WhiteWolf65

Morning gents,
Well the Zanax fog has lifted enough that I think I can continue this topic.
Many of you know that I've been playing war-games for 50+ years now. In that long period of my gaming history, I have played the traditional board type games (Panzer Blitz and a ton of others), 1/285th scale World War II miniatures (Eastern Front), computers (since 1981/82) and even reenactment (Society for Creative Anachronism....heavy fighter and armourer) from the mid 70s to the mid 80s although this was a little extreme as it was definitely REAL. Got the broken fingers and knocked out teeth to prove it.
When I was playing the conventional board games back in the day, I was buying every game published (Avalon Hill, SPI, Yaqunito, Game Designer's Workshop and others) that I could lay my hands on (I think I had over 900 games at one time). Over time though some of those games got so complicated as the companies tried to inject more realism into their products and they became dust collectors on my bookshelves. I completely gave up on conventional war games when Advanced Squad Leader was published. In order to play that game you almost needed an advanced degree in military history/tactics to play it. It got to the point that spending hours and hours playing those scenarios and the rules arguments that often happened (yes, I have gotten into dice throwing wars....bad temper) that it, well it just wasn't fun anymore. I wound up selling all of my ASL material for $150 on Ebay. I still have a large collection of Avalanche Press' Panzergrenadier/World War II platoon level games (about $1,500) but it is in storage, More about what I plan to do with that game series in another post as it relates to the Combat Mission World War II titles.
**Break. Gotta change O2 tank** Gotta tell ya' that lugging an O2 tank around so you can breathe is not fun.
I am sure by this point of this topic you are saying to yourself, "Get to the topic and quit with the personal history lesson.". Okay, I will.
With the advent of the personal computer, it opened up a whole new realm for war games, IMHO so I hopped on the wagon. The one disadvantage of computer war-games is well, ya gotta have a computer (and almost need a CRAY to run some of the newer games being published these days). The advantages, too many to list and I am sure you already know what they are. I haven't killed a cat in ages (send me a P/M and I'll explain the cat thing to you).
With today's computer's the companies can and should do what TAHGC tried to do with Advanced Squad Leader. If you think about it, what is Combat Mission? A pretty close 3-D representation of ASL. Yes, there is much that could be done to improve it to even a higher level of realism, but I'll leave that to the experts. You know though, I sure would love to see a helicopter flame into the ground after getting ripped apart by a Tunguska. The "Aircraft Destroyed" notification just doesn't do it for me.
**Chris**
 
 
 
 

All I can say is this. I personally feel that Steve and the rest of the development team have brought all of us grognards an excellent series of games. I am also glad that they did away with some of the other non-Combat Mission games and devoted all their efforts to Combat Mission series. I have been playing Combat Mission since it first hit the market so many years ago. I recently, in January of this year, bought a computer rig that was capable of handling the graphics of the new game(s) and I now own all the titles and expansion sets. I am very much looking forward to the Fortress Italy and Red Thunder expansions as World War II is my all-time favorite period of history. I would enjoy seeing some new weapons systems developed for CMBS but I am just glad that the team is working hard to bring us an even better series of games. Many kudos to Steve and the development team. All the best to BFC in 2019
**Chris**

When, and if, there is an vehicle update for Red Thunder I hope that the Raupenschlepper OST is not forgotten. Maybe the ATG version as well. I just think it is a very cool looking vehicle.
**Chris**
 

