The Graeme

Been playing PBEM CMBB scenario of mine titled 'Graziani Gets His' in which dug-in Italians in North Africa are assaulted by British under O'Conner (played by Soviets with Brit lendlease equip). Landscape open rolling 'dunes' topped by rocky outcrops. 35 turns. Brits have quite a distance to go to close with Italian line. Game thus far consists of long distance duels between AT guns and tanks & MGs. Am quite taken by the site of tracers arcing across the dark sky, distant flashes of gun fire, rockets streaking down from airpower, isolated units pausing in the immensity of the open landscape, etc., etc. Point I'm getting at is: I enjoy playing the game of course, but I also very much enjoy it as an immersion experience. I routinely take my time every round to witness events from the point of view of virtually every unit, including visible enemy. Like being 'in' a movie. Enjoy watching at least as much as I do playing. My question is, are there players who can't be bothered to 'waste' their time? For whom the attraction is strictly the decision-making, the working out of tactics, who view the screen mainly to grasp what is going on, say from a high angle, never bothering to take the 'over the shoulder' viewpoint? Are there players whose main interest is to 'run' the battle rather than view it? Of course, everyone has to act as commander in order to get thru the game, but I also like to 'experience' the battle from the viewpoint of every unit, in part to 'feel' the consequences of my decisions, but also to put myself 'in' to the battlefield as it were. Be there those who prefer to play the game purely as an abstract tactical exercise, putting demands and challenges on their decision making, hence the attraction, but all else is mere eye-candy of little purpose? I'm just curious. Myself, I hate to rush through a game. I want to witness everything as it unfolds. [ November 12, 2003, 01:55 AM: Message edited by: The Graeme ]

Coquitlam, B.C. (Sorta inbetween Vancouver and the US border)

Just checked the CMAK Frequently Asked Questions and discovered that CMAK will cover four regions! The fourth being East Africa 1940-41! Hot Diggity Dogg! This is the British campaign to liberate Ethiopia from the Italians? Will there be any uniquely Ethiopian terrain and/or buildings? And, since it was a joint effort, Ethiopian troops alongside the British? The best book on the subject is probably Anthony Mockler's "Haile Selassie's War: The Italian-Ethiopian Campaign, 1935-1941" published by Random House in 1984. Classic work covering the politics and the battles. May possibly include the liberation of British Somaliland? Man! I'm really excited about this!

Happened to be reading 'German Fighting Vehicles 1939-1945 (published 1975)and came across the following reference to the 'Diana': "As the war situation deteriorated, all sorts of vehicles not intended for offensive use were given armoured bodywork and pressed into service with first line units. An early example was the experimental fitting of a captured Russian 76.2mm anti-tank gun to an SdKfz 6 5-ton half-track tractor. Only nine such vehicles (popularly known as Diana) were converted and some were sent to Libya in 1942. This opened up the idea of further conversion and many unarmoured half-tracks were given armoured cabs and superstructures." So it seems the Diana had a seminal influence...

