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Thanks for all the advise. I have done the along the valley wall each side, did reasonably well. Would do better if the 1 sees all see did not exisit. I hope that the Afrika Corps has a AT 'hull down', to get that finite difference between just in view to all in view.

And it's people like you - with an obvious chip on their shoulder and inability to listen to answers once you've asked your questions - that probably wouldn't have bought the product to begin with, but nonetheless insist on flinging your bitterness into the ether regarding the fact that CM doesn't let you do everything that (insert name of favourite unrealistic computer game here) lets you do. If you really prefer Steel Panthers, by all means keep playing it. CM isn't Steel Panthers. Good luck in your quest. </font>

Are you assuming that the average commander in the field had a magical map that told him exactly what could be seen from every 10 square metres of the battlefield? You are being encouraged to think in terms of real life situations, and not use gamey tactics other "classic" games allow. I agree that when you're new to this game, working out what can or cannot be seen from where is very difficult. As a previous person said, getting down to level one, and skimming rapidly over the terrain is a good way to get a feel for possible lines of sight. Another useful tool is the terrain mod with an overlaid grid, which allows you to get a much better idea of slight undulations, and folds in the ground; I don't use it myself, but I've read that a number of people rely on it quite heavily. You will get better at "reading" the terrain as you become more experienced with the game. Trust me </font>

I am playing the demo, with the battle with the 16 German tanks, against 12 Russian AT guns and various troops. I am working on the assumption that the accuracy of the German tanks over 1500 metres is correct. How do I get them to last longer than a few minutes? How can I set them up to allow them to attack the enemy but be protected? Whilst you would say but them down the slope and just have thier heads up, how can that be done? In so far as, how can I tell much they are showing. Sorry to say, the graphics don't lend to being able to accurately know. I do agree and love the line of site tool and what it represents, however, during the setup phase I and up spending 80% of the entire game time just trying to work out what they can see, and after moving the 1 chap for the 10th time, I have to ask, for the setup only!!! Why did they not have the classic higlighted area representing what can be seen from that spot.

aka_tom_w, Whilst I agree with you for "in the game", however, during the setup phase this would be a usefull tool. Instead of moving a unit to find I have it in the wrong place and have to move it again for the 10th time. Especially as I have found that the AI normally puts my anti tank gun in a easy to kill spot. BTW, about my AT gun, some hint's would be great, just so that they survive past the 1st 2 minutes. KanaljeFätter, A thousand 'most humble apologies' Tiss that it is hard to quit make out what I am seeing or not at times. Sergei, Yes I do have great difficulties in making out the terrain gradients, and as I video card is not that fast I generally don't get a good feel at the ground level as I 'snail' along, and tend to loose prespective of where I am to where I start and want to end at. Where is the gradient mod? URL please.

The locked unit view does not give me a good indication because of the graphic quality, especially the trees or maybe I have it wrong, nah no way, this is me we are talking about Is there a way besides moving a unit around then doing the line of site of actually getting a line of site 1st from a location? I know the answer is no, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I normally like the directly overhead mode when setting up etc. However, the over the shoulder is nice, but with 50+ units it does not seem practical. I normally go the 45 degree angle for the battle.

Is there only the 'draw a line' line of Sight? I wish there was a highlight/shadow version for the basics. I want to lay a man down to guard a area, and I have to darw a line everywhere at all distances to be able to try and figure aout what he can and cannot see. Is there some thing that I have missed, in that there is a basic line of sight which will highlight what ground he can and cannot see on the map.

I have picked up the demo of CMBB, and really do like the engine mechanics with regard to the simultaneous execution. However (yes we all knew that was coming!) how do I keep track of what happened to who? There are several levels of this for me. Firstly, the graphics, the units are difficult to see if the units are at default size, (I need this to keep a perspective of the cover etc of the unit. The mark base is a glaring blue/red square which makes visually identifying what the unit is impossible. This then makes the who is firing at who is made more difficult. Also there does not seem to be any other way of knowing what happened to who. So how do I keep track of what is happening across a large battle? PS, Is there a icon and base mode, for the directly from atop view which are like those of the Talonsoft games such as Western front.