Lethaface

I would pay for a riding pack, although I'm not sure how much I would use it given the mostly smaller CMBN/CMFI maps. It is a cool option though to have on hand, whether for daring maneuvers or transport function.

Although I'm dividing CM time between 5 games now, surely still interested in new CMSF scenario's!

I have used air support in CMRT twice (to test the new planes) with plenty of other friendly troops and vehicles. I hid them in a forest, the planes went for the enemies although 2 out of 4 never attacked, I guess due to the enemy AAA. It's not a representative test but at least it is not always blue on blue

Yes IIRC Soviet (Guards) Motor Rifle squads that have the platoon HQ in them, also have a 'ldr'. But those squads don't have asst leaders, like german/western allies have.

In CMRT we have this red dot near the suppression bar meter to indicate if a unit is brittle. From the 3.0 manual with CMBN: However I don't see the dot indicator in CMBN.

Ah you are the one that send a battalion of StuG's after me! I'm surely defeating the StuG's now, and at least my comment was not directed against this scenario or not being winnable (it certainly is); but at my surprise towards the IS-2 performance. When it comes to taking out StuG's I'd take a Sherman Firefly over an IS-2 any day! First time I started this mission I tried to attack the stugs at a range of ~1000m with my full tank regiment (11 IS-2's) and it horribly failed, while I was suspecting to walk all over them. You have taught me a valuable lesson!

The spotting (dis)ability of my IS-2's in this mission has surprised me though. The Commander does have a binoculars but they regularly fail to spot (moving) StuG's in the open at <500m. The StuG's seemed to spot my hiding (partial hull down behind some high trees (although no underbrush)) IS-2's more easy. Perhaps my IS-2's being a lot bigger influence the spotting chances.

Black Sea and CMSF2! And CMBN/CMFI packs for munches.

Its quite easy to maintain a separate 2.12 install and upgrade to 3.0. I have a i7 and Nvidia and no single story building bug. Not in CMRT or CMBN/FI 3.0.

Dollars do compare to dollars though

The good German optics and milling accuracy are certainly present in CMRT. 2/3 of a battalion is indeed a large force! Although I am now whittling their numbers with ambushing IS-2's in sort of key-holed positions. At least the 122mm shells have good impact characteristics

Apparently it is, although from what I understood before they decided against it. The cheap Sturmovik strafe variants seem suitable to scare an opponent out of his well plannend positions in a PBEM

I thought that the way air spotters work wasn't going to be changed for CMBN 3.0, but when I fire up a quick battle with air support they operate like in CMRT (automatic, uncontrollable). Is that correct?

Good point regarding the reloading, perhaps I have been a bit unlucky in spotting and accuracy but I will probably need to dial down my appreciation of IS-2's. They are not like the Cats with armor and range, nor like the fast moving and shooting Shermans. Guess I'll just have to face off against that battalion of Stugs and hope I don't lose to many IS-2's.

I usually hide my troops far from the enemy when using aircraft and have only sparingly encountered friendly fire in CMRT.

Well if that is what it's called according to your vision of what these priced software changes should be called, then be at peace with it. It is very simple, there are changes to software costing $55,- available at $10,-. The creators of the software and the changes call the $10,- package an upgrade. How is it relevant what (you think) is general consensus in software land about what specific (priced) changes should be called? Heck there isn't even a general consensus. It is fair to criticize if you think the price for a change is too much. Vote with your wallet if you need, but stop thinking that you can bestow your viewpoints upon others especially if they aren't based on sound reasoning and knowledge about the subject. Nobody cares, but I can't always stop myself from calling BS when I read BS

My pleasure, thank you for the scenario!

Played this scenario this evening, don't think I played it before (and never played CMx1). As this scenario is a classic I guess I don't have to be afraid posting any *** spoilers *** Without being able to compare it to any previous scenario I think it is a very good CMx2 scenario with a well orchestrated AI attack. I managed a total victory (enemy surrender with 7 min left) at the cost of 2 hellcats, 33 KIA and 23 WIA. Decided the forward posts where suicidal I vacated them directly. Took out a stug first, than the tiger got a very fast spot and shot on my hull down hellcat and brewed it up. While peppering the enemy with mortars my troops in the town hid till the enemy came in close range. Took a lot of casualties but was just able to hold on when I finally managed to kill the tiger and 2nd stug on the edge of the town with my last hellcat and help of bazooka teams. Last 76mm HE rounds were used to silence the overwatching MG-42's. After that the German advance ran out of steam while I moved 3rd platoon forward in the town and routed the rest of the doggedly attackers. All in all very enjoyable scenario!

http://ark.intel.com/m/products/71071/Intel-Pentium-Processor-G2010-3M-Cache-2_80-GHz#@product/specifications Says the CPU is 64-bit although it only has been introduced in 2013 so its strange you bought it in 2012. Question 2: Don't know, probably you can find this info in the support section.