Thank you for wishing that I get well soon. Now, as with regard to German units being discouraged from hiding vehicles/heavy towed weapons within buildings, on threat of being court-martialed, that would not be the case in the latter part of the war, especially during the final Allied drives on Germany (from both sides)....the Battle for Cologne or Aachen comes to mind. In the early stages of the war, this practice would definitely not be acceptable but in the latter part of the war the Germans were doing everything they could to save the Reich, court-martial or not.....i.e. 12 year boys or old men with Panzerfausts. The point that I am trying to get across is to make the Combat Mission:World War II titles a little more on the realistic side of things. In the book I am reading about the fight across Belgium, many Veteran PzKw IV and V crews abandoned their vehicles when confronted by a superior Allied force only to sneak back at night and destroy their vehicle. Now if that isn't a court martial offense, I don't know what is. Of course, they were ordered to do this by their commanders. So your statement about blowing things up that they couldn't take with them is somewhat not accurate. Not to argue with you. I just feel that all of the current CM World War II games, and hopefully ones dealing with the earlier stages of the war, could really use a major overhaul. Of course, I am not a coder (wish I was) and all that I am saying is nothing more than my opinion, and nothing more. Just remember, that we are no longer dealing with computer technology/coding that was used when these excellent games were released over 20 years ago. My preference would be to keep expanding on the current games, but as a sideline work on a new engine code and then just grandfather in all the good parts of the old game engine. I don't want much do I. LOL
Again, thank you for the well wishes.
**Chris**

Hello all,
I highly recommend "Spearheard" by Alan Makos. It deals with two tankers during the final battles of World War II in Belgium and Germany. I am  just now getting to the part of the book dealing with the battle for Cologne. My God, what an awful fight that must have been. There is a lot of good factual material and maps that can used tp make for some very interesting scenarios. Again, I highly recommend this book to any one interested in the final days of World War II on the Western Front.
Cheers
**Chris**

Good afternoon,
Question for all of you. How many of you dislike looking up the capabilities or information on any particular unit in the PDF manuals? I prefer to have something that I can hold in my lap and read, rather than trying to read it on a computer screen. Well, today I started printing out all of the unit data sheets for all of the units found in all of the games. I will have one notebook that is dedicated to the World War II titles and another that is dedicated to CM:SF 2 and CM:BS. It will make it so much easier, at least for me it will, to decide which units I wish to purchase when playing against another player in a Quick Battle. I have also printed out the manuals, including the Engine 4.0 manual and I've printed out the guide for designing maps/scenarios/campaigns. This is what I enjoy doing. I know, weird but everybody needs a hobby. Right?
**Chris**

Thank you gents. Yes it has been a bad the last two months. First I had to put down my 14 year-old Collie and now this crap. I'll get back to the games as soon as I can. Again, thank you.
 

Thank you gents. Yes it has been a bad the last two months. First I had to put down my 14 year-old Collie and now this crap. I'll get back to the games as soon as I can. Again, thank you.
 

Good afternoon,
I am sure that this post will be deleted at some point but I am not concerned about that. I just wanted those members that I am playing scenarios with what the situation is.
On 6/14 I was admitted to the hospital because I went into full pulmonary arrest and had two mild heart attacks. For all practical purposes, I died. I spent a week on a cardiac ICU and I wouldn't wish that hell on anyone. Hospital beds aren't not designed for comfort. I am now on constant O2 (for the rest of my life) and I have about as much energy as weak kitten pee. I am not up to playing any games at this point but I should be back in the thick of the battle by month's end, maybe sooner.
Again, I am sure this post will be deleted at some point but I have much more serious matters to concern myself with.
I hope all of you are having a pleasant weekend.
**Chris**
 

All I can say is this. I personally feel that Steve and the rest of the development team have brought all of us grognards an excellent series of games. I am also glad that they did away with some of the other non-Combat Mission games and devoted all their efforts to Combat Mission series. I have been playing Combat Mission since it first hit the market so many years ago. I recently, in January of this year, bought a computer rig that was capable of handling the graphics of the new game(s) and I now own all the titles and expansion sets. I am very much looking forward to the Fortress Italy and Red Thunder expansions as World War II is my all-time favorite period of history. I would enjoy seeing some new weapons systems developed for CMBS but I am just glad that the team is working hard to bring us an even better series of games. Many kudos to Steve and the development team. All the best to BFC in 2019
**Chris**

When I was on the beta-test/development team for the Campaign Series::Vietnam game, I made an absolutely huge map that covered an area from about 10 Km south of Hue to about 5 Km north of Dong Hoi and from the Laotian border to the coast of Vietnam. Once I have come up with the best way to make maps using the CM map editor, I would be more than happy to work on this project. I love making maps.

