mattman2000

I dug "The Desert Generals" out of our basement and found out I was wrong regarding O'Connor. He was captured by the Germans in '41 and was a prisoner for something like two years. The author really seems to have though a lot of him, writing that his two initials divisions and attached units, when they began their campaign into Libya, possessed a level of professionalism and "dash" that was never reached by the UK troops who later fought in North Africa. Re-reading the first few chapters, though, it doesn't look like anyone could HELP but beat the Italians.

Got it. It was Sir Richard O'Connor. Book was "The Desert Generals."

Aaarggh. I can't remember his name, but there was a British General who basically moppped North Africa with the Italians during the early days of that theater. Then he got yanked by his superiors. I have a book about it wherein the author states the general was undeniably brilliant, won victory after victory for the Allies, only to see his career go down the pooper. I read the thing about 18 months ago, and it's been sitting in a box for the past eight weeks or so (we just moved). Anyway, it made for a fascinating read (especially when you realize just how initially unprepared either side was to fight in such terrain). I think it would be a great game.

I'm new to the rules, and felt a little overwhelmed by the excel sheet at first. I'm confident now that I understand them. Actually rolled up a QB last night, and I'm going to slug it out today after I get home from work. It's obvious a lot of effort went in this. Thanks for all your work so far.

Thanks for that

geez -- it fell to the 2nd page already. Last attempt before I let it slip into oblivion.

Can anyone point me towards a good source of info on the Herman Goering Panzer Division? I've got some material on their involvement in Sicily and Italy, but I'm looking for a more detailed unit history and some details about their fighting in the Eastern Front.

The AI is not horrible. I've read a couple of posts where folks were talking about its inability to adapt (set up good defense and it'll likely keep feeding troops and tanks in the meatgrinder). They may have a point. But then, I've never seen a wargame where the AI could really and truly adapt to what the human player was doing. Up until CM, neither had I seen a wargame where a light tank controlled by the AI realizes it's in trouble, pops smoke, and reverses the hell out of dodge. If a scenario is too easy as the Germans, or too easy as the Soviets, then switch sides. Odds are you were playing it from the wrong point of view in the first place. You'll sweat a little more trying to move your T-34s around an open field covered by King Tigers. And you won't like watching your crew brew up, either. If that doesn't work, bump up the opposition's strength and experience. But I just went off on a major tangent. The game is worth every penny. Go get it.

I'm not going to knock it (the interview). It takes guts to type something up, attach your name to it, and then open it up to public scrutiny/criticism. I'll just add that I have a couple of friends who work as reporters for the local paper, and it's a lot harder than most people might think to come up with questions for an interview; especially when the topic you're discussing isn't something you deal with on a day-to-day basis. I think it's commendable that a site that deals primarily with console gaming made the effort. For what it's worth, I was happy to see they did it.

I was thinking that had to be true. They have to get in pretty close to combat the Tigers, while the AI -- and I'm not knocking it -- kept cresting hills and ridgelines and exposing itself to LR fire. I'm gonna try it as the Russian tonight and see how I do.

First try -- 91 to 9 total victory; although God knows that had to be a fluke. Lost 9 AFVs (5 panzer IIs, 3 Marder IIs and a Panzer IV). Killed/Captured 60 Russian tanks after the AI surrendered. Game is great, but my favorite part of the whole experience was my 3-year-old providing a running commentary for my wife. Apparently, I "powed" a lot of T-34s.