Atago

Well, that worked but the photo was too big... anyway this one shows my intended movement And here's my main problem area! Bad guys all over in here Blue thin lines are my attempts at infantry approach Thick blue line is my future plan, stage here for move toward center And finally - different angle. Bad guys in circles, BMP, RPG. I get creamed in here for some reason. Still hidden over there are at least one tank, bmp, MG nest and more troops. Arrows show my intentions (short term then longer term) I seem to run out of time or have to go too fast and leave enemy forces on my flanks. I can't tell how much artillery I am going to need so am hesitant to use it! What if I really need it later?!

This is a while later, after I've moved my guys forward to their staging are. Arrows show planned movement of some of the tanks

There is a wide range of source material for the Israeli's and Arabs, just make the modules historic - 1960-80 or something. I too would be interested in buying it. It seems to me that Battlefront took a chance making CMSF be near-future instead of WW2 historic anyway, why would the Arab-Israeli wars be any more of a stretch? They wouldn't have to do any more work on maps, current CMSF would be fine - they'd 'just' need the forces and vehicles and what not.

Hope this works... May be spoilers to some that haven't played this one... If it DOES, this is taken in the assault on Pooh mission just after reinforcements arrive. I have had my best success to date moving them up to the right then assembling most of them in the blue circle. Then I move toward the center and back with my Infantry, leaving the armor hiding behind buildings for the most part until or unless I am fairly sure I can pull them forward to support http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo97/Kzinbane/Assault1.jpg This shot shows pretty much the same thing 'cept from the other side of the map. Bad guys all over the place, hiding very well - can't usually spot them without loosing men or vehicles! http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo97/Kzinbane/Assault2.jpg From another angle - the main highway with some of the objectives showing. This is where the Syrian tanks arrive, I have no problems handling them and I have spotters on the hill over to the right, and in some of the multi-story buildings in the center. I can call down death on anything I see - problem is seeing it! http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo97/Kzinbane/Assault3.jpg Let's see if this works!!!

Everyone has different skill levels, and I admit mine at CMSF are not the best. I've moved on to other things, I can get frustrated at work - don't need it at home in my leisure time! I guess it's good - I am bitching because I WANT to play but can't - better than bitching 'cause I bought the module and don't like it. I'm a wimp, it's too hard for me - what can I say? I don't have the patience, time or inclination to keep banging away. All I want is an option to call for reinforcements or something. Even if I have to play 5 times before that option shows up, that'd be OK.

Ive noticed that too. Even when I know (having played this same dang mission 5 times now) that bad guys are in a particular building, I can't spot them unless I get some poor soul to wave his ass out the window so they'll try to shoot it off. THEN I see them. I was hoping my snipers could spot some bad guys peeking out windows or over the lips of trenches, but it doesn't seem to happen. I think my snipers need to clean their scopes or something, hell I'm not a Marine and I could spot a bad guy peeking out a window eventually!

Gaming is all about fun, and everyone has a different idea as to what that is. For me, at some point I get frustrated and would have much more fun if there were some way to get through and move on. It's a game, it's entertainment, it's not supposed to be frustrating and infuriating! Just speaking for myself, it devalues the game to a point - and I choose to do something else. There is a reason that some games (mostly the first person shooters) have cheat codes that can help out in a pinch. I don't like using them but in this case, if there were one I'd use it! What I want to do is edit the scenario to give me a bit more - just cheat a bit not totally wig out with a dozen F-18's or something. This reminds me of some of the newer flight simulators - you have to learn to really fly to do anything. I liked the old Red Baron game, you didn't have to learn to fly (but had to somewhat learn) and could have fun. I don't have the patience to learn to really be a General or commander or whatever you call it for CMSF.

I've noticed that when you want to sneak a Javelin into position, then fire it and duck, that they fire - reload it, THEN follow the hide command. I have not figured out how to get them to hide immediately. Have them slow move away first maybe? This may be something to change in 1.11 (or be looked into anyway).