I agree with you 100%. I also agree with comments that a direct hit from a 203 mm/8 inch round on an Abrams would turn the crew of an Abrams into a quivering mass of goo on the floor of the tank. The Abrams is not invincible in reality but it does seem that it is in CMSF and CMBS. Okay, I've got my flak jacket on this morning. Fire away.😎

I actually did a little test where I pitted one platoon of Abrams (not APS) vs four companies of T-90s. I chose a map with a narrow width but a long length, mostly rural with a few trees and houses. It was also a hilly map if I recall. Anyways, I took the Abrams and just lined them up abreast along a ridge-line but not hull-down. I then had the platoons from the T-90 companies line up in a inverted-V formation and started advancing towards the Abrams position. Just in front of the set-up area for the T-90s was a light wooded area. I gave the command to "HUNT" to all units of the four companies (might as well call it a battalion). For the Abrams, I used the "TARGET ARMORED ARC" command to establish interlocking kill cones that spanned both the width and length of the map. The T-90s starting rolling forward and before they even cleared the tree-line, when six T-90s go "BOOM". To save this from becoming a novel, let's just say that by the time the remaining Russian tanks got to the half-way point on the map, a junk-yard laid behind them. They too met a flaming death. They did however, manage to kill one of the Abrams. Ahem. What can I say? Nothing, other than the code for the Abrams should be brought down a couple of notches.

I actually did a little test where I pitted one platoon of Abrams (not APS) vs four companies of T-90s. I chose a map with a narrow width but a long length, mostly rural with a few trees and houses. It was also a hilly map if I recall. Anyways, I took the Abrams and just lined them up abreast along a ridge-line but not hull-down. I then had the platoons from the T-90 companies line up in a inverted-V formation and started advancing towards the Abrams position. Just in front of the set-up area for the T-90s was a light wooded area. I gave the command to "HUNT" to all units of the four companies (might as well call it a battalion). For the Abrams, I used the "TARGET ARMORED ARC" command to establish interlocking kill cones that spanned both the width and length of the map. The T-90s starting rolling forward and before they even cleared the tree-line, when six T-90s go "BOOM". To save this from becoming a novel, let's just say that by the time the remaining Russian tanks got to the half-way point on the map, a junk-yard laid behind them. They too met a flaming death. They did however, manage to kill one of the Abrams. Ahem. What can I say? Nothing, other than the code for the Abrams should be brought down a couple of notches.

All I can say is this. I personally feel that Steve and the rest of the development team have brought all of us grognards an excellent series of games. I am also glad that they did away with some of the other non-Combat Mission games and devoted all their efforts to Combat Mission series. I have been playing Combat Mission since it first hit the market so many years ago. I recently, in January of this year, bought a computer rig that was capable of handling the graphics of the new game(s) and I now own all the titles and expansion sets. I am very much looking forward to the Fortress Italy and Red Thunder expansions as World War II is my all-time favorite period of history. I would enjoy seeing some new weapons systems developed for CMBS but I am just glad that the team is working hard to bring us an even better series of games. Many kudos to Steve and the development team. All the best to BFC in 2019
**Chris**

All I can say is this. I personally feel that Steve and the rest of the development team have brought all of us grognards an excellent series of games. I am also glad that they did away with some of the other non-Combat Mission games and devoted all their efforts to Combat Mission series. I have been playing Combat Mission since it first hit the market so many years ago. I recently, in January of this year, bought a computer rig that was capable of handling the graphics of the new game(s) and I now own all the titles and expansion sets. I am very much looking forward to the Fortress Italy and Red Thunder expansions as World War II is my all-time favorite period of history. I would enjoy seeing some new weapons systems developed for CMBS but I am just glad that the team is working hard to bring us an even better series of games. Many kudos to Steve and the development team. All the best to BFC in 2019
**Chris**

