db_zero

If I'm not mistaken the Mosin is the original Russian sniper rifle? Predates the SVD. I don't have one and never shot one, but I hear it kicks like a mule and the old style ergonomics doesn't help much. About the closest I've come would be 00 buck or magnum 12 gauge slugs.

I agree I don't expect the game to go to Asia, and I'm not complaining. I'll take what I can get and be happy. Perhaps someone else will notice and go to Asia. Nothing like competition to bring out the best in people, that's what our great free enterprise system does. For now I'll wait for Black Sea to come out and will begin to learn Command Modern Naval Air Operations to cure my Asiatic itch. Hopefully a modder will go to Asia

I understand the reasons why there will be no Asia module, but being the rebel and out of the box person I am I'll go ahead and throw out the following for consideration. I actually believe a well done Asia module would not only be very entertaining, but also very profitable, it’s just a different and potentially even larger market. First off the game. While Asia is definitely a theater dominated by sea and airpower, neither of which is in the scope of Combat Mission, ground operations would still be a very critical component. The capture/holding or denial of critical infrastructure such as ports, airfields, government building would be critical to any campaign. The WW2 Pacific Campaign was largely focused around the capture of ports and airfields or areas that would be suitable to build an airfield or port. Any future Asiatic conflict involving Western Powers would follow the same suit. These would typically be company to battalion sized and fun to play out. Tanks and other AFV's would be playing a supporting role. Some areas and situations would however lend it self to good sized force on force battles such as a Russia vs. China fight would be on a massive scale. Infantry centered battles in built up areas appeals to many of us and this would be a perfect module for the US Marines, Australia, New Zealand and other regional forces. China could support a battalion sized operation and if they choose to do so could easily build up their ability to launch and maintain an operation. You also have North Korea with its huge Special Forces geared to operations in the urbanized South Korea landscape. An Asia/China based game not profitable? Consider this. November 11th is a big day in China and for those of us invested in Alibaba a huge day. Its Singles day in China and last year Alibaba did something to the tune of 8.5 billion dollars in sales-on November 11th alone! To put that in perspective Black Friday in America is about 1.5 to 2 billion dollars in sales. The Chinese market is still not even close to being penetrated as only about 25% have computers and use the internet! A Combat Mission game with China marketed properly could be a huge money maker for BF-just play off the nationalist tendencies. Yes the average person on the street in China loves American and American culture, yet paradoxically the younger computer savvy generation feels its Chinas time and the next century is their century. This is your hook. If BF/CM just reached 1 to 5% of the potential China Market that would dwarf the current sales. Build it and they shall come...sure much of this is hypothetical, but then again wasn't Shock Force and a Western intervention in Syria the same when it first came out? Well that's my Sunday .02 cents...now its back to the 3rd battle of the Market Garden Campaign which I'll now try again with the 3.0 update and hope my air support won't be more effective than the Germans!

I got an SKS-Yugo. Great gun. Can't beat the price, ammo is cheap and its not picky about what you feed it. To me the ultimate assault rifle would be a gun that takes the best features of an AK47 with modern modular furniture and used the 300 AAC Blackout round. I did look at the SIG AR15 and was intrigued by its gas piston system, but decided on the Daniel Defense. You know what they say-once you buy one AR15, you'll eventually end up with 2 or 3 more so the SIG may be in my future. There is a master armorer who was in the military and Secret Service who teaches you how to build an AR15 near me so I may get some instruction from him. I can field strip all my guns, but in the end you don't know what you don't know and the AR is a platform where it pays to learn it well. AK's and other Russian stuff you can abuse and it will still function.

I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a well trained marksman/sniper with an SVD. I'm no expert, but the Russian small arms stuff, while not as sexy and high speed as the Western stuff is very effective and functional IMO. I own and shoot a Daniels Defense M4V7 and used the M&P 15 and Colt AR15. I also have a AK47 and Saiga 7.62x39. If I had to pick just one I would go with the AK47. Not saying it better and compared to the AR it has some shortcomings -not as many accessories and the magazine release is not as smooth, but the other strengths make it a fine weapon system to this day. Until we get the game we won't know, but I would venture to guess that unless you have a situation where you're taking a 1000+ yard shot the SVD will be just as effective as the sexy Western stuff in game terms. I haven't really kept track, but I'm guessing most infantry engagements will take place under 800 yards, but I could be off as I don't play Shock Force nearly as much as I do the WW2 stuff.

