Eden Smallwood

Hey guys; nice tests, ( I think ). It's just me, Mr N. L. Retentive programmer, poking around with the UBB code... It looks like we can preserve tabs and spaces with a CODE block, fwiw. Eden Clear: T34/76 T34/85 Panther Tiger MkIVJ </font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">1 10 0 20 80 20 2 0 0 0 80 10 3 0 0 20 80 20 4 0 0 10 50 20 5 0 0 20 100 10</pre>

I think all that happens is that you prepare a normal orders phase and when you hit Go, instead of an action phase movie, you get the AAR screen with a ceasefire notice and current level of victory. Michael</font>

I think you mean *Advance* works in both directions; Assault makes no sense in reverse, right? Like you, I remember Steve saying that, but I have no clue where that is now. Cheer up! Yes, it can be a frustrating game, and it can be a frustrating forum. But come on now- it beats the heck out of anything else- why not take the good with the bad, look on the bright side, yadda yadda QB-before-bedtime yadda Eden

Oh sure sure you're welk. Yes I saw that you did upload a new map with a quick-grok™ name to COG's brand new *Mapabase*!! I have a dream, that someday I will go to the Mapabase and search from among millions of maps for all allied attacks of medium size in an urban setting... with two bridges and a RedStarbucks. YES for all small and medium! Well how do we define 'large' anyhow? But the point is, as time goes on I'm noticing that with so many Large scenarios coming into SD, I'm using the QB function to get in my 'after dinner CM snack' sized battles. Also, for some reason or reasons which probably deserve their own entire thread for explication, the marked majority of scenarios suitable for SP are recommended As Axis, so in QB I always play Allies to try and even it out, or something. LASTLY, (I'm on an unexpected roll here), while I'm at it, although I'm not a grog I have the sneaking suspicion that when all scenarios are averaged together, there is alot more *armor* present than what was present in history, (?), so in QBs I tend to go for something suitable for a mostly infantry force, once again, not because I don't like tanks, but just to "even it out". Anyhow! Have gloves, will test. Eden

Add me to the list of non-grogs who nonetheless find the amount of bogging to strain credulity, especially on frozen. I posted recently with an instance of an HT bogging on 'Road'; some said maybe that was mechanical failure abstraction, but nobody knew for sure... The issue for me is not whether the game should model reality- it should, that's why we're here. But that this degree of bogging was the reality is what I find incredible. BogGrogs please illuminate us. "Oh, btw Adolf- we're losing about a third of our tanks to bogging every fifteen minutes- the Russian ice is just...really boggy." "Can you redesign the tanks then?" "No, our CadCam program has a fixed tread size..." ? Eden

I absolutely agree that your idea is pleasing; I've thought of it myself too. "CM Academy". But the problem I think is what you've already guessed- who's going to put that work in? The people qualified to put something like that together are the same people who are already making scenarios and maps and whatall for me, so which would I prefer them to do? Well I'd say I want them to just keep doing what they're doing. In fact I think they should pick up the pace a bit. And since one can learn the tactics needed just by playing... Now, I agree that just playing will not teach one historical doctrines and other more refined bits you mentioned, but still the benefit becomes less, and more particular, than learning which tactics work. I agree there's a hole- especially what these different units are, but on the subject of units ISTR BFC is putting together a little list o' units with explanations or something something...? At any rate, in case you haven't seen it there's a thread with a bunch of nifty "useful posts" here: http://www.battlefront.com/cgi-bin/bbs/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000812 Eden

There's a new scenario at SD, _Stuka!_. It's a real pain in the Stuka; plenty of practice using the desperate techniques listed above. FWIW, I found doing The Shuffle fairly effective, if on Road- Fast, Reverse, Fast... On open ground it didn't quit win a prize. Another technique I discovered which works *really* well at protecting your tanks- bunch up your infantry on the other side of the field. Eden