I get the impression some people think a Pacific War CM would be 'dull' because it's just infantry in the trees. That's like saying CMBB is 'dull' because it's just a bunch of tanks churning across the snow. We know the incredible variety of scenarios dreamed up by fans of CMBO & CMBB. The same could easily be done with CMPW. As previously mentioned, there's a wide range of possibilities. If you include the Chinese/Japanese war -- Actually I'd like two new games. One devoted to the C/J war up till dec 1941, the second covering post dec 7th events --you get a huge assortment of terrain: desert, barren hills, rice fields, forests, jungle, exotic cityscapes, SE Asian countries, and the Pacific Islands. And the Islands are not all the same. Different climate, different soil, different vegetation. Throw in defensive installations geared to the unique topography of each island and you have an entirely different challenge in every scenario. Many islands are too big to fit CM, even as operations. You'd have to do selected areas. Think of the possibilities! The Marines defending Wake Island! Fictional Japanese landing on Hawaii! The final Japanese assault on Corregidor! The charge of 12 Japanese light tanks across the airbase at Peleliu! Assaulting Purple Heart Ridge on Saipan! Not enough tanks? The Nationalist Chinese had a bunch of 1930s tankettes. Create a scenario with them battling hordes of Japanese tanks. In fact, the Nationalists purchased military equipment wherever they could. They had a tremendous assortment of 1930s tankettes and artillery. For them as loves the early stuff, would be extremely interesting! Troops would include Russians (those late 1930s battles with the Japanese, plus near end of war conflict), Korean conscripts, both Nationalist and Communist Chinese forces, the Vichy French in Vietnam (who gave in to the Japanese, but what if they had fought?), etc., etc. CMPW would be AT LEAST as interesting, challenging and exciting as the other CM games. To those fascinated with the history of the Pacific War, it would be better than the others. And as a hint to Battlefront, I rather imagine a CM game devoted in whole or in part to the C/J War might tap a gigantic market in Japan and China. But on the other hand, it's the creative genius of the Battlefront gang which has produced our beloved CM games. If, for whatever reason, they are just not interested.... oh well. I wouldn't like to see them force themselves to work through a project. I'd much rather have them create the games they find exciting to create, because that's what makes their games so good for us. Nevertheless, I maintain that the CMPW concept is not the drab, ho hum affair many appear to think it is, but rather, potentially at least, an intensely exciting and gripping game. So while I don't want to annoy the Battlefront guys by whining and insisting they 'must' do a CMPW, I will state as a fact that I for one would be delighted if they came out with such a game and would buy it immediately. I'm fairly certain I'm not alone in this. My two cents worth. Cheers all!

I've only just started playing PBEM and am currently fighting three diabolical opponents. Three seems about right. Takes an hour of relaxation a day, and gives me something to daydream about while slogging thru my warehouse job. An excellent hobby. Can't wait to get home and sit down at the computer! (After kissing the wife of course, I usually don't forget... usually...)

How about Gran Sasso, where Skorzeny and his bunch rescue Mussolini from the mountain top ski resort? It would be a small battle, but a fun one. I second San Pietro, and throw in Ortona with the Canadians. Also: - Melfa River Bridgehead (Canadians) - Liri Valley (Canadians) - Gustav Line (Canadians) - Hitler Line (Canadians) I'm, Canadian, can you tell? P.S. I've done scenarios for all of the above. Looking forward to doing them in CMAK. P.P.S. How about the North African Campaign early in the war? When Graziani penetrated 64 miles into Egypt past abandoned frontier posts, then fatally stopped to build a line of forts while bringing up more supplies. O'Conner promptly counterattacked with great success, taking 130,000 prisoners in two weeks. This is before the Western Desert Force had Matildas. Just Mk this & that plus cruiser tanks. Strictly British (& Indian) vs Italian, all equipped with light early stuff. Would make a pleasing variation on the numerous Afrika Corps vs Brits most people expect. Cheers! THe Graeme

Thanks green As Jade! I'll check it out.

I just started playing a PBEM game for the first time and ran into a similar (same?)problem. In that I opened the email from my host and the attached unzipped file came thru not as such but as an extra text display appended to the message. HTML text I guess. Fortunately I have a zip program, and when he next sent me the zipped version I was able to transfer it to my PBEM file and access it. But I would prefer avoiding the extra step of zipping & unzipping. Is there a way to prevent the initial problem from happening? My host suggested I find "a way to tell the webmail site not to display attachments in line." I tried, but couldn't figure out how. Nothing I found gave me that option. I use messenger express Rev 2.1 in Internet explorer. Is there some sort of options or properties setting I'm missing? I tried the obvious menues. It's no big deal, I'm happy to be able to play using a zip program, but it would be more convenient not to do that. Any ideas?

