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konstantine

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Posts posted by konstantine

    Arabic Language Grog Question

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    Oh yeah, verb form declensions were my favorite. :/

    Anyway, regarding the al-Ilah contraction, from what I was taught elision is very common in Arabic, so I would suspect that Zalgiris is correct.

    With regards to the theology of the One, or Just, or Greatest God as implied by the statement God is Greatest or God is Greater, two things should be kept in mind:

    1. Islam is not technically henotheistic, as Judaism for example likely started out as. Doctrinal monotheism was fairly well established in the Mediterranean and near East by this point. So the explanation that Allahu-Akbar implies that Allah is greater than one's enemy (as opposed to his god) seems the most reasonable. However, in antiquity, it is unlikely that strict monotheism was practiced by the majority of adherents of a monotheistic religion. Moreover, one doesn't necessarily need to accept the existence of another's deity in order to refute it.

    2. Not long after the death of Muhammad came the denominational split into the Shiite and Sunni Islams. The early history of Islam is the history of conflict and conquest. So the cry Allahu-Akbar is probably linked to the ideal that Allah himself is on the Muslim side that is most just, or that a just Allah could only support one's own particular brand of Muslim ideology.

    Good discussion by the way.

    nijis: with regard to nunation, I was taught classical Arabic, not any modern idiom. The Qur'an, as do many classical texts, retains nunation (and diacriticals) as it is believed to be sacred, a representation of Allah on this earth (and therefore cannot be altered by humankind). Therefore in order to read it, or classical texts such as the Hadith, nunation should be learned.

    I plan to learn a modern dialect very soon however. Probably Saudi.

    Sorry to blather on, but this stuff is really interesting!

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    Arabic Language Grog Question

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    My pleasure sir. And certainly, Arabic is as colorful and idiomatic a language as they come. My comments are really only relevant (to my knowledge) to classical, or Qur'anic Arabic.

    My erstwhile Arabic prof likened the language to crystal structure, due to the rendering of all words (ok, most) from tri-consonant roots, and its wide and diverse range of dialects. The interesting thing is, learning classical Arabic is kind of like learning a lingua franca (although not as good as Saudi or Egyptiam--or as my prof called them, "TV" Arabic). Most Arabic speakers are practising Muslims, of course, and thus most of them have heard the Qur'an read from a very young age, which is written in classical Arabic.

    However, one of my former classmates (a Pakistani) told me that going around speaking classical Arabic in the Middle East would be like talking to people here (i.e. North America) in Old King James English with a posh UK accent.

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    I wish BFC great success.....

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    It perplexes me, how people cannot distinguish between reality and beautiful, pixellated destruction.

    And to paraphrase what has already been said--if anyone continues to have issues differentiating between a computer game and real life and struggles with the ethical repurcussions of waging unjust war, might I suggest one watch the recent BBC documentary series on Auschwitz before you choose the Axis side in your next QB?

    That documentary series spoke far more directly to my heart than any documentary or op-ed piece on the Iraq war, yet I quite consistently play both sides in all CM games without compunction and free of any inner, raging debate on the metaphysical and ethical ramifications of ushering my little Fallschimjaeger across the frozen steppe. But then again, that strikes me as normal.

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    Arabic Language Grog Question

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    Originally posted by nijis:

    Actually, it would be Allahu Akbar, (God is greater/the greatest) with a kaf not a qaf. Allahu Aqbar might mean something like ''God is a bunch of capers.'' Allahu Akhbar means God is News, which I think is a noble sentiment but not, unfortunately, what I imagine folks would exclaim on the battlefield.

    Sorry for the pedantry, but I don't get that many chances to be a grog on this forum.

    Oops, that's what I meant. Thanks for the correction. Time to dig out the flash cards.
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    Arabic Language Grog Question

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    I believe the correct rendering is Allahu Aqbar. The "L" sound in Allah is elongated, maybe that's what the fellow meant by the "Al-l..."

