GhostRider3/3

Yeah the Title post had me freaking out.... cant pre-order till next Friday... Pay day... LOL anyways... I got all my Normandy maps out... watched D-day with John Wayne.. and a bunch of other Major stars... A Bridge too Far, and Battle of Britian.... This weekend I will probably watch Iron Cross, Battle of the Bulge, and the Sink the Bismarck... Or I may Marathon my die deutschen Panzer Colection. Are we there yet!

I doubt it... I know I made some awesome maps from the Squad leader boards You could actually with a friend or not make Squad Leader scenerios... but then I began to look at topography maps and everything expanded. Now My maps take about 24 hours or so to create... As in CMSF, CM Normandy will have all the little fluff stuff to add to your maps to make them more creative and realistic.. So I dont think you will be able to stitch in old maps... totaly different language Im sure. All I can say is that I look forward in having alot of fun making maps as realistic as possible.

I could have sworn they said that they would have the Waffen SS out upon release... I mean Hell.... they were pretty much all over the Caen area, and the 17th SS GVB, and elements of the 2nd SS engaged the US as well. But maybe that will come a month later or so, but I thought the British, and Canadians along with Waffen SS would be out upon its release...???

I think the max I did was a 90min game, one side was defensive with local reinforcements, and of course the attacker which was a Regimental size with almost an entire Tank Battalion, from 4 different areas, huge battle that encompased some street fighting and long distance tank shootouts. Plenty of Infantry combat with Artillery support that would have been again local divisional artillery that was assigned to the forces on board. Fun... long but fun.

Large Air Raids by the Allies killed many civilians and friendly forces. Caen, I beleive 30,000 were injured and killed, not to mention the Germans had already left primarily. St. Lo, and Operation COBRA all had allied casualties from the Bomber raids. What would be cool but not necessary is the ability to see the attack plane come in... different perespective, but again this is a ground combat game, and not aerial.

I must admit some of those shots were very nice. I especially liked the one that showed the Long road and the Bocage with the 2 or 3 huge fields. Gives you the empression of Normandy no doubt. Could imagine what it would have been like during that time...with Shermans and such strolling up those skinny roads only to be met with AT guns or hidden Panzers! Say Battlefront when can we see more screen shots of the Soldiers and their different uniforms etc. Outstanding job BF!

Well I am glad I am not too nit picky... But I did notice in the screenshots that all the Germans carry their weapons like Americans... both hands... LOL Its not a game changer for me of course, but if anyone at BF read a German Squad tactics manual they would realize that Germans held their rifle, submachine gun etc with their good hand, and had the other Free if you will, for when they had to go to the deck in a hurry... this was installed in them since the day they went to boot camp if you will, and became as natural as drinking Beer! Again not a game changer, I respect and aprreciate all the hard work they have put into the game already... sometimes it just the little things that can immerse you more.

Well first off I want to thank the testors and the people from Battlefront with continuing the WWII Theatre. Secondly I just wanted to say that the AAR between the Capt, and Bil was great. It is extremely difficult to determine any faults here with developing as this battle only lasted about 18min, and the ranges were pretty much 600m or less, which is pretty close, at least for German gunners who I am sure would have rather engaged at longer distances. I say that knowing that by 1944 the Germans had already encountered numerous Shermans previously wether in Africa, or Eastern Front, and would even by then have known by 1942 the capabilities of the T-34's 76mm gun and the Shermans 75mm gun... but that is just tactics that would have been passed around like many circulars in an office enviornment.... Distance is your friend! So I really think that another engagement totaly not related to Normandy would have to be done to see the relative dynamics at hits over range, and who comes out better on average... (Probably been done though). I would think that the Germans would score more Kills at Long, Medium Ranges then at Short. This is of Course using the Regular 75mm Sherman vs The PzIV H. Then you would have to do it again using another type of Sherman... and we all know the 76mm Sherman has the edge most likely or is even with the likes of the PzIVH... An Anyways just saying.... line them up at different ranges... and have at it... and repeat about 25 times.... I am positive the developers have already done this however... what can I say.. Its Monday here!

Ahh someone needs to come up with more AAR's... I cant wait for the bloody game, and screenshots and explenations of who did what, and what blew up is the only thing keeping me going right now. Need more! Need more screenshots of crazy Panzer troops almost carying out Special Ops missions! LOL I feel like a kid at a Icecream shop...... More Please!

Yeah.. from less then 200m thats the word on the street. It is funny though how any TV show about the incident is extremely different then that written by an unbiased opinion. But yes a Canadian Tank did hit Wittman;s tank in the Left rear engine bay area. Books usually provide more details but again depending on the author, its allied propaganda.... usually. When Michael ran up onto the street where all the Brits had stopped and actually were having Tea and lunch, it was a major shock, one brit said he could see the Berets on the commanders head and it was black like the Brits? well in 1944 German tankers were not wearing the Black Beret, but many Brits that heard the tank come tearing onto the road at first thought it was a Cromwell, but then realized it was not as a Sherman Firefly burst into flames and Machine guns started ripping through other vehicles. You could only imagine the Shock and fear as this Leviathon strolling down the road blasting everything, You could say Lady Luck, or just some good old pair of Balls! In my opinion books have always provided better details then any show on the Military channel, or History channell. TV, somehow always makes people fib.. just a little. Wittman was a wonderful Tactician, and unfortunately was tasked with an order that simply was suicide and without his gunner Boby Woll and virtually no support really He must have known time was running out, but he beleived in then men and in the machines he commanded. However this turned out to be Fate, and thank god at least Bobby made it out alive.

