Warts 'n' all

"The tactics in hedgerows were not discussed..." Are you sure about that? I thought that was the whole idea of having exercises down in Devon.

Do they put acid in the water around your way?

I think it is a case of swings and roundabouts. When I played the demo one of my Shermans disobeyed my orders and took out an ATgun before I'd even spotted a sound contact on screen. I think this kind of human behaviour has always happened in CMx2. We cheer when it goes in our favour, and rant and rave when it goes against us.

M.E. is spot on about the Belgian and Dutch contingents being equipped by us Limeys. I think that the only French regular troops equipped by, and serving alongside the British in Normandy, were the commandos who landed on Sword beach.

I finished this campaign over the weekend. Great maps, and very enjoyable battles. Just one thing puzzled me. In my final mission "Romistrov's Onslaught" the Axis surrendered with 22 minutes still on the clock. And the AAR gave the result as a Tactical Defeat, and I scored no points. Although I still won the campaign due to my previous results, I'm still curious as to how I lost this mission.

I have to agree that if people can't be bothered to read the briefings, then they deserve to get their arses kicked. Most scenario designers go to a lot of effort with their briefing notes, both in terms of historical background, and providing players with a decent idea of what we will be up against. With regards to "Hell in the Hedgerows", I certainly feel your pain. I've tried it twice and been beaten twice. I have to admire anyone who wins it. And, of course, admire the men who slugged their way from "Utah" to Montebourg, and then on to Cherbourg in 1944.

Yeah, spot on M.E. If you take terrain into account, and plan your moves, and your rests, accordingly, then you should be able to prevent your troops from getting knackered.

I thought that the first one might be of Ploesti given the burning oil tanks. The second one did have me foxed as to location. I'd still be curious as to who the artist was (if they are by the same person), and how these paintings were regarded in both wartime and cold war Russia

It has always struck me that the recovery rate seems to be spot on. I try and avoid letting my troops get "Tired" by limiting my use of "Slow" to just one or two AS maximum. The only troops I ever see "Fatigued" are routing AFV crews.

It might be a bit difficult keeping the captions apolitical given the content. Some of them are certainly beautiful despite the subject matter. I'd be curious to know the background to the two paintings that featured US aircraft.

Lurking in a cupboard I found my old (hand written) records from CMx1... It turns out that I played "Singling Shootout" five times at different levels against the AI.. Five Axis Total Victories resulted. The Allies Four defeats and just one Draw. I suspect that when I get around to "A Muddy Affair" things will be pretty similar.

I always thought that is was called "Singling Shootout" in CMx1 but I maybe wrong. Whatever the correct name it was a lot of fun to fight from either the Axis or Allied side.

And now over to John Motson at Naseby, where it's British Royal Army 0-1 New Model Army

If only General Airfix had been in command, we'd have been in Berlin by Crimble '39.

I suspect that being from across the other side of the Dogger Bank your attempt will be a hell of a lot better than Dick van Dyke's.

Every Army Barracks here in Limeyland had a large carrot patch.

I can't help but think that The Rabid Otters would've been a great name for a punk band.

You've answered your own question.

I think that Georges' pdf is Pretty Damn Funky!

Picking up on the first paragraph of the good Captain's excellent post above. He has the way spotting works on an individual basis dead right. And, sometimes if you you pay close attention, you will even find members of the same Squad engaging different targets from one another. I am always amazed when I see it happening. It certainly comes in very handy if the enemy are trying to outflank your men. No need to give your men a "Target" command, just sit back and enjoy the action.

I have to admit that I didn't even know that there was a GDF, I've never scrolled that far down the opening page.

Spanish Catholics masquerading as my fine puritan troops? Heads will roll for this.

The above, whilst unpleasant, was as nothing compared to the behaviour of the Black Prince's nobles and common soldiers in France during the Hundred Years War.

Clearing minefields, even under ideal conditions, was difficult, dangerous, and time consuming. Which probably explains the code-name for El Alamein. "Operation Lightfoot". I think the way the game handles mines is spot on for the short time span covered in most missions.

@ Erwin Scroll down the opening page. And use the dropdown menu on the right hand side "Modification Jump List" to find mods for specific games. The Scenario Depot is at the top of the opening page. Click on it to be taken to the various games, which are then divided up into Maps, Scenarios and Campaigns