Status update on "Black Sea"

[sburke]

Tis worrying BF's psychic predictions. First Syria and then the Ukraine. I only hope they don't set one in the UK.

Well I think the first idea for the new modern game was a scenario in Germany and Merkel paid them off to go look elsewhere. They then went to Canada and again got paid off. These negotiations have been the real delay in the release of a new modern title. North Korea has been begging them to do a title - Sea of Fire or some such thing and the disc label would be that special Beloved Leader hairstyle. Unfortunately N Korea has no cash.

[Erwin]

This probably explains the reluctance of BF to do the much requested CM: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE family of games.

[sburke]

This probably explains the reluctance of BF to do the much requested CM: ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE family of games.

I think the CDC shut them down on that. The delay on Space Lobsters of Doom is as I understand it the result of legal action by the Intergalactic Crustacean Association.

[Aured]

Tis worrying BF's psychic predictions. First Syria and then the Ukraine. I only hope they don't set one in the UK.

I got some early access experience with Combat Mission: Crumpet Catastrophe. It's very realistic.

Fire missions are called in with specific British-army code jargon:

"Listen in you cheeky scrublords, I need some of the old flishy-flashy bang and crashy over Buckingham Palace on grid T3XT-SP33CH-M8 on the DOUBLE, you 'ear me, arse-face?!"

"Righty-dokey squire, estimate five bongs to your tea-time, over."

The resulting fire mission lands with explosions that sounds exactly like Big Ben striking 12 o'clock.

Every soldier wears a Bearskin and a Redcoat, and when ordered to assault, will throw cups of tea and beer over the enemy while simultaneously insulting their national football squad. (Company-level mortars fire kettles and out-dated copies of The Sun instead.)

HQ's have been replaced with mobile fish n' chip wagons; destruction of these usually results in a severe breakdown in morale and a mandatory health & safety inspection mid-battle.

Airstrikes are always, ALWAYS, delivered via Spitfire and consist of parachuting in the Queen alongside James Bond, a tradition that was honored at the London Olympics.

Can be brought at Tesco for a select amount of vouchers, 10/10, would recommend.

[agusto]

Fire missions are called in with specific British-army code jargon:

"Listen in you cheeky scrublords, I need some of the old flishy-flashy bang and crashy over Buckingham Palace on grid T3XT-SP33CH-M8 on the DOUBLE, you 'ear me, arse-face?!"

"Righty-dokey squire, estimate five bongs to your tea-time, over."

Kinda reminds me of the highly accurate way Apocalypse Now depicts Col. Kilgore calling in an Airstrike.

Kilgore, talking over the radio to the fire control aircraft several miles away about the target location:

"Duck 1, this is Big Duke 6! Goddammit! I want that treeline BOOOMBED!" *points arm at treeline*

The type of ammunation Kilgore wants to be used: "Bomb 'em to stonage, son!"

[Buzz]

Development is proceeding forward, no change in plans as of yet.

Good. CMBS release this Fall we hope.

[Michael Emrys]

CMBS release this Fall we hope.

That might happen. I kinda have an impression that it was moved forward a bit in the development queue to take advantage of its possible newsworthiness.

Michael

[Buzz]

That might happen. I kinda have an impression that it was moved forward a bit in the development queue to take advantage of its possible newsworthiness.

Michael

What I would do if I ran the business and had the resources.

I don't and I don't.

CMSF+7years - Copper or Wool:)

CMBS will be a new, modern war game title that will showcase Battlefront's responsible company history, their skills and their talents over a wide range of military conflicts over many decades.

CMBS moved forward a bit in the development queue is great for CM users but reading ChrisND's notes... WWII will be brought up to CMRT 3.0 standards.

Sounds like a Win Win Win

"...War games are about the tactics and weapons of those wars"

[Cpl Steiner]

I am looking forward to CM:BS but I am not sure what a hot war between NATO and Russia with modern weapons will look like. My instincts are that it will look, well, pretty bad. Having got used to achieving wins against Syria/Uncon forces with minimal casualties in CM:SF, I think vs Russia the losses on each side are going to be a lot more balanced and the battlefield potentially a lot more deadly. Presumably the scenarios and campaign will have to take this into account, so that we can still achieve victory even with much heavier losses than in a typical CM:SF battle?

