mattman2000

If you think using the wife and laundry was dirty pool, you should have seen me about a month ago, when the wife's constant teasing about my 30th birthday hamstrung my efforts in "Mobile Defense." My love for life evaporated in the face of black candles and Grim Reaper cake decorations and tombstone birthday cards. My grenadiers paid the price.

The following page includes an article on German defensive tactics from the winter of 1941 thru late 43. It's got some nice info (at least that's what I'm thinking) on how the Germans prepared their strongpoint defenses after the failed drive on Moscow. It covers the use of barbed wire, describes how mines were deployed (for instance, teller mines might be more appropriate in winter scenarios because the Germans found buried AT mines often didn't go off in snowy terrain), the placement of tank hunter teams, the equipment/composition of tactical reserves and all sorts of good stuff. It even has a diagram showing a hypothetical German defense of a town. Anyway, here it is... http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Wray/wray.asp#tanks

3-year-old's observations over the past few weeks. "No, daddy, shoot them." "Look, look. See? It's a bad guy." "Yeah!!!" (as my arty decimates the opposition). "Yeah!!!" (as my men are slaughtered by MGs and infantry guns). "Ooh, that hurt" (as a russian flamethrower roasts 4 ss panzergrenadiers in "Morning at the Zoo.")

I guess fun is relative. For me at least, winning battles which are perfectly balanced isn't nearly as rewarding as beating the odds and defeating your opponent in a scenario where everything's stacked against you. That shows you might know what you're doing. Case in point -- the Vistula Bridgehead OP. I've talked to a few folks who've thought that operation is a push over for the player controlling the Germans (do you want to pit a T-34 against a Jagpanther on the open steppes?). Those same players have found it a lot more exhilirating to win the battle while playing as the Russians. Complaining that a scenario isn't balanced just sounds awfully whiny. I wonder if the Germans would have provided the Russians with a "do over" during the opening weeks of the war because the Soviet units weren't ready and it just wasn't fair.

Oops, I'm sorry. 3 out of 4 VLs under Polish control. 75% to 25% -- Major Victory.

