The Graeme

Hmmm, excellent idea. Meanwhile, I downloaded a temporary zip program and zipped my Carinhall battle and submitted it to the scenario depot (at least I think I did, if I did everything correctly). If it works and it gets posted on the depot, I'll announce it on this forum. In the near future I'll either post more battles to the Scenario depot or follow your advice. [ July 27, 2003, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: The Graeme ]

NG cavscout wrote: "Do you plan on posting the scenarios you have made anywhere? They sound pretty good." I would if I could. I don't know how or where. Though I've always had a computer of one kind or another since 1980, I have yet to develop a 'handle' on them, thinking of them as glorified typewriters. (Did I mention I'm 52 years old? Might be part of my problem...this newfangled stuff...) I can't even figure out how to use the quote function in this forum. I gather from perusing scenario sites that everything is 'zipped'. I don't have a zip drive or a zip program. I don't believe I have any compression program (I might, but if so I don't know about it). Still, I suspect some would enjoy checking out my scenarios. If not playable, could always be altered I assume? So my scenarios could be the base for someone else's improved version? Any advice how I might go about this? Or what sites to send to?

Originally posted by Greenasjade: "It's positively amazing how a scenario that one makes that looks great when its done plays awful, and not at all how you expected." Some of my altering scenarios is purely cosmetic, as in: 'the farmhouse is facing the wrong way' or 'the road isn't level' or 'the town is too generic, needs more variety' which, to someone concentrating on play value, isn't important. But for me, such 'flaws' take away from the credibility of the scenario. Generally speaking, I keep in mind such matters as LOS and possibilities of manoeuvre when altering or creating a map, I want it to be playable. Then again, the joy of creating, & the joy of playing, is perhaps also matched by the joy of playtesting until tweaked to perfection. All part of the infinite replayability of this wonderful game. "There's a thought: maybe we need a web page with CM art! Scenario's/screen shots that deserve to be preserved purely for their aesthetic value!" Cool idea. Would probably need to be moderated since not everyone would share the same opinion as to what is worthy and what isn't. Would be great fun to browse thru though.

Call me weird, but 90% of my CM time is spent altering existing scenarios or creating new ones. Part of it is due to my chronic fatigue (late shift warehousework plus a mild heart condition) and part of it is CM being my childhood dream come true (I used to spend hours drawing stickfigure battles on elaborate terrain -- "What's wrong with this boy?" my granddad used to ask). So when I come home too tired to think I nevertheless spend a relaxing hour or two changing scenario maps till they look 'right'. I've changed every scenario in both CMOO and CMOB. And I've done more than 100 scenarios from scratch such as, my own versions of the Falaise Pocket or the Hurtgen Forest, lesser known battles like the Brit commando raid on occupied Guernsey or the Polish defense of Westerplatte, Dieppe of course (I'm Canadian), allies overunning research bases like Rechlin or E. Stelle Travermunde, the Polish attacking Peenemunde, operation Felix (Gibralter), and some odd fictional battles like American airborne assaulting Carinhall (in hopes of nabbing Goring), or Skorzeny leading an attack on the Nuremburg Trial site, or even dropping in on Los Alamos (courtesy of a squadron of Junkers 390s). In short, CM is for me a creative hobby involving research and imagination. I get a great sense of accomplishment when I complete each one. Yet so far I've playtested very few, but will get around to them all as time goes on. (Rechlin airbase turned out to be too lopsided. All the antiaircraft weapons sited about the base made short work of allied armour. Must rethink this one.) Note that 'After The Battle' magazine is a superb resource with both detailed maps and excellent photos for a host of obscure battles. Anyway, just curious. Which aspect of the game do you enjoy the most? What percentage of time is devoted to creating rather than playing? Im my case 90/10. I'd be interested in finding out if I'm unique in this or if many share my approach to CM.

My first contribution. I like to pick mildly hilly farmland which provides a variety of terrain along with line of sight blockage. I also like to cut back on line of sight by choosing snowfall or rain conditions. This way a small battlefield, which is best for a short QB, doesn't offer unlimited visibility. More fun to grope forward till contact at an unexpected place. I also prefer to choose my own units, usually as wide a variety as possible within the constraints of the points allowed. The rough idea is a hodgepodge of elements thrown together to deal with an emergency situation. To sum up, I like a short QB as difficult and unpredictable as possible. More challenging that way. Then again, I will sometimes take a somewhat perverse approach just for the fun of it. All flamethrower units vs all mortar units, for eg. That's the beautiful thing about CM... infinite possibilities.