NavyDiver

Robert, I am inexperienced with playing CM but what I try or am trying to do now in my human player axis attacking scenarios against the AI acting as defending Soviets is to use the 3 colors set-up zone to match the flavor of the enemy AI unit. I usually think of red as enemy who is closest to my approaching troops. White as units a bit farther back but maybe still with LOS. Blue might be follow on forces or what I'd hope that AI would use as reserves. Then only put these colors and thus these type units in certain terrain or locations that match what would be more human or logical. If you have a lot of choices for these colors then you get some unpredictability from the AI. Does anybody else have tricks like this up their sleeve?

I went down this road a bit. I sent my progress out to a few folks but it got lukewarm feedback. Most of what I did and recommend to do is easily doable by each player to his tastes. Like adding spices to soup. I'm new with CM but now see clearly that what folks plug in as mods is quite personal. So I'm backing off from posting status on the forum. What I personally like to see during gameplay is the goal of my further modding of CMAK into CMBO2. I'm having fun. Mark said he enjoyed some of what I did and he helped solve a few snags. Recipe to make your own CMBO2 to your particular taste. 1. Copy and paste the horizons from CMBB into CMAK to get rid of Italian mountains. Unless you are trying for a Vosges Mt campaign! 2. Get rid of Italian flavor architecture. Get "Tanks a lot's" small building mods from CMBB and plug them in. Plug in large buildings from CMBB. Looks close enough for western Europe. 3. Bocage: It is not directly there as a terrain element but a thread in this forum reported you can use tall hedges like impassable bocage for US tanks until late summer 44 when hedgerow cutter arrives due to what seems to be a bug or holdover of code in the program. 4. Uniforms: I experimented around and used AndrewtF's awesome uniform mods to replace CMAK axis uniforms with what you'd see in a particular CMBO scenario. I have done some of my own minor mods to these uniforms. Sometimes I did things that I later found already done. Adding gloves, etc. I'm still tweeking on what I call "CMBO2 Bulge FJ" which is the above with all axis uniforms modded to be FJ/LW types and allies modded to have gloves/winter green pants. I hope to gather some snow camo vehicle mods and do more spicing up of this. Slowly I will also do the same thing for heer and Waffen-SS in the bulge. Note that these would be able to be used for any wintery timeframe not just during the Bulge. Then I will eventually do a similar process for summer of 44. Get rid of the gloves, winter coats, etc. I think I starred with winter since it was winter in RL! If any modders want to contribute, the kinds of things I would like help on would be various CMBO2 splashscreens and getting a tiny little bitmap image of a map of Europe with Northwest europe kind of highlighted like you get when you have CMAK Italy with the "boot" highlighted in the overall tiny map of the Med. Icing on the cake changes. Take care. [ January 14, 2004, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

My Dad turned 17 in Sep 42 and joined the US Navy. He wanted to get off the farm in New Jersey and away from his step-Mom. He said he would have joined the marines but that recruiter only came around once a week. He says that due to his being 1st generation Hungarian-American that after boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island he couldn't go to duty on "real warships" like "New Jersey's cruiser" USS Trenton but was sent to gunnery training and "armed guard" duty onboard various liberty ships. He became a gunners mate and made a bunch of trans-Atlantic convoy trips to England manning 3 inch guns, 40mm, etc. He said he shot down a 2 engined German bomber, maybe He-111 or Ju-88? He says he saw torpedo wakes go by his ship and saw ships being hit and then sunk. In 44 he was sent to amphib training and assigned to LST-994. He went through Panama Canal and was in San Diego when he broke an arm and was able to skip out on further action. He ended the war checking ammo at an ammo depot in New Orleans. He was also the base CO's driver and played tennis one day with the CO's friend, CAPT McVeigh. This was the CO of the USS INDIANAPOLIS. Sunk at end of war after carrying A-Bomb parts. Dad is still kicking. I'm in the navy now so he is all proud (makes me nearly puke sometimes). He does volunteer service on an old liberty ship woeking out of Baltimore and the LST in Mississippi. My Uncle was a few years older and joined the Navy in 40 and became an aviation ordnancemen, like a bombardier. He did duty on PBY catalina flying boats and PB4Y2 (USN version of the liberator bomber). I went to a VPB-102 squadron reunion one time with him and my Dad. His aircraft was hit by Japanese AAA and pilot killed, co-pilot blinded. My Uncle helped fly the plane back with navigator and I think he received the navy cross. I saw a later photo of the plane "Navy's Gravy" and they had a large patch on the fuselage up near the cockpit. He doesn't like to talk much about the war. Still kicking. My other Uncle was even older and joined the US Army, maybe as part of New Jersey National Guard. He went into MP's and was later sent to OCS and became an officer. He did time in China Burma India with (I think) the 44th Infantry Division. He passed away years ago after retiring from the Army and then working at the post office. Other Uncles in other parts of the family were in Marines, Army and Navy.

