StieliAlpha

Hm, „sounds“ maybe. But I had my first encounter with them a few days ago and can assure you, it‘s more like a splatter movie. The first cut is the deepest, you know? 🤢😎

Here‘s an interesting piece about the famous Polish cavalry charge in WW2: https://sz.de/1.2124860
Big surprise: It sounds history was quite different from what we remember from the movies.
The article is in German, though.

Yep. Reminds me to a night exercise during my Bundeswehr time.
We were stumbling through a pitch back forest, until one of the guys “found” a trip wire and started an amazing show with flash-bangs and fire from all sides. Would have been a very short adventure in RL...

Yep. Reminds me to a night exercise during my Bundeswehr time.
We were stumbling through a pitch back forest, until one of the guys “found” a trip wire and started an amazing show with flash-bangs and fire from all sides. Would have been a very short adventure in RL...

Yep, Mord describes it nicely.
I used to have a nice pic’ where a Wasp killed a Sherman from 70m distance. And you could see muzzle blast and impact on the same screen shoot. In the same game a lonely guy with a MP defended a street crossing for ages. Hm, probably more like minutes.
Of course, I would have dozens of similar stories. But you should rather experience your own.
For me, in such moments CM shines.
Though my nephew laughs at me, when he sees the graphics...

I just finished “Player of Games“. Awesome, indeed! And a very unusual Science Fiction. Had it‘s length, but also many fantastic twists and turns. The only thing I missed, was a more detailed description of Azad. Hm, that’s probably too much of a gamers view.
Looking forward to “Use of Weapons” and thereafter, I might grab an Ian Banks audio book for free. But then it’ll be enough Ian Banks for a while.

I just finished “Player of Games“. Awesome, indeed! And a very unusual Science Fiction. Had it‘s length, but also many fantastic twists and turns. The only thing I missed, was a more detailed description of Azad. Hm, that’s probably too much of a gamers view.
Looking forward to “Use of Weapons” and thereafter, I might grab an Ian Banks audio book for free. But then it’ll be enough Ian Banks for a while.

BTW, shouldn’t you be more impressed by „Azad“?🤔

Yeah, but the game play....
I tried to play for a while in a group of British soldier guys in Bielefeld, Germany, a loooong time ago. Unfortunately, they were quite fixed to table tops. Ancients, IIRC.
Anyway, one night during a session, they became quite agitated. Started mumbling something like “mega killing”. 😱 After checking rules and tables, the calculating started. And after only 15 more minutes they decided to remove one small unit from the table. 🤔
Needless to say: Being a board gamer, I was not too impressed. 😎

Ok, I just finished Consider Phlebas. And must say: Whow!
It starts somewhat slow, but ends action packed. Would certainly make a nice movie.
Eh, what‘s next? Is there any specific order of the books?

Don't think Guiness Book of Records has that...

I am reading Consider Phlebas since a while now. And I like it. It’s slow reading, but indeed, language is not the issue. The story is, hm, dense, complicated, with loads of weird characters. Luckily, just when I thought “This will be something quite “esoteric”, the action started.
And, of course, reading after works, for an hour or so, in the commuting train, does not really help to ease reading.
 

Ok, my friend. I finally was desperate enough, finished some other stuff and had no books to read for days now, to buy the package of the first three Culture books.
I’ll let you know how it comes out.

Whow, I am afraid, I do not agree with you too often, here it is fully due!

I think that's a quite superficial analysis.
The US spends more on military and NATO contributions, but the EU spends more on humanitarian aid and global development (as share of GNI).
Or to stay in your metaphor, you're pushing down on the lid of the pot to prevent it boiling over, while the EU is trying to douse the fire below.
This arrangement actually benefits the USA, because you are able to translate your military investment directly into geopolitical influence, whereas the benefits of global development are more widely distributed and don't always return directly to the donor countries.
Also, by keeping the EU military small, you're neutering a potential future military rival and keeping EU countries dependant on the USA.

Another point to mention: RT is not the typical Eastern Front game, since it covers Operation Bagration only.
Unfortunately, there is no early war module, no Kursk, no Stalingrad... And those probably won’t ‘t be there for a very long time.

Though I mostly agree with your post, I don’t agree too/understand the above comment.
The requirement for “civil authority” to finance projects, does not explain the current tendency in Germany to mess up large projects, aka the Berlin Airport, the Stuttgart railway station or even the renovation of the Gorch Fock, etc.
One reason may be the (perceived) need to deflate initial cost estimates in order to achieve public acceptance. On the other hand, to deliver projects with public approval within time, quality and (reasonably) within budget works in other places (Switzerland comes to my mind).
Anyway, to come to a conclusion here, would be a whole new discussion. And certainly a “political” one.

Though I mostly agree with your post, I don’t agree too/understand the above comment.
The requirement for “civil authority” to finance projects, does not explain the current tendency in Germany to mess up large projects, aka the Berlin Airport, the Stuttgart railway station or even the renovation of the Gorch Fock, etc.
One reason may be the (perceived) need to deflate initial cost estimates in order to achieve public acceptance. On the other hand, to deliver projects with public approval within time, quality and (reasonably) within budget works in other places (Switzerland comes to my mind).
Anyway, to come to a conclusion here, would be a whole new discussion. And certainly a “political” one.

May be. You know, people can die without clearvadvise. Therefore this highlight from a general field manual: “At a water depth of 1.3m, the soldier independently starts with swimming movements.”

Be careful with the design. Since water is incompressible, you will need a soft cushion between melon and armor plate. Say,, a layer of bananas.🤔

Be careful with the design. Since water is incompressible, you will need a soft cushion between melon and armor plate. Say,, a layer of bananas.🤔

Ooops, how could I miss that? Probably the cricket, indeed.

I noted nobody recommended the Aris vehicle and terrain mods yet. The Aris stuff is highly recommendable in all forms.
And then, there should be some mod packs for „special purposes“. I remember a Stalingrad package, a Winter package, some Hungarian and Finnish stuff. Those are normally usable with very few custom made scenarios only.

Good move. From there it‘s training, training, training...
It‘s good advise to keep it small, but don‘t stick to the book. The skills to maneuvre a platoon won‘t help you much to command, say,   two companies (unless you have something like 400years to spend).
Rather play what you like or what thrills you. But don‘t let it get too big. That becomes frustrating quickly.

Hmmm, but you had your 400 years already. I suppose the OP wants to be in the game a little sooner....🤔