laxx

just to add to the excellent poinst raised above: in alot of the scenarios, the roads are wide enuff for 2 columns of afvs. But it becomes troublesome if you intend to move the afvs as one. As suggested above, Pause is one technique, Waypoints is another technique. Also consider using different speeds to prevent logjam, the front vehicles to use fast or hunt, the ones behind to use Move. Also, note that not all similar tanks will move at the same speeds, i suspect HQ tank units move at different speeds.

hi, i did a test yesterday and managed to import most of the data from CM2_inf.xls into filemaker pro. I had to strip some of the battlion / company info found in the spreadsheet. In the end, the fields for the database are: Added: 1 Country (Germany, Romania, etc) 2 Side (Axis or Allied) 3 Branch (Infantry, Mechanized, etc) Existing: 4 Unit Name (renamed from Squad) 5 Firepower 40 6 Firepower 100 7 Firepower 250 8 Firepower 500 9 Weapons 10 Anti-Tank Weapons 11 Fromto Added (at the end) 12 From Date (date format) 13 To Date (date format) 14 Container Field (to store Picture for the Unit, if any) Note: * Alot of the units are similar, and I am thinking of what constitutes a unique identifier (index). Seems like Date+Name would be a unique key ? * if the above is useful by itself, I can have the database + Filemaker RUNTIME compiled and ready by this week. Runtime software will allow Add/Delete/Edit of records. But i suspect most of us will use it as a fast search + comparisons. Note that Runtime program is royalty free and is a standalone program. * I doan know how to put hierarchy of Battlion+ Company + squad details above into the database. (need to refresh my memory on Relational database again). Any suggestions are welcomed. * if there is any interests on this, I will proceed on the AFV database. cheers! [ February 04, 2003, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: laxx ]

Hi, Thanks for sharing the Info. I find myself using more FAST movement than Advance or Assault during troop fire movement., but without LOS from Enemy. I suppose the results above would change if there were a sharpshooter or small arms fire...

Hi, I would like to poll on whether there are any interest for existing CM2 ToE (cm2_xls.zip) conversion into a FileMaker Pro format (www.filemaker.com) ? Rather than create an entirely new table, it is fairly easy to import XLS into FileMaker database. some quick benefits: - Search quickly, and perform partial search - Add, Modify, Delete Records (but why ?) - Reporting by Records and table. - Additional fields for self-imported pictures (it is possible at least for 01 picture per entry). laxx [ February 04, 2003, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: laxx ]

captain foobar, thanks for the link, facinating stuff..

ononehand, pls post your questions in one thread and not seperate threads. Your question on Civilians and Blood and Guts are Related, the answers are the same.

grrr....can't load the pix.... mastergoodale, do you need a fast webhost ? i have 25mb free. laxx

RSColonel: interesting points all. but i have to respectfully comment that some of the points above are specific to situations, ie. depending to the terrain, force composition, experience etc. my additional DOs and Don't to add to this thread: On Game Play ------------ - Do Not Turn Fog of War to NONE. You can see the enemy, but so can they. At the least, use "Partial Fog of War". - Do Set "Show all Paths/Arcs" ON. SHIFT-P (methinks)

RSColonel: Agree with you totally. But hey, against the AI, it's sheer massacre and fun, even though it teaches bad habits. Tigrii: hmmm...your rite.