Anyway, I hope we will find out soon just how costly a battle against a modern Russian force would be.

[Ashenz73]

I am looking forward to CM:BS but I am not sure what a hot war between NATO and Russia with modern weapons will look like. My instincts are that it will look, well, pretty bad. Having got used to achieving wins against Syria/Uncon forces with minimal casualties in CM:SF, I think vs Russia the losses on each side are going to be a lot more balanced and the battlefield potentially a lot more deadly. Presumably the scenarios and campaign will have to take this into account, so that we can still achieve victory even with much heavier losses than in a typical CM:SF battle?

Anyway, I hope we will find out soon just how costly a battle against a modern Russian force would be.

I would like to see the player rewarded with points for minimizing loses and saving the wounded. Also, the progress in medicine significantly changed the proportions between the wounded and dead I I'd love to see this reflected in the game.

[emccabe]

I just wish that there was a chance if somebody was wounded but the wound was not fatal and if buddy aid was preformed fast that the person might that there could be a 50 50 chance of that person being in the next mission

and illumination rounds would be nice for some night battles because it can get very dark

[Erwin]

I think that is what is covered by the minor wounds.

If you have a WIA, that's supposed to be serious.

[A Canadian Cat]

and illumination rounds would be nice for some night battles because it can get very dark

Are those used any more? So many vehicles have thermal and night vision equipment now. Heck even infantry have night vision sights.

[emccabe]

Are those used any more? So many vehicles have thermal and night vision equipment now. Heck even infantry have night vision sights.

they are still around but I dont know if they are used tha often anymore well the idea was so that it would be easier to see at night for the player because in schockforce on a custom mission its so dark plus it would also be much more useful for uncons and other factions that did not have a lot of night vision like the syrians in shockforce

[emccabe]

it was part of the idea that giving a unit poor equipment take away night vision goggles from the majority of your troops and they would only be given to hq units so the player would be forced to use things like illumination rounds or be try locate and find the enemy when they cant see a few meters in front of them

I dont know how well this would work but its just something I came up with when I was bored one day

[Pelican Pal]

Wouldn't illum rounds negate, to some extent, the capabilities of NVGs?

[ZPB II]

In CMx2 (not CMSF unfortunately) there has been for some time now an "artificially bright night lighting mode" or somesuch, I don't remember exactly when it was introduced, might have been 2.0.

Night battles used to be impossible to see and play but this feature is awesome, it doesn't affect the game in any way but it makes it much easier for the player to see what is going on.

[emccabe]

In CMx2 (not CMSF unfortunately) there has been for some time now an "artificially bright night lighting mode" or somesuch, I don't remember exactly when it was introduced, might have been 2.0.

that is true but the idea i had was meant more for the infantry because when i was playing shockforce it really got on my nervers that my troops couldnt see the guys that were a few meters ahead until grenades and automatic weapons fire erupted out of the ditch and half a squad was lost while the other one was panicking and that situation could have turned out better if the syrian army had any morale and since it was pitch black my men could not see a thing

[Buzz]

What follows is the basic premise for our game. It was supposed to be a pure work of fiction designed to create a "setting" for a ground based conflict in the Ukraine between Ukrainian and NATO forces on one side and Russian forces on the other. While we absolutely based the story on real life conditions, we did shape the overall story in such a way as to preclude the possibility of a non-military resolution to the crisis. This is fine for a hypothetical wargame where nobody gets hurt, but totally undesirable for it to happen for real.

Some of what we wrote has actually come true in some form or another. I can not stress how strongly we hope that in the coming days, weeks, months, or even years we are proven wrong about everything else. We wish the people of Ukraine the best, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or political affiliations. You deserve to live peacefully.

What follows is the primary storyline as written in the Fall of 2013 (except for one typo I just noticed!)

