Howard R

Three lies in one package. it isn't a meal. it isn't ready. You can't eat them.

Also, given the situation you described, it is not unusual for air dropped troops to land widely scattered. The long distances they must travel while carrying everything (literally) on their backs were a constant problem for airborne troops until the development of the helicopter. Anyway, run for a turn, walk for 2 covers ground quickly, and allows troops to remain in some sort of formation whle not getting overly tired.

I got a Marder to surrender once. I killed a Stug, but that was in very dense urban terrain Got a Panther with 105 Arty once! Right down an open hatch! had lots of soldiers killed trying. Takes real stones to get that close to a fire breathing monster.

Excellent! One of the best movie insults ever, and hardly anyone recognizes it.

Yeah, sneaking while in contact is not always the best idea. I'd lost many men to that before I came to realize what I had done.

One more thing-does anybody know which movie my quote is from?

15?! 22!? OMG, do I feel old at almost 44. Let's see- 22 years ago I was playing Squad Leader and Tobruk (board games, with actual cardboard counters with actual printing on them. The Rulebook wound up being longer than my college textbooks). Fifteen years ago was 1988 or so and I hadn't purchased my first computer but i was still playing board games. By then I was on the little known Firepower (great concept, I wish it had been translated to computer) and the card/board game Up Front. Sure do miss Avalon Hill. Any other oldies out there care to comment?

I got lucky-I found it early in my CMBO career. I like 'em small-more "realistic" that way, even though i am over 40 and can barely see the keyboard, much less the screen. Thank goodness for bi-focals, and the new pair that I should receive next week. The bigger units always remind me too much of board games.

In general I agree with your post: use the right tool for the job. Thanks! That is high praise from one with so low a number!

Getting behind the other guy's infantry is very important. it is a platoon tactic, performed within company operations. Not the classic breakthrough and pursuit to "roll up the line" of larger scale battles. The light mortar (2", 50mm and 60mm) is very handy for laying smoke on the the other guy, as well as keeping heads down on his machine gun units while I move closer, around or to better cover. also great for popping his guns. my general theory is this: Tanks against his infantry, AT against his tanks, infantry against his AT. not to be followed to the letter, or adhered to strictly-just a general guideline.

On board mortars can be very effective gun and strongpoint suppression. Use them against a gun or a machine gun, and watch the fireworks (so to speak). I love 'em. Off board is great for large area suppression to allow your units to close on defended positions, especially the slow moving mg teams. On board can also be used to great effect by placing smoke right on the unit you are attempting to assault or blind.

Move in cover, then sneak and hide to the final position. Then un-hide and spot. Spotters are very valuable targets, keep them safe as possible, but shoot like hell when you can. Also, to help preserve ammo, but still keep heads down or cause casualties, adjust fire now and then to somewhere very close to the original target-the delay of 10-20 seconds will allow many more fire missions by preserving ammo.

Another from Columbus (Cowtown, Ohio State Central, Colum-bogus, my adopted home town) Ohio, USA, Earth, Sol system, the Milky Way.

There is also a correlation between the quality and/or experience factor of the unit and the length of extension. Better and more experienced units can operate more independently (I think is the rationale).

I played Squad Leader when it was new, and followed it up all the way through red Barricades. When i wanted some fun, i went back to those first 3 scenarios. Simple ones, easy victory conditions, not too many rules. Great fun. I will always play CMBO, even when there are other things onthe hard drive (like CMAK). Now, my favorite scenarios are quick battles-random ones. They are like a box of chocolates....

Fuel aside, put up a battle with Pershings against Panthers and see what happens. I think I might have to try one just for fun. Start controversey...........NOW! I always loved the Panther-when they work it is the best overall tank.

"In a related question, i had an infantry unit pinned down right next to a German Panzer. How do I tell it to use grenades or demolition charges specifically? Selecting weapons doesnt seem to be an option with this game... " Please remeber that you aren't selecting the weapon, the guys fearing for their lives, cowering under the fire of an ENEMY TANK, with no armor other than their summer uniform are. Also, "pinned" means that they are taking fire, and mostly unable to move without being killed.

Interesting question. The question that must be associated with yours is this, "Where would they get the gas to fuel the tanks?" Otherwise, all you have are expensive, difficult to manufacture, maintain and repair steel pillboxes. now, all other things being equal, there would still have been tons more T34/85's.

Personally, i'd like a good combination of game types in one game. i'd love to see a game in which I could command a national force (each unit is division sized) where i could drill down to the tactical. For instance, there are two good divisions in contact with one another. in the strategic level game there is a little smoke and noise and then one or another or neither retreats and the other follows. Cool as far as it goes. i'd like to be able to move down a level or two or three and take that divisional battle (just a small part of the overall campaign) and fight as one battalion against the other guy's battalion, and have the results influence the larger, strategic level game. ideally, players around the world could participate, some as 3 star generals, some as 90 day wonder squad leaders who get killed in their first combat. Over time, the low level leaders could advance up the chain of command, etc. Supplies could also be a big problem for the commanding units. it could be soooooo deep! Wouldn't that be cool? (If I explained that well enough to be understood?)

Thank you. Scanned pages would be very cool!

This is great! I've always wondered about this stuff. Battlefront.com comes through again! Would there be a difference in direct fire if the gun is firing HE vs AP? Would there be a difference for APDS vs. solid shot AP? How about the shaped charges that some larger caliber artillery could fire?

I'll ask the question again-who is Mannaccom? Also, where are the pages of tables he is talking about that are so necessary to the game play? I hardly ever even look at the info on a unit or vehicle. We should all send comments to that reviewer and his publication. And send him to writing 101 at his local community college, too.

Scouting is incredibly important whether attacking or defending. On the attack, remember that your attack does not have to come all over the map. pick a side, and attack it hard. if you can penetrate, he will either have to come to you or you can roll him up. his defense is always best to the front, not the sides. if you break one flank, it is easier to break his entire position. On defense, have a good reserve, and dig in on the best terrain. Defend in front of the flags and have a fall back position, to the flags. From a platoon of inf, put two squads in the line, and one at the fall back position. this allows for foxholes to retreat into. Best of luck. Oh-and start with medium sized scenarios. The big ones are a lot to handle and the small ones sometimes require great tactical skill to win. This is a great game, and should be enjoyed.

OOOOOOH yeah! the magic of CMBO-no sleep, start seeing your neighborhood as a battlefield. "Y'know, honey, if I wanted to assault the community center, that hill would be a prime spotting location." Make sure you have some infantry looking out toward the rear areas before you bring the tanks around-what if those guns were 75's? If you can get them there, the little platoon mortars can actually take down a gun or two or three before dying themselves. They are surprisingly accurate when they have a good line of sight.

I've never had too much trouble with artillery. I find it accurrate enough -I'll usually correct one time or two before calling in the real barrage I'm not sure that a rolling barrage to advance behind is really the kind of thing that can be well modeled at this scale. I'll identify enemy positions first, then call in on as many tubes as i can for them. Once the arty is falling, then I will advance, because the other guy's head will be down. And his buildings exploding! And taking casualties! And wishing he had never been born! And being showered with dirt and tree limbs and shrapnel! yeah-that's the stuff!