I've never had the pleasure of finding any mines up the right side - through the woods. That entire area is mostly invisible to the enemy so it seems as can assemble there without attracting artillery fire. I can get my entire force about 1/3 of the way forward on the map, using buildings to cover the armor and later trucks. I put spotters on the hill over on the left side and from there kill a couple BMP's and the tank that is obvious (when the helo's arrive). I also call in Arty on the group of tanks that comes in - decimate them usually with a few leakers. Once in position up on the right side I then unload everyone and work my way straight back, there is a building group back there full of bad guys that I don't like to be on my flanks as I head toward the center. Doing this is often where I run into trouble. The bad guys are like ticks - they have good defensive positions and if I bring up armor I "find" ATGM's. There is also a tank over there that often pops my infantry. Trying to whack it and not get whacked causes me to loose time. Once I get this mess taken care of and can start moving toward the center objective locations I'm outta time. I can run back and get the back right corner objective, I can sometimes manage the center one. I'd need another hour (in my mind) to get the others as hurrying up = death as far as I can tell! I think my problem is micromanaging too much. I need to get multiple units moving at once so the Marine squads can support each other better. I also don't know what to do with the machine guns (I think) as I can't seem to find a way to get them where they can shoot in support of the squads without getting whacked. What my main issue seems to be the quandaries: Move too fast get whacked. Move too slow, run out of time. Use armor support, loose armor support. Don't use armor support, infantry gets it. Maybe I need to use "slow" more. Assault only works where the half squad left in over watch can actually SEE the target area of the assault. One lesson I've learned! Don't tell a group to assault half way across the map. I'm learning - Not having much fun doing it so am not playing much - but when I feel like getting riled up again I give it a try. I have actually played enough now so I know how to get part way - and when I've lost I have checked out where enemy forces are, but that only helps so much. I am embarrassed to admit that even knowing where most things are at I still run outta time. I am fine getting my forces up to a point where they can start assaulting, once that starts I'm toast! The tanks and BMP's are history, few problems with them. The ATGM's and enemy infantry are what's causing trouble - they seem to be pretty accurate.

I'm pretty sure that it's my ineptness not a lack of forces that are stopping me. I have a whole %*$@! load of forces. The only obvious lack I see is that one of my 81mm mortars is empty at game start, and that's the least of my problems. Yes, it'd be nice to have it - but that isn't what's killing me off! Now if I could save some other stuff from earlier missions - like some F-18 strikes... that would possibly help! There are a couple of buildings I'd like to erase

Chainsaw - Yeah, I know. If I ever win this one without cheating it'll feel much better. Forgive my moment of weakness! I was hoping someone would post a bit of an AAR perhaps to show how they managed this beast. I thought I had gotten fairly good at storming buildings in previous scenarios, bringing up supporting AFV's once things are safe for them. In this one many squads "find" enemy RPG's the hard way, and the Anti tank weapons have enough range to smack my armor anywhere they can see it. If I bring armor forward I seem to loose it, if I don't - I loose the infantry. If I take my time and be careful the artillery comes down OR the clock runs out. I think if I had another half hour I 'might' be able to take some of the objectives. I have managed to get the one objective in the back right of the map, but my attempts to roll up the enemy from the right hasn't worked well. I can get my troops and armor up there about half way but attempts to assault from this side hasn't worked out. So far I've tried up the right, up the left and split half and half. Maybe I'll try right up the middle next! I'm re-learning many of my old navy swearing habits, I'll tell you. How do you upload screenshots? I can do a print screen & give it a whirl. Sigh... I should stick with naval games, there was a reason I was in the Navy not the Army or Marines!

There needs to be a way to bypass a mission so as to continue on with a campaign. I'm sure that they are winnable if you feel like taking the time to figure it out, but at some point the fun factor starts to dwindle. I've shelved the thing now that I've gotten slammed again, even knowing after several plays where most of the AI forces are - just not enjoying it any more. Sounds like others are running into issues too - down to only a few forces left... Maybe some save game files can be shared that were done near the end of some of the hard battles so that us wimps that can't win them can at least keep going? Perhaps future campaigns can have a "HELP!" button that allows for reinforcements that otherwise wouldn't be there? Emergency aircraft call-down? Let us edit campaign battles? Bottom line for me - I WANT to keep playing, I WANT to keep having fun, I WANT to look forward to purchasing more CMSF products - but if things get too hard I find other things to do. We need cheat codes (well, OK - I need them )

I hope that there is some consideration at BF to do a module for the Israeli defense force. Since the Syrians are done, we'd just need the IDF, though of course I'd want more - historical stuff back to 1967 or so at least (and all for an expansion price of course ). I don't know how you decide what modules to do (meaning expansions such as CMSF marines was) but add my vote for the Israeli Defense forces! I'd actually be more interested in that one than UK, Germany, etc. Mirkava tanks with troop carrying capabilities - be nice to have!