My Dad turned 17 in Sep 42 and joined the US Navy. He wanted to get off the farm in New Jersey and away from his step-Mom. He said he would have joined the marines but that recruiter only came around once a week. He says that due to his being 1st generation Hungarian-American that after boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island he couldn't go to duty on "real warships" like "New Jersey's cruiser" USS Trenton but was sent to gunnery training and "armed guard" duty onboard various liberty ships. He became a gunners mate and made a bunch of trans-Atlantic convoy trips to England manning 3 inch guns, 40mm, etc. He said he shot down a 2 engined German bomber, maybe He-111 or Ju-88? He says he saw torpedo wakes go by his ship and saw ships being hit and then sunk. In 44 he was sent to amphib training and assigned to LST-994. He went through Panama Canal and was in San Diego when he broke an arm and was able to skip out on further action. He ended the war checking ammo at an ammo depot in New Orleans. He was also the base CO's driver and played tennis one day with the CO's friend, CAPT McVeigh. This was the CO of the USS INDIANAPOLIS. Sunk at end of war after carrying A-Bomb parts. Dad is still kicking. I'm in the navy now so he is all proud (makes me nearly puke sometimes). He does volunteer service on an old liberty ship woeking out of Baltimore and the LST in Mississippi. My Uncle was a few years older and joined the Navy in 40 and became an aviation ordnancemen, like a bombardier. He did duty on PBY catalina flying boats and PB4Y2 (USN version of the liberator bomber). I went to a VPB-102 squadron reunion one time with him and my Dad. His aircraft was hit by Japanese AAA and pilot killed, co-pilot blinded. My Uncle helped fly the plane back with navigator and I think he received the navy cross. I saw a later photo of the plane "Navy's Gravy" and they had a large patch on the fuselage up near the cockpit. He doesn't like to talk much about the war. Still kicking. My other Uncle was even older and joined the US Army, maybe as part of New Jersey National Guard. He went into MP's and was later sent to OCS and became an officer. He did time in China Burma India with (I think) the 44th Infantry Division. He passed away years ago after retiring from the Army and then working at the post office. Other Uncles in other parts of the family were in Marines, Army and Navy.