Hi, just spent the whole sunday playing around 10 games as Axis against the AI, everything is random except allied probe and 300 points (i like small games as you doan get uber-weapons, and the focus is largely on tactics). A couple of things i observed: - Always work out the path the AI will take and build the defense accordingly. Sounds obvious but very critical. ie. The AI will always choose the path of trees in approaching the victory flag. Wooded over scattered trees. Placement of anti-personnel mines and ambush points should follow the logical path of the AI troops. - Respect the terrain. Another obvious point. Never place your troops in the open. Even craters provide cover. - Covering Arcs are ideal. Left flank to arc over to the right, and vice-versa. If you have a platoon and a HMG, it is quite logical to place HMG + 1 Squad on one flank, and 2 Squads + HQ to the flank where the AI will send its troops towards. - Always let the enemy come to you. For small maps, and limited force and Ammo, it may not make sense for long range attrition. It would be better to hide your troops and wait. Perhaps unhide when the enemy is half-way through the open field or when the enemy is at your doorsteps. The effect is devastating like an ambush, it is likely that the enemy squad will be "shocked" and eliminated within the turn, especially if your troops are carring PPsh or MP40s. In blizzards, a green or conscript russian troops will exhaust itself when trying to reach the victory location. - If you have green or conscript forces, infantry or afvs. Group them together, they are less likely to panic. Especially true of afvs like tanks or armored cars. Let them work in pairs. If you have crack forces, they can operate independently. - For stationary or slow moving guns, hmgs, , position them with at least one flank well covered by building/trees/edge of map, this keyhole-approach will ensure better survivability. - Becareful how you position troops in buildings, if your troops is placed in the south of the room, they are unlikely to provide adequate fire-power if the enemy if coming from the north. - In village, town fighting, if type and quantity of ammo permits, you should destroy buildings where the enemy is hiding in. They are more suspectible to be captured. Place HMGs with HQ units on the second floor of taller buildings. - Some russian afvs have only 2 crews, driver and gunner. Killing the Tank Commander thru sharpshooters will disable the tank completely.If you have a choice of selecting either Sharpshooters or Anti-tank rifles, choose sharpshooters, they are costlier but more effective. [ January 26, 2003, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: laxx ]

totally off-topic here. actually a message for michael dorosh: your GD series of scenarios are Excellent. I like it becoz it is Tiny, very balanced, ie. you can play both sides, and quite historical with text and references. keep up the good stuff!

well, quoting from my previous post: Life Cycle of a CMBB player: Elation Phase - Like going on a first Date with a beautiful girl. After 1 to 2 weeks of teenage angst, the game arrives in the mailbox. Infatuation Phase - Like "huh" to the 8 levels of Morale. Usually sets in the first week after installation. Game play usually comprises of a platoon of Sturmtiger/King Tigers/Flammepanzers against a pithy russian squad or T-26, or a company of IS-2/KV-85 tanks against some Volkstrum squad, paunchy and Unfit and has only half the ammo in their mauser rifles. Also starts downloading Mods Frustration Phase - Like "Where the hell is the god mode ?" or "Why does the dang infantry auto-sneak when fired upon by HMGs." Game play is CD supplied scenarios. Gets into heated debates on CMBB authencity and accuracy. Insists that frontal assault at 200meters against HMG is realistic because he watched John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima and that's what they did in WWII. Learning Phase - Like "What's the best way to kill a KV-1 with 1941 German Tanks" . Game play is back to basics, self-created scenarios for testing and learning. Books and reference materials are researched. Learns the meaning of grog and peng threads. Starts to watch and critique old movies for equipment authencity, whether the German Tiger tank is acually a Tiger or some spare T-55/56 disguised as one. Pre-Grognard Phase - Like "Why are there no T-44 tanks ?" or "Why aren't horses/calvary moded, please fix or do somefink". Gets into debates with other grognard wannabees, usually centred around To&E. Gameplay is TCP/IP or PBEM. Post detailed AARs. Starts quoting book titles and Authors. Has a forum thread with his name on it. Self-actualisation Phase - You and the CMBB are one or is that you are one with the game. You actually memorised the whole CMBB To&E from 1941 to 1945, including the various blast value of the AFVs. You doan really participate in the forums anymore, except to smack down some smart ass faux-grognard-wannabee and show whose the boss. Is able to critique HMG tripods. Usually gets invited to test CM betas. Doesn't smile alot. What game play ? You design scenarios!

ummm.....me thinks you have to be more specific than that. i..e. what tank that was hull down undershoot the enemy. were the tank memebers newbie or regulars or veteran. it is tough to generalise on cmbb... there simply too many variables, and variables dependent on other variables. it is generally assumed to be normal if the russian tank in question is a veteran or crack to hit the enemy, but only after several tries...ie. undershoot, overshoot and adjust accoringly. also the optics of the russian tanks sucked royally. did it attempt to shoot at over 800 metres ?