Well, I got further before getting creamed my last run. I got most of my forces much further forward skirting up the right side of the map. I think my main issue is the need for speed vs the requirement that I take it slow. If I go too fast I "find" enemy forces the hard way and they decimate my squads or AFV's. If I go too slow they call down artillery, resulting in the same outcome (lots of little red splotches). Those atgm and atg's are like ticks, you bombard the heck out of an area and they remain, dang things! I took out every enemy tank this time at least, and all but a couple of their BMP's - it's the enemy infantry and artillery that seems to be the main problem. I am hearby going to cheat, end the mission - print screen on where they're all at, and try that! $*#*@ mission... grumble...

Yes, just that particular mission/scenario, whatever you call it. If there is a good place to park your vehicles where they won't draw artillery, I've yet to find it. Last time I tried to win this one I had to keep moving my crates all over from side to side (well back) as if they stopped apparently somone could see them from the enemy side!

I think the best way to simulate the "Kinder and Gentler Nazis" is to allow the Germans to build more forces than usual and to nix the scorched earth and some of the partisans as far as the eastern front. The new armies would be former Soviet block members. Cost would remain the same for all forces, as Germany would still have to supply the guns and ammo! Germany and Italy as allies to the French and British... hmm, that would be different! Churchill would have a fit, but if Germany doesn't hit the Czekloslovakia then Chamberlain may stay as PM and Churchill could just rant on the sidelines. Hmmmm! So many ideas to play with!

Mines?! :eek: Oh wonderful, after all the problems I've been running into there are mines too. I know better than to go up the middle - the road it just too obvious a route. I was running flanking attacks up both sides mostly. The enemy Arty keeps me from daring to leave anything I have in position for too long - but alternatively if I move too soon it gets whacked by hidden ATGMs. I do use my own artillery and have managed to KO several BMP's and the group of tanks that wanders in after dawn, the tanks are the least of my problems! I didn't know that using smoke didn't lower overall Arty ammo - that's good to know! I need a way to mark a known enemy site - playing in basic training mode, an ATGM can be spotted briefly sometimes, but then vanishes when the guys hide again. Hard to remember where they're at! Maybe the artillery is the secret - I am leery about using it all up on suppression fire only to find something I really need it for! I'd love to use it for counter battery fire, if not for the enemy artillery I think I'd have won this one by now! What is the best type of fire to use for Artillery on infantry inside buildings? On rooftops I use standard anti-infantry ammo, in buildings I don't know if it's best to use general or anti-armor. In fact... when do you use the general purpose, just for suppression when you want an all purpose bombardment? GRRRR! I will beat this $$#*!&$! scenario yet!!! :mad:

Ticking along in the new campaign, feeling reasonably good then I run into the assault mission - town with dug in bad guys, machine gun bunkers, good ATM's on the enemy side and a few tanks for good measure. I'm totally stuck. Possible spoilers... While I can sneak my scouts and snipers in before dawn without too much trouble, and call in artillery to whack a few BMP's I spot I'm just plain stumped on how to get to my objectives. Hidden ATGM's KO everything I try to move forward including my 4 tanks - and enemy firepower and artillery prevents my infantry from gaining any ground. I've even cheated, meaning saved the game, played a bit, saved again, etc - and still I can make no progress. Not having fun any more. Is there a way to edit the campaign? Just let me add a few F-18's or more Artillery or something to give me a bit more edge. I like a challenge but at some point it's no fun - and I'm there.

Yes I know, Hitler not "nuts" is Hitler not being Hitler. Of many alternate history ideas I've had, the Nazi's being "nice" to the people of occupied Europe is an awful stretch! On the flip side though, some pragmatic high ranking German officer could maybe have figured out that the Ukrainians may be of help and waited until later to sick the SS and Gestapo on them. Still, yes - that's stretching things I agree. I think what I may do is create Ukraine as a separate country and remove the scorched earth policy. That way when/if it's captured the Germans get more resources. Norway invasion by the UK - This one ideally would be a situation that sometimes happens, sometimes doesn't. Playing as the Germans you'd have some stress to push you to invade earlier or to invade at all - In recent games I've played I've just not bothered with Norway. I should be more concerned I think, but I know the AI isn't going to invade (or hasn't yet!). I haven't yet figured out how to make the UK go from war back to neutral - don't think that's possible. I may just run one where the UK remains neutral all along just for kicks - or perhaps find a way so that it may or may not enter the war right away after the invasion of Poland. I may also play around with having France and England declare war on the Soviets for their part in the invasion of Poland. I've often wondered why they 'just' declared war on Germany when the Soviets also invaded. What if the Soviets invaded FIRST - would they have declared war then? Germany can still declare war on the Soviets later in '41 or whenever, nothing stops that I suppose. I need to figure out how to move the USSR over into the Axis side - Even in current fiddling around I still have the USSR flag over on the allies side even though I have the Soviets firmly in the Axis. So many things to play with!!! I'm hoping to make a more random campaign where I'm never quite sure what's gonna happen. Still very much learning though (and having fun).