Hi MrSpkr! Posted a review of MUD BOGGING in the Scenario Depot. Sorry to say it comes out as 5.5 out of 10. I liked the map, but the game itself I found to be too slow in execution to maintain my interest. Even for racing fans, it's too slow. Made the suggestion you change the mud roads to paved to speed things up. At the end, both sides sort of mill about the flags & the game seems to have trouble deciding whom to award the flags to. Maybe if, instead of a meeting in the centre, the object is to race from one end of the board to the other, each side racing towards each other & passing each other in opposite directions, both sides trying to exit as many units as possible within a given time, it might add the tension and sense of urgency which is otherwise lacking. Especially if you throw in minefields, maybe some strafing aircraft, etc. I do like the map itself tho, be great for an infantry battle methinks, thro in some light armour... Cheers! Graeme

MrSpkr! Turns out I had already downloaded Mudbogging from The Scenario Depot, along with about 100 other scenarios, but hadn't got around to it. Pity it's a two-player, in that I've never played anyone else, not sure how to do it, not sure my computer can handle it, and mainly, because of my hours and the fact I share this computer with my wife. In other words, unpredictable when I can use it. So all my games have been a few minutes here & a few minutes there vs the AI. Already played one turn as Allies. Already 'cheated' by having several trucks & jeeps head off across the grass instead of keeping to the roads. I promise a review once I'm finished, even if the AI doesn't kick in. I suspect A Burning Insanity is best played two player also. Hope you try it. Cheers!

Yes, I've gone insane and created 'A Burning Insanity', which features a Russian all-Ampulomet Battalion vs a Hungarian all-Flamethrower Battalion in Pokrov Crater near Novgorad. This one is just for fun. Eager to have it playtested. You can download it from THE PROVING GROUNDS. I suspect it could be quite challenging as a two-player game, or at least amusing. Cheers!

Speaking as someone who has never been able to make head or tail of CMMOS or any other way of installing mods, and thus has ignored mods completely, what you are creating sounds like something I maybe, just maybe, might be able to figure out. There's probably a horde of computer illiterates like myself out there who would benefit, who would be willing to enter the world of mods if only they knew how, or rather, if their computer program knew how. So please persist in what you are doing. From the sound of it, you are not merely reinventing the wheel, but turning an oxcart into a dragster so to speak. Cheers!

Two new scenarios posted at 'The Proving Grounds' this weekend. Pripet Marshes Panic: - A battalion of German infantry cross the Pripet River via Yakub bridge to launch an assault from the grounds of the Bogolansky Sobor (Cathedral)into the Pripet Marshes. The grounds of the Sobor are used as a fire base for artillery and support vehicles, but only infantry can move through the marsh itself to where the partisans lie in wait. Takes place in June of 1942. A preventive action to keep the partisans from interfering with the coming July summer offensive. Fictional. Bug River Bug-out: - Based on account I once read (I believe in Guy Sajer's 'The Forgotten Soldier' - name & title correct?)of Germans fleeing across a river under extreme Soviet pressure. Dropped it into the context of the evacuation from the Bug River line in March 1944. Tired & dispirited infantry crowd the Eastern bank while waiting their turn to cross via a ford. Atop the bank above them a thin line of German AT units attempt to hold back the advancing 8th Guards Armoured. An exit-point game. Quasi-historical. Also check out my recently posted Alushta Agony: - Based on a map by Theike as revised by me with his permission. A combined force of German & Romanian troops are dug in on Shivaya Gorka Hill, their backs to the Black Sea, as elements of the Independent Coastal Army under General Yeremenko emerge from the town of Alushta below them. Quasi-historical. Note: GJK's 'THE PROVING GROUNDS' is an excellent place to playtest your scenario. Not only is it possible for players to add reviews, a separate discussion thread is automatically created for each new scenario. Only been in place a couple of days but has generated much activity already. I find this very useful. The first two scenarios listed I posted this weekend, and received enough perceptive feedback to alter both and repost as version two. Darn near instant feedback. Of course, still depends on the enthusiasm of the participants, but the point is the mechanism is in place for people not only to review after they've finished a scenario, but to throw in comments while they're still playing the game. How cool can you get? Kudos to GJK! I definitely recommend you check out 'The Proving Grounds'. (And no, I don't know how to create a link. But Fredrock has one in his announcement of two new scenarios, I believe.) Cheers!