My Dad turned 17 in Sep 42 and joined the US Navy. He wanted to get off the farm in New Jersey and away from his step-Mom. He said he would have joined the marines but that recruiter only came around once a week. He says that due to his being 1st generation Hungarian-American that after boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island he couldn't go to duty on "real warships" like "New Jersey's cruiser" USS Trenton but was sent to gunnery training and "armed guard" duty onboard various liberty ships. He became a gunners mate and made a bunch of trans-Atlantic convoy trips to England manning 3 inch guns, 40mm, etc. He said he shot down a 2 engined German bomber, maybe He-111 or Ju-88? He says he saw torpedo wakes go by his ship and saw ships being hit and then sunk. In 44 he was sent to amphib training and assigned to LST-994. He went through Panama Canal and was in San Diego when he broke an arm and was able to skip out on further action. He ended the war checking ammo at an ammo depot in New Orleans. He was also the base CO's driver and played tennis one day with the CO's friend, CAPT McVeigh. This was the CO of the USS INDIANAPOLIS. Sunk at end of war after carrying A-Bomb parts. Dad is still kicking. I'm in the navy now so he is all proud (makes me nearly puke sometimes). He does volunteer service on an old liberty ship woeking out of Baltimore and the LST in Mississippi. My Uncle was a few years older and joined the Navy in 40 and became an aviation ordnancemen, like a bombardier. He did duty on PBY catalina flying boats and PB4Y2 (USN version of the liberator bomber). I went to a VPB-102 squadron reunion one time with him and my Dad. His aircraft was hit by Japanese AAA and pilot killed, co-pilot blinded. My Uncle helped fly the plane back with navigator and I think he received the navy cross. I saw a later photo of the plane "Navy's Gravy" and they had a large patch on the fuselage up near the cockpit. He doesn't like to talk much about the war. Still kicking. My other Uncle was even older and joined the US Army, maybe as part of New Jersey National Guard. He went into MP's and was later sent to OCS and became an officer. He did time in China Burma India with (I think) the 44th Infantry Division. He passed away years ago after retiring from the Army and then working at the post office. Other Uncles in other parts of the family were in Marines, Army and Navy.

I knew I was not a history buff. I haven't even heard of World War Eleven! But seriously, I haven't been around CM very long but maybe my fresh approach is needed. We have to break-out from only human to human conflicts! CM: Cats versus Dogs. CM: Cats versus Mice. CM: Black Ants versus Red Ants

I have not seen much activity on this CMBO forum so my status reports of progress on CMBO2 will just be placed in the CMAK forum. Afterall, you gotta buy CMAK to try out the CMBO2 mod.

****NEW CMBO2 STATUS REPORT AS OF 06JAN2004**** Happy New Year: If you don't have an interest in this CMBO2 endeavour, that is OK. But if you are one of the very few who have indicated that you do, then here is what is happening as of 06 JAN 2004. 03 1. CMAK BMP FILE CHART: I haven't seen the file yet but a list was sent by Fernando to AndrewtF. So, unless I hear otherwise, I will not have to be spending any time working on this list. 2. TERRAIN CHANGES: a. CMAK "Italian" style small buildings: I have got CMBO flavored small buildings by replacing the applicable 6000 series BMP files with the beautiful mods for CMBB from Ed "Tanks a Lot" Kinney. It looks great! I am no longer having to use any of the older CMBO buildings. They were like old tires on a brand new car. b. CMAK "Italian" style large buildings issue: I had mismatching roof types but figured out it was my own fault due to light versus heavy buildings. I now re-replaced the large building files with CMBB large buildings. Roof issues appear fine and looks mostly like CMBO type region. 3. AXIS UNIFORM BMP CHANGES: having a lot of fun playing my own scenarios with my "CMBO2 BULGE FJ BATTLEPACK". Haven't done anything yet for SS bulge. 4. ALLIED UNIFORM CHANGES: To accompany this aspect of CMBO2 as Bulge 44 timeframe, I added some gloves to US troops and swapped BMP files to give infantry the green pants that I believe were used in Dec 44. More the greenish variety versus brownish wool. This BMP image exists in CMAK but only shows with US airborne infantry. 5. Horizons: MarkEzra solved this for me by using CMBB horizons. So, no more big Italian mountains when you want to pretend you're in Ardennes or Normandy. Resolution is a little lower so small hills in the distance are a little blurry to me. I plan to plug in and test Undaunted's hi-res without mountains mod. You can always shove the original CMAK ones back in if you wanted to do a CMBO2 Vosges Mountains campaign. A lot of this is personal taste and case by case basis. [ January 05, 2004, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

