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gnarly

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Posts posted by gnarly

    Rundstedt Sends His Best - a CMFB Comic AAR

    in Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg

    Posted · Edited by gnarly

    ugh, yeah, sorry about that, I have so many screenshots that it's going to take hours to just organize them into a coherent plot line! That's the problem when everything goes nuts across the whole map! 

     

     

    And just for  a little added pressure, the ending of the Bil/Baneman Battle means that the entire CM:FB forum audience is now hovering here, awaiting (with baited breath) the next panels in the Bud/Ian saga!! :P

     

    Take your time Bud!  As long as they are here by lunch...   B) 

     

     

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    Tactical Use of Split Squads

    in Combat Mission Black Sea

    Posted · Edited by gnarly

    With the caveat that I only have CM: Black Sea (I have none of the WW2 titles as yet, though that will change rapidly once CM: FB is out....); it is exceedingly rare that I don't have my squads all split in BS.  Even just from my play of the demo versions of the WW2 titles, the firepower of a Black Sea team is comparable (or more?) than a whole WW2 squad.

     

    And as also mentioned, the BS environment is lethal; spacing is key to survivability, whether in urban terrrain or in a forest. A cluster of 7 or 8 men is simply a disaster waiting to happen, whether courtesy of a HE tank round, an arty shell or a burst of MMG fire...

     

    How I split them depends on situation: normal Split for basic bounding overwatch/urban clearing; Scout for assembling a picture of the battlefield, and probing in front of my advance; or Antitank, typically with a javelin grabbed from the Bradley transport.

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    List of scenarios

    in Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg

    Posted · Edited by gnarly

    • About 24 standalone missions (NOTE: this number is subject to change slightly before release). Standalone missions include, among other settings, battles from the Bulge campaign, the Lorraine campaign in eastern France, and even a couple battles in Holland.
    • Master Maps of the following historical locations: Northern Aachen, Stoumont - La Gleize - Cheneux, Stavelot, Noville, Kinkelt - Rocherath, Marnach, Meijel, Hofen - Rohren - Monschau area, Lutrebois, and St. Vith. This list does not include individual smaller maps of historical locations.

    This info may at least assist with the more knowledgeable here making some educated guesses!

     

    From http://community.battlefront.com/topic/121406-some-final-blitzkrieg-basic-details/

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    How to play Combat Mission?

    in Combat Mission Black Sea

    Posted

    I should also reiterate that the BS combat environment is very lethal; if you can be seen, you are very likely to be dead in a very short time frame. So using your scouts to see (without being seen) and therefore aligning your main assets accordingly is critical.

    I include even Fire Support and JTAC (or whatever they are called for air assets control) as your main assets; don't use these to spot (if you get their positions wrong, you'll lose them quickly...). Let your disposable scouts identify the enemy locations and makeup, then position these important assets as necessary (which may mean moving them close to a scout team's location, whose position has been proven to be viable).

     

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    How to play Combat Mission?

    in Combat Mission Black Sea

    Posted · Edited by gnarly

     LOS is very awkward... an area may look like a good vantage point, but I can' really be sure until I drop down to ground level and have a look for myself.

     That's one part of LOS evaluation. But more importantly, for the unit:

    1/. Add a move path to the intended location

    2/. Select the 'node' at this new move location (so that the entire line leading up to that new white node/point is highlighted/thicker)

    3/. Press the T button (for targeting) and use it to evaluate LOS from that potential new move location.

    4/. If it is not what you desire/thought/require, drag the selected move node/point to another nearby location, and repeat the process with the targeting line (point 3).

     

    This is the primary  way of evaluating LOS, but should be used in conjunction with (and supported by) "drop down to ground level and have a look for myself."

    Scouting

    1/. use the LOS evaluations above

    2/. Use your dedicated scout infantry teams in advance of everyone else, including armour. Or if you don't have them, Split a squad into a Scout section, and send these two blokes up ahead to a location where at a minimum, have concealment AND LOS where you wish. Whatever you use, make sure they have binocs. Snipers are also really good for this.

    Don't get greedy and attempt to get one scout team with LOS over everything; it makes it easier for multiple enemy units to discover them. Instead, use multiple scouts in different locations with more limited vantage points to build up a picture together

    3/. On the move node point for a scout's overwatch location, ensure they have a Covered Arc (yellow) of say only 50m (danger close threats). This way they will only shoot threats danger close, and NOT reveal themselves to distant targets by plinking away at them, earning a well deserved HE round or two in return. They are there to observe and report, NOT engage...

    4/. If their cover is marginal, consider putting them on Hide at the overwatch location; I am no expert on this; there are some threads discussing a units ability to 'see' when in Hide versus non-Hide; I am sure someone else will correct me here if necessary. A cautious approach to a overwatch with dodgy concealment might be to intially put them on hide for a turn or two, see what they spot, then, if spotting ppr, unhide them. DON"T forget their covered arc!

    5/. Crawling/Slow Once you have identified the concealed overwatch location with required LOS, ensure the last move segment into that location is Slow (crawl). (to help with this, when evaluating LOS, I always put one move path short of the probable overwatch location on say Quick, then a very short last one on Slow). This last one is the one I move around evaluating LOS (as per 1 above).