We actually overtook the Saudis in oil production. The increased supply began to drive down prices and that didn't make the Saudis and probably other members of the oil cartel happy. In a desperate move, yes they may be willing to temporary drive down oil prices to try and drive US oil fields out of business and then the cartel can cut production to drive back up the prices-once the competition is eliminated. There are other factors in play. The abnormally low interest rates and Fed QE made it profitable to speculate in commodities due to currency factors. Now that the Fed is ending QE and the financial markets know they will soon begin to raise rates the commodity speculation trade is getting crushed. You're already not only seeing oil prices collapse, but gold and silver is getting crushed as well. The irony in all of this is the politically motivated commentators who were telling everyone to buy gold and other precious metals because the Fed QE was going to create massive inflation because "the Fed is printing money" actually created a bubble of their own-the commodity speculation bubble and are now paying the price and will continue to do so. If you think the slide in gold and silver is bad now, just wait till the Fed actually begins to raise rates. BTW-the Fed does not print money-The US Treasury does the money printing. The Feds QE program is a completely different beast altogether. One financially knowledgeable person, perhaps making a Freudian slip said the Fed QE programs is where all the bad mortgages go to die....it sure as heck helped the banks balance sheets and that along with a sloping yield curve and widen margins makes it now quite profitable to buy the bank stocks and the short gold and silver trade a good bet.

Times have changed. Back in my parents days your could carpet bomb entire cities and kill 200,000+ civilians and few would blink an eye. That was war. People lived in tougher times and were a lot harder. Today for better or worse we live in a different world and play by different rules. The 24x7 media, internet, cell phones and other instant mass media probably makes life harder for the military. Things could get even more interesting in the Middle East if oil prices continue to drop. I love cheap gas, but nothing comes without cost. The ruling monarchy in Saudi Arabia may face some serious challenges by the collapse of oil prices. There is a very large and restless young male population in the country that since the 70's when the oil boom took hold have been supported by the government with generous handouts that was paid for by the oil revenues. If that gets cut off and you have a large young male population with no jobs and no means of support that could spell trouble and as we have already seen in Iraq and other places in that region, change can be very violent and messy.

Understand. Would just be nice to have something more realistic than Red Dragon to cure my Asia itch. Speaking of a potential war with China, in spite of all the chatter you hear about the Red menace, I have to wonder just how much is real and how much is hype. Never been to China-but will do so someday, from what I hear from those who been there they love it and they say the Chinese people genuinely like America and Americans. The love our culture and love American products. American cars are a big status symbol over there. The government may be communist, but the person on the street are about as free market and capitalist as you can get. I would venture to guess the Chinese loath the Japanese, look down on the Koreans and Philippines, but really like America and Americans....

Very true and the perfect segway for a China vs US/Asia module. US and China skirmish in Africa leads to a resurgent China using its modernized military to challenge the US and its allieds in the Pacific region in response to conflict in Africa.

Japan and Russia could go at it over the Kuril islands and as a result Russia could invade Hokaido. Sure far fetched, but isn't that part of the appeal of wargames? A Korean war where like the first one China decides to join in. China and Viet-Nam don't get along. Also be a good module for the US Marines. Well who knows maybe once Black Sea is out someone will make an Asia mod. SF has some great mods. China buy Russia? Ill admit I've been buying China in the form of Alibaba. You may be looking at the next google, if not bigger.

Plenty more than Taiwan and Korea. A resurgent and modernized Chinese army against Japan over disputed islands with the US assisting Japan. China vs VietNam over disputed resource rich areas. China vs the Phillipines over disputed areas with the US backing them in the fight against China. China vs Russia... Steve should have no problem with those TOEs

As much as Russia is interesting-IMO Asia is where you might see conventional forces duking it out. There is a reason why the US military is pivoting its focus to Asia and behind the scenes the Army and Marines are reportedly engaged in a bureaucratic turf war over budgets and roles in the Pacific region.

As mentioned Western Ideas and concepts hold no value in many parts of the world and trying to impose it is a waste of time and effort imo. I'm biased by my experiences living there so perhaps I'm not so idealistic. Unfortunately we can't just ignore what goes on over there and may have to engage from time to time which unfortunately may have to involve boots on the ground, but you have to be smart about it. I hated the idea of invading Iraq and though the whole ideals behind it was misguided from the get go. What really befuddled me was Cheney. He got it when he was in the Bush I administration, yet did a complete 180 during the Bush 2 era. Anyway I got off on a tangent. Pre ordered and looking forward to BS. Going to be interesting. Someone wiser and more versed in modern warfare told me: What can be seen can be killed. Smoke is vital, far more so than WW2 where it was already useful. Recon and information is crucial. I suspect the pace will be quicker in some ways, yet slower in other ways.

I'll have to pass for now. Too many h2h games going on and I don't want to have to have dual install. No scenarios also limits the appeal for now. I'll probably get later on when everyone is on ver 3.10

Will this affect h2h games? If you get the pack get upgraded to 3.10 will other opponents have to be on ver. 3.10

Been playing h2h and AI games and those MP44s are quite deadly. Easy to see why when asked by Hittler the Generals asked for more of em. Fortunately Hittlers bungling with the ME-262 and forbidding assault rifles limited the damage. Imagine CM if the 44 German squads were composed of just MP-44 and MG42 equipped troops. Probably would make for some unbalanced battles.