I always have fun reading other folks' AARs, so I thought I would offer this one up. The scenario is "Reluctant Warriors," which pits the green troops of the 26th Waffen SS division against a combined arms unit of Polish Rifle Infantry and T-34s. The setting is in January of 1945, and the 26th is largely made up of Hungarian conscripts training in Poland. Short on food, ammo and overall support, they find themselves attracting the unwelcome attention of the Soviet Army. I played as the Polish troops (as advised by the scenario briefing), leaving the Hungarians to the AI. The idea was to either destroy the enemy, or pen him in the north. My starting forces included a rifle company (pattern 44A), a recon platoon, a 132mm Rocket FO and a 82mm Mortar FO -- all of them regular. I was told to expect reinforcements in the form of two T-34 platoons. The map is covered in light snow, and is dotted with patches of forested terrain and scattered trees. A dirt road runs from the northern map edge to the southwest corner of the board. There's a minor victory flag at the SW corner. A major flag is also stuck on a naked ridgeline to the NW, while two flags are positioned next to light buildings in an open field, oriented along the road I mentioned before. My troops started the game in the SE corner. Here's a description of my original plan. 1. The recon platoon -- using as much dead ground and tree cover as possible -- was to probe towards the Victory Location at the SW corner. In a perfect world, they could assist in taking that patch of ground. Otherwise, I wanted them to sniff around and determine just what was positioned on the high ground in that area (I live in perpetual fear of blindly dragging my tanks in front of AT guns). 2. 3rd platoon (rifle company) would lead the way for the company's Maxim MGs and the 82mm FO, and once they were in position to provide covering fire, move to cut the road north of the buildings. I figured anything I could put next to a road - especially in snowy conditions -- could limit enemy mobility. 3. 1st and 2nd platoons would move under cover to a wooded spot SE of the two structures, and wait for the tanks to arrive and provide fire support before launching their assault. I expected these guys to get bloodied, as they would be out in the open. But cover ended shy of the buildings -- so oh well. Anyway… Round 1 saw the Rocket FO drop a pre-planned barrage near the NW Victory Location and the nearby wooded terrain (most of it gently sloping high ground). Rockets are so scattered, I haven't found a use for them other than prepping the battleground FAR from where my troops will be beginning their advance. Losing your men to friendly fire is embarrassing, so unless someone can offer a few pointers, I'm stuck with this approach. Rounds 2-4 saw my riflemen reach their jumping off points. Nothing of any real interest, except me straining to hear the Polish coming from my imac's speakers. Round 5 saw my first platoon of 3 T-34s arrive, and I plotted them (using overwatch) across some open ground to join my two assault platoons. These fellas had started to take some ineffective small arms fire at the end of Turn 5 (couldn't see from where). Their immediate response was to dive into nearby snow drifts and try to crawl to random spots across the board (the Platoon CO and my mouse quickly put a stop to that). Meanwhile, my recon platoon needed to cover some open ground to reach the woods near the SW Victory Flag, so the forward squad was split into rifle teams and "advanced" to the nearest piece of cover without incident. During Rounds 6-10 saw my 82mm FO drop mortar rounds in front of the closer of the two buildings (my assault platoons were still seeing bullets smack into the ground around their feet), while the tanks scooted even forward and 3rd platoon made for the road. I understand enough about "Shock" that I wanted my riflemen and armor to be right onhand for when the barrage lifted. Some MISERABLE F'ing luck, however, caused a single mortar round to drop at least 150m from where the barrage was targeted to strike one of 3rd platoon's squads, causing 3 casualties. NOOOOOOO. The Macintosh just ignores me. My 3-year-old ambles over to see what's going on and comments that my men were "booped." At the same time, the recon platoon drew some fire from the high ground near the western edge of the map, resulting in two casualties. That wasn't so bad, however, since it was soon out of danger and heading into the woods nearest its objective. Rounds 7-15 saw the mortar barrage end while the FO still had half of his rounds available. I know arty isn't all that effective when used piecemeal, but I couldn't see that I was hitting anything. The first T-34 platoon then shot forward while the first of my assault platoons began its advance. Some small arms fire drove it to ground, but the tanks opened up on a pair of Hungarian "infantry squads?" Soon the first assault platoon was back on its feet and moving forward, the T-34 platoon was blasting away at enemy infantry and 3rd platoon had reached a reverse slope position near the first structural Victory Flag that allowed it to cover the N-SW road. Control of the location switched to me. I began to pull my Maxims up. At the same time, the recon platoon was working its way through the woods towards its objective. I also received my second tank platoon. At the beginnng of Round 16, a pair of StuG IIIs popped up along the NW ridgeline. By then the initial T-34s had taken hull down positions near the first VL. The Platoon Lt. Bit it as a 75mm shell achieved a "front turret penetration." But my surviving crews killed the assault gun and crippled the second (causing it to reverse out of sight). My two assault platoons at this point were slogging their way towards the second wooden structure (taking a good bit of fire from the high ground to the west). About 6 or 7 of my riflemen had crumpled to the ground, but none missed them that I could tell and none of my squads had broken or gone to ground. The recon platoon, meanwhile, was slowly but surely nearing the SW flag. By Turn 20, my grunts pretty much controlled the board. The second T-34 platoon had joined my assault platoons -- took some shots from AT guns positioned on the western high ground -- and laughingly slaughtered the Hungarian crews after realizing that the enemy's guns were absurdly underpowered (I was guessing 45mm). Any tactical errors I made were rendered moot by the German high command's refusal to properly equip its allies. The recon platoon had pushed across the road in the SW corner, killing a Platoon CO element, a rifle squad and the surviving crewmen of one of the AT guns. 3rd Platoon had advanced on to the road after seeing Hungarian squads start to move along that route to the west and began mowing down wave after wave of conscripts. Finally, the first T-34 platoon was merrily plugging away at any hostiles it could spot on the western high ground as my repositioned 82mm FO began to drop shells right in their laps. By Turn 21, I was feeling pleased with myself, was skillfully ignoring my wife's calls to fold the laundry, and had advanced my two assault platoons forward to gain control of the second house, while the second T-34 platoon blasted away with cannister and HE. Hungarian troops trying to retreat from the second Victory Flag were plugged by the recon platoon, which had plopped itself into the foxholes near the SW corner. By Turn 25 it was all over. The two assault platoons would struggle to reach the base of the wooded hill beyond the second structure (they only lost two more guys, but the crackling of Hungarian rifles seemed to have some them freaked). 3 T-34s were continuing to kill anything they could see, and 3rd platoon -- now reinforced with two Maxims -- was finishing off the lone Hungarian riflemen who had managed to elude them up until point. The game ended on Turn 36. I never took the NW flag (I didn't know what was waiting for me, and my people were stretched all over the board). But the final tally made me smile. I suffered 23 casualties (8 killed), and lost 1 T-34. The Hungarians suffered 204 casualties (out of 315 men, total). They also lost a 37mm AT gun (I'm especially proud of that one), a 45mm AT gun and a StuG III. I never got that second AFV, and looking at the map saw a 3rd had been immobilized in the snow. The heroes of the day were 3rd platoon, which lost only 1 man to enemy fire (3 more to my own damn mortars) and inflicted 50 casualties on the 26th SS. The recon platoon did a pretty good job as well, taking out 29 infantry while only losing 3 men (two of those before it even got a chance to fire back). Anyway, that's it. Anyone else play this one? What did ya think?