    Technically, I believe, it means "greatest God", but is often translated idiomatically as "God is great".

    And to contribute, I think some good Arabic in this game would be a very nice contribution to gameplay. Although I have no idea which dialect would be best, as I have only studied classical Arabic.

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    Stryker Brigade ToE and vehicle variants

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    I came up with this list. Some links are reposts from elsewhere in this forum. Credit to original posters of course, sorry I can't remember who posted what.

    The Stryker

    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/iav.htm

    http://www.army-technology.com/projects/stryker/

    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/images/stryker-co.jpg

    http://strykernews.com/

    Stryker brigade overview and policy

    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-21-31/

    General info. on US army (there is no way of knowing yet exactly which units will be integrated into the first game, other than Stryker units, or which will be integrated into follow-up modules)

    http://www.army.mil/organization/

    general info. on Syria (of course, CMSF will simulate a recent Syrian coup d'etat, so the political info. is only partially relevant)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria

    maps of Syria

    political map (best I could find): http://www.worldhistoryplus.com/maps/syria_map.jpg

    satellite maps (awesome source for satellite maps of any kind in fact): http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_set.php?categoryID=2139

    Current Syrian Army info.

    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/army.htm

    Syrian Air force

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Air_Force

    List of Soviet tanks (basic, scroll down for modern MBTs)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_soviet_tanks#Heavy_tanks_2

    The modern Russian army (I'm assuming here that since it is a fictional game set in the future, BFC may incorporate some more units into the Syrian arsenal, perhaps of Russian origin)

    http://warfare.ru/

    Stryker unit soldier's blog (Iraq, of indirect relevance but interesting nonetheless)

    http://bet.iline.cz/~mk/MIRROR/cbftw.blogspot.com/

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    so, who's happy?

    in Combat Mission Shock Force 1

    Posted

    I'm also as happy as a pig in crap. I love the new setting. I was hoping for a modern context, suspected modern middle east, and I guessed correctly.

    Given the quality of the last two CM games I am convinced we will have an excellent product even if doubts are raised concerning force asymmetry, playability, etc.

    I mean, imagine 1:1 representation of SOG units!!

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    CMETO A *Canuckian* Confrontation AAR (of sorts)

    in Combat Mission - Scenario Talk

    Posted

    heh-heh, well...your AAR, IMO, is just fine if you've played the scenario before, which I have from both sides. However, the first time for me was as the Canadians in CMBO...and I got my butt kicked. Then again it was the 2nd scenario I played--not including the 67 times or so I played the demo. ;)

    I played the remake in CMAK as Axis in a pbem. I think I won but for some reason I can't remember. Probably because I can recall that it was a very close game, and the end result was a battlefield littered with carnage. It was a great fight. If you achieved something similar to that, I think you ended up with the desired result, or something approximate. smile.gif

    Cheers,

    PK

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    "The Luga Breakthrough" Tourney Now COMPLETE

    in Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

    Posted

    The most positive feature of this tournament was that it was set in the east front/CMBB and early in the war. The early war is too often overlooked. The force picks were excellent. I personally love the Pz-38t (although I haven't mastered the tactics).

    I liked the system of matching players. No problems there.

    I enjoyed all the scenarios, especially the first one. For the second to be balanced it obviously needs some strengthening of the Soviet forces.

    The third was a little boring as the Germans (to be expected given the parameters). I would include a little CAS, widen the map, and give the Soviets a bit of experience to reduce command delays.

    The fourth--a great scenario but I did not enjoy it as much. I think my luck ran out. I lost most of my tanks in a couple of turns to the OT-34s. That was before the T-34s showed up. Like some others, I misread the briefing and I began the scenario thinking that I was on the attack. I would have been more daring had I understood I was in a ME.

    As a final note I would very much appreciate a scenario pack from the tournament whenever it is possible to do so. Thanks.

    p.s. also, I would definitely play in any further CMBB tourneys you guys organize. Do you intend to give us "veterans" first crack at any slots for a new tourney? ;)

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