I apolgize for these screenshots that don't come up or if you get the dreaded box with red x. I have only sent the CMBO2 FJ Bulge test package out to 3 people and 1 replied with some feedback that said that uniforms seemed fine, but Italian hills and mountains in the distance need to come out ASAP. I thought I could just swing the same "horizon image" files over from CMBB but when I looked in the CMBB BMP folder the files are not the same size. So I didn't try switching them. CMAK horizon images are double the size of CMBB. Not sure what to do here... But the smaller terrain image files that show in the unit info panel are switchable so I will swap some out tonight from CMBB over to CMAK. I tweaked my axis troops bmp files a bit more. I changed glove color on a few guys arms. Just for visual variety. Brown leather gloves and black leather gloves. I am now playing CMBO2 in October 44 so I can obtain Luftwaffe infantry and add a bit more visual variety for axis uniforms. So, where am I at with this and where am I going with it? Need to get help in solving the Italian mountains horizon image file issue. Maybe somewhere in the forum there is already an asnwer. Gotta do a search... Need to use CMBB files to replace terrain pictures that show hills or mountains in the background behind the terrain. Need to study and solve the issue with replacement large buildings. Flat roof mismatch. Almost done with CMBO2 Bulge FJ axis uniforms. Starting to plan what bmp file changes I will do for CMBO2 Waffen-SS Bulge. Moving to here since gloves are already on. I call it Bulge but it will probably work for cool weather timeframe, a few months left or right. Happy New Year.

Tried to show a screenshot... Sorry, it didn't work out. [ January 05, 2004, 07:04 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

I'm glad the screenshots are finally visible. Michael, Maybe I made such a bad screenshot that it puts people off. I'll update it soon. Definitely I am not intentionally trying to take us back to CMBO level of graphics. I think this screenshot just looked crappy because that building there was an older bmp I pulled from CMBO as a convenience. I'm trying to create a way to put the Northwest Europe "CMBO" look/feel into the better CMAK engine. Uniforms and buildings. Vehicles I haven't thought of yet. I'm sure vehicle modders will eventually crank out some winterized Shermans for CMAK that I can pull into CMBO2. As a note to all: Of course I want to play the CMAK game in the intended theaters. I am a recent arrival to CMBO (bought the SE only a month ago) and thus maybe I am definitely not finished with Northwest Europe. I am not yet ready to leave it behind quite yet but now with wetted appetite of the better capabilities of the CMAK editor. I also really enjoy eastern front and want to sink my teeth into CMBB. I'll see what the feedback is from others who I sent the test package to and see where this is ultimately headed. It is taking up some time where I could be playing the game but I like it! [ December 23, 2003, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

Hmmmm? OK, I tried from my neighbors computer and it came up. Try again! CMBO2 screen shot 1 CMBO2 screen shot 2

Screenshots seem to be working now. I stood up a quick "free" webpage to host some screenshots. It looked like it was there then it wasn't then it was. Anyway, I opened the hosting site webpage editor and double checked and added in a new index.html "index page". Hope it works now. I also have my folders for e-mailing out the CMBO2 test package for Bulge FJ uniforms and a short scenario. E-mail me if you want it sent to you. 5 folders of about 700k each. Sorry, but I will be away from e-mail for a few days because of the holidays. Back on monday 29DEC! Fernando: Thanks for sending the BMP numbers file to Andrew. [ December 23, 2003, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

(I haven't messed with any terrain so far except the small buildings). Here is a screen shot to show progress so far on getting visual variety with the axis troops. We always see black and white photos of WW2 so it is hard for me at least to accept that maybe there was this type of variety? Some of the Bulge B&W photos of FJ look to me to show a very non-uniform system of uniforms. Some FJ had plain helmets, some had camo covers, some have obvious camo jacket or smock, some have what seems to be the solid color grey-green version. CMBO2 screenshot another screen shot (towards bottom of the webpage!) I'm a novice with cameras, camcorders and obviously posing CM units for screenshots. I should've waited a few more seconds and you would've seen the luftwaffe eagle I added to the wire mesh coal scuttle helmet. ONLY the actual FJ units get the 3D program for an FJ helmet. I'll do more as I make tweaks. Comments? [ December 23, 2003, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