The Totenkopf division? Yikes. If his story's true, he's lucky he didn't get shot in the noggin.

Another trick -- never assault a building, or provide covering fire for that matter, from a single direction. Soviet troops were trained to take a structure from under fire from at least 3 sides (at least according to an article I read). That may not be possible in all circumstances, but assaulting a building while covering fire has been laid on from multiple angles has worked nicely so far. And if ya can't see anything, use area fire.

Is that herbal?

Yep. Lot harder as the Soviets. I continued my solo play attempt and in the middle of battle #5 said "this is ri-dik-u-lus" and surrendered just to see what kind of damage had been done to the AI. As the Germans, I had lost a handful of SPWs, a Tiger, a JagPanther, a Puma, a 75mm Pak and a Panzer IIIF. About 40 grenadiers bit the dust (it was neat seeing how platoons rotated to the rear gradually began to come back to strength as lightly wounded soldiers came back). Anyway , the AI lost 23 AFVs (T-34s, IS-2s, SU-85s and T-70s, 3 ATGs and 775 casualties with 347 KIA. JEEZ. I'm no Guderian, either. I just worked under the assumption that in the open steppes, German crews would prefer good fields of fire over cover, and use their mass fire to wipe out any resistance. And it worked. As a single player experience, it must be a lot more fun as the Soviets, and as a two-player scenario, it's great. But I think the briefing maybe should have stated it's a good bit easier as the HG Panzer Division. p.s. -- I like seeing that unit included in the game Interesting history, and nicely equipped. Maybe someone with more design skills than me could do something regarding its battles around Warsaw and East Prussia?

So, judging from the posts, there might be two ways to go about it. I could have a green/conscript rifle company representing enlisted men and NCOs (fodder for the mine fields); or I could have a unit heavy in disgraced/former officers (regular or veteran?). Either way, fanaticism would be tuned up because they would be striving to prove themselves in the eyes of their commanders. A further step would be to strip away their support weapons (no mortars or MGs). I guess I could add some independent MG teams or SMG squads (representing the folks responsible for "motivating" the penal battalion), and a cruel player could direct area fire at any squad that breaks or routes.

Quick question -- what would be the best way to represent a russian penal battalion in CMBB? I was thinking of creating some fictional scenarios centered around a pair of characters from the novel "The End of War." Ilya and Misha were a pair of disgraced officers in an 8th Guards Army penal battalion. Or is such an idea not feasible? I haven't been able to find that much material on such units.

I didn't see anything in the briefing stating it was a 2-player scenario only, but it WAS absurdly easy as the Germans against the AI (I took the HG division because I thought it would be more difficult to attack an AI defender instead of vice versa). After the 3rd battle I quit, and saw I'd inflicted 457 casualties and killed 17 AFVs along with 2 ATGs in exchange for 1 Tank, 1 Puma, 1 75 mm Pak, some SPWs and about 40 infantry. In regards to difficulties playing as the Soviets, I may be wrong, but I think you'd want LOS to be really shortened. German optics mean any Soviet tanks will be absolutely butchered in LR exchanges of fire. Plus, the penetration values of the Russian 45mm ATG are really poor. You need to tackle the Krauts with PB fire to get anywhere. I'm playing against a friend right now (as the Soviets), and the only way to preserve my SU-85s and T-34s has been to keep them hidden until the last minute (or at least severely restrict their fields of fire/exposure). Damn steppes. Damn King Tigers (grumble grumble).

geez - that came across heavy. won't happen again.

Gawd, I gotta stop after this; mainly because it's not relevant to the game, but also because I left this part of my life behind. Let's not flame those poor unfortunates who've been burdened with trying to cover a military beat, please. I can name more than a few Stars and Stripes reporters, writers for a so-called "First Amendment publication," who were recruited on the notion that they were going to bring the news to US residents oversease, but then found themselves forced to bludgeon the most mundane bits of information (and here I mean anything grander than the base school spelling bee) out of base commanders and Public Affairs officers, or local criminal investigators. And the penalty for screwing up an article was, still can be, pretty darn severe. The typical reporter faces dismissal if he screws up (there are countless applicants waiting to replace you). And there aren't any legions of untouchable journalists, just like the whole idea of the "liberal media elite" excludes 90% of the college students who look to make a difference, earn wages comparable to the average department store cashier, and then burn out before they're 30. Sorry to be a butt, everyone. But for an ex journalist (and one who did his best to be a good one) it chaffs to see other folks get criticized. The rant is over. I will post on this no more. p.s. -- yes, he probably could have left the whole Wagner thing out of the piece.