Just hauled an old favourite wargaming book out of my closet. "Tank Battles in Miniature: A Wargamers Guide to the Western Desert Campaign 1940-1942", by Donald Featherstone, published in 1973 by BlackFriar's Press. Really an excellent introduction to the subject. Half of the material pertains to the mechanics of wargaming with 1:300 scale AFVs, but the other half is good source material on the actual war in the desert. Chapter titles include: What was it really like? (with much info about effects of dust), The Battles of the Western Desert Campaign (in sequence with notes on the vehicles deployed), The Tactics of the Western Desert Campaign, The Terrain, Navigation, Visibility (with more on dust), Communication, and a wonderful chapter describing the AFVs and how they were used. I checked ebay and alas not currently available, but others in the series are, two of them perfect for CMBO & CMBB. They are: TBIM #2: Wargamers Guide to the Russian Campaign 1941-1945 by Bruce Quarrie, 1975. Listed at $37.57 TBIM #3: Wargamers Guide to the North Western European Campaign 1944-1945, by Bruce Quarrie, 1977. Listed at $30.00 TBIM #4: Wargamers Guide to the Mediterranean Campaigns 1942-1945, by Donald Featherstone, 1977. Unfortunately not available. TBIM #5: Wargamers Guide to the Arab-Israeli Wars 1948-1978, listed at $47.58 I only have the first in the Tank Battles In Miniature series, but if the others are as good, they are well worth having. They are small books, digest-sized, but all are hardcover and bound, and #1 at least has 150 pages & 17 photos of miniatures in action! Just thought I'd pass along this info. Cheers!

Stursberg's book is amusing and anecdotal, but apart from his personal insight and experience, the 'filler' is gleaned from historians. At a time when the American networks had a policy of live broadcasts only, the CBC had several vehicles fitted out with portable equipment which enabled them to record announcers with the live battle sounds in the background, at Cassino & Ortona for instance, and forward the records for broadcast later. These were more impressive to the listener than the cumbersome live studio broadcasts or live remotes which, often for reasons of timing, sometimes described events taking place 'live' when in fact they were over before the broadcast began. Many American correspondents in their memoirs have commented on how frustrating the mania for live coverage was to them, especially since the CBC broadcasts were often repeated by the US networks due to their dramatic nature, yet the American correspondents were not allowed to do anything similar. In what way was Stursberg's talk terrible?

By coincidence, am currently reading the 'Sound of War' by Canadian WWII Radio Correspondent Peter Stursberg who worked for the CBC. Writing in 1993, he talks about 240 bombers hitting the Abbey in February, then 460 bombers hitting the area around the town of Cassino on 14th, March. This was followed by a five hour artillery barrage of 200,000 shells. Quoting from John Ellis, author of 'Cassino -- The Hollow Victory', Stursberg writes: "The German Commander, General von Senger Etterlin, compared it to the battlefield of the Somme and quoted Hitler as saying that Cassino was the only battlefield of this war that represented those of the last." He then states: "German prisoners of war said that Cassino was worse than anything they had experienced on the Russian front." Most probably CMAK will include a Cassino scenario. Whether or not it does, I'm sure dozens of people will create their own. From the sound of it, and from pictures I've seen, the town and abbey-topped mountain will have to be a sea of rubble to be authentic. No intact buildings at all. Will need many turns just moving thru the rubble. Will be interesting to see how map-makers work this. If it is too authentic, might not be playable! Note that British & Indian troops finally took Cassino, with some support from the First Canadian Army Tank Brigade, but that it was the Polish Corps that finally overran the abbey itself.

In a couple of the pictures there seems to be evidence that the (3?) story buildings do not fill the tile and join up together, but have narrow paved alleyways, much like traditional Med cities. In which case, can troops move along the allyways without entering the buildings? Or maybe its just the angle of the shots and I'm imagining things. At any rate, it looks very cool.