A couple screenshots. I hope my beginner skills for screenshotting don't put anyone off. CMBO2 screenshot another screen shot down towards the bottom of this page of my free webpage Comments? [ December 23, 2003, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

Updated info in the first post. Also, I realize that this "mod" will probably not appeal to folks who play at the higher formation levels. The variety of uniforms has much more impact down at the tiny, small, sub-byte battle level. I'm aware that the issue of support troops and chain of command to an actual CO/platoon HQ is going to be unacceptable when folks are playing battles with companies supporting battalions. But down at the level I typical engage in, this is, so far to now, a real pleasure to see and play. Give it a try!

It dawned on me that this entire project greatly reflects the style of CM battle that I like. Small battles, down even below byte battle level. So, my approach and how it changes the issue of support troops and chain of command might really turn off the folks who prefer an organized affair with companies supporting battalions. It kind of matches that the variety of uniforms make more impact down at the tiny to small battles level as well.

new status rolled into first post

Michael, Thanks for the tip! Also, I was just tipped off by Tanks A Lot that there *WERE* damaged CMBO buildings modded by Tiger. So, I've dl'd them and will shove that in the folder and testdrive it. Things are panning out!

I realize that a lot of other folks could easily do this same thing of turning CMAK into CMBO2. Some other folks seem to be messing around with the CMAK uniform bmp files as well. I guess any of my comments about my version being posted are at best premature. Mine might not be the best version so the website folks would have to evaluate and decide what is best for the CM community. I'm just excited and having a lot of fun! Forgive me for my enthusiasm.

Yes, the basic system of how uniforms change seems to be the same between the 2 games. After many days of trial and error headaches. I mostly looked at Italy theater for trying to turn it into CMBO2. There are some mismatches between CMBB bmp file numbers and CMAK bmp file numbers. When I am done with a decent chart for CMAK, then I will offer it out. Right now I do have an initial excel spreadsheet but lots of hand written notes.