Well I'd be delighted to fight with it, and I didn't ask for it the first time I saw your post because my primary email address seems to be having issues, which I thought I could fix in a timely way. Quite silly, but that's what I thought. If you value input from a "Rabbit running through the woods" per Chinese astrology, or Gemini w Leo rising per Western, please send one to my failsafe: zeppenwolf@angelfire.com and if you're willing to *possibly* have an email returned for spamophobic reasons, please CC it to my primary though paranoid address: zeppenwolf@lafn.org thx, Eden

ISTR the Jaeger tutorial was flipped with respect to "left" & "right" ??? Eden

Yes! "7.62 mm Tokarev TT33 Pistol", found it, thanks. Sorta *on* topic, my grandparents have enough WWII handguns to start a modest sized war, but they don't have a Tokarev, or I'd remember it. It certainly has a before-it's-time kind of look to it, n'est-ce pas? Eden

Ouch! Too much for me. The force mix & situation in this one is certainly not my strong suit, still... "Tougher than Cemetery Hill", like my grandma always says... Couple things I could say: first, having just that one flag would really sting if I made it *almost* there, only to run out of time. A small flag along the way to gain overtime in the case of progress seems only fair. Second, for me personally, having reinforcements come onto the board in direct LOS of heavy enemy fire is a drag, (and this is with Default setup, even). With all the buildings around, I would think that they could come in to a safe alley pocket easily enough... It was nicely different in flavor, but on the difficulty of it, I'll have to let someone else rate it for you. For me it was hopeless enough that I could only play with half a heart, and my results are meaningless. Otherwise, good map and interesting scenario. But hey- I get toasted in GeflatchterAqualung too. Eden

I second that, or fourth or so as the case may be. I tried AlliedAttackForestVillage- ah yes, a QB Map, not too large, with a non-generic setup zone. Exactly what I wanted in my virtual stocking this year. AAFV has a real boost for the attacker- would be a good one for helping the AI attack. It's a keeper- Thank you Panzer Claus. What could be better than a QB with a different setup zone?? Indeed. If I may make a suggestion, (?), since I now have 83 QB maps in that folder, and growing, the last ten percent to perfection for me would be to take up a naming scheme which includes the author, and abbreviates the type, like Old Dog has done in the pack he just released, (thanks OD): PL_ForestVillage_XA.cme While I'm ranting, a 'name' which kind of helps us remember which one we used would be good, too- something more memorable. Say, if it's an urban ME, PL_CitySlickers_ME.cme or if it's an allied attack on a farm, PL_GreenAcres_LA.cme Anyhow- don't mind me, I'm a naming freak; just an idea. Eden

You too? Dammit! Seriously, this thread looks like my best chance to ask a slightly OT question: In that preview picture of "JuJu's ModSlut" Mod, the one for all the small arms, WHAT is that semi-auto handgun on the left, having a very modern look to it???? Eden

In response to the understandable concerns about how to 'Withdraw Without Panic', I believe that BFC has stated that "Advance" does in fact apply to the need for an orderly retreat, (for those units who are able to Advance, of course ). ISTR it was stated a bit vaguely- an added clarification on that issue from BFC would be welcome. Eden

I think he means _The Last Stand_, on your CD. Eden

Sure. If I had to eat a sandwich like that, I'd be on my hands and knees too. Eden