Cool Thanks Capt! Sorry for your loses LOL.... but that engagement was very interesting with good information from, both sides. ok cool about the fire.. just looked like it for a sec... Also about SMG's for Tanker HQ's or something.. not gamey but it was their only real defense vs infantry they might have come accross while position the tank or even while out of their tank resting etc. It is very cool that you can mount and dismount them whenever you want. I see some awesome scenerios in the making! "Achtung" Panzers!! I see crews being real friendly with the French etc until you hear the command... "Get to your bloody Tanks" as they quickly move from houses or something.. LOL

Thanks Yankee Dog.. for the life of me I always get those two mixed up. Better at German Armor.. LOL Anyways still...6 shots less then 600m... LOL just checking the right rounds were being fired down range... Which brings up Question #4. Does the AI select your ammo type or can the player intervene and select to fire different ammo type?

Say Bil and Capt that was great! I dont think there is anything left to really Kill... and after 18min of combat.... I think the US would be bugging out about now... Ithink. Question for both Bil and Capt. 1. Do you think the M-10 needs to be worked with a little. For a tank that only has about 9mm of Turret armor...and is capable of taking 6 75mm AP rounds? under 600m. 2. Is it possible to give at least the HQ squad of tankers a Mp40 (German) or Thompson, or M3 Submachine gun (American)? Or what are your thoughts on this. I have read numerous accounts of Crews having at least one Submachine gun, especially while scouting on where to put their tank... (Placement etc) Its not Gamy 3. It looked like a small fire started where the US Para's were, was it from the HE or tracer rounds?

Nice, I have that entire series... good reads.

My only question are they going to make a Huge detailed scenerio involving M. Wittman at Villers bocage. Great video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uCKhIkAgec&feature=related

True, in reading many books on Panzer tactics, the commanders would sometimes hop out or their gunner to check out an area first, and then use hand signals to bring the tank to a Optimum positon. I beleive the Commanders in the later part of the war were issued MP40's as I recall reading many times the commanders using them vs infantry in some cases. I beleive even the likes of M. Wittman even as a StuG commander doing the same thing in Russia.

Damn.... are we there yet... I want my copy so bad I think I just gave myself tourettes! LOL Awesome shooting... Where are the Para's Bil, have you made contact with them again?

So my question is.... when picking your equipment and troops, can you edit the Commanders names, I believe they would be Squad Leaders all the way up to Regmt. Commanders like in CMx1 I used to Rename all my tanks as well... R01 to whatever.

I have the entire series of Die Deutchen Panzer, really awesome footage... but I thought this clip from Youtube really shows great shots of both the Sherman and Panzer Mk. IV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dqf_9gQ76Y

That is Freaking AWESOME! Thanks Battlefront!

So basically do not design scenerios around the Ninjmegen Bridge.. or do... I actually can not wait to redesign Arnhem... if Possible. Question for Steve. Will there be different bridges available, there were only I believe 2 in CMx1? Will you make Heavy Stone, Wood bridges, Medium and Pedestrian Bridges, and of course Large Heavy Bridges like the one attached.

Well I must admit I really did not play any bridge battles in CMSF, but I did quite a few in CMx1 If it was a meeting engagment or the AI had to traverse the bridge, they would seriously Cluster around the bridge and get anhialated... I would assume the AI programming for going thru Choke points wether its a bridge or Ravine etc.

Excellent AAR and Questions... cant wait for Turn 13 to see what else we can discover. I am waiting for the Paratroopers to make a mad dash and possibly flank the Panzers that are in the woods... although with a couple MG's and a Main gun for each tank... You seriously have to ask yourself.... "Do you feel Lucky"... Well do ya! LOL When I get the game.. I am taking a couple days off and having a 4 day Shoot Out!

Here is another rare Tiger Picture.. Late models in Normady, probably East of the Caen area. As you can see the Hill is sort of large but deviod of many trees.

Thank you Steve... great points. For those of you who have not expereinced Tank Combat and would like to simulate it... T34/vs Tiger is decent... and when you are in your Panther or Tiger and have 5-10 tanks shooting at you... try and take the time at over 1200m zooming in on their 'Weak" point thru the dust and smoke and go for it... I think its safe to say if I had the target in my cross hairs Im Sending it down range plain and simple...and hopefully I see flames or people jumping out. My buddy in the Corps was a tanker, and although he was not engaging actual Armor 90% of the time, he knew that what ever he shot.... would pretty much be vaporized... M1a2....although I like the Leopard 2 myself.