Badger73

+1. These are gorgeous! Also wonder how long it took. Would love to see a tutorial for how to do.

I opine "quicker setup" for the reasons you stated. The tube pops into action faster which has to be done before sight can be aligned with aiming stakes. So, while you just can't pop rounds immediately upon parking your carrier, you can eliminate tube, baseplate, and tripod set up delays before mounting sights and planting stakes. The "critical path" then becomes compass orientation time instead of tube set up duration. I look forward to realizing this in the game when released. Thank you.

Scenario designers, Here is an excellent World War Two map resource at the McMaster University in Canada website. Bookmark and enjoy! http://repository.mcmaster.ca/fedora/repository/macrepo%3A32223 Backstory (for those who might care): I'm slogging through Jon Snowdon's excellent "A Scenario Design DAR/AAR". I've never built a CM scenario but would like to do so. I'm intimidated by the process. My goal is to someday, somehow, some way learn to create scenario's from the Lorraigne Campaign. I'm interested in Arracourt but those battels reach too far for me. I've decided to start with the battles at Luneville in September 1944. 15-Sept-44 presents a meeting engagment between troops of the US 42nd Armored Reconnaissance Cavalry and Aufklärung-Abteilung 115 of the 15th PanzerGrenadier Division. It will likely take me the better part of a year to master the tasks. As Jon says, though, you start maps and then develop from there. I found the McMaster University in Canada website while conducting my maps search and expect to use it much in my efforts. Good luck and good gaming!

I concur! @Mord, I am a big fan of these portraits. Taking it down to the regimental level is awesome indeed. Thank you!

See discussion of "Goering and Luftwaffe Infantry" at http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=110446&highlight=kesselring

+1 Me too.

Consider waiting a while before buying. Focus on playing CMBN and see how that turns out. There's a large number of scenarios and campaigns in place. Exhaust them first. Then decide how to spend your limited money. You may find CMBN keeps you fully occupied for more months than you thought it might. If not, you'll better know how much time you would be able to spend playing CMFI upon purchase. Good luck and good gaming.

Check the repository. "Aris Muzzle Blast and Tracers Version 2.0" http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=314&func=fileinfo&id=2441

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel

"Smiling" "Uncle" Albert was well regarded by both friend and foe; decisive, canny, and brave. He is primarily responsible for Germany's effectiveness in holding Italy with his "southern defense" strategy against the Allied invastions. Rommel was inclined to abandon the south and defend in the north. Kesselring understood that such a strategy would expose southern Germany to bombers operating from Italy; risk the Allies breaking into the Po Valley; and was completely unnecessary, as he was certain that Rome could be held until the summer of 1944. His assessment was based on his belief that the Allies would not conduct operations outside the range of their air cover, which could only reach as far as Salerno. History proved him right. He was a loyal Nazi and an excellent general.

I vote #2. Thanks for asking.

@Hister - what mods are those? As mjkerner says, they should still work.

Also as an additional anti-tank team in scenario's with half-tracks or supply trucks. Have the XO acquire a bazooka and 4 rounds. Then reinforce where needed.

Bold font in quote above is mine. I too prefer to avoid brz. I vote "don't". Thanks for asking.

Thanks for recommending. It is available for Instant Watch on Netflix. Have added to my queue and look forward to watching.

Agreed! Extremely good. Thank you for doing these.

Skirted panzers indeed! It does look promising and I too await reviews. However, do not lay your hand across the muzzle when dropping mortar rounds down the tube! Proper way is to grip the round from the side, insert the fins/base a few inches in, then release the little fellow and drop you arm down and out, ducking your head and shoulders quickly while facing away from the muzzle blast.

Yep. Thank you. Should have checked myself; page 27 of the CM-BfN v2.0 manual, "Elite is identical to Warrior with only one difference: - Enemy infantry icons are always the plain “soldier” type, regardless of their armament or function" Time for me to step up, it seems.

Looking for ELITE player opinions. How much different are ELITE and WARRIOR fire mission response times? I play WARRIOR only because I've read that it most accurately reflects the wait time durations for Artillery/Mortar/Air indirect fire support missions. Is that really the case?

Digressing somewhat, the technology and military science advances are almost overwhelming; from a focus on C2 (Command and Control) in WW2 to C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) today. Everything mentioned by others above plus the amazing information management systems fed by the new hardware tools.