SL4 the HedgeHog of Pipsqueak, reviewed, in some partial sense, by an outsider to SL. FWIW: I wanted to play Allies, so I chose the version whose description in the scenario list says "Human Allied vs Axis AI". Reading the briefing, it says to play only as "Axis Human vs Allied AI". Hmm. So fine I opened the other one, which was consistent as Axis- ok, so now I know which is which but I've got this one open I'll play Axis. "Appearance", "Necessitated", "Panicked", maybe some other spelling defeats... Anyhow- not being familiar with "SL", I spent some time trying to grok the strange caveats outlined in the briefing, , but I'm pretty sure I got 'the rules' and so finally I'm off and running. In setup, different things could be done, I suppose, but I considered the most risk averse tactic to be just sitting on the flags and waiting for numbnuts to show up. Well he did, but that meant I was hitting Go for about fifteen turns. After that, he shot at me, and I shot back at him. I could certainly say it was educational with respect to placement of sparse defending troops- the one poor squad who got *swamped* by the first wave recorded sixty enemy casualties, but I did have to feel sorry for him, to have placed him in such a vulnerable place... Posthumous medals, for sure. I got a Total victory in CM, which might be something else in SL simulated conditions, but I don't think I'm concerned to figure it out. Other than the education by experiment, I may have missed the point of this one. At a minimum, even if the scenario is an implementation of an SL thingie, I would have been happier if it were an implementation *in spirit*, rather than attempting to get it exact to the letter. It's just a bit goofy to have HQs on the board whom I shouldn't use, units to claim the flags whom I shouldn't move... So, since you asked, I told. I do appreciate your making any kind of scenario for the CM community, and I hope you don't take this as a slam, just a viewpoint. I *could* play this one again, to further experiment with troop placement in this kind of situation, but I probably won't, just as a reaction to unCMness and the lack of my own necessary involvement once troops are placed. Hth, Eden

To get to the other side? Eden

When I saw that it occurred to me that the phrase "Follow Vehicle" might be inappropriate, but the command is in fact correct. IOW, that command means "assault that object, approaching to within optimal range of your explosive and/or flamey weapons, staying out of it's kill arc please". The only thing which is different in the case of a vehicle would be that a vehicle will be followed if it moves. See what I mean? Possibly no "fix" is necessary other than translating "Follow Vehicle" in your mind to "Approach without dying and Destroy", which is different than "Target". Eden

My troops got caught by MG trying to advance over ice. I really had to wince- it looked really painful. Not just arty, but every bit o' lead must have hurt "more" for troops on ice- ricochets that lose almost no energy...? Is it so, in RL and/or CM? Eden

Sorry dude- maybe noone's tried it as Allies...? About walking on cake... yes, probably adequate force present for Axis, but the briefing says to be very careful with your armor, so I did, even more than I usually do. In that case, it was pretty fun. If you read the historical account, it would seem to support the validity of the "we better conserve these puppies" idea, no? I posted a review about like that at S.Depot... Even though it's just a game, I try and pretend I'm seeing it as part of a war- gotta save that armor for tomorrow when I'll *really* need it... I'll add this as Allies to my list and get back to you in... a month? PS I just keep the final saved game AAR- that usually calls back the whole game from memory, don't you think? Eden

Thank god for the patch- I was *sick* of sneaking!!

Oh! Sorry- my ISP is incredibly Spamophobic, but they do keep me spam free, I'll say that. Probably zeppenwolf@angelfire.com should work; I could go pick that up; else lemme look at this situation for a minute- they shouldn't be blocking everyone in the known universe... Eden

Manstein Cometh Eden

Well it depends of course- were you really in top form? Or getting lucky as OJ? I agree that answering the Balance question can be tough, or iffy, but still it's your impression and best estimation of it which is being asked for- just do your best, otherwise the designer is still without a clue. YES! Thank you- Good one. I've seen an occasional defense of that for unusual reasons, but I'm not buying any of them. I hate it, I loathe it, I despise it, and I don't like it too much, neither. YES, even if they show up on the back row, sometimes they're in full sight, but sitting there on the road. It shouldn't be too tough to give us some small out of LOS place where they appear. I've suggested recently that scenarios which have reinforcements simply use a map with a long back section, so the reinf could start way back there, at an earlier time, which seems to me more realistic anyhow. Why not? YES! I keep hammering on this one too. I think people are starting to hear it. The default turns for QBs is going up from 30 to 40 in 1.02 exampli gratia. Eden