ChappyCanuck

I like your cautious, thorough, yet steady as she goes approach to these battles, Ian. It would be interesting to see your defensive approach sometime.

Sgt Jeremy returns!

Good plan, Ian. Thanks for the visuals

MJ: as i recall, our battle started in the near dark as well. That would explain a lot with respect to Muzzleflash's findings above

worst.....advice....ever...lol

On defense, I will start checking units to see where they can now actually fire and set cover arcs to coordinate with each other, but all this only after the game is running. So that tells you what I think of set up phase spotting. Yes, I see your point. Which is unfortunate. I really enjoy setting up a good defence using all of the principles I learned and utilised in real life. At the risk of dragging CMx1 into the mix (a hush comes over the crowd, lol), I don't ever remember having this issue in those games.

What puzzles me is this: during setup, it would seem that environmental factors such as time of day (ie lighting, and I can only assume poor lighting from weather conditions as well) are completely ignored, yet as soon as the button is pressed, those sighting factors kick in to limit LOS/LOF. I would like one of the game designers/reps to comment on this please.

Aha!!!! That is interesting indeed, and that is the answer for this battle anyway. Well done!

I prefer not to use LOS tool most of the time. Instead I get the camera down and find that often works just as well as the LOS tool. Sometimes it is worse, but occasionally it have been "more true" than the LOS tool. The only problem is the camera sometimes cannot get as low as you need. Thanks Muzzleflash. I use the camera as well but with all of that foliage blowing around in the breeze, it can be challenging as well (as you know). I could probably accept the inaccuracies of the LOS tool for moving soldiers/vehicles. ie. a section moves up against a wall and they can't be sure if everyone can target the woods in front or not. But in a prepared defence, where you had the time to dig proper trenches, place friendly soldiers and vehicles out front to see if you could engage them or not, remove foliage to clear arcs of fire, this should not be a problem. And I think this is where the LOS/LOF tool is extremely disappointing.

Thanks Ken. But again, I allowed the crews to do their "set up shuffle"...I didn't even put a hide order on them (which shouldn't matter anyway because it is the weapon system that is sited and not the crew) This also happened for one panzer (which maintains it's height of course) as well as the 2 x ATGs and some MGs. When I set them up, they all had a wonderful KZ. And then it disappeared. Here is something I was wondering about. The scenario begins at 5:40 AM - not dark, but not broad daylight either. During setup, would the software assume that is was broad daylight? Is that a possibility? That would certainly explain the "why" but unfortunately handicaps the defender in any battle with a dark or semi-dark environment

Maybe you have LOS, but the units do not fire because they do not have LOF. See, this I do not understand. If I place an AT gun and select "target", this should be what the ATG can engage in either set up mode or when the big red button is pressed. If not, any attempt at proper siting is a crap shoot.

This is turn 1, not in the middle of the battle though. Nothing has happened to change anything. Enemy troops have not even been sighted yet

I have spent untold hundreds of hours on the CM games, yet one thing still frustrates me to no end: the LOF "glitch". I know ALL of you have experienced this "glitch", but after my latest battle I just had to bring this to the surface again. I am meticulous in setting up my defence - and it takes hours. Interlocking arcs of fire for my ATGs and MGs, tanks sited in hull down positions, you name it. Just like when I was an infantry officer...everything tied in together. In the game, I allow for the crews to complete their shuffling around to ensure LOS/LOF. And then I hit the start button and it all goes for a sh#t. Suddenly it looks like some child sited the defence: LOF blockage everywhere. Maddening, frustrating, ridiculous. And still this is happening in the latest versions of the game. Again, I know every one of us has experienced this, and in most games I just let it go to: "stuff happens", but with this last battle it was frequent and insane. Any ideas on solving this mess would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

A very good explanation Frank, but what body waste swearing? lol PS Grab an avatar will ya? Ahem, so everyone knows, Frank (Stonecutter) and I are buddies from a long way back...we met in Military College and we also cycled our bicycles across Canada in 2004. Yup, certified weirdos

Nice story Capt Stonecutter, soon to be Major

Hahahaha MJ, we have to party sometime

Yes, 16 Pl, D Coy Nice memorial site!

I have some RCRs who definitely apply...for example, Lt Sterlin (RCR) and his platoon defended a farmstead from attack by about a company of Germans with a tank...forever known as "Sterlin's Castle" which I visited and took this picture with plaque and the second pic is the "Castle": (BTW, on our map, Sterlin's Castle was roughly located at Hex 2,2 in case you are interested) As the plaque reads, Lt Sterlin and his platoon were wiped out at Cider Crossroads nine days later Pro Patria

hahahaha of course back bacon How about some Trailer Park Boys?

Ahem, that is "Canucks" lol want some bacon?

Hey! MJ! Get out of here! lol

Thanks Koh - fellow war brother! Interesting how our Regiment has been mispronouncing it all these years!!

Since we are representing the Royal Canadian Regiment in this campaign, today is one of three days of year that is celebrated in its Regimental history. On July 10, 1943, the Regiment landed at Pachino, Sicily, hereafter to be known as "Pachino Day" (no link to Al Pacino lol) and launched the Italian campaign under 1st Canadian Infantry Division (with the red patch). Today, Regimental members (and former members like myself) celebrate the day by eating spaghetti and drinking red wine - no lie! Happy Pachino Day!

Hmmmm B Company Commander is dead, the FOO is dead, and the AT gun is on it's last legs.....not a good start. Unless I'm mistaken, with the FOO and B Coy Comd out, the large arty can only be accessed by A Coy and its FOO?

OK guys I'm back from my "tenting on a ballfield weekend with copious quantities of beer, burgers and festival tunes"!!! I watched the first 2 turns. SOMEONE is shooting at my AT gun and I can't figure out who Grunt_GI, that looks like Nebelwerfer artillery raining down on you. Yikes. Take cover!