms weapons, like Minimi's or M4's or somesuch etc. The rest of each of the squad or teams had no weapons at all! Totally bizarre... Anyone played this scenario and can confirm this isn't a bug in the campaign itself?

It used to be one needed a teenager to explain technology to us oldsters, then it was 12 year olds, next week it will be 8 year olds... I mean, who the f*** gives a sh** about facebook and/or the ability to tell people in real time what stupid nonsense you are doing every ruddy second? Can't believe I have transformed from a high-tech worker considered pretty cutting edge to a fuddy duddy in the space of a decade or two...

Yes, AI is THE hardest thing to program. Untold millions/billions have been spent on it over the last decades, and the result... The game market is saturated with a plethora of multiplayer shooters... cos online muliplayer doesn't need much if any AI at all. The AI required for a wargame like CM compared to the AI for chess, is comparing the AI for Tic Tac Toe vs Chess. There are gazillions more possibilities in a wargame than in a relatively "simple" game like chess. I bet most us could kick Kasparov's butt at CM! I think the CM2 AI is better than CM1 - at least I still find playing CM2 games vs the AI quite challenging enough. But, then it may also be the greater complexity and detail that makes CM2 harder than CM1. However, I have also found my style of play has changed - largely thanks to the casualty averse character of CMSF. In CM1 one rarely worried about casualties and fighting to the last man/machine. But, CMSF forced us to learn a completely different style of play where high casualties almost always resulted in ignominious defeat. People tell me that WW2 combat was much more bloody and high casualties were common. However, I still enjoy playing CMBN and CMFI as if I were playing with the same concern for casualties one needed in CMSF. If you play to avoid high casualties (eg <10%) the CM2 AI is quite hard enough.

Have been stuck for over two years(!) at the start of the Red vs Red "Road to Dinas" campaign - the "WHERE FARMERS DARE" mission (11?). I really want to finally complete this campaign as it is xnt. Despite removing my entire Z folder, the at-start Red units have still got US/Nato weapons. So, this appears to be a game issue, not a conflict with any mods. Some of the units like the MG teams don't seem to have any weapons at all. Not ony do they not appear in the weapons windows, the units themselves are empty-handed. I have never experienced anything like this in any other of this campaign's missions, nor in any other CMSF scenario or campaign. Any suggestions gratefully received.