Two "what if" situations: One, what if Winston Churchill were ousted as PM and Lord Halifax replaces him - this event due to perceived poor handling to the war and happening about at the fall of France. I'd want the decision to be something like if the Dunkirk evacuation were botched or if the Germans manage to KO France earlier than historical. I'd need a hostile country to go back to Neutral - and then have scripts for it to go back to hostile depending on German mischief. Second "what if". Hitler isn't so nuts, and does not cause the people of Ukraine and what not to hate the invading Germans. In many instances areas of the western Soviet union initial welcomed the Germans, and only later became hostile as the SS came wandering in doing bad things. Best way to do this? Make Ukraine (if not others) as separate countries that can join the Germans as allies? RN invasion of Norway? Had the Germans not gone in when they did, the British would likely have invaded Norway. I've not seen this ever happen yet, would be an interesting option & would potentially screw up the German supply line to Sweden. Finally 3 way war. France and England had some plans to bomb the Soviets in 1939, 40. Can the Soviets potentially be at war with both Germany AND the Allies - not being allied with either? The potential for this game is amazing, just figuring out how to DO it all is hard!

I prefer them firing at me from further away, less accuracy and more time then to duck. The Marine longer range firepower comes into its own then as opposed to the Syrians opening up when you're virtually sitting in their laps! Seeing further away may be a function of the AI forces getting wind that there is mischief about. When a night scenario starts they may not be aware that anythings happening, Vs later when shots have been fired and alertness would be increased. I don't know if it would be seeing further as much as it would be paying more attention. I half wondered if I'd find sleeping civilians in the buildings. Sneaking a Marine scout group in a building only to have some Syrian lady wake up and start screaming her head off could be a problem! SHHHHHHH!!!

The problem with the night missions is pretty basic for me, I can't get a good handle on how well everyone can see. Drop me in a field at night and in a second I'll have good idea if walking over to that orchard in the distance is a good idea (as far as others seeing me) or not. While I don't want to drop into Syria very bad - a bubble of visibility around my guys, outside which things got foggy or something would serve well. I could turn off my night vision and know what the enemy sees (or doesn't). The hunt and cover suggestion from earlier is a good one - and that's what I did. Even so I got bounced well enough by hiding Syrian forces to do damage, and make me concerned that my remaining forces can achieve the mission goals. Sure I killed many bad guys, but that's not the mission. This scenario to me is very much like walking in a minefield, and the sneaky Syrian forces (the mines) are not obvious and even in "noob mode" don't get spotted before they open fire unless they're out running around. I did pretty good with this one - screwed up mainly in that I didn't keep some forces on station at victory locations (duh, moved them to the next one and didn't read my briefing). I found this little "sneak through town" scenario fun and challenging. Be vewy, vewy quiet... get half way across the street and find AK-47 shells inbound.

'cept in this case it's a marine not a dog (sorry, couldn't resist - Navy vet here!).

There is a symbol now for night vision. Problem is you can't tell how good it is or how dark it is - no way to get an idea of how much cover the night is giving you! The camera view gives you good vision all around, I assume that the bad guys don't have that (or the good guys without night vision equipment) - but ya can't tell for sure! I don't think the Syrians can see too well as they wait until you're fairly close before they fire. Problem is, that's what they may do anyway even IF they see you coming! So far I have been unable to spot them in buildings before they open fire, even using hunt and stopping fairly frequently to enable the marines (in this case) to look around.

Ok, I checked on the internet and on the date of the scenario it's supposed to be a new moon. Actually I didn't - somehow I don't think that was covered. :cool: I can't tilt the camera up to do stargazing! I think I'll try sneaking through the fields just to see, it's not like I can't try again a different way! One thing real Marines likely wish they could do.