Broadsword56 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 One of the most striking features of Sicily and Italy fighting is the rough and steep terrain -- indeed, Allied soldiers often say they fought the entire campaign "uphill." How are CMFI players finding and accommodating to these very different elevation differences on battlefields? How do you find the CM 2.0 engine is handling this? Do the combats uphill and downhill feel about right? Does being uphill confer the defensive benefit you would expect? Since CM still seems to be limited in the area of modeling gun elevation, does this affect the way direct fire is turning out in battles (for example, forces at the foot of a mountain being able to elevate their guns to an unrealistic degree)? Are your troops taking much greater fatigue hits now, due to all the hill-climbing? Do they seem to preserve a lot of energy going downhill? And does this make you change tactics to try and use roads/trails more, or to look for paths across slopes, draws and valleys, etc.? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadsword56 Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Also: Given the daunting challenge of attacking up some massively steep hills in CMFI, are you finding the "canned" maps give you sufficient variation in the terrain, boulders, scrub vegetation, etc., on the slopes to make it less than suicidal? I hope the slopes aren't too "clean." 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankster65 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I can't say I have played yet on some of those hilly maps, maybe one actually, a small one but I can tell you they look superb! There is a lot of variation to the foliage in some cases, rocky, boulders, etc. and some are rolling vineyards with scrub brush etc. So many different maps to play on. I've been looking through the quick maps today and there are works of art in there. I'm actually going to use one for my first scenario I'm going to try and put together. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisND Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 A couple of places you can find serious hills in are Ramparts of the Palikoi (standalone) and the Troina campaign. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Childress Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Are your troops taking much greater fatigue hits now, due to all the hill-climbing? That appears to be the case. BF seems to have massaged the fatigue factors. Heavily laden units *seem* to tire faster even on flat terrain. Do they seem to preserve a lot of energy going downhill? Dunno. Good question. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Do they seem to preserve a lot of energy going downhill? Hmm. Personally, I find going down hill, especially when heavily loaded, almost as tiring as going up hill. It hits me in the knees and thighs especially. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyD Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 You'll notice CMFI soldiers don't tote backpacks. The better to get up and down slopes without tiring? I do believe the game was factoring in backpack weight, in the same way they factor in body armor weight in CMSF. The other title with great 'mountainous' potential was CM:Afghanistan, though only a couple scenarios really went the 'mountainous' route. Too bad. Let this be a suggestion to you potential QB map makers out there. Don't be parsimonious with the elevation points! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mord Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 It hits me in the knees and thighs especially. Lay off the crumpets... Mord. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburke Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 One of the most striking features of Sicily and Italy fighting is the rough and steep terrain -- indeed, Allied soldiers often say they fought the entire campaign "uphill." How are CMFI players finding and accommodating to these very different elevation differences on battlefields? How do you find the CM 2.0 engine is handling this? Do the combats uphill and downhill feel about right? Does being uphill confer the defensive benefit you would expect? Since CM still seems to be limited in the area of modeling gun elevation, does this affect the way direct fire is turning out in battles (for example, forces at the foot of a mountain being able to elevate their guns to an unrealistic degree)? Are your troops taking much greater fatigue hits now, due to all the hill-climbing? Do they seem to preserve a lot of energy going downhill? And does this make you change tactics to try and use roads/trails more, or to look for paths across slopes, draws and valleys, etc.? I found just looking at the hills I would have to fight my way up daunting. Then while moving up you find out that there are areas on the map that effectively put defensive positions in a reverse slope that you can't even see from below. The Troina campaign in particular has some very cool, very difficult uphill fights. One thing I learned - plan your assault carefully and use your trps where you think you are going to need help and that won't necessarily be on the VLs. Look the terrain over carefully, where are your guys going to emerge from a ravine into an exposed location? You have to plan your artillery to support your attack and that means you have to pay very close attention to the route itself. It is a lot harder than figuring out your attack plan in CMBN and a lot less obvious as to where you are suddenly going to be blind sided by an MG. If you don't plan your TRPs right, you are going to have to send your FOs up. In one battle I had my FO killed and had to send up the Company CO who then promply got killed. I finished the battle hobbling along with the XO team in charge with the Wpns pltn HQ tailing along for radio access. It severely curtailed my artillery access. I won't even discuss how bad it can get when enemy mortar fire is raining down on your troops while trying to keep them organized for an uphill assault. I promise, a couple battles in and you will begin to miss the comfort of the hedgerows. LOL And the maps are beautiful. I didn't have the time to look through the quickmaps as much, but I'd highly recommend folks do so. BF and the team keep getting better and better at this. CMFI in my view is not just the CMx2 version of CMAK. I had pretty much just modded that to look like NW Europe. CMFI is a joy in and of itself. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Hill Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 This arena certainly requires different tactics for sure. Proper placement of covering elements and advancing in stages while using every bit of terrain advantage you can exploit. And as Sburke said take care of your FO's. Artillery is your new bestest friend... Also like the underground view when Troina is loading up.. No Prisoners 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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