****NEW CMBO2 STATUS REPORT AS OF 23 DEC 2003**** Merry Christmas: Tried and failed and tried and failed and now I think I have screenshots that finally work down near the latest posts in this thread! If you don't have an interest in my CMBO2 endeavour, that is OK. But if you do, here is what is happening as of 23 DEC 03 1. BMP FILE CHART: I am using the GrossDeutschland website's CMBB uniform BMP chart as a format to follow for making a presentable CMAK uniform BMP chart. 9000-10000 series bmp file numbers. I will also add the unit info box bmp file numbers as well since Michael Dorosh requested it. I am using "MS paint" to write the bmp file number on the bmp file of interest and then run it in the game. Then I see what situation it matches to and jot it down on my excel spreadsheet hardcopy. I have some holidays off here soon and will grind through it and get it done in a week or so. I guess if I do a good job here then anyone could do their own CMBO2. 2. TERRAIN CHANGES: a. CMAK "Italian" style small buildings: To return back to the France, Belgium, Germany flavor I replaced most fo the 6000 series BMP files with an assortment of small buildings from CMBO, CMBB and the beautiful mods from Ed "Tanks a Lot" Kinney. It looks great! Just got Tiger's damaged versions for the old CMBO small bldgs so this should close this for the moment. It is your personal preference which ones you choose. I will tabulate what I did and offer it as an example. b. CMAK "Italian" style large buildings issue: I messed with but they didn't turn out very nice so the maps in my tests all have large buildings deleted in the editor. I'll have to backburner this issue for later. Any ideas or tips anyone? 3. AXIS UNIFORM BMP CHANGES: This is my main focus. As a warm-up I am starting with what I am calling "CMBO2 BULGE FJ BATTLEPACK". This will be used on CMAK, select Italy for Dec 44 timeframe. I have written a few test scenarios with axis forces selected to have the units that show a wide assortment of uniforms while trying to keep balance with history, etc. a. Added gloves to various "arms/sleeves" that needed gloves for cold winter weather. Grey, black, camo gloves. Really makes the troops look even better IMHO. b. I have renumbered BMP files so my test scenario uses FJ company as the "main force". But when I select support troops I change the drop down menu and get them from other available flavors for that month/year such as INF, MECH INF, SS MECH INF, MTN, etc. This way I get my enhanced visual effect with a variety of axis headgear, upper clothing and pants. Mix n match. Based on CMBB uniform mods from AndrewtF and stock BMP's. Some modded again by me: added gloves, added Lufwaffe eagle to that nice chicken wire mesh helmet. FJ CO CDR now has a nice trenchcoat with Luftwaffe eagle (he used to fly JU-88's but got grounded in '43). Seems from ref book photos to be accurate that Bulge FJ divisions had a mix of FJ helmet and non-FJ helmet due to supply shortages. TOE of these support team guys seems exactly the same so far, I haven't noticed difference between GEBIRGS sniper filling in dressed as an FJ sniper and INF LMG MG42 seems same as FJ LMG MG42. I was worried they wouldn't "red line" and go under command of FJ platoon HQ but they do. Only hang-up is rank listed in the unit info box and the graphic for the unit down there. But stock choices also seem hosed. FJ troops have a Heer graphic. Anyway, I will explore swapping those 1/4 view around but can't change text for rank. ROT for rottenfuhrer can't become proper rank for his stand-in role as a FJ. Kind of a small detail to me. But acknowledged. Later I will do the same approach for a primarily Waffen-SS Bulge battle (or heer, etc.). And then branch out timeframe wise. Probably back to summer 44 for FJ, SS and heer and thus take the gloves back off all the arms, get summer color smocks, etc. Today I will make up a set of folders to e-mail out for anyone interested to test my progress to this point and provide feedback. I will zip into 3 folders. Each will be about half a meg. It'll give you readme directions, acknowledgement of where I got all the great artwork, renumbered uniform bmp files and a couple test scenarios. Remember to make a copy of your original BMP folder first! Shoot me an e-mail if you want a package e-mailed or have any comments! Thanks and I'll keep in touch... [ January 05, 2004, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: NavyDiver ]

OK, I will go to the Proving Grounds and register and DL the scenario Brecourt Manor. So, I take it that no one else is doing the file swapping stuff I am trying. Trying to do some BMP folder changes to make CMAK look like CMBO2. OK dokey.

If you like CMBO, then I think you'll also like CMAK. Price is great. Buy it but of course try the demo first. My opinions... Most of the battles you could set up in CMBO will be essentially duplicatable in the better arena of CMAK. You can't import the scenario from CMBO but it could be rewritten. In fact some folks are doing that at the "Proving Grounds". I'm an unpaid amateur but am working on "CMBO-2", a project to bump the duplicatability percentage up by changing some CMAK BMP uniform files. I'm trying to play Ardennes using CMAK for example. We'll never have CMAK totally replace what CMBO covers due to some vehicles being absent (Pershing, Puma, kingTiger, Jagdtiger...) and no bocage terrain. But no big deal to cry over. I am really impressed with CMAK. I haven't played CMBB at all. Except th demo. I am noticing things during the game that I didn't see at all in CMBO. Biggest reason I want a CMBO-2 is the QB editor in CMAK allows me to adjust ammo, casualties, etc.

I knew that AI can't handle "assault boats" and thus figured schwimmwagen wouldn't do much "schwimming". Ignorant of the possible or impossible in graphics modding, I just wanted it as a visual change only to normal kubelwagen graphics for "historical accuracy" in my KG Peiper recon units. Ohwell, guess I gotta do a Hollywood and have kubelwagens be schwimmwagens in my CMBO-2 mod! I wonder how often they lowered the prop on those things anyway?