All I can say is this. I personally feel that Steve and the rest of the development team have brought all of us grognards an excellent series of games. I am also glad that they did away with some of the other non-Combat Mission games and devoted all their efforts to Combat Mission series. I have been playing Combat Mission since it first hit the market so many years ago. I recently, in January of this year, bought a computer rig that was capable of handling the graphics of the new game(s) and I now own all the titles and expansion sets. I am very much looking forward to the Fortress Italy and Red Thunder expansions as World War II is my all-time favorite period of history. I would enjoy seeing some new weapons systems developed for CMBS but I am just glad that the team is working hard to bring us an even better series of games. Many kudos to Steve and the development team. All the best to BFC in 2019
**Chris**

One last topic before hitting the sack. I am sure this question has been asked but are there any plans to make a NATO expansion, like Strike Force, for Black Sea? I have some great miniature scenario books that would need NATO units to develop them for the game. Hoping this is the plan.
G'Nite

Yes, throw the Marines, the Brits, and NATO into the fray. What was/is good for CMFS2 is good for CMBS as well.

Thank you gentlemen. Maybe 'flak' was the wrong choice of word. What I don't want from BFC (any time period) is one that is more of a fantasy type CM (World War II going beyond May/August '45) than what actually happened (or could happen in the case of CMSF or CMBS). Now saying that, I feel that if BFC brought CMBS up to the current time, or even 2020, that wouldn't be too much to ask for. Of course, this is their company and I am just glad they have done what they have done.

I have been playing CMBS now for a couple of months. I have made several comments about it and most of the time my comments have been shot down for one reason or another. When I mention that some of the newer weapon systems be included in any new expansion (hopefully there will be one), I'm told that those weapon systems are outside the "time period" of the game. People, this is a "what-if" confrontation between the United States and the Russian Federation military forces. Now you could say it is somewhat of a "historical" representation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Otherwise, it is still a "what-if" situation because the Untied States has not gone to war with the Russian Federation (and I hope we never do). If it is a matter of "time period" for not including some of the newer weapon systems that have gone into service recently, then expand the time scale another 10 years, into the mid to late 2020s. What about the inclusion of Special Forces from the United States and the Russian Federation, especially units such as US Army Rangers, US Marine Corps Force Recon, Russian PDDS/Spetsnaz? I am sure to catch all kinds of flak from this post, so shoot away. But please understand that it is not my intent to start a HUGE argument concerning the future of  this excellent game. The Battlefront team has brought hundreds of us countless hours of enjoyment with all their Combat Mission titles and I only wish the best for that team in the future.

You can blame my catching this on my time spent as a beta-tester. I am not saying that this is something that Steve should make a priority, just pointing it out is all.

Hello all,
About seven years ago the computer I was using to play CMSF1 had a severe crash and I lost everything associated with the game. I had several login names as I was purchasing these great games but over time I had forgotten them. I sent in a ticket to the Support Team and John really helped me. So, I just wanted to say thank you to him and the outstanding service he provided me. I just wish more of the gaming companies took care of their customers in the same way Battlefront does theirs.
Chris.

Good afternoon all,
For those of you that are not aware of the Wargame Vault, it is a great place to get good research material for designing scenarios. Their Micro-Mark TO&Es are very handy. I have several that I was using when I was on the development team for another computer wargaming company. Here is the web address: https://www.wargamevault.com/index.php
I hope all of you have a great weekend.
Chris.

Hello all,
About seven years ago the computer I was using to play CMSF1 had a severe crash and I lost everything associated with the game. I had several login names as I was purchasing these great games but over time I had forgotten them. I sent in a ticket to the Support Team and John really helped me. So, I just wanted to say thank you to him and the outstanding service he provided me. I just wish more of the gaming companies took care of their customers in the same way Battlefront does theirs.
Chris.