Gegenangriff Auf Huegel 382 CM BfN Base Game scenario submitted 24-Oct-2011 file author: Chris McCain (Phantom) - Morning on 18 June 1944 - Duration = 2 hours - US infantry with tank limited artillery support vs. German infantry with tank and limited artillery support. - Americans defend ground seized the previous day in order to launch a subsequent assault while Germans counter-attack per Wehmacht SOP. Gameplay report - played once as USA and once as GER on WARRIOR setting. Gameplay version. CMBN/CW v1.11 This is a very good intermediate level scenario, well suited for players who are ready to graduate from newbie to novice. The map provides plenty of room to manuever a battalion's worth of units on each side; an American task force and a German kampfgruppe. The briefing and situation maps for both sides are succinct and complete. The designer's notes are focused and helpful. Gamers can play either side against an effective enough AI. NOTE. I am grateful for the hard work which a serious gamer put into creating this scenario for the rest of us to play. It takes a lot of time and effort. This scenario is a credit to its designer. Thank you, Chris. ======================================================================== American and German forces fight for the high ground near La Medeleine, June 18th, 1944. This scenario is a hypothetical battle of two equal battle groups. Each side has very similar objectives. The idea behind its creation was to have both sides playable against the AI and Head to Head. I believe the designer achieved his goal. The scene begins with an under strength US rifle company attempting to defend its gains from the previous day, namely possession of Hill 382. The rest of the American battalion is tasked with assisting Hill 382 and pushing deeper into enemy territory. On the German side, a depleted company stands fast in preparation for a reinforcing kampfgruppe to take Hill 382 back from the Ami's. 1) Deployment & Initial moves: This is a medium sized battle. Both sides start with rested infantry companies in their initial deployment zones. The US player commands a recently blooded company re-stocked and ready to proceed. The USA begins immediately with a second unseasoned company advancing forward and also brings to bear two seperate tank platoons, arriving later in staggered sequence to support the infantry missions. The German player commands multiple hardened but bloodied infantry platoons with machine guns and mortar sections who will soon be reinforced by seasoned panzers and panzer grenadiers to push the Americans back. This scenario provides more than enough time for each side to perform their missions. As a sizeable battle, it will take several hours for solitary play. ##################### <<< SPOILERS FOLLOW >>> ##################### This is a long playing scenario. Smoke is your friend as is well planned artillery. "Control" of the center does NOT mean occupying the center with brave and fearsome tanks! Each side winds up defending on one flank while and attacking on the other. You really have to choose how to reinforce success while preventing collapse. The "fun" lesson for me was discovering the myth verses the reality of German armor. I learned how evenly matched Mark IV's are against Shermans and one does not go sticking Panzer IV snouts out unawares regardless of how cool they look! ################## <<< SPOILERS END >>> ################## Assessment: This scenario provides equal opportunities for both Americans and Germans to screw the pooch or strike hard and true. It is an excellent "battalion/kampfgruppe" CMx2 game for a practiced beginner to graduate into the next higher (intermediate) level of solitaire play. The learning curve for me was understanding the difference between "controlling" and "occupying" key areas of the battlefield. Control of the center is paramount for each side to win. Occupying the center bogs you down and and diminishes your momentum to the point of blunting the sharp edge of your forces. Control is established much more by dominating with firepower. The physical presence of your troops needs to be focused on mission objectives. Success comes from skilled recon, quick movements to contact, dominant fires, and patient maneuvering. USA player has to hold the left until you can dominate the right. GER player needs to stabilize his right and push hard on the left. Both sides have effective but limited amounts of artillery fires; plan them well. Rate "5" for map design. Rate "5" for AI deployment of forces. Rate "5/4" for USA initial play / replay against AI. Rate "5/4" for GER initial play / replay against AI. Recommendation: For those players who use the uniform mods, play this scenario giving the USA the 79th Infantry and 2nd Armored uniforms. For those who use Mord & DC's unit portrait mod, I recommend the 79th Infantry & 2nd Armored portraits for the USA and the 709th ID & 21st Panzer portraits for the Germans. For H2H play, this scenario strikes me as a good intermediate level match, evenly balanced for the prudent, unforgiving to the rash. Good luck and good gaming!

Agreed. Would love to see a primer on this for CMx2 scenario design. Is there such documentation somewhere? Or a thread that shows and tells?

Congratulations! You're one of several people I've seen receive this consideration in the past year or so. It is a pretty remarkable characteristic of this forum. I recollect the posting AAR's and gameplay assessments as acceptable recompense in cases like this! Enjoy the module. Keep us posted. Good luck and good gaming!

Then you have the best tool for what you want to do and the one which I would have recommended. Very useful offensively as well, particularly for positioning / unmasking short range AT weaponry. Good luck and good gaming!

Not necessarily. You correctly note that it might be a viable option; one of many. Armor design evolved using the other alternatives. Never underestimate the impact of such "headaches" nor trivialize the real life costs they produce. Logistics really matter. Don't denigrate them. Lives depend on reliability, maintainability, standardization, and resupply. Your final sentence almost made me angry. For that I apologize. The only thing that counts on the battlefield is winning. The cost of winning is usually high and always in blood. Looking cool counts for nothing. It's wrong and silly to think so.