Very nice. All we need is landing craft, parachutists, gliders, horse mounted units and motorcycles and we'll be complete

Another movie I'll watch when it comes out on Netflix. Heard its long, raunchy and entertaining. I worked for one of the major IB's years ago. It was definitely salty, but I never saw the over the top kind of stuff in WoWS, not to say it never happened. Don't think you could get away with the stuff that when on back then in today's hyper PC world, but I'm completely removed from that world so who knows.

I'll see it...when it comes on Netflix. I can't comment on how realistic it is. I've never been to war and never been in a tank in war. I've heard all sorts of war stories from vets who've seen actual war, but that can't really convey the emotion of war. I heard form a vet that he liked the movie, but he was in a non direct combat MOS who never came close to a battle zone. Personally about the only thing I can say I've experienced that comes close is I've been carjacked, ran away from 2 thugs one with a gun who tried to rob me or worse-had I not gotten away in broad daylight, accosted by much bigger thugs and had someone try to either home invade or burglarize me, but though better when they knew I was armed and ready to defend my castle. The lessons I've learned over the years is: Surprise and the initiative is a huge advantage (force multiplier). Most thugs stalk their prey and pounce when you are least suspecting-does this sound like a good strategy to use when playing CM? Who said war is fair? You may be anti-gun-until you really wish you had one. Training and mastering your weapon system is crucial. From my personal experience most buy guns where you can do so, but don't put the time, money and effort into training which is crucial. Media can never come close to replicating the sudden fear or aftermath of a life and death situation. The after affects of being in bad situations lasts a long time, sometimes a lifetime. My trainer who I consider-my master out of respect who has seen much real violence in war and the streets of America has much to say about war/action movies most not so good, but then again he does watch em. Regardless of whether Fury is realistic or not I'll end up watching it simply because I like war flicks.

I would venture to guess that most have not played all the Campaigns and battles. I sure haven't and h2h takes up most of my time. What's nice is knowing there is a large number of battles and some campaigns I haven't played but are there when the need/mood hits.

Haven't has any Stalingrad like battles yet. I'm sure once I do I'll come to appreciate the Russian SMG armed troops more.

BF has got enough on its plate for the moment, but precursors to Italy like North Africa, Crete and hypothetical stuff like Malta, would be nice. Got 4 h2h in Italy going on. I think its more popular than this section would lead one to believe. Those who have it really like it. It is a very refreshing change from Normandy and Russia.

Now that we've had a chance to play RT against the AI and h2h, whats the overall feeling. Before the release one of the beta testers mentioned the very deadly nature of smg equipped smg team while the master Bill H offered to go h2h and give a different perspective. I find them quite deadly, but not omnipotent even in forests. However many times I was in a bad situation many of the times already losing so that may have had some influence. Oddly enough I find the smg equipped paras in Market Garden to be far, far more deadly than the Soviet smg units. I don't know if its the higher motivation, training and experience of the British paras that is the difference. I would guess the Russian smgs are superior to the stens used by the British. Perhaps once I play more RT my opinion will change.

Battlefront has already replied in the past regarding Steam and made its position clear. To constantly badger them when they have indicated they are tired of responding to the steam issue is what i was referring to. I didn't like it when CA released Empire Total War and I had to install Steam. I had a choice. Either not install it or accept the necessary evil of steam. There was no option to return for my money back. Going to the steam boards and demanding things change would have gone nowhere. Thats pretty much the boat those who want CM on steam are in. Get a few million dollars or more and offer to buy the rights to combat mission and see if they will sell the rights and then those who want CM on steam can run BF as they see fit. Till then its their company and they own the rights and they pretty much call the shots. Now its back to youtube and CMNO videos that I bought directly from Matrix, not through Steam

Once again people don't seem to be listening to what Battlefront has said time and time again. They looked at Steam and it doesn't fit their needs or desires. Making comparisons and saying Command is on Steam so CM should be on there too because Command is a hard combat sim like Combat Mission demonstrates a lack of due diligence. Look at the Company largely behind Command:Modern Air Naval Operations. Its Matrix Games. They have a much larger collections of games-many of which they never developed-but acquired. They bought the rights to Close Combat. They work in conjunction with Slitherine to put out games. In essence they operate like Microsoft does. The develop some software-but also acquire other software titles and go into partnership deals with other companies. They operate like a corporate entity and have the back end to deal and make all this happen. Steam fits their needs and they have the staff, procedures and business model to support this. Battlefront on the other hand operates on a smaller scale and on a more craftsman like level. They are not the Budweiser model who mass produces, markets and sells on a large scale. They are more like the craftsman beer who operates on a smaller scale. BF could scale up and try to operate like Matrix, but they have decided not to. Why they choose to operate like this is their business. They have their reasons-it may just be personal and something they decided amongst themselves. You can choose to respect their decision and support them or you can choose not to, but really trying to force them into something they wish not to is just a waste of time. Its also very inconsiderate. IMO: Its time to lock this thread like the gun control ones.