Erwin

The problem with most of the German longer range equipment is that they were designed for much larger maps than we are seeing currently in CMBN. The 88, Marders, Nashorns etc are pretty much deathtraps if firing at targets under 1500 meters away. Ideally, 2Km ranges...

The HARASS firing option is good as it can send a few shells over for a looong time thus slowing down any enemy advance through a certain area. And time is the attacker's enemy.

It's really pointless to provide the player with LOS from an irrelevant person in a unit - like the third gunlayer. The player needs to know if the GUN has LOS to the target. That would alleviate much frustration that players have with the CM2 system.

After playing CMBN exclusively since it came out, I REALLY enjoy going back and playing CMSF and even CMA. When CMSF came out it seemed hard compared to CM1. But, now, CMBN seems really hard and often feels like work. CMSF and CMA are fun games by comparison. I went back to a saved turn 13 minutes b4 the end of (my) mission 10 and cheated since I looked at the Cease Fire map. Was able to kill enuff enemy that they surrendered so I got a Total Victory and was able to move to the next mission. It's really surprising/shocking how little difference in enemy casualties there was to go from a Draw to Total Victory. The CM2 system is way too unstable in terms of Victory Levels. And yes, it would be great to have some extras toys that came with NATO.

I suspect the ones dying "for the 2nd time" may have been actors. Although am still hoping for CM: BEYOND ZOMBIES

You can probably simply copy many of the features at WeBoB re recording game stats for each player. http://www.gregories.net/bobster/bobster.cgi

Watched it and it should be mandatory viewing for Market-Garden fans. Nice shots of Panthers around 38 and 42 minutes and maybe a Tiger(?). Looed like they wore their helmets initially in combat, but berets at other times. And yes their Sten guns had front grips.

It must be the screen format that threw me. The towers I looked at appear taller cos they appear thinner. Shame...

Finished battle #3, and it was another terrific scenario with surprises and new challenges that definitely made sure each mission so far has not been "cookie cutter." It's fun to have some heavy arty at ones disposal as well. The last campaign I played, Die Letzte Hoffnung, is also a very enjoyable/challenging and highly recommended campaign. But, I think I am enjoying ABR even more - possibly because the ABR maps are larger and there are more opportunities for inf flanking - even though with the lack of engineers again, the tanks and halftracks are forced to stay close to the road. The replacements in ABR are somewhat better so that one doesn't feel that one is getting bled dry. Also, since the ground is dry, there are far fewer frustrating immobilizations than in Hoffnung. What makes a battle of campaign really good imo is when one gets the feeling that good tactics are rewarded and that one is being a good CO - it's the verisimilitude that counts. On to battle #4.

Am pretty sure I played a game where the spires were higher, altho' yes, they may all 4 have to be the same height.

How many missions are there? I just finished #10 with a DRAW and that got me straight to a victory screen for the campaign. But, I fear that I had to get better than a draw to progress. And I really don't want to have to replay mission #10. Any other way to progress?

Highly recommend that you try one of the xnt Red vs Red campaigns like ROAD TO DINAS. That should answer your questions - even those you have not yet thought of.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/global-conflict-on-computer-games.html

Just to clarify, are you saying the AI doesn't take into effect the increased protection being at an angle to incoming fire gives? Or are you saying that the AI doesn't angle its tanks properly to provide that extra protection?

I thought that was a photo of water for a moment... Amazing.

I think that playing in RL is the way to go as you are correct about it being frustrating in WEGO. You may want to add that advisory in the scenario description. I led with dismounted recon (survivors) backed up with one platoon of inf and then the two grenade launchers. Altho' I found the grenade launchers rather inaccurate due to the fact you well-positioned enemy on crests, or just behind em. The AA truck and massed fire from all BTR's was more effective I think. Also the grenade launchers have relatively little ammo and no resupply (maybe another issue to look at). However, in RT one could stop em firing for 1 minute and wasting ammo. I think I got the recon and inf (plus one or two BTR's) across the river within 20 minutes, then I should have just waited for air since moving the recon and inf further just causes more casualties. This scenario takes a lot of patience and one needs to wait around a bit. Even the arty takes a long time to arrive. Definitely a different character of play to CMSF and CMBN. I still much prefer what you did with A HELLUVA ROAD OPENING, which basically is a very similar mission - with the addition of ANA guys stuck in the outpost. What was great about AHOARO was that there were several sub-missions to perform. So, while one was being patient in one area, one had action in another - hence no boring periods of time. Suggest you use that "formula" more often.

The most useful aspect of TRP's is the speed and accuracy of a strike on one. As Sublime says, even if you can't get LOS to one, you should still be able to get sound contacts. And also, experience will tell you where the attacker is likely to approach or use as an observation point, or staging area for an attack.

Unfortunately in Campaigns, if you lose a Platoon HQ, neither the XO nor the company CO will provide C2 in that or subsequent battles. Nor will the KIA Platoon HQ be replaced. So, if you are playing a campaign be warned...

You clearly feel the Force grasshopper...

I may be having a false memory, but I do recall having extra zook ammo picked up from WIA - in the same way that a zook itself may be picked up.

Yes, yes, yes... Now get back to work...! Seriously, I second PP's sentiments. You almost singlehandedly have made CMBN look the way it should look. And done it with grace and good humor. I dunno how you do it.

"Plus some people just arent good at computer games. thats all." Yes, good point. I forgot that when playing games, it's usually the gamers who whip the milpros. The most successful players are invariably ones who have learned to game the game.

Brilliant. Thanks... Why do they insist on pushing Toolbar on us?

So, RL training is of no use in playing CM. Ok...

In terms of playing the GAME, all the above points are very good and helpful. The only issue that is disturbing that nobody picked up on is that the original poster is a RL tank CO, and doing things the way he was trained doesn't appear to work for him. What does that imply re the accuracy of CMBN as a sim?