Hooahguy

So if you take all that into account, what would be your guess?

So which one is more "bang for buck" in terms of missions? Im going to guess NATO.

I dont mind downloading a dozen patches or so. Ill just use my schools bandwidth. EDIT: The boxed version seems to be the Paradox version.

So whats the difference between the Marine module? Is it more infantry-focused, as Ive heard elsewhere?

Ok so I have made the decision to buy CMSF. But before I go and spend a ton of money on the game, I looked on Amazon and ebay for it. So here is my question: Do I need to buy it from the battlefront site to get full support? Or can I buy the base game cheap from amazon then buy the modules from the BF site full priced? I ask this because I dont have a lot of money and I dont like spending a ton of money on video games when there are other things that I need to save for. Like food. Ah, the dilemmas of college kids.

What I do is send FOs to overwatch positions and send in a Stryker to briefly enter the ATGMs LOS, then quickly pop smoke/reverse so it wont get hit. After the ATGM gave away its position, I call in immediate fire support. But I only tried this once.

But what about the Marines and NATO modules?

Ok so I replayed Shattered Steel and I ran into some problems. I didnt seem to win as easily as I did last time. So I started out with sending my Stryker with my FO to the hill on my right. I did this to give the best LOS for my FO. So my FO is on the hill, looking for the ATGMs that are in the grove on the far side of the map. In an effort to lure them out, I sent my tanks forward to engage the enemy vehicles. They launched ATGMs, but they missed, somehow. So I called in fire support, and the ATGMs were eliminated. When the initial Syrian vehicles and first wave of the Syrian strike force were eliminated, I sent the rest of my forces (the Strykers with infantry, namely) to the complex. I had half of my tanks lay down area fire on the buildings to suppress any enemy movement there. En route though, Syrian infantry came out of the grove in front of the complex and opened fire on the Strykers. Two Strykers were hit, and my infantry bailed out, only to get pinned down. I quickly sent in my other three Strykers to suppress the enemy in the grove, and sent one squad of infantry to hunt down and kill the last ATGM which one of my MG teams was laying down suppression fire on them, but for some reason could not kill. While that was going on, my tanks were knocking out Syrian vehicles as they were appearing. Then four enemy tanks appeared and knocked two of my tanks out. I dont know how, they just did. After a brief firefight, I was able to knock out one of their tanks and they surrendered, resulting in a major US victory. But I lost two tanks and two Strykers, as well as eight men. Was this because I was fighting at close range? Should I, for next time, keep my tanks on the other side of the map so they can engage the Syrians at long range? That seems like a good idea, because early on, my tanks were engaging at long range and seemed to be impervious from Syrian fire. Also, after I called in mortar fire to eliminate the ATGM positions, I couldnt call in support again. Is there a limited amount of support that one can receive? This game is really sucking me in, and I think Ill buy it soon. Now then, which module should I buy? Which module is best for what kind of combat? I heard that Marines is for infantry, NATO is for tanks, and British is for... well I dont know.

Ok so I played the mission Shattered Steel. Its the one where I have to basically set up an ambush point for Syrian armor thats entering the area. So I sent my Abrams forwards to deal with the Syrian armor that was in the area at first, used my mortars to deal with the ATGMs that were in the treeline. When that was done, I moved my tanks (one tank and one Stryker was knocked out by ATGMs) to the opposite side of the map where they could give support to my men as well as knock out Syrian tanks as they appeared. I then sent my Strykers around the buildings, and assaulted the top floors of the buildings where Syrian infantry were holed up. I lost 8 men and a Stryker when a BMP (I think) that was hiding opened up on my men who were assaulting a building. But I took the building and won. First successful mission! I think I like this game, and I may just buy it.

I know what WEGO is, but what does WEGO stand for?

Thanks again for the replies. Also, whats WEGO? And am I missing something to the tutorial mission/s? Are there more than just one mission to play? Ive been reading some of the topics dealing with new guys and Ive been getting that impressing. If so, how do I get to those other missions in the tutorial?

So from what Ive been hearing, the Marines module is very worth it. What about the other two modules? Also, if I order the boxed version, can I reinstall it, lets say, 2 years down the road if I want to? Also, in terms of missions: the demo only includes these missions: UK Out of the Wilderness: A mixed Mech Inf, Recce, and tank force fights to secure ground in preparation of a major attack. Smashing Steel: A Syrian mechanized force heads south as an American Stryker and tank force heads north. (Battle begins before dawn in the dark, but as time progresses and the sun rises, visibility and lighting will increase) Going to Town: Stryker infantry mix it up with the Syrian forces as they enter a small town. USMC Going to Town: Marines combined arms force fights it out with a Syrian force in a small town. The battlefield is the same as the Stryker based Going to Town scenario in order to highlight the differences between the units in each. NATO Die Festung: A German battlegroup assaults a Syrian defensive position centered on an ancient medieval fortress. Which one of these should I start with? Thanks for the input so far!

Ok so after I heard about this game I decided that I would give it a try. Of course, I tried the demo first. Its ok so far, I really need more time to get into it since Im a new player to all of this, especially CM games. Im pretty disturbed at the lack of a real tutorial. I mean, the game says that there is one but really, its nothing. So I move my men and Strykers forward and engage the enemy, flank with the Strykers while using my infantry to give suppressing fire. It gives me the bare basics, like moving my men and various orders, but I had to learn all of this myself. Ive been going through the manual, but, in typical manual form, it doesnt explain everything. For instance, I want to learn how to clear a town, storm a building, use my tanks as support for my infantry, and how to use MGs to give covering fire. Thats just me getting started. But Im starting to go through the guides on these forums so eventually Ill get it down. But I would have liked a proper tutorial. Or maybe Im just missing something? Ok enough ranting and onto my questions. Whats the best mission to play for beginners? After all, there is only so much that the "tutorial" mission can teach you. Any other tips that you veterans can give me and any guides I should read? Also, whats with the whole issue with the box vs. downloadable version? I hear that one is supported and one is not? Am I reading that correctly? And why does the game/modules cost so much? Thanks in advance!