Hi, I found an interesting link to Instructional materials on: -Ramming. -Order on fighting German tanks. -Fighting German Stug.'s -Victories and awards [air] -Instruction on fighting Tigers http://pkka.narod.ru/h-tacts.htm I am including an exerpt on FIghting German StuG: ----- Quote on ---- From the order No.259 of December 27, 1942 Signed by Commander of the Western Front General Konev. Recommendations on the fighting enemy's self-propelled guns. The enemy has widely used self-propelled guns (StuG.) with main characteristics: The gun is installed on the chassis of the middle tank; Caliber 75 mm; The horizontal sector of fire is limited; The armor is on the front and on the sides, the rear and top parts are opened. 1. General Principe of the employment (from the captured instructions of the German Army). The battalion can reach its full fighting ability only if it is used all at once. The Germans think that the best in the advancing battle is the close formation, in which all 22 guns are commanded by the battalion commander and are used in close co-operation with the infantry regiment at the main direction of the attack. If this is impossible, for example, in defense, the battery still retains the close formation. The battalion might be split only down to platoons, each having a separate task. The general principle of employment is following: on the smooth terrain StuG.'s might take forward position in front of the infantry. On the terrain, partly covered with the natural obstacles, the infantry keeps close to the guns, while on the terrain fully covered with obstacles (forest, cities, etc.) the infantry takes the forward position. a) At the breaking fortified defense lines The companies take positions in depth. Miners are assigned to the first line. The fire of the second echelon backs up the actions of the first echelon. In offense against unfortified defense: The unit is positioned in columns along the front line. On the open terrain, self-propelled guns take forward position. On the terrain with limited visibility, the guns move in 300-500 m behind the infantry. The places with possible anti-tank defense are fired upon preventively even without defined targets. c) In the defense: The battery takes the position with crew in the machines or near them. The commanding officer is with the commanding officer of the infantry unit defending the sector. Depending on the tactical situation, the battery is moved to the direction of the possible breakthrough for counter-attack. The shooting at our tanks T-34 and KV is effected very carefully, by concentrating fire of a few guns on the selected target from the distances less than 300 m. The fire of separate guns from the distances more than 300 m is ineffective. 2. Fighting the self-propelled artillery of the enemy: We have enough AT means in our disposal for the destruction of the German self-propelled guns, the main being the artillery of all caliber. If the battle is duly organized the directions and areas of possible attack of German self-propelled guns can be predicted with the sufficient precision. The following basics should be applied in combat: In the defense: a) If our troops are at the prepared defense positions, the most effective will be the strike of the first and second echelon of the German guns. The second echelon is to be hit first by our guns at the closed and hidden positions. This is to secure the successful actions of our AT guns at the front line, which are to deal with the first line of German tanks. With the advance of the German s.-p. guns closer than 1.5 km to our positions, they are to be eliminated by front line AT guns, while the guns at the closed positions cut the German infantry from the machines. In the defense at the unprepared position it should be noted that the German guns will move in front of the infantry. Our guns should engage the enemy before he would move in the close. Mobile AT reserve must be formed to act of the possible directions of the breakthrough. After the breaking through our lines, all AT means, including hand grenades, are to be applied for the destruction of the German guns. c) In the offensive actions the enemy s.-p. guns must be destroyed at their positions. Special batteries shall be tasked with counter-battery actions. The batteries shall be assigned with clearly visible sector. The directions of the possible enemy actions must be determined in advance and firing solutions are to be determined by the commanding officers. Subject to the tactical situation the training shooting shall be performed. In the actions inside the depth of the enemy positions, special guns (batteries) are assigned to the infantry. They take position in front of the infantry or/and at the flanks and are to be always ready for the fighting s.-p. guns. Tanks KV and T-34 act mostly from the ambush. The assigned to the task tanks are positioned in front of the infantry or the other tanks, or/and at the flanks. Each is assigned with clearly defined sector and shall be ready to open fire at any moment. AT rifles are effective by the shooting at the sides of self-propelled guns from 500 m or closer. AT teams take forward position or/and at the flanks. In capturing a city, town or a village, the imperative is to secure the presence of AT means among the forward troops, as the enemy will apply self-propelled guns to restore the situation. Signed by the Commander of Artillery of the Western Front Gen.-Lt. Camera Evidently, the German units of self-propelled guns were very clear and present danger, to cause the special order. Interesting is, in my opinion, the close cooperation between German armor and infantry, especially so in the defense. Apparently, the Soviet tanks were no easy task for the German guns as seen from the description of the German tactics. I included this order as I thought it would be interesting for fans of both the German and the Soviet armor. ---- end quote ---- [ January 24, 2003, 03:25 AM: Message edited by: laxx ]

no egbert, Flufferette: Your job sucks. [ January 24, 2003, 03:08 AM: Message edited by: laxx ]