------

Prelude to War:

As Ukraine's disputes with Russia over trade agreements, energy prices, and free trade agreements with the EU continue, the Ukrainian government and popular sentiment begins to move back towards the West. This movement culminates in 2015 when a new coalition of pro-West parties forms, and its leader wins the Ukrainian presidential election.

The new Ukrainian government begins three developments that considerably chill Ukraine-Russia relations:

1. Ukraine cancels the controversial 2010 Kharkov Accords that extended the Russian lease from May 2017 to 2042.

2. Ukraine demands that by May 28, 2017, the Russian military must leave their facilities in Sevastopol.

3. Ukraine announces their plan to join the EU and NATO as soon as possible.

Russian Escalation:

Russia strongly denounces the Ukrainian government's actions, stating that cancelling the Sevastopol lease is illegal, that Ukraine's joining NATO is a direct threat to Russian national security, and that Ukraine joining the EU would throw the region into chaos. Russia condemns NATO for their aggression by attempting to expand their influence to Russia's borders, and declares that if Ukraine were to enter NATO or the EU, Russia would consider the treaty that defines the Russia-Ukraine border to be void. Russia further states that they will take any steps necessary to protect Russians living in Ukraine.

Russia ratchets up economic pressure on the Ukrainian government in order to convince them to back down via a number of abusive trade policies, especially during the winters of 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 by hiking the price of natural gas. This is coupled with a political encouragement of anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western sentiment in Russia, the Donbass region, and Crimea.

NATO Escalation:

NATO and EU members react positively to Ukraine's new goal of NATO membership, seeing an opportunity to expand their influence eastward and further weaken Russian influence on Eastern Europe. With the help of NATO advisors, the Ukrainian military begins reforms in order to qualify for NATO membership. This process includes joint training exercises between Ukrainian and NATO forces, some of which take place on Ukrainian soil. NATO also lays the groundwork for including Ukraine in their joint development programs for military hardware.

When Russia responds by piling economic and political pressure onto Ukraine, NATO increases their preparations for Ukraine to join NATO, including more and larger joint training exercises. NATO also sides with Ukraine over the Sevastopol lease controversy, warning that if the Russians remain in Crimea after May 2017, they will be committing an aggressive act against Ukrainian sovereignty.

Donbass Region:

The alarmingly rapid Western influence on Ukrainian government policy stirs considerable political unrest in the southeastern area of Ukraine, where the local governments are pro-Russian and the population primarily identifies as Russian. Resistance to the pro-Western government is especially strong in the densely populated southeastern Donbass region, including the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces that share a border with Russia.

In response to the upcoming Ukrainian NATO and EU membership, a separatist political party forms in the eastern regions of Ukraine, calling for a separation from Ukraine and a reuniting with Russia. These movements have both local political and popular support from a largely sympathetic population, fueled by economic hardship and a pro-Russian/anti- Ukrainian media saturation campaign. With the Donbass region politicians, media, and public railing against the Ukrainian national government, the pro-West government moves in police forces from other regions of the country to maintain order. The Ukrainian government accuses the Russian government of instigating the civil unrest and covertly supporting the separatist movements within Ukraine.

Crimea and Sevastopol:

The issue of the cancelled Kharkov Accords lease becomes a standoff in Crimea, as the Russians state that they have every right to use their facilities until 2042 and have no intention of leaving.

As Ukraine's government moves towards NATO membership, civil unrest grows in the Russian-identifying communities in Crimea. As the situation heats up, protests occur against the new Ukrainian government and NATO, eventually turning into riots in Sevastopol. Like the Donbass region, the Ukrainian government moves in national police forces to help contain the civil unrest.

The Ukrainians respond by stepping up police presence in Crimea and especially Sevastopol, with the areas around Russian military installations being especially targeted. Russian military members based in Crimea complain of constant harassment by Ukrainian police. Civil unrest soon reaches critical levels in Sevastopol, and the Ukrainian government deploys paramilitary and military forces in southeastern Ukraine and Crimea. Curfews are imposed. As the deadline to vacate rapidly approaches during the spring of 2017, the Russians still show no signs of leaving.