Ah, good ol CMSF days! Had a great time with it. @Ghostrider the Marine campaign is very good (at least in my memory) and so is the British. Unfortunately at the time I didn't have the time to really play anymore and only got little time with the NATO campaigns. Recently I have been revisiting CMSF and CMA. Apart from the machine guns about everything is much more lethal compared to CMx2 WWII. Everyone is packing serious heat and shiny toys. Had a shot at Zhawiya uprising campaign and think it's really good. I have some 20+ good campaigns (including some recent remakes of NATO and British campaign with US forces) on disk, a lot of them I still haven't been able to properly play. (Im)patiently awaiting the CMSF upgrade. @Mord quite some of those links you posted are in my Z folder for well over 4 years So I can definitely also recommend those. Never noticed your vehicle born chatter mod, always used the original chatter mod so I will give this a try soon! Thanks

**** SPOILER SOVIET CAMPAIGN ***** Recently I was able to continue my Soviet campaign game, after some RL issues. I have finally fought my way though Asintorf (mission 3, major victory) and broke the Straggler resistance guarding the bridges towards Orsha (mission 4, minor victory). The pleasant surprise of mission 5 was that after all those meters fighting on foot (must be about 6-8 KM of walking/hunting), I will be reinforced by a regiment of Soviet IS-2 heavy tanks. They are tasked (among a battalion of infantry) to defeat a ferocious german counter attack by 2/3 of a Stug battalion and supporting infantry. In the mission my impression was that those poor Stugs have no real chance, attacking over open terrain, commanded by AI, against my heavy tank regiment. However, to my surprise a few Stugs punished my IS-2's in a mid/long range tank duel (~1000-1500m). The Stugs spot better, have better accuracy and are more than able to penetrate my IS-2 from the front. This being my first real battle with IS-2's I decided to restart the mission and move the IS-2's under cover of smoke to a concealed position close to an infantry position. This showed that the gun of the IS-2, if it manages to hit an enemy tank, is very capable indeed. Almost guaranteed KO. However, even in concealed position the Stug's proved to be a dangerous opponent for my IS-2's. Never did I have the feeling that my IS-2's are truly superior tanks versus these assault guns. Now I'm probably not using them right, but how should one operate a regiment of IS-2's when facing a battalion (-) of Stug's attacking through open terrain? In other words I'm a little underwhelmed with my IS-2 performance. Any advice regarding how to herd this flock of beasts? P.S. My compliments to the mission and campaign designers, feels authentic and interesting. In the beginning mission 1 and 3 where a little overwhelming due to the sheer number of troops and map size but I have started to enjoy those larger challenges.

Just to chime in a midst all other 'opinions': anyone can say what they want to say (within certain forum guidelines, I guess) or think what they want to think about the price of BF.C products. Compared to other games, CMx2 might seem pricey at first glance. What other game have I paid the same for as for CMx2, all releases, modules and upgrades combined? Probably none although there will probably some games with DLC that come close. Anyway when I compare MY experience of hours played/$ spent between games, CMx2 comes probably out on top. It helps that for me the cost of a game is not a big decision, especially an upgrade. And than it is in cheap dollars too But most importantly I sympathize with smaller (niche market) companies, or better said the persons that choose to live that life (work hard, earn little). The proof of that is Steve going on the forum to post in this thread, instead of some PR douche. As such in support of that I buy all CM games, modules, etc for as long as I am able to do so. Or some PR douche shows up. So for me the price is perfect, it might not be for someone else. Those are encouraged to employ their consumer right: don't buy the game. Or just stop making a fool of yourself and shove that cash; you know you are going to... eventually

Thanks! going to check that out scenario out.

Personally I would like tank riders but I'm fine with the decision, since I not really use m that often in CMRT and waiting longer and paying more just for that is not really justified IMO.