edraynes

Actually, I think you'll find the folks here among the most experienced and intelligent, not to mention helpful bunch around. Search the forums for the various FAQ's and tutorial posts. I believe those posts, along with actually reading the quality manuals that come with the games will satisify your request for a beginners forum. I just recieved the games, and to be honest, the manuals alone are worth 2X what BFC is charging for the games. Hell, I'm a software developer and haven't seen quality manuals like this since NFL Challenge and DOS 6.2 Good luck and enjoy your new hobby (full-time job)

For the money, your best bet is to order the CMBO/CMBB combo package. As others have stated, CMBB (eastern front) is more realistic, and consequently a little more difficult than the older CMBO. I just received my package from battlefront last week and am fortunate enough to have high speed internet access. So, as others have suggested, I downloaded the majority of CMBO mods from http://www.combatmission.com/index.asp . Search the site for 3rd party mods and you will find a page of suggested mods for CMBO. My modded version of CMBO LOOKS almost as good as CMBB. Again, as someone else on this board has stated, be prepared to give up all your other hobbies once you get into either/both of these superb games.

I just placed an order Order Number: 95131, for the combo package after downloading the demo(s). Gentlemen, I cannot wait to receive the games. Frankly, I found your product quite by accident and I cannot believe it. I am a 49 year MIS Manager with 25 years experience in the computer field, from programmer, SA, systems integration and management,with 6 years active military (end of Vietnam to 1978). More importantly, I am a former player of numerous Avalon Hill games from Tactics II, 1914, Gettysburg up to ASL. Played actively from the mid 60s thru late 70s. I gave up this interesting, but time consuming hobby around 1979. I have always wanted to integrate this interest with computer systems, but have always been disappointed in the commercial efforts by most mass market software/game developers. Sure, they push the envelope in 3D technology and modern hardware, but are lacking in realism, playability, customization and general strategy and tactics. Now that I am a little older, with more time on my hand, I can find a resurgence of this hobby in your unbelieveable products. For what it is worth, thank you for a product that I always dreamed possible, but until now was not realized.