Critical Incident:

The spark that ignites the conflict begins in Sevastopol. Martial law is enacted in Sevastopol after a pro-Russian demonstration turns into a large riot. During the resulting confusion, Ukrainian and Russian forces in Sevastopol clash in a gunfight that leaves multiple dead and many wounded.

In response, government opposition in southeastern Ukraine reaches the level of outright rebellion as separatist Donbass region and Crimean politicians formally request that the Russian military provide security for them. Russia obliges by demanding that Ukrainian forces vacate the Donbass region and Crimea within one week, so that Russian can provide for their security. The Russian fleet stationed at Sevastopol leaves port and join up with a heavy naval and air escort for Russian ships containing "security" troops heading from Novorossiysk towards Sevastopol. In response, the Ukrainians blockade Sevastopol.

On a dark night in May 2017, Russian forces cross the border into Ukraine in the Donbass region, while Russian naval infantry move out of their bases into Sevastopol.

Russia's Goals:

Russia's goal is to take Crimea and southeastern Ukraine and either annex them or install a satellite government. Accomplishing this will visibly punish Ukraine for joining NATO, install a buffer between NATO's influence and Russia's borders, retain Russia's access to the Black Sea and the Crimean military facilities, and uphold their image as being protective of their people and lands.

Russia's plan is to send what is labeled a humanitarian/peacekeeping force into the Donbass region and Crimea, with the stated intent of restoring the peace. In a best case situation, the Russians hope that the Ukrainians quickly cede the territory without a bloody fight, but they are prepared to eject the Ukrainians forcefully if needed. At the worst case, the Russians realize that they may need to exert extremely heavy pressure against Ukraine's major cities in order to force their acceptance. This worst case scenario, which also carries the high risk of NATO involvement, is only barely acknowledged by the Russian government who think that the Ukrainians will roll over after a display of military might by Russia. (I'm sure we can all think of half a dozen nasty conflicts where the politicians wishfully thought that the fight would be a pushover)

"Starting in 2012 we began the process of making the artwork and TO&E for the game with a detailed 18 page backstory being finalized in the Fall of 2013 (ahead of the Kiev protests). ..... In fact, the game is largely done and testing is slated to begin in a few weeks for a late Spring release."

Sometimes it helps to review the beginning

With all the work on the shop benches at Battlefront, installers now on offer, optimizations for the patches sound as if they are complete(?), patches and upgrades for WWII are currently in testing. then v3.0 upgrades will be offered... I am guessing a late Fall CMBS announcement?

[emccabe]

does anybody know if there are plans to add uncons co black sea or something to represent the pro russian rebels or pro ukranian units like the donbas battalion

[sburke]

does anybody know if there are plans to add uncons co black sea or something to represent the pro russian rebels or pro ukranian units like the donbas battalion

Yes someone knows.

but you'll have to ask Chris

[Buzz]

Hey Chris... Waz Up?

[Cpl Steiner]

Is BFC going to rewrite its backstory to take into account recent developments? I hope so, otherwise the backstory will feel too much like an alternate universe. In my opinion they need to include recent events, however tragic, in the lead up to the war (I speak of course of the downing of flight MH17) and extrapolate from there as to how NATO and Russia get into a shooting war over Ukraine. I know it might draw some criticism but if done with sensitivity I am sure it won't cause too many protests. In any case, CM games are so "niche" as to be almost under the radar of the mainstream media, who would likely be the only ones to criticise the backstory.

[Michael Emrys]

In any case, CM games are so "niche" as to be almost under the radar of the mainstream media, who would likely be the only ones to criticise the backstory.

They can hardly criticize the backstory itself if it simply cites historic events so far as those are known. What they might do though is criticize what they would characterize as a rush to capitalize on a tense situation. If they really wanted to go far out, they might express a fear that the game might be the spark that could lead to war. This is not IMO very plausible, but then a fair few journalists make their living by being not very plausible.

Michael

[ChrisND]

Is BFC going to rewrite its backstory to take into account recent developments? I hope so, otherwise the backstory will feel too much like an alternate universe.

The back story posted in this thread is a very old version that was written before the protests and change in government even started. It has been continually revised since then, including taking into account recent events such as Crimea.