AJ: What's a FLUFFETTE ? I checked google but the closest association is Fluffer, which Urbandictionary.com defines as "fluffer "FLUF-er" (noun) a person in the adult entertainment industry whose job it is to give male porno stars blowjobs in order to get them ready to perform. Is that what you meant in your many-a-previous post ?

yeah..but i think two appendages protuding in front the pants is gonna look weird to say the least...

hi, found an interesting WWII Eastern Front site on Google. (yes, there *are* still good sites in page 15 - 17 of Google). Interesting rare photos. Interesting but as the caption says: "Here a soldier from the 14th Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS has devised a novel method of snow camouflage, which probably provides the added benefit of protecting against the wind chill of the terrible Hungarian winter. The only question is: can he see where he's going?! " Actual picture of SS with Molotovs tucked along the waist: the main entrance can be found here: http://www.wssob.com/index.html

Pud, The site you listed above is *awesome*! Jpgs and 3D movie....*gasp* and my favoritest of all, the StuG My contribution url is http://www.wwiitechpubs.com/ it has some nice paintings of Panzer IIIs, 88 Pak etc... a selection of thumbnails pix: [ January 21, 2003, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: laxx ]

not to agitate you guys: I have an emac which I bought last Nov. Out of paranoia, I created 3 partitions, OS9, OSX, BIG-OS9. I regularly boot into OS9 or OSX for my stuff. For small games, I boot into the OS9 partition. When I need to play large Email games where speed is critical, I actually boot into BIG-OS9 partition by using the "Turn on with the Option-Key Press Down" trick. This is important, because the speed under BIG-OS9 is much faster than the Normal OS9 partition. Now, my BIG-OS9 and the OS9 partitions are identical but... What happens is that whenever you boot into OSX, it checks whether you booted in OS9 the last time, and it attempts to update the OS9 partition with some additional graphic drivers which slows down OS9 even under native mode. By using the "Option Key press" during reboot or startup, you can select which partition to run and it will fool OSX not to update the Big-os9 partition. The speed difference is significant, eg. under the Cidatel demo, the movie wait bar takes about 5-10 seconds in OS9 , under my Big-OS9, it is about 3-7 seconds. In other words, even if you boot into a normal OS9 partition to play CMBB, it may not be optimised for CMBB, because OSX will update that OS9 partition with slow-but-compatible graphic drivers. Hope I have not confused you all too much. laxx ps. This also applies to Medal of Honor. I like to play it in OS9 rather than X coz it is faster. But if I played it under my normal native OS9 partition which has been updated by X, it will be significantly slower, ie. the mouse will lag terribly. I usually Option-Boot into my BIG-OS9 partition to play Medal of Honor. [ January 21, 2003, 01:48 AM: Message edited by: laxx ]

Hi War RaVeN, I used Snapzpro on Mac to capture Sound and Picturs and exported to a Quicktime file. It is quite an amazing software. (see links above from my previous thread). laxx

hi, i am using a powerbook 500 g3 "pismo" to play tiny, small and occassionally medium sized games. It;s okay on my 500, not terribly fast but okay. nb: you must play this in real Classic and not under OS X classic. cheers!

I must confess that I have not tried this game as Russians, but I suppose if all the t-34 were poised to do a bum rush into the scattered trees on the road, I think the losses will be lesser. Ie. go a FAST move instead of Hunt/Move.

Hi, I have put some text files in my www of memoirs and interviews of German WWII Vets. I downloaded them from a generic file sharing service so I do not know where they originate from , if anyone has issues with the IP or Copyright, let me know and I will remove them. http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Afrikakorps_Infantry.txt http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Afrikakorps_Panzer_Veteran.txt http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Anecdotes_From_My_Life.txt http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Life_In_The_Desert.txt http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Nachrichten_Veteran.txt http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Rescue_Of_Musolini,The.txt http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Panzergrenadier_Veteran.txt laxx

Hi, While it *is* possible to string them together, afterall, they are in a quicktime format, I am afraid, it would be quite jerky. let me explain, I have a problem with capture of sound and pix at different camera angles. especially if there is a movement ahead/charge, i need to use the mouse to move around and it can be quite clumsy. to see what i mean, two simple movies i made: http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Sample-HumanWave.mov http://www.web.ms11.net/retro/Trg-Anti-Tank-Ger.mov if you have any idea, i am all ears