    A scout team using Quick all the way up their overwatch at the edge of a treeline will likely get spotted quick (even if hidden) and eliminated just as quickly. Using the above approach, they will jog into the treeline, then stop say 15m short of the edge of the trreeline, and crawl those last 15m or so to their overwatch, remaining undetected (hopefully). As per point 6, this requires patienc. But don't make their crawl/slow move too long, otherwise you will exhaust your pixeltruppen....

     

    6/. PATIENCE!!! Scouts will take some time to build a picture up. Don't be afraid to get your scouts out in front hunkered down in overwatch for a few turns to gradually build up a picture of the enemy, before significant mobilization of your main forces. Generally there is no rush.

    Complexity; there are many missions out there that are Company level max on smaller maps. Seek them out and give them a try. In BS PBEM's I have thus far only had one armour battle (which was a dismal failure), and zero air assets, so I can work my way up through the various variables without causing extra stress. Mech Infantry battles are still where I am most comfortable versus humans for this reason.

     

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    Rundstedt Sends His Best - a CMFB Comic AAR

    in Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg

    Posted · Edited by gnarly

    I'm surprised no one has asked where the 105mm shot from the Sherman went... ;)

     

    I presumed it was still 'in-flight' at the turn end.. 

     

    If not, show us MOAR!!!!!!!!  :lol:

     

    Question @Bud_B, do you ever release your comics in a compiled digital form at the end (for instance, embedding it in game install folder as a promo by BS, that they compensate you for, or as links from the BF site to further promo the titles)? (probably been asked a million times, but...). Or even just up on GoogleCloud as a PDF?

     

    I (and I'm sure others) would love to read (or re-read) these afterwards at leisure, without recourse to scrollling through a thread.

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    Airburst vs HE

    in Combat Mission Black Sea

    Posted

    Realistically, a sniper team wouldn't have the equipment to target effectively for precision weapons. You need a much stronger laser (among other things) to get a grid accurate enough for the round. The issue isn't the round, it will hit the grid quite precisely, the real problem is that the grid the sniper team pulls is not the right one! I haven't used precision artillery enough to see if this is modeled in the game, but you really need an FO or FSV to do it right. The game over simplifies precision artillery in my opinion, but it is an acceptable abstraction for gameplay reasons.

    Good call!

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    Airburst vs HE

    in Combat Mission Black Sea

    Posted

    The Excalibur and XM395 shells are not laser guided, they are GPS guided. The XM395 is more innacurate due to the forces acting on a mortar shell compared to that of a howitzer shell.

    I was pretty sure that was the case (GPS-guided), hence why I was confused at the XM395 inaccuracy versus the Excalibur in my game (with the seemingly 'obvious' differentiator that one team had a laser designator).

     

    Thanks for clarifying, though these (XM395s) are dropping 50m away from target, which seems pretty poor. But maybe I stuffed up somewheres...

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    Airburst vs HE

    in Combat Mission Black Sea

    Posted

    Been playing around with the editor to get a feel for how some of the modern toys work. I tried out the XM395 on the 120mm mortar. Was hoping/expecting some precision results using a spotter with laser designation. So far it doesn't seem accurate enough to hit a building with 1 shot. The shots come close but not dead on. I'll have to try the Excalibur next to see how it does.

    Was also hoping to see TOW missiles be able to fire at buildings, but so far they don't when I target a building. The operators just use their personal weapons.

    When I get some time I'll build a proper firing range. Hopefully there are "dummy" infantry, tanks and vehicles I can place to use as target practice that don't shoot back.

    I'd be very interested in such a firing range @db_zero. I'm playing the first mission of the US campaign, and have had woeful results with the XM395, compared with the Excalibur. Though admittedly, its a sniper team calling in the 120mm mortar, versus Fire Support with laser designater calling in the Howitzer...

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    SeinfeldRules Scenario Thread (CMBS)

    in CM Black Sea Maps and Mods

    Posted

    Great little mission (Bradeley Speedhump) SeinfeldRules!!! :lol: I  finally got around to playing it this New Years Day after being granted a child free day...! :D

    Lost a couple of BTRs and 4 men. First time I think I've properly implemented and succeeded with a solid mechanized assault.

    Very nice work, and as someone else posted, a great little skirmish.

     

    SPOILER:

    I actually was concerned that the Bradley was going to be a walk over; my sniper team spotted it in the second turn (they walked about 30m from the setup zone to set up their OP).

    But it turned out that actually getting armour with LOS onto it took a little thought (without exposing to Jav potential).

    I think if the Brad had been hull down, or tucked behind a building somewhat, it may have been much tougher. But those Javs a great challenge in themselves

     

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    2015 Christmas Bones

    in Combat Mission Final Blitzkrieg

    Posted

    As one who thus far only owns Black Sea, I am SUPER excited about this release;  it will finally be my entry point into the WW2 era (call me picky, but didn't want the BN bocage, the sheer masses of RT, or the Italians. ...).

     

    This one ticks all my boxes! Fantastic work BFC! Now, how do I justify this gift to myself, right on the wife's birthday? ???

     

    And rhanks for the manual; I will be devouring religiously over the next few days....

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