When Cromwell invaded Scotland, at one battle a Clan warrior named Graeme was locked in a deadly embrace with a Cromwellian officer. Not having his hands free, Graeme ripped out the throat of his opponent with his teeth, and was forever after known as THE Graeme (term probably used by people hoping to avoid a fight with him). My father claimed this is why he chose the name Graeme for me. So if the Puritans ever regain control of merry olde England, watch out! For I will be unleashed! But then, knowing my father's sense of humour, he probably made up the whole story. Anyway, I just use the term to make it easier for people to remember me. No persona implied. I don't actually go around biting the throats out of people... Cheers!

Arrgh! Sorry about double posting. Something to do with flood protection & refresh button and the whim of the gods, etc.

I understand the requirements will be similar to CMBB. With the latter, on my puny computer, I can only play small scenarios. I assume the dust cloud effect will use a lot of computer power, but that it can be toned down or even eliminated much like terrain effect or smoke effect? Am unlikely to be in the position to upgrade my computer in the forseeable future, but desperately want to be able to play at least small scale CMAK. So hot key control of the dust effect might well be the key to playing the game (for me, at least). Will it be adjustable?

I understand the requirements will be similar to CMBB. With the latter, on my puny computer, I can only play small scenarios. I assume the dust cloud effect will use a lot of computer power, but that it can be toned down or even eliminated much like terrain effect or smoke effect? Am unlikely to be in the position to upgrade my computer in the forseeable future, but desperately want to be able to play at least small scale CMAK. So hot key control of the dust effect might well be the key to playing the game (for me, at least). Will it be adjustable?

Hi Fredrock! Downloaded Stompout, but unfortunately my computer can only handle the small to tiny scenarios. Could barely navigate the map. Playing it would be out of the question, unless I reduced the size of the forces, cut out the snow storm, etc. However, the scenario looked good. Perfectly credible landscape. At first glance force balance seemed weighted toward the defender, but then I noted the reinforcements for the attacker and concluded the defender would probably be overwelmed at the end. Looks like a hard fight. I wondered about the amount of open space, but realized the snowstorm would cut visibility, reducing the action to a series of sudden, vicious confrontations. Also wonder about the number of trucks, but I guess to move your defenders about quickly where needed? Dang but I wish my computer could process your scenario. You obviously put a lot of thought into it. Looks like fun. I encourage you tro do more scenarios! I also encourage anyone reading this to check out Stompout! As for myself, I have 5 battles posted in the CMBB section of Scenario Depot. You might want to check out my Gulag Factory Complex, which is roughly comparable to Stompout, albeit tiny in comparison. Also have 22 battles posted in the CMBO section. Check any out, such as Dieppe Disaster or Obersalzberg, and it'll give you the complete list. I also encourage you to try doing a smallish to medium size scenario. If my computer can handle it, I'll definitely review it! Cheers!

The tanks are beautiful, the truck amazing, but I was also pleased to see palm (date palm?) trees and desert grasses. Looking forward to experimenting with a new, or at least enhanced, terrain. Also thinking, a Pacific War CM featuring jungle vegetation would be cool. I know armour buffs would find it boring, but considering what a hard slog it was on those fortified islands I figure it would be quite challenging for infantry enthusiasts. And while I'm at it, I think an Ethiopian/Italian CM would be cool too, though perhaps something best left to modders working with CMAK. But all in all, I think I would be happy with ANY new CM Battlefront comes up with. CMBO & CMBB are just superb. I don't play anything else.

Ah, I was vaguely aware the Proving Grounds site existed, but didn't know what it was all about. Checked it out. Looks good. I submitted my info to join up. I have very little free time, so I probably won't be able to play test other people's scenarios, not for the forseeable future. But I will submit some of my scenarios and see what people make of them. I hadn't realized that the Scenario Depot should be reserved for the final version, but that makes a lot of sense. One site to test, another to go to in search of a reliably challenging game. Feel a bit guilty that in my newbie ignorance I may have submitted scenarios to the depot which aren't ready to be there. Oh well, one step at a time. I'm learning. My ultimate goal is simply to create scenarios which others will enjoy. If I can succeed in that at least 50% of the time I'll be content. Thanks for setting me straight about how things are done. Hope to submit something soon. Cheers!