StieliAlpha

Well, if you have a human opponent, give it a try. The variety is HUGE, compared to what computer games offer. But they need a certain, eh, resolution. You need to be willing to read through rule books (between 20 and 200 pages), be willing to spend weekends to learn the mechanics. But THEN! There's nothing better than watching your opponent crumble and throw dice through the room. Or feel the frustration when things go wrong for you...

And I forgot to say: You can't get bored by CM. If that's the case, it's not the game for you anyway. ?

Now, THAT's a question! Playing board games since 40 years. Computerwise, it's indeed only CM for me. But if I would have the time and patience, I would be hooked to board game adaptions. Erwin's Gary Grigsbys proposal is a good starting point. You'll find lot's of this "hard core stuff" on the Matrix Games site. But mind you: That's low graphics, low action, numbers crunching, table reading stuff.

Since you decided for CMFI already and time is an issue, you may want to have a look at Heirllom Tomatos package of 16 tiny scenarios. You find them in the "scenario depot" at the "The few good men" website. 16 scenarios with platoon sized forces on tiny maps. Each 30minutes long, so the playing time is perhaps 45 minutes each. I played a few and found them not too difficult, but not too simple either. They would probaly be a good starting point to get into the game.

Yes, my Point was indeed, if those guys could not clear mines properly under controlled conditions on a tactical level, there is no chance to do something "meaningful" under combat conditions on the micro-tactical level. In CMBN, it's good enough for me to flail through with a Crocodile. Which certainly leaves some mines behind for the following infantry. Sounds realistic enough for me. If there are no similar tools in CMBS, it indeed sounds like an issue.

Well, my reference is an old friend, who served with the engineers in the Bundeswehr. He always used to say, that they could not even clear a training minefield under training conditions a few weeks after it was layed. Incorrect, or better not sufficiently precise, mine lay plans and soil movement made it impossible to find all mines. Imagine that without plan, with 60 year older equipment, in the dark, under time pressure, with people shooting at you. Certainly no room for substantial clearing work within the CM scale and time frame.

Hm, that would in a way explain my earlier observation.

Ah, BN will be difficult. I am using the "interactive" one (can't remember who made it) with some GI's looking at a German sign post. The game buttons are built into the signs. Splash music: Of course, the Band of Brothers theme. That's hard to top. ?

Well, if you want to mod sounds, why not send a PM to "the master of sound" Waclaw, who made the HQS mod and ask for help?

Hi rocketman It's a little late, indeed. Even I downloaded your splash screen months ago. But since nobody else commented yet: It's awesome! I have the Russian National Hymn playing with the splash screen and together they perfectly set the mood. Thanks, man.

Gents, I just read that a tank museum in Normandy closes down and sells it's equipment in an auction. A fully intact Sherman goes for Euro 250'000 to 400'000. Probably with empty gas tank, though. ? Unfortunately, the note did not say which museum. Any way, that should be easy to find out.

Hi John Either we get different results in Google or you misunderstood me. No doubt that there is "normal" content, too. But one finds a lot of sick stuff under this header. Like the Vietcong (?) with his full shoulder pockets....

Watch this! Finally it's Olympic!

Hm, that is not too frightening, as it looks authentic. What else one find's under that header is shocking. Is our world really that sick)

Nope, I was thinking about a potential POTUS. But true, right now there are more than enough examples in Europe, too.

Ok then, add Frederik to your list. He made a few nice statements. My all time favourite: "In my country, everybody shall live up to his own liking." Well, he was wise enough to add some restrictions, but the fundamental idea was Great. Considering it came from an 18th Century monarch.

And from Childress OP, number three is nice. It has so much actual relevance.

A little off topic, but I like Frederik the Great at Kolin: "Rogues, do you want to live forever?" Great sentence. Unfortunately, the guys ran nevertheless.

Eh, 500 MB is not an issue. Time is more of an issue for me. But if it helps, I can try a few of the starting scenarios and give feedback over the next few weeks. Just don't expect anything too elaborate.

Hi Michael Nope, the RAL system (like many others, e.g. BS 4800) really is only a comparison system. Basically, somebody once made a paint spot on a paper and defined "This stone grey". You have to remember, RAL almost 100 years old. Nowadays, paint suppliers use fixed receipies, of course, to produce a standard appearance of a colour. Well, probably back then it was similar: A little of this, a little of that and we call the result "stone grey". The NHS system is more scientific. Colours are defined by sets of spectral colours. That's why NHS knows millions of different colours and RAL only 200 or so.

My assumption was, they made the uniform "greener" to stand out of the blue. Imagine green-gray on blue-green. You would hardly see the guy. But the bottom line, indeed: Colours are no fixed value. As described in the other thread: Even the RAL system is based on comparing colour mixes to a sample. Not very much scientific precision.

Don't worry about colour reproduction. You can't compare colour charts to screen appearance. Then there is the technical issue. Colours differ widely, depending on kind of application, base material, wear (in this case: washing), ageing, environment, light, etc. And the human factor: What I see, is most probably not what you see. Remember the story with the blue-golden dress, a few years ago. Actually is was black and white, but 70% of the people (including me) saw as a clear blue and golden. Finally, as Michael indicated, movies show you what you want to see. Nice example: Napoleonic Movies. The Brit's uniforms are always in bright scarlet. In fact they were more like pink, due to the washing. And patched with patches in all available colours. We had a similar discussion about the colour of tanks on scale models, on photos and real life examples, which had been dug out of the mud after 50 years. In the end, the conclusion was: As long as the model (or here your movie) looks ok, it's probably right.

I agree. I mixed up "armor quality" with "overall tank quality". Not necessarily the same.

I agree to possible issues due to lack of materials or poor quality of base materials. But I do not think, that bombing factories reduced the quality. The quantity: Sure. But quality is to a large extend given by the process. If a piece requires a lathe or turn mill, you can't replace the machines with file or saw or hammer. If you have the machines, you produce. If not, you don't. Ok, time constraints or lack of maintenance may lead to dwindling precision in production. But that again goes into quantity, not overall quality. A part either fits, or you throw it away or make it fit. If you make it fit, it will lower your output again. Welding is different, of course. This requires skill, base material, time and clean environment.

Found it: Peter Perla, The Art of Wargaming, 1990. And after a very quick refresher: He takes the "Art of educational Wargaming" back much farther in time.