There ya go. Good review, and reasonably well done at that. If we're gonna knock any review, it should be an article that gives the game poor marks simply because the writer didn't have the attention span to sit down and really try CMBB. As long as the intro music isn't credited to Kenny Loggins, I'm not going to sweat it.

Poor journalism? Hardly. It's a mistake. And mistakes can occur no matter how much effort goes into editing an article. There are far worse errors that can appear in print than a writer not knowing which composer should be credited with a piece of music, especially when the article's main focus is a video game. Poor journalism is a reporter blatantly injecting his opinion in what is supposed to be an objective article, misquoting his sources, failing to give both sides in a contested issue a chance to air their views (again, in an objective article), or maliciously misrepresenting the facts. I was a reporter for years before family demands made me bow out (most writers don't make squat) and this wasn't bad journalism. This was a guy giving "thumbs up" to a game this forum is trying to support, and the majority of posts concerning his review are pointing out what people didn't like. The same thing pretty much happened with that interview that was posted a few weeks back. And those critics didn't accomplish anything except make the guy feel like a dweeb. You can't get mad about it, if you want. But the way I see it, nothing is served by coming down on writers who are trying to send a positive message.

Geez -- typo. Gandfather was in WWII, not WWI. D'oh.

One last thing. Granted, it's a no brainer, but I'm gonna post it anyway. My dad and grandfather are combat veterans (WWI and Vietnam, respectively). And from what I've gleaned from their accounts, they both encountered the same thing -- There's often a monstrous difference between what that 19-year-old private has been trained to do, and what he's capable of when someone's trying their best to kill him.

Please please please leave the infantry just as they are. I got mauled the first SEVERAL times I played the game (I'm not ashamed to say it). But I'm doing my best to adapt, things are starting to pay off and it's a lot more rewarding to successfully use my infantry in CMBB than in CMBO. In fact, I'm starting to live for the opportunity when I can use my pioneers to clear a minefield, or tackle a gun emplacement. BTW, there's a web site that has pdf copies of the U.S. Army's combat infantry drills. With a little tweaking, they're certainly applicable to the game.

I don't care if the guy can't differentiate between classical composers. He gave the game great marks. And unless I'm wrong, his closing comment is pretty close to BFC's mission statement. "Wargames have long been a niche market. While early PC gamers were often of a mind to appreciate these types of games, interest in these titles has dwindled as gaming has become more mainstream. And as publishers have become more profit-minded, this poor-selling segment of the market has been seriously neglected. But as the Talonsofts and Strategy Firsts have diversified their catalogs, there's a real opportunity for other developers and publishers to cash in on this oversight." And to rate ANY wargame's graphics a 8.5/10 is pretty darn good. You couldn't ask for better publicity.

Found it. Thanks for point it out.

What kind of luck has anyone had at playing the Soviets in this one? Maybe I just suck, but I have a hard time getting things started. The SU-122s start in scattered trees, so it takes them a while to get out in the open, even at full speed. And the force comp just seems to make it all the harder. My plan was to have the infantry out front, with the assault guns providing DF HE. But the SMG grunts aren't worth much in terrain, and the SU-122s fire so flipping slow, they seem to have trouble against ATGs unless they have a at least a 4-1 advantage. I'm only 8 turns into it, but I have a feeling I'm going about things all wrong. (ADMIN EDIT: Added Spoiler warning to topic title) [ January 29, 2003, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: Moon ]

Tried it as the Russians. Got a 70-30 tactical victory. Knocked out 24 German AFVs, damaged a couple more and immobilized a Tiger. Lost 12 tanks of my own, and had two more with damaged guns. I should have been more aggressive, but it was my first attempt at using Soviet armor. Pretty intense moments there, especially when the Tigers started tearing holy hell out of one of my T-34 platoons. I would have got that crippled fella except time ran out. Last thing -- I was surprised those Panzer IIILs were as hard to kill as they were. From 400m+, front turret hits with my 76mms just bounced off (I understood why after looking at their detailed info). So I had to bring up flanking units and shoot em in the side.

Oh yeah, and since it took me hours to get to Columbus yesterday (26 flipping miles), I think the next CM game should feature an armed invasion of central Ohio. Missions could center around knocking Ma and Pa Kettle out of the passing lane. The way people drive around here, you could catch up to them on foot. :mad: