Tim1966

Just installed these mods and have to say I'm very impressed. Lovely work -thanks

I can't see BFC doing a CM1918 either (or most of the other periods mentioned). The only way we would see most of these periods would be in mods and you can't add models so they are non-starters really. Maybe if BFC decide in a few years when there's a new engine out they will open the old engine for mods we could see something...

The war in 1918 wasn't just shelling and gas. It was a war where small unit combined tactics had been learnt the hard way and developed by all armies. At the level CM simulates even mid war battles would be reasonably interesting - by 1916 the French had developed the move and fire and the British quickly adopted it. It would be no different really to a company size bocage fight. Gas wasn't an effective weapon - initally it had shock value but armies soon developed defences against it. It would mainly add to the fog of war. This is the problem with a WW1 game - everyone assumes its just shelling, gas, walking slowly towards a dug in MG post and waving a walking stick at the them.

I'm definitely interested. I think CM would work really well for 1918 small unit tactics. I've made a couple of WW1 mods over the years for various games but think CM would eb the best game to translate to 1918. Sadly we can't add models and WW1 will never be popular enough to make a commercail game.

PT - really sorry to hear about your year. Must have been very tough for you. Hope it will be better year in 2014. As for the campaigns I can only say again how much I enjoy them and I've not a great tactician. I've finished RtN with a minor victory, which included some replays, wins and losses. For me thats what the game is all about - having fun winning or losing and I had a lot of fun. On mission 3 in Scottish Corridor and I reckon I've just about fought off the attack and reinforcements have arrived. Nip and tuck at first and a bl@@dy good scrap! Its a shame you won't make anymore but real life and family are obviously more important. Thanks for the one's you have made.

It would be nice to be able to mod and add new vehicles and troops - that's the only way I can see 1940 being added (also I'd have a go at doing a WW1 mod ). I believe BF policy is not to allow mods like this - only skins and such. I except this is to protect their product and therefore stop a team producing a Russian front mod which could hurt sales. Its a difficult choice I expect as some see mods as helping sales whilst others see them as hurting sales.

That's meant to say link not punk! (can't see an edit button...)

Thanks for the explanation and punk John. I see the panel you mean now - it's there but the lighting has made it very light and therefore lost. Have to say there are some lovely screenshots in this thread.

Scottish corridor is a campaign in the Commonwealth module.

Indeed poor old Grabner has to keep reenacting that death run. I played this scenario for the first time last night and its a good stress busting 15 minute blast (as the Brits anyway). I'm not sure which vehicle is the 250 Neue Art (I know I'm going to get shot down in flames for that one but I'm not much of a grog when it comes to weapons and vehicles - my main interest is in memoirs and battle histories). The screenshot wasn't taken in war movie mode but in normal mode and then I de-saturated in photoshop and blurred the background to give a 3d (ish) effect. sburke - thank you. It was also a nice PIAT shot - he is just about to take out the half track in the middle

Hey Womble - I played Rugby Union for years - gave up when we had kids but then went back for three seasons recently but forced to 'retire' again after breaking a rib. Still miss playing - love the game. Personally if you want to talk about 'hard' games Rugby League is I reckon the hardest. Big guys making big hits - nutters!:eek:

Just finished with a tactical victory. Phew - some great, seesaw battles there. My last battle was 15 - Turning back the tide. Didn't get to Hunner Park . Next time maybe... Scottish Corridor next.

Don't want to 'teach Grandma to suck eggs' but do you split your teams? I found I could use the Light MGs to cover whilst sending the small squads on various routes at intervals so the Germans can only target one or two smaller squads at a time. I set up the LMGS in the two houses and poured fire into the bunker (also had a MMG left too). I finally got through Bloody Aalst. used similar tactics as mentioned by Myles. Got my observer in the tower and blew everything that moved to Kingdom come. Had some trouble winkling out tank destroyers. One had backed himself into a walled area and some houses. Literally had to flatten the houses and walls to get at him. Those Paras are tough too. Lost a lot of Guardsmen in the town Very tense and tight battle. On the next mission now for the US Paras and having a bit more joy against green troops.

I prefer memoirs rather than unit histories so here are my recommnedations. Accidental Warrior by Geoffrey Picot. He was the battalion mortar office fro the Hampshires from D-Day +1 to the end of the war. Fought in Normandy and in Market Garden. Not so good on characters and the prose is slightly clunky (he's not Robert Graves or Siegfried Sassoon) but very interesting for a British view of small unit action seen from the sharp end. A fair bit bias towards the British view and defends Monty a bit but a good read and I think there's a number of scenarios that could come from this book. (Thinking of having a go myself when I find time...). I quite enjoyed Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour Trilogy - not much action but a great read - funny, poignant and a great period flavour.

Actually just saw this myself last night. I sent a squad quick into one of the houses and then ran right around the back and through the gardens - getting shot up in the process. I didn't have time to investigate as was late but I think there is a wire fence in front of the building with the walls that could have an impact.

You certainly seem to be unlucky with the PAK gun. I got it with mortars reasonably quickly. Also put loads of MMG fire down on the house, trenches and other buildings. The bunker held out until my troops reached the ditch just below then grenades winkled them out and sub machines guns finished them off. PT - just read your post re difficulty in games. Very well written and couldn't agree more.

Buffpuff - have a look at this thread. It has a good run down of how to win the scenario. even using these tactics there's a bit of luck involved but I basically used similar tactics and got a minor victory. H1nd - I think you are spot on with your assessment

I'd be surprised if they don't go for the Russian Front. As someone said the minor theatres probably won't be big sellers. Personally I'd like to see 1940 or North Africa (and if they do Pacific can we have Burma please?). Yes I'm English...

I don't think CCABTF maps are anywhere near as accurate as CM. The size was a lot smaller and the number of units limited some what. My comparison was they way you followed a linear campaign which you didn't' actually control like the Road to Nijmegen. I think CC lost something when it allowed you to make the campaign moves. I lost the feeling I was a junior officer carrying out orders. CM has restored that and I find the ebb and flow exciting and challenging. I think the CM maps are massively more accurate and interesting. I suppose we all get different things out of our games and hobbies. Personally as an ex rugby player I don't worry to much about winning - its about the taking part. I'd prefer a game that is nip and tuck and we lost to one we won 80 - nil. That said it feel so much better to win a nip and tuck then losing and I certainly didn't want to be on the end of a thrashing. Luckily as someone has said this is a game so no one is dying due to my incompetence. About half way through bloody Aalst - very tight and exciting battle. Pretty much levelling the place - I'm sure the Dutch wouldn't like my methods of 'liberation'... On climbing Everest - I recommend an excellent book on Mallorys attempts in the 1920s - Into the Silence by Wade Davis. It sets the attempts against the background of WW1 (many of the people involved were vets). It was so well written I keep hoping he and Irvine would still make it back on that last fatal attempt. Amazingly amateur and to some extent arrogant expeditions.

I don't think the campaign is unwinnable so far - but I'm only at Bloody Aalst. I've won a few battles quite easily especially with the paratroops. Its difficult but fun. I like the feel I'm aiming for something - Nijmegen and not just playing a linear line of battles. My favourite over game was Close Combat A Bridge too Far. I guess I'm fascinated by battles that are in the balance and could go either way. Hence I find this one fun. Its not a massacre and not impossible but for me (a reasonably new player) its hard enough without being a Total War walk over. I'm going to play the Scottish Corridor one next and can't wait. It ain't climbing Everest - more like climbing Ben Nevis...

I've just hit my first 3 hour mission. I have been cheating at times and going back and replaying some battles - often because I've really enjoyed them and just want to replay (no really, honestly...). Its a tough nut but very enjoyable and I don't expect to win the campaign but its one I will play again I think. I tend to run short of infantry too. Some of my Irish Guards platoons are down to 1 man... I really enjoyed the mission where your Paratroops have to escape from hoards for Germans. A nice race against time. I'm tending towards WW1 tactics at the moment - get my FO up front and bomb the %*£! out of anything that moves. Those flak guns rip into my boys something terrible - shredding armoured cars and spooking tanks.

I took a few years to buy CM2 after playing CM1 to death. I downloaded the demo when CMBN came out but didn't buy as it was quite 'hard' to win and also I wanted British and Commonwealth forces. I found the video tutorials mentioned earlier in this thread and real help. Started using those tactics and suddenly the game changed completely. I also found starting with small battles easier but I'm now about 7 battles into the Nijmegen campaign. Its brilliant because it starts with smaller battles and even the bigger ones aren't uncontrollable. Fortunately my wife has just discovered Breaking Bad and has 6 series to catch up. "Do you mind if I watch Breaking bad again tonight darling?", "Oh ok - suppose I'll just fire up the old computer then...";) No game will ever be perfect and having been involved in making games I can only marvel how well this one plays out. If I ever spot anything that is 'unrealistic' (virtually nothing so far) I put it down to the chaos of battle.

Have to say I've just purchased CM2 (BN, CW and MG) after having CM1 years ago and I'm really enjoying the experience. The graphics are very immersive and I have found the gameplay realistic yet still fun. I'm in the middle of the Nijmegen campaign which is very enjoyable (I like switching between US and Brits - makes you realise the differences). Having worked in computer game development fulltime and I'm still involved in my spare time I know how much work goes into this stuff and how niche wargaming is. Its not dying for me although I was tardy buying the latest versions. I could probably find some faults/bugs/things I don't like if I looked hard enough but that's like complaining my Aston Martin DB